STM was founded in 1998 just outside of Sydney, Australia, when Ethan Nyholm grew tired of carrying his laptop in a jiffy bag in his hiking pack and set out to design a bag that would complement his laid-back lifestyle. These days, STM produce a huge range of bags for every occasion: we will be taking a closer look at the Radial a 15” messenger style laptop bag, available in three colours, Black, Steel or Moroccan Blue.

The Radial 15” Laptop Messenger Bag is suitable for up to a 15” laptop. It features a padded sling that suspends your laptop or tablet from the bag's floor, and its bottom corners are wrapped in additional padding, meaning that if you are anything like me and you frequently dump your bag down on the floor, forgetting about your expensive cargo, the Radial will have you covered.

The STM has a clever cable routing system that uses purpose-built pockets and ports between its different sections, and an integrated cable management system which allows you to store, access and charge various devices while keeping them in their individual pockets. Other features include water-resistant fabric, a front flap pocket for quick and easy access, space for a light jacket, and the luggage pass-through for securing the bag to your wheeled luggage.  The STM also comes with a quick cam-adjust shoulder strap that can be used across the body or on the shoulder; the strap has a removable shoulder pad and a rubber coating underneath on its under-side to stop it from slipping, which can be moved up along the strap for optimum comfort. It’s a pity that the shoulder strap isn’t completely removable to allow you to use the bag with just the top carry handle only, as the strap itself looks thin and quite cheap.

The bag fastens with two plastic buckles that can be opened easily with one hand, but the fact that there are two obviously means it takes longer to open. They don’t feel particularly strong and I would question their durability over time.

Overall, the STM Radial is a good, compact bag the offers protection for your electricals. It is ideal if you are looking for a basic bag without too much fuss, but for us it’s look is a little bit boring and those plastic clips and shoulder strap make it look cheaper than it is. RRP £54.95

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3 out of 5

Pros

Slingtech protection

Cable ready organisation

Water resistant

Adjustable shoulder strap with removeable shoulder pad

Cons

Two plastic buckle fastening

Cheap looking shoulder strap

Lacks any wow factor