Skip to main content

STM Myth backpack gets stealthy new look, retains all its style and comfort

STM has updated the best backpack I’ve ever used, the STM Myth, with a stealthy new color. I spoke to the company about the new model during CES 2021, and have subsequently had a chance to see the bag in person, and it doesn’t disappoint. The new Black Myth is considerably more subtle than the glorious Windsor Wine version I’ve used up until now, but through clever use of materials, it still manages to elevate itself above being just another black bag.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

What’s changed? Outside of the color, nothing that makes a big difference, but that’s a good thing. The backpack has an 18-liter capacity, which makes it large enough to hold a 15-inch or 16-inch laptop according to the company. It easily stows my 14-inch Huawei MateBook Pro, and still leaves plenty of room on either side of the chassis in the main pocket. This section is suspended inside the backpack, so even if you drop the bag, the laptop remains protected.

Other pockets on the inside capably held my 11-inch Apple iPad Pro inside the Magic Keyboard case, my phone, a pair of Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 headphones, and a water bottle, with masses of room left for more stuff. There is a larger 28-liter version if you really want more space.

There are two outer zipped pockets, one with a soft lining for your phone or sunglasses. However, while the lower pocket’s zip is recessed, there are no locks or antitheft measures.

The main zip extends all the way around the bag, and you do have to open it most of the way to delve deeply into it, but because there are no hidden sections, once you’ve done so, you get a full view inside.

About the black color: The bag is made up of two different materials with either a matte or a glossy look, and it has an elegant, classy look. It’s not a solid black either, with the main panels having a brushed texture, making it look almost like the material used on some suits. While black bags can be rather faceless, the new Myth has character, and the design works with most outfits.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Why did I call the STM Myth the best backpack I’ve used? It’s not because of the amount of stuff I can fit inside or the ease with which they can be seen, it’s about the comfort. The thick straps are firmly padded, the back of the bag has a neat curve and pads improve lumbar support, plus the shoulder section extends out from the body. It all adds up to the pack being suitable for long periods of wear without fatigue or too much sweat. It doesn’t “hang” from my shoulders, although it is best worn using both straps rather than one.

It may not look quite so striking as the Windsor Wine version, but the new black STM Myth’s stealthy style still really appeals, and the bag itself remains a winner. The black STM Myth is available to buy now  — the 18-liter version seen here costs $120, while the 28-liter version is $140.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Google just redesigned one of its biggest apps, and it’s bad
Google Chat app on the Play Store.

Google Chat — Google's business-oriented messaging platform that is similar to Slack and Microsoft Teams — just got a big update for its Android and iOS apps. The update dramatically changes how you navigate the app and, uh, well, it sure is something.

Google Chat's mobile app used to be broken up into two pages: Chat (direct messages between you and other users) and Spaces (larger chat rooms for multiple people). As with most apps, you switched between these with a navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.

Read more
The Pixel Watch 2 just got a feature it should have launched with
The Google Pixel Watch 2 resting on a stone fireplace.

Google has heard everyone’s demands and has given in to a highly requested feature that should have already been a thing with the Google Pixel Watch 2: a fully charged notification. Yes, that’s right — you’ll now get a notification on your Android phone when your Pixel Watch 2 is fully charged. Hallelujah!

This new feature should be available starting today via the Pixel Watch app on version 2.1.0.576785526. Google did not formally announce this feature, so it seems to be rolled out quietly (and was first spotted by Android Authority).

Read more
There’s only one reason I’m still using an iPhone in 2023
A green iPhone 15 lock screen.

It's not an understatement to say I am an Android smartphone fan, as an Android phone has been my faithful companion ever since I started using the HTC Desire in 2010. I've bounced from phone to phone in the 13 years since, and I've experienced good and bad phones alike. But in all that time, I've never spent much time with an Apple iPhone. I'm obviously not unfamiliar with iPhones, having used them during my time as a tech writer grabbing screenshots, downloading apps, and testing games — but never having used one as my primary smartphone is something of a blind spot.

The Apple iPhone 15 is a good reason to end that. After all, if I'm going to use an iPhone, it might as well be Apple's latest. Two weeks after booting it up and transferring my data to it, it's been ... a journey. While I can see the iPhone 15 is an excellent smartphone, too many of iOS's idiosyncracies rub me the wrong way. However, there's one feature I've grown to really love, and I'm going to struggle to live without it.
The iPhone 15 is a mixed bag

Read more