Cod of Bell X Case 3-Way Brief Pack Review: Briefcase, Backpack, and Weekend Bag in One

Introduction

The Cod of Bell X Case 3-Way Brief Pack is built around one idea: modularity. At its core it is a structured briefcase with solid organization and a padded laptop compartment, but it converts into a backpack and adds a large expandable side pocket that more than doubles the volume. That combination makes it a versatile option for a range of trip types, from daily commuting to short weekend trips.

Who This Product Is For

The name “brief pack” is accurate. The foundation of this bag is a large rectangular briefcase with generous pocket organization and a standard top carry handle. From there, a huge side compartment and stowable backpack straps open the design into something far more flexible.

Filled with a weekend’s worth of clothes and converted to backpack mode, it covers work, gym, and commuting, and can handle short weekend trips if you pack light. If your routine looks like carrying a laptop to the office during the week and heading away for an overnight or a weekend, this is the use case the bag is clearly designed around.

Dimensions and Capacity

Dimensions depend on how much you pack and whether the expansion pocket is in use. The core briefcase measures roughly 18 inches long and 13 inches wide, with a depth between 6 and 7 inches depending on how much you compress the expansion pocket. That keeps it small enough to work as a personal item on most airlines; it fits fairly easily inside an 18 x 14 x 8 sizer box, with only some straps getting caught. Be aware that stuffing the side pocket full of gear can push the bag over personal item size, and in extreme cases over the width of a carry-on sizer.

On capacity, the main briefcase section is listed at 20L with a total maximum of 42L, meaning the expansion pocket is listed at 22L. Real-world filling suggests those numbers are ambitious. The main compartment is full of pockets that eat into usable volume, and it feels closer to 15L in practice. The expansion pocket does genuinely hold 22L, but only when packed completely maxed out; fully packed it measures about 13 inches wide. A realistic everyday figure is somewhere around 37L total.

Materials and Hardware

Cod of Bell uses high-quality materials across the board. The brand does not state the fabric on its website, but interior tags confirm Cordura nylon on the main body and X-Pac on the expansion pocket. Hardware follows the same pattern: magnetic clasps, large water-resistant YKK zippers, Fidlock buckles, and large YKK nylon buckles and adjusters throughout. Build quality and durability are clear strengths here.

Exterior Organization and Accessories

There is a lot going on outside this bag. In briefcase mode you get a top fleece-lined pocket, a removable velcro-padded top handle that can be unclipped or taken off entirely, and two slim side pockets for storing the shoulder strap. One side holds a larger expanding water bottle pocket that fits slimmer bottles easily but is too small for wider one-liter bottles.

The laptop compartment sits on the back with side-access water-resistant zippers and thick padding. It fits a 15.5-inch laptop, though with no wiggle room, so anything larger will not fit. A 15 or 15-and-a-half inch machine fits fine.

The expansion pocket has two access points: a simple top zipper for briefcase-style use, and a full clamshell-style center zipper with side buckles, similar in spirit to a roll-top but with a large zipper instead. The whole flap unbuckles to reveal a stretchy mesh pocket inside. With compression straps cinched down, this section works like a giant duffel attached to the side of the briefcase, and it also takes a small thin tripod or umbrella in a lower side pocket.

Compression straps come in two sets. Long removable straps with metal slide buckles can flatten a stuffed expansion pocket or hold a jacket on the outside of the pack, and they are also the attachment point for an AnX liner. Shorter non-removable straps with strap keepers handle smaller rolled items like a small jacket, yoga mat, or towel. Gear accessory loops on all four skinny sides accept Cod of Bell accessories such as the AnX case, which attaches with eight included YKK buckle attachments. The connection is secure once clipped in, and leaving the buckles on the case makes attaching and removing it quick.

Interior Organization

The main compartment opens with a full three-quarter zip around the top. Inside you get a laptop and tablet sleeve secured by a Fidlock adjuster that clasps magnetically and releases only when pulled down, plus an internal water bottle pocket. The opposite wall is packed with organizers: two padded 3D pouches, a slim pencil pocket, a long zip pocket, side-access pen slots, and a clever velcro strap with four small pockets suitable for items like an AirTag or SD cards. The top lid adds two mesh zipper pockets, and a full-length sleeve runs along the back.

The expansion pocket is the standout design element. Used mainly for work, it can hold gym clothes or extra jackets. Converting between travel and briefcase duty, it swallows the bulk of your clothes. In testing it held pants, shorts, two t-shirts, a long-sleeve shirt, socks, and underwear, and with a packing cube, toiletry bag, sunglasses, and electronics still in the main compartment, there was room to spare, plus a lightweight jacket strapped on top. That is enough for a three or four day trip without a problem.

Carry System

Briefcase mode offers a padded top handle or a shoulder strap that stores in the side pockets and attaches via a large durable metal magnetic Fidlock buckle. The strap comes with a large, thick removable velcro pad with its own accessory loops, though the padding is somewhat bulky and the strap runs a little short at full extension.

Backpack mode is where the straps come out from behind the back padding, secured by a small button clip. They are wide, thickly padded, and soft, with excellent mesh ventilation on the back panel, an adjustable sternum strap, and a luggage carry strap in the middle. A basic unpadded nylon hip strap with a small clasp takes some weight off your shoulders but offers no padding.

Fully packed, the carry is comfortable as long as you avoid overloading the briefcase side, which can push the back panel out. The square-backed rectangle shape is not the most ergonomic profile, but the padding and ventilation make it a decent carry overall.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The X Case is functional, well organized, extremely well made, and durable, but it is not a bag for everyone. If you are a minimalist traveler who likes to go very light, it is a little too heavy to work as a primary travel pack. And unless you travel with a lot of tech gear, the heavy padding, organization, and many pockets of the briefcase section may be more than you need.

Buying Advice

The best use for this bag is primarily as a briefcase with expandability into a weekend travel bag. Carry your laptop to work during the week, then convert it, pack the expansion pocket, and head out for weekends or short overnights. If that hybrid pattern matches your life, it is an easy recommendation. If you want a light, dedicated travel pack, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

The Cod of Bell X Case 3-Way Brief Pack earns its three-way name with genuinely useful conversions, premium Cordura and X-Pac construction, quality YKK and Fidlock hardware, and a clever 22L expansion pocket. It is at its best for commuters who want one bag that also handles short trips, and less suited to ultralight travelers who will not use the briefcase side at all.