I have so many form over function bags and purses. I’ve gotten Loungefly items I’ll never use because they are too heavy or clumsy for casual wear. My designated Halloween Purse is shaped like an actual cauldron, which seems cool until you realize it can really only hold my wallet, phone, and keys and is awkward to easily retrieve said items due to the odd shape. The Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Bag backpack involves a situation where it definitely is about the aesthetics, but those are handled in a way in which we can actually use the resulting bag on a daily basis.
Yes, this is a blind bag situation. However, I feel it is less risky than similar ones. While the color of the ghost may vary and there is the secret glow-in-the-dark Scared surprise variant, I get the feeling someone buying this particular Pac-Man ghost backpack is doing so just to have a general, ghost-shaped one. Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde are all present in addition to the prone white ghost, so your options are basically red, orange, blue, or pink with eyes in different directions depending on which one you get. In my case, I ended up getting an Inky, so I have the signature light blue ghost with dark blue eyes looking to his right.
When the Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Bag backpack first arrives, it is in a black, plastic bag with a recreation of the game’s maze on one side. Aside from the fact that there are five ghosts in the center, rather than four, it’s a great recreation and reference. But honestly, I appreciated most that it was resealable. This is a bag that is designed to be used. It’s a statement piece, but also really durable from my tests over the 2024 holiday season. But when I have something that is “special,” I also like being able to preserve it when I’m not using it. So instead of just sticking it in a closet, I can put it in its original bag and store it away, feeling like it is a little more secure.
The nature of the design and materials for the bag also mean that it feels really sound and structured. It’s 18 inches long and six inches wide, with a fake leather exterior. Because it’s one solid piece of material for much of it, there’s a sturdiness that really helps the backpack maintain its form. When I was taking it around over the holidays, I found this especially benefitted me when toting around electronics. There is a cushioned laptop section inside the bag, which easily fit my MacBook Air with room to spare, and I also had no issue tossing in a Lenovo Legion Go and Switch too. I’m sure people will and could use it for clothes and other general items, but I think it would be best served as a gaming bag due to the appearance and construction elements. I felt safe storing my electronic devices in it. Especially since the padding and design of the straps made it comfortable to wear as well.
That design also made me feel like it could be a good option for a carry-on bag for a flight in some ways. It does have some side pockets and additional zippered compartments. However, it isn’t so much one with a lot of easily accessible ones I’d grab from on the go, due to so many of the more accommodating features and pockets being on the inside. Rather, I’d consider it the type you load up or pull from when stationary, then keep sealed while in transit from one place to another.
Especially since the Clyde Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang backpack I used ended up being far more resistant to the elements than I expected. It was a rainy Christmas and New Years in the midwest in 2024! Since it ended up being established that this was a water-resistant bag, I wasn’t too concerned. But there were some times when more than a slight drizzle fell, and the backpack held up amazingly. Likewise, I did get a bit splashed, and that residue wiped off without leaving any marks.
Also, as a fun aside, the fact that this Pac-Man ghost backpack is so noticeable and recognizable even led to some fun encounters over the break. At one point, a person struck up a conversation with me when I used it instead of a grocery tote while shopping for some essentials as we waited in line. One of my older relatives who normally can’t remember what my job even is and isn’t typically into gaming picked up on the imagery right away, which led to us talking more about her own youth. With similar pop culture bags or purses I’ve used from Loungefly, the most that happens is I’ll get a compliment about the design. But I ended up surprised by a few conversations with both people I knew and didn’t because of this especially distinctive accessory.
I didn’t expect the Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang mystery bag backpack to be as sturdy as it is and leave the impression that it does. It ended up being such a substantial pack. So much so that I think I’d exclusively use it for toting around electronics either locally or when taking a flight somewhere due to that durability. The design means its really good at keeping a computer or console secure and protected. It also ends up catching a lot of attention when used. It nails the aesthetic while still being incredibly practical.
The Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Pack backpack is available for $100 each via the official site.
Published: Jan 4, 2025 12:00 pm