Minecraft’s new, free inventory-expanding backpack has been eating players’ loot
The latest free addition to the Minecraft Marketplace dangles an irresistible promise: a backpack that blows past your usual carrying limits. After completing its in-game upgrades, this pack offers a staggering 16 pages of storage—384 slots in total—plus a suite of quality-of-life tools. But a worrying bug has players reporting that, after logging off and returning later, the backpack opens to a chilling sight: nothing.
A cavernous carryall with smart features
Arriving as part of a collaboration with the lifestyle brand Herschel, the Backpack Trials add-on doesn’t just expand space; it layers in functionality that makes resource runs and building binges far smoother. Progression challenges unlock additional pages and optional upgrades like auto-sorting, quick deposit and restock, basic smelting, and even a built-in lantern for spelunking. A soulbound option is also included to keep the backpack with you after an unfortunate demise.
There’s a real-world counterpart to match the in-game design, which reportedly sold out fast in a special dirt-block colorway. Inside Minecraft, however, the digital version is free and easy to grab from the Marketplace.
The disappearing act
Amid the buzz, a handful of players say they’ve witnessed a far less magical trick: items vanishing from the backpack after a save-and-exit. One player described stocking the pack, closing the game, and reloading later—only to find every slot cleared. They claim a second test produced the same result. Others chimed in with similar experiences, including at least one report suggesting the soulbound upgrade didn’t prevent the wipe.
A formal bug ticket has been submitted and is currently marked as unresolved. That said, the number of complaints appears limited, and the add-on still shows a strong user rating on the Marketplace—around 4.5 stars—suggesting the issue may be hitting a small subset of users. Even so, when a single backpack can hold the fruits of an entire mining marathon, the risk of losing it all is hard to ignore.
Why it stings so much
On paper, the Herschel backpack is a dream for nomads, builders, and redstone obsessives: fewer trips to base, less chest chaos, and more time doing the fun stuff. Its upgrades are tailored to the exact frictions longtime players know well, like sifting through clutter or juggling restocks while on the move. That’s exactly why the bug, for those affected, is such a gut punch. When a tool is designed to consolidate your inventory life, a total wipe can feel worse than the old-fashioned routine of shulkers and chests.
Practical precautions until there’s a fix
- Empty the backpack before you quit: Move valuables into regular storage, ender chests, or shulker boxes until you’re confident the issue is resolved.
- Test on throwaway items: If you’re new to the add-on, try a few logouts with junk materials to see if your world is affected.
- Keep the add-on updated: Install any patches as soon as they drop.
- Back up your world: A simple copy can save hours of progress if anything goes sideways.
What to expect next
Given the visibility of this backpack and its presence on the official storefront, it’s reasonable to expect that a fix will be prioritized. In the meantime, treat the backpack as a powerful but potentially fickle tool: fantastic for hauling during a session, but not yet a safe vault for logging off.
When it works as intended, the Herschel Backpack Trials add-on is one of the most ambitious storage upgrades available in the Marketplace—an endgame-tier solution that makes the grind more enjoyable and the build flow smoother. Just remember the golden survival rule until an update lands: if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t leave it in the bag.
