Outdoor Products Sea-Tac Rolling Backpack

Like a lot of folks, I'm a road warrior. I live overseas, and spend a lot of time in airplanes and in airports. Years ago I was grumbling about my back after lugging my laptop backpack home from a long trip, and my wife convinced me to get wheels. I've gone through several wheeled backpacks (rolly bags) since then, and this one is *by far* the best.

The main compartment is big enough to hold a large (17") laptop, and inside the main compartment are front pouches and side zipper pockets that are perfect for the AC adapter, external HDs, mouse, and (within quick and easy reach) my sound-suppression headphones. The outer side mesh pocket is large enough for a good-sized water bottle, and the small zipper pocket on the other side is perfect for my travel adapters. The second large compartment is big enough for my iPad, books and manuscripts. The 2nd to last compartment is also big enough for a tablet, and has an inner padded pouch perfect for external hard drives. The outermost pocket is perfectly designed for pens, cards, USB flash drives, keys, etc.

The bag is designed so that when I throw a duffle bag over the handle and it rests on top of the rolly bag, the bag stands up by itself (it's canted forward naturally so the center of mass is still over the wheels and feet even when you put weight on top strapped to the handle). This is rare for a rolly bag (most fall over backwards if you put something on top), and a very nice touch.

I'm pretty finicky when it comes to design, and this bag is absolutely top notch. It has form and function, works incredibly well, and is really, really well designed (zippers go almost all the way around for ease of access, etc.).

The pop-up "U"-shaped handle is sturdy, as is the side lifting handle. The backpack straps are stowed beneath an outer flap that you unzip and pull down over the bottom, to secure with velcro, where the receiving velcro is normally covered and protected by a small velcro flap nice touch!! Like a lot of people with rolly bags, I don't use the straps often. I have used them, though, and I found that they are comfortable and good at distributing the weight even when the bag is reasonably loaded.

This is one of the larger, roomier bags that you can buy that still qualify as an FAA "computer" bag (your "other" carry on).

I bought this bag in June, 2009 (a little over 2 years ago), and have put many, many, many miles on it. A month ago one of the skateboard wheels cracked, and the outer portion of the wheel came off. The bag still works, but it's a bit noisy when it rolls, so I'm getting another one and I'm getting exactly the same as the first one...it's that good! In fact, I might order 2.

The only downside? If you pack it full, it looks big for a "computer" bag, so you might have to talk the gate staff into letting you on the plane with this as your second carry on. It's also heavy (6 or 7 pounds), so if you're traveling internationally, and they limit carry on weight, you'll have to be careful with how much you put in it.

I agree totally with EVERYTHING in "DanO the Finicky's" excellent review! I have owned this backpack for several years and have taken it overseas and across the US virtually every time I travel literally traveling by land, sea or plane! : I usually pack my 17" laptop in it along with its many accessories along with many other items. It holds more than any other backpack I have owned while still be able to carry it on to planes. Yet Dan0 is right if you pack it bulging/totally ful, occasionally a stewardess will tell me it is too big and create a little bit of hassle. But I usually can talk my way around it and, except in the smallest jets, I can get it in the overhead bin. If not, I take my laptop out and gate check it, which still allows my wife & I to travel with only carry ons!

Have to buy a new one due to my cat peeing on it! If not for that, I wouldn't be bying another yet and it looks hardly worn. Bought my 1st on from Amazon, now using Amazon to buy from external vendor. But at

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