Sandpiper of California Three Day Elite Backpack

I've had this one for two years now and it's held up great! I actually had an older 3 day pass bag and I was so impressed by their quality that I bought another one (AF changed camo again!) The "Elite" has metal bars that brace the back so it keeps its shape. The padding on the outside is very comfortable and breaths. The padded main pocket works great for carrying a laptop,the adjustable/removable pouches in the middle are handy for loose items. It has an area for pen/pencil, multitool, keys, etc storage and the small outer compartment has the MOLLE webbing. It is definitely worth getting!

My buddy has the normal version of this and it looks to be the same. With this elite pack you get these 3 pouches (pretty cool if you need to make them specific for something i.e. first aid, survival pack. The pouch for the sunglasses is nice too. The back stay bars and the mesh backing are really the reason to get this pack. Well worth the comfort. Oh, there is Molle webbing on the bottom of the pack too (the normal or original version doesn't seem to have that). So the cons are: because of the Velcro internal packs, SOC has decided to opt out in putting the multiple pouch organizers in the second compartment. I guess that is how they keep the price down or something. The zippers are not YKK; however, they seem to be powder coated metal or some really heavy duty paint; the teeth for the zipper are thick on the two main compartments and smaller on the 3rd and 4th compartments. They have held up well, and on one occasion they have misaligned while zipping up, but that was because the zippers were not approximated during the zip and pocket was overstuffed. The elite bag is supposed to be made with thicker Cordura material than the standard version, but in a side by side comparison, I cannot tell the difference in material both in look or feel. One of the reasons I got this specific back pack is that I needed it to transport my 10" x 14 "laptop. In this elite version, you can pick two places to do such with a laptop of this size, in the main compartment there is a special padded pocket which fits the laptop perfectly, and allows you to stow stuff in the main compartment without the contents coming in contact with the computer. The other option for storage for the laptop is in the second main compartment. If you put it in there, there is still room to put more stuff in that compartment. All in all I would definitely buy one of these bags again, and recommend it to friends, coworkers, and family.

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I got this bag in March from the local PX so I could travel light on an upcoming trip to Europe. I was apprehensive about the idea of packing for 8 days in Spain in one backpack. Once I got to packing I started to realize how much this bag can really hold. All the pockets are easily accessible, the bag fit like a glove, especially with the waist and chest straps buckled in. Being in Barcelona, we were warned about the pickpocket issues out there and were able to thwart off any would-be robbers by threading some paracord through all the zipper loops, slapping on a cord-stop (this one in particular: Dritz(R) Double Cord Stops For 1/8 Inch Cord 2/Pkg-Black), and tying off the ends. Glad to say it worked like a charm. Since then I've taken it on several airplane and camping trips, and have very few complaints. However, if you do pack it to the brim it can be hard to fit into an overhead compartment...not impossible, just difficult. On the same note, when it's fully packed, it will extend pretty far off your back, but the side straps help you keep things sucked in if you use them. And if you're doing touristy stuff, you might want to bring a daypack with you too. This one's way to big to carry a camera and maps around. In conclusion, this is the best travelling bag I've ever had and I expect it to last a good long time.

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This is the best very well made backpack I've been able to find for around this price. The laptop case can hold a 6L water bladder, and there's a sealable hole through the top for bladder hose or headphones. The zippers and stitching are all very fine and made to last, not to mention the thick exterior cordura. It is very very comfortable to wear, and sucks to your back perfectly. I will confess it is a little nicer than I needed it to be, considering i got it to be a bug out bag. School backpacks like we used to wear are really good for an emergency pack, but I had a lot of trouble finding one with chest AND waist straps, and these waist straps are basically seat beat material, very strong and comfortable. All the ones around the $100 price range didn't come close to the usefulness of this one, but I think since I bought this, there has been an explosion in the variety of these kinds of packs. Maybe there's more as burly, comfortable and luxurious for less. Also it has molle on the bottom as well as the back pocket. Highly recommended.

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I bought this backpack to help cut down on the number of times I needed to buy replacements for school. Out of all of the tactical bags out there, this looked the most casual of the bunch, however it still had that military look that's strange to walk around with. I made some modifications to the bag to give it a more campus-friendly feel and haven't had any issues with the bag. Compared to most school bags this can be considered an XL or XXL, but only lists as medium on military gear sites.

The pockets are huge, the zippers appear durable, and overall has a quality feeling not found in typical school bags. This model includes 2 lightweight alluminum supports in the back of the main compartment to help with stability. I haven't found a use for the 3 velcro zip pounches for the velcro compartment for school use. If you're ok with sticking out a little bit because of the military feel, then this durable pack will suit you right for urban use.