Overland Equipment Special Edition Donner Bag

I own an earlier variation of this bag, which has seen a lot of use. This newer version, with its improved front pocket (gusseted, vs. the old "drop-down"), and attractive color combination of moss green & peacock blue w/ print interior, is very appealing. The exterior pockets at each end easily hold a 1/2 liter water bottle and compact umbrella. The interior pockets keep all the essentials organized and easily accessible; there's plenty of room for everything one needs for a busy day. The bonus shopping tote is a very handy addition.

So, why only four stars, instead of five? I've purchased several bags from Overland Equipment over the years, and I've always been very pleased with the high-quality materials and construction, not to mention the overall design and functionality of each bag. People ask me, "Where did you get that great purse/backpack ("crescent" bag)/tote?" So I'd let them know from which store or website the bag was purchased, and then proudly add that the bag was made RIGHT HERE, in the U.S.A. (my home state, in fact). That sure raised a few eyebrows. When this bag arrived, I checked it over carefully, liking what I saw, except the familiar tag was missing from inside the main pocket: "MADE IN CHICO, CA." Finally, after carefully looking in each pocket, I found a puny little tag tucked well inside the front flap's zipped mesh pocket: "MADE IN CHINA." Ugh, Overland Equipment took the outsourcing route!! Needless to say, while I expect to get many years of use from this bag, it's likely to be the last I'll purchase from Overland Equipment.

I needed a bag to replace my tried and trusty Longchamp le Pliage bag (it's started fraying at the corners) for my frequent day trips in Europe. I often travel several hours by bus and/or by train, and so a travel bag that will accomodate many necessities is absolutely essential. I deem my Kindle, iPod, camera, umbrella, water bottle, tissues, and small snacks as the bare minimum for most trips, and needed a bag that could accomodate all of these items plus of course my wallet and keys. So any decent bag has to be able to accomodate all of these and still be durable enough to survive the trip. After researching various bags, I decided on the Overland Equipment Donner Bag.

Pros: I love the two side compartments that are separate from the main compartment. My 24 oz CamelBak Bottle fits on one end, and my collapsible umbrella fits on the other, and the treat is that any condensation on the water bottle or rain on the umbrella is abosrbed into the pocket without getting everything in the bag wet. Also, the interior slip pocket is the perfect size for my Kindle (which I have in the Amazon leather cover with light). The main compartment is big enough to accomodate snacks, my camera and have space left over for any small souvenirs. The front outside section has a nice assortment of slots and pockets to accomodate tissues, lip balm, pens/pencils and other odds and ends. The bag of the bag has another slip pocket that is very convenient for stashing tickets so that they don't end up lost in the main area.

Cons: I wish the strap had a cushioned pad attached because the bag can get heavy if you fill it to capacity (especially with a water bottle and such), and I've found it starts to cut into my shoulders when I'm not wearing a jacket or sweatshirt. The front flap is only secured by velcro, so I'm hesistant to store anything of value in the front section, which is a shame because there is a lined pocket that would be ideal for storing my iPod but I don't want it in a pocket that isn't secured by a zipper. The front velcro closure was the feature that kept this from being a 5 star bag for me.

Bonus: With the special edition of the Donner Bag, you get a Everyday Shopper Bag included, which is a good deal since the regular edition doesn't come with this.

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I bought this bag for an upcoming trip through France. I looked for a while for something that would hold up to some abuse, had enough pockets in the right places for things like maps, water bottles, sunglasses, camera, wallet, etc. but that was also reasonably stylish. This is the perfect answer! I got the orange & brown one and it's even cuter in person. My only criticism is the main zippered opening (on top) is smaller than I expected 9.5" is ample but I somehow expected it to be wider in proportion to the bag. Overall, I love this and can't wait to put it to use. (I expect this will become my everyday bag stateside, too.)

Update: (5/10/11)

I've since added the National Geographic NG A7300 Shoulder Pad to prevent the strap from digging into my shoulder when I really weight the bag down. It had the added benefit of protecting my shoulder from fabric burn when I swing the bag from front to back. Great addition and I now love this bag even more.

Update #2: (9/10/11)

This bag has become my all time favorite bag. The side pockets are so handy (water bottle, sunglasses, umbrella, etc.) and the interior is ample without making the bag too bulky. And the bonus shopping bag is cute, practical and always with me! After 6 months of hard use traveling and just on daily errands, the only thing that I am unhappy with is I caught the label (the decorative piece on the flap) on something and it ripped 1/2 way off. As soon as I can figure out how to fix it so it doesn't flap in the wind, I will as I still love this bag and I whole-heartedly recommend it.

Update #3 (7/5/13)

Still going strong. I've been on 2 more international trips with this bag including a rainforest plus I use it daily stateside. I also ran it through the wash a few times. (Cold water in a big delicates bag so the strap didn't get tangled.) It's going strong and looks great. (And I used fabric glue to glue the decorative flap down that popped up. Now you can't even tell it ripped.)

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I'm a bag junkie and have been known to dream up a bag for certain uses but without any good sewing skills they remain that.. just a dream. Enter this bag. I received 3 diaper bags for gifts but found them too big and awkward for our daily running about town. Now that I have a toddler this bag is perfect and would be perfect for baby too. I wear it cross body and I can carry both of our drink cups, my wallet, keys (Love the strap to attache them to!), lipstick/balm Kindle, cell phone, gum, PLUS the large compartment in the top for my childs diapering (cloth or disposable) necessities, snacks, toys and reusable shopping bags and still have a bit of room left over. Awesome bag.

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The outside side pockets will hold bottled waters easily. The front organization pockets are great for quick access to essentials like my cell phone & keys. I use this with the large Overland Equipment Wallet. If you are comparing this to the "Auburn", this purse is a little larger. I recently used the "Auburn" on a trip to Germany & France, it was good. I wish I had purchased this bag instead. This purse has a zipper top, Auburn is just a snap close. Both will fit a nice sized DSLR camera, wallet, cell etc... I really like both the Donner and Auburn bags, but I see me purchasing the Donner again, in the near future, in another color!

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