Arc'teryx Spear 25 Daypack

As I said, this is a very strange laptop backpack.

Here's what I like:

It's kind of a briefcase turned on its side so you can wear it as a backpack. The construction quality, as always with Arc'Teryx, is top-notch. It's also very professional-looking. You could carry this to a business meeting using the side handle, and few people would notice it's actually a backpack.

The straps are great. Well-padded and structured. The framesheet is awesome, too. Makes it really supportive.

The laptop "sling" is a great alternative to padded bags. You get great protection without bulky padding.

Here's what I don't like:

The storage is barely accessible. The zippers are way too short; they don't even go the full length of the pockets. If all you are doing is inserting manila folders, you'll find it works fine. But I can't even figure out how you would put a pen in some of the pen slots, much less clothes. Even dropping your power brick in the main pocket is more awkward than it should be.

The laptop pocket is also hard to get at. You really have to squeeze your hand into the pocket to fasten the velcro retaining strap. It's badly-sized for my 14" ThinkPad.

The back is actually quite large, too. It's thin, but the length and width are pretty big. I would not call this compact by any stretch.

All in all, it's not worth $150. It may be well-built, but it is ill-conceived. I'm sending it back.