Between grade school, college, and post-grad, plus commuting in the city, I have owned a LOT of bags and backpacks. I've had this one for about 3 months, and it wins the award for Best Overall, hands down. Here's why:
1) High-quality zipperswe've all seen bags that seemed pretty much fine until you had to zip them open and closed in a hurry and they suddenly caught (seemingly on nothing) or were just not smooth-sounding; you knew it was just a matter of time before they became a problem. The zippers on this backpack are not only silky smooth, but they're stitched with a perfectly even protective edge of fabric over them to things from getting caught in them, and to minimize leaking from rain. They feel really heavy-duty.
2) Tough stitchingI have yanked on the handles of my bag a million times with it overfilled with everything from books to groceries, and the area where the handles connect with the body of the bag does not show the least bit of wear. Not pulled threads, no loosening, nothing. It's as solid as the day I bought it. Even the hanging loop at the top, which looks too small to handle such a heavy bag, has withstood the test of having my bag hanging from it, with at least 20 pounds of junk inside, for hours at a time, without showing the slightest bit of wear.
3) Durable fabricI'm not sure what kind of fabric this is made from, but it's not your ordinary nylon or canvas. It feels extremely thick and heavy, almost like it's been coated with something to make it water resistant or stain resistant or something. It makes me think more of luggage material than a backpack.
4) Great use of spaceIt looks super sleek and compact, but there's a LOT of space inside. I have a 15" Macbook Pro that fits in here perfectly, and there's so much room left even with my computer inside. I especially love the small pocket right on the top of the bag, it's lined in fleece (ostensibly for sunglasses, though I never use it for that), and it's the perfect place to stick your keys, small wallet, cell phone, ipod, or whatever. It's a small thing, but I LOVE that little pocket.
5) Unbelievably comfortableI don't know who they had to sell their soul to, but these designers have FINALLY nailed the perfect formula for a comfortable backpack. I have a big chest and a long commute, and I often travel with this thing packed to the absolute limit, and it has NEVER been a problem. The weight is distributed so perfectly that you hardly remember you're wearing it a lot of the time, it doesn't pull on your shoulders or dig under your arms at all. I honestly can't believe how comfortable it is.
6) It's so pretty! I got mine in Flourish, the black-on-black damask design, and it's a lovely, subtle pattern that really has it's own unique look without being too loud or tough to match with if you're wearing it throughout different seasons with different coats/hoodies. The shape of it keeps it from looking bulky, even when it's super-full, and it just has a really sleek, stylish look.
I can't recommend this bag highly enough. If anything ever happens to this one (like it getting run over by a train, because I honestly can't think of any other force strong enough to make a dent in it), I will buy another one in a heartbeat. I might actually buy another one in a different pattern just for the sake of variety, that's how much I love it. I will never buy any other brand again, anyone thinking about giving Dakine a try, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
This product is amazing! I was expecting something to be wrong with it since they sold it 40 dollars cheaper than the normal asking price, but it is brand new and perfect! I have a 17.3 inch laptop and it hhas no problem fitting in the main pocket, I can even squeeze it into the laptop sleeve, even though its only meant for 15 inch ones. All in all, money WELL spent!
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I just received this backpack in the mail today and its more than I could have ever hoped for, especially for such a low price!The shape of the backpack is very comfortable and appears compact while on but it has tons and tons of room inside. It also has some awesome small features. The small pocket at the top as well as two of the pockets in the small compartment (for sunglasses, cell phone, camera, etc) are lined with very soft velvet-like fabric to prevent your belongings from scratching. the two open compartments in the front of the backpack have a rougher lining to prevent items from slipping out. The stitching is very high quality and the design is very pretty. It also comes with a cute little pouch. Its going to be absolutely perfect for organizing and carrying all my things around campus. would suggest it to anyone!
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My daughter carries this bag every day, loaded with school books. After almost a full year, there is no sign of wear. Nice to see a well made product which doesn't break the bank.
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I ordered this backpack because the one I was using previously was starting to wear down and get holes in the bottom. I've got to say that I'm very happy with my purchase! I love the small pocket at the top and use it store keys, gum, and sunglasses. The pockets on the outside are great for stuffing something in quickly. The interior has plenty of room for notebooks, textbooks, and my laptop. I'd say the only thing that's missing is an exterior pouch to store a water bottle, but there's plenty of room on the inside, so I don't miss that too much. I highly recommend this backpack to any students looking for a good-sized, comfortable backpack with a nice design!
Looks as beautiful as the picture. Rolls wonderfully. Haven't used it on a trip yet, but I have no worries that it will hold up. Very happy with this product.
