I purchased this from Amazon (on a family member's account) for the upcoming school year. I have used a Swiss Gear backpack for the past 3 years. After daily, rough use, the padding on the shoulder straps has worn down and it is definitely showing some signs of wear and tear (the Swiss Gear backpack). For about sixty dollars, the Swiss Gear backpack was very high quality.
However, I thought it was about time to get a new backpack. I received a Dakine Cosmo backpack as a gift last year, and have found it to be high quality. The zippers are nice and the fabric is durable (and fashionable!). Thus, when it came time to buy a new backpack, I chose the Dakine brand.
This backpack does not disappoint. The zippers are very nice, easy to zip, high quality. The fabric seems very durable and rugged. The shoulder straps are padded nicely and should be able to stand up to daily school use. I would say that this is comparable to the quality of the Swiss Gear backpack.
FEATURES
-Chest strap...I have no use for a chest strap, and honestly, it's a nuisance when you don't use. I'm thinking about cutting it off, but I hesitate, in case it might ruin the shoulder straps. We'll see.
-Cooler compartment...Currently, I'm not sure if I will use the cooler compartment, since I usually bring a lunchbox and it doesn't seem big enough to replace it. I'll probably just use it as a regular pocket.
-Sunglasses compartment...A nice touch, especially since it's lined with a velvet-like fabric. It's large, about 5 inches deep and 9 inches across. I like it. I could definitely see it replacing a sunglasses case, if you use the backpack a lot. This compartment, located at the top of the backpack near the shoulder straps, could also be used to store other items that would be useful to have quick-access to. I'm thinking wallet, keys, phone, etc.
-Laptop sleeve...I have a different backpack to be used for my laptop only and I don't usually carry my laptop around school. However, it seems to be well made and it fits my 15" laptop nicely. Since I won't be using it for my laptop, I'll use it like a divider for the main compartment and just shove some binders/notebooks in it.
-Main compartment...Very large, bigger than my previous Swiss Gear backpack (and that's saying something! I always had the biggest backpack in my group of friendsincluding Jansports, High Sierra, etc.). It fit three 2" binders and seven 70 sheet spiral notebooks and still looked like it had room for more. When I put it on, the backpack still looked very discreet, disguising the fact that it held a lot of supplies. There IS a lot of space at the top, maybe around 5" of space above the binders and notebooks. Almost seemed like a waste, but it'll be useful for shoving a thick jacket or lunchbox in.
-Secondary compartment...Nicely organized, with a phone and iPod compartment lined with that velvet-like fabric. Fit my iPod touch and LG Remarq perfectly. The pen pockets are a tad tight for my Papermate Clearpoint mechanical pencils, but it gets the job done. My TI-84 is kind of a tight fit, but it works.
-Outer compartment...There's no zipper here, just a deep pocket. I would not use it for important items for fear of things falling out, although it does seem unlikely due to the depth. Perhaps for unimportant papers, it'd be fine.
AESTHETICS
-Outer fabric pattern...I chose to get this backpack in Houndstooth, a nice, discreet pattern that is still very nice to look at. It does not disappoint. Depending on the angle at which you view the backpack, the houndstooth pattern either disappears and looks like complete black or shows up in high contrast.
-Inner fabric pattern...I was surprised at the inner fabric pattern. If the outer houndstooth is discreet, than this is anything but. It's bright green, with pink and black flowers. Not unpleasant to look at, but still eye-catching. I usually shy away from pink things, but I suppose I'll have to get over that with this.
-Size...The backpack is quite large, which I take to be a good thing. However, with my petite frame (5'2"), it seems too large. Oh well. But again, as I said before, with many items in it, it is still quite flat and discreet, which is nice.
-Shape...The backpack looks to be top-heavy, which I find strange. The upper half of the backpack looks bigger than the bottom half, which is a different look, since most backpacks are the other way around.
SHIPPING
Received on time, but it did take Amazon 2-3 days (after I placed the order) to ship it, which I found unusual and slightly frustrating. Usually Amazon ships out the item the same day or the day after I place the order. I used the free super saver shipping option.
OVERALL
I find it to be a great backpack, and I can't wait to use it for the upcoming school year. Definitely recommended! A fantastic value for forty-five dollars. I will be a returning Dakine customer in the future.
/\/\UPDATE 8/6/2012/\/\
I cut the chest straps off (it was attached to the shoulder straps by a plastic piece) and I'm glad I did. The plastic pieces look fine by themselves, no need to remove that part. Cutting them off won't compromise the shoulder straps.
This is a terrific backpack! The straps stay on my shoulders and are comfortable. I love the insulated pocket for packing yogurt or cheese with my lunch. There are plenty of spaces for pens/pencils. The sunglass pouch is terrific too. Overall, it's just a great bag.
The only downside is it is not as roomy as my old Jansport, but everything else about this bag is terrific.
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The backpack is everything it was supposed to be and more. It is well made, functional, and stylish. My daughther is a Sophomore, and it gets the job done everyday for her. She hauls around her books, lunch, ipod, phone, glasses, dance practice outfit, water bottle, all in there own comparments. She has gotten so many compliments on this bag as well, and so many wanting to know where she purchased it. Good value for the money.We have yet to use it for her laptop, but I am sure it wont fail us. I hope they make new patterns for next season.
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I received this bag in the 'skyler' color/pattern. All Dakine exterior fabrics are darker or more subdued than pictured online (which I find preferable but others may not). The material is thick and the stitching is sturdy. The zippers are plastic.
The insulated cooler pocket appears large, but I find it to be thin/shallow. It works well with sandwich sized lunch containers and flatter food items (like granola bars) if you're not keen on having that pocket be lumpy from odd shaped things. A nice surprise was the very front pocket that does not zip, it is coated in a way that suggests water resistance which makes it a nice place to tuck an ice pack.
The organizer pocket is a nice size, deep enough for a notebook to fit. There are 4 pen spaces, 2 lined spots meant for things iPod and iPhone sized, and a zipped section as well.
The main space is sized well and is where you'll find the laptop sleeve. Check the dimensions of your laptop versus the dimensions of the bag to ensure it will fit! Bulkier 15.6" laptops will likely be a tight squeeze. It also doubles as a hydration sleeve holder if you take your bag out hiking/camping (although getting the tube out requires you leave the zipper open slightly).
At the very top of the bag is a "sunglasses" pouch. I use this to store my earbuds, mini mouse, and chargers.
The way the straps are attached creates an odd bridge of material that acts as a top handle on the bag. While I find the handle convenient, I do find it a bit stiff against my neck and have had to adjust where the bag sits to reduce rubbing against my skin while wearing it.
Overall I am pleased with my purchase, and feel the few negatives are easily ignored or worked around.
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My high-school daughter thinks it is by far the best backpack she has ever had. Lots of organization pockets, comfortable, and she constantly gets compliments on how cute it was (in fact, she was a little perturbed after her first day back after Christmas break that more kids complimented her on the awesome backpack than they did her new outfit -LOL). Appears to be really high qualityvery glad we purchased it. More subdued colors than I expected... a deep gray and deep eggplant color but again, perfect for an older student.
The items that I had purchased were made of the same material as the older duffle bags. They appear to be able to last just as long. The company that I had purchased them from was very quick on thier response when shipping it to a forward deployed location.
