I really wanted to like this bag. I got the Charcoal/Chipotle/Black one and it's pretty nice. It has lots of pockets, which could border on too many for some users. I sometimes forget which of the pockets hold my stuff. The zippers are nice, and just big enough to grasp and pull easily.
Besides all the compartments, there are lots of smaller pockets. The very first compartment can hold all your knickknacks. It has pen/pencil holders, zippered pockets, non-zippered pockets, "velcroed" pockets...you get the idea.
The second compartment has a mini pocket up top designed for an mp3 player. Above that pocket is even a port to push a headphone jack so you can listen to your tunes as you walk.
There is a tiny soft-lined pocket at the very top that I normally use to store things like my camera, phone and mp3 player i.e. things I don't want scratched. That's one of the things I like most about the bag.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th compartments are great for books with lots of room. However the fourth compartment held a surprise laptop pocket complete with a strap and buckle. I didn't have a laptop at the time I bought this, but now that I own one, I'm really happy it's there.
The straps are nice and wide also, making it easier to carry around on your back.
The ONLY thing I do not like about this backpack is that "Vapel mesh" that they added to the back. That thing has caused trauma to my polos and t-shirts you would not believe. Every polo and T-shirt I wear with this has caused the fabric to twill BADLY. I've never had clothes damaged by a backpack like this has. And for this reason, and this reason alone, I wish I never bought this bag. No one else has mentioned this problem, so it may well be only me.
I've had numerous backpacks over the years, and this one is the best one I've ever owned. Yes, it's large. Yes, there are tons of pockets and organization. The previous reviews have listed them in detail.... what I'd like to emphasize is the extreme comfort! A couple of days ago, I ran abt a quarter of a mile in the rain with this bag, a 13" macbook (b/c there are adjustable straps on the inside of the compartment to make the bag fit the laptop instead of the other way around! Serious SCORE!), a notebook/binder, 2 super heavy college text books and various small items. Not only was I able to run, I was able to do so comfortably! It cinches down easily. The padding on the back ROCKS! The lumbar portion makes it fit easily to the contour of your back, and the suspension straps give when they need to without pulling on your shoulders and neck. The only thing I didn't love is the waist strap, but it tucks away easily behind the lumbar padding; honestly, I don't even remember it's there anymore. This bag has taken a beating over the past year, and it still looks beautiful! I'd like another colour, but I can't really justify the expense b/c this one is going to last a loooooooong time.
A seriously satisfied customer who is finally hooked on a backpack and may never feel the need to hunt for another,
**Update** After another year of constant use, the bag still looks great! No visible signs of wear or tear either. It's holding up much better than other expensive packs I've tried.
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I purchased this backpack for extensive general everyday and weekend use (aka my "man purse"). I carry my gym clothes and other miscellaneous gear to and from work every day which involves daily repetitive usage of the zippers and pockets. I also use it for travelling and weekend trips, sometimes with large (heavy) loads and can be VERY tough on a backpack in general. In the past I owned a North Face (Recon) pack which at almost 6 years old was dated in design though not falling apart.
This pack seems on par with the quality of the North Face pack, as far as materials go and at less than half the price. The design is PERFECT for travelling (with three *separate* large compartments, as well as lots of cool little stash spots). Perfect, nay -IDEALfor organization on a 3-day+ trip. The feel of the pack is solid, and very well made. The zippers, a crucial fail point on cheap packs, are thick-toothed and burly! The laptop pouch is great, and easy to access in line at aiport security via it's own special zipper right above the straps. It is also WELL padded, including the bottom (where it rightly has the thickest padding) The carrying handle on top is a dream padded and comfortable. I often carry my pack using that handle, so it's nice to see it becoming standard on many packs these days.
I initially wondered why the water bottle pouches (2) did not have cinch straps at the top like North Face does but in actual usage I actually prefer them like this. I tend to use the side pockets for quick-access storage, and these flush-mount pouches are superior to the loose, floppy North Face design. They are deep as well, so they hold tall bottles WAY better, as well as a bunch of random stuff when I want to quickly dump things somewhere when on the go.
The very top small storage pouch is awesome and PERFECTLY designed when I go to lunch I can dip right in for my wallet and keys without having to dig around or even move the bag at all brilliant. Perfect for "ready access" items. The front "organizer" pouch has a killer little Velcro "phone pocket" in it (this is better for storing smallish items like lip balm, coins and extra batteries rather than a phone) the rest of the organizer area is pretty "meh" like most organizers in backpacks. Things tend to just get thrown into that front pocket. I find the side (water bottle) pouches better to drop a phone into (it's easier to hear it ring too).
The shoulder straps are the best I have ever used on a daypack. The High Sierra "integrated suspension system" WORKS (I was very doubtful). This thing feels like a dream on the back. Also, a really cool feature is that the bottom straps have stopper clips on them to prevent that annoying "run through" where a strap comes out of the fastener and hangs free. How is this the first pack I have ever seen this on?? These stopper clips also have super handy "pullin' holes" where you can tighten them with one finger, another incredibly innovative design that took me by surprise.
High Sierra has hit a home run with this pack as far as I am concerned, and obviously I am very anal about my backpack performance and specs (it literally goes EVERYWHERE I go, in all conditions, with all types of loads). I appreciated the very detailed reviews of various packs when I started looking for a new one, so I hope others of like mind find this of interest!
Side note: Several reviewers expressed concern over "that extra fabric covering the two main zippers". These are rain flaps which help prevent water intrusion through the zipper. I guess only `backpack idiot savants' like me know that. Yes they can get in the way sometimes, but you'll be very glad it's there during a downpour they make a big difference.
I paid 39.00 (with free Prime shipping 2-day delivery black/black model) and boy does this seem like one hell of a deal!
UPDATE: I have discovered that the laptop pouch also doubles as an amazing beer cooler. I can easily fit 3 bottles (more possibly) in there, along with my gel icepack. It's essentially *AS GOOD* as any softsided cooler, and found it kept my drinks cold and safe all night. Sweet!!
Also, I have to re-state this, the little "stash pouch" (on top) for ready-access stuff like keys and wallet, is perhaps the best single innovation I have ever seen on a pack. NO MORE digging around in other pockets for my keys & such! At concerts, it has proven to be a godsend when I am slightly inebriated. Not to mention at work when I need to grab my keys and run, I don't even need to move my pack.
***UPDATE TEN MONTHS LATER***
The pack still looks brand new! It has been to two multi-day camping music festivals, a week in New Orleans on foot, several day hikes, 7 concerts, MANY weekend trips, MANY beach trips, and DAILY use back and forth to my office (where it is often used to courier my Amazon purchases home). If there is a known punishment that humans can inflict upon a helpless backpack, verily I have delivered it unto this High Sierra!
Is the fabric made of a futuristic, impenetrable teflon-adamantium fibre? Are the zippers forged from molten eagle talons? Was the design itself created by a 13-year-old boy with Asperger's living in the Ukraine and enhanced with gamma rays? I DON'T KNOW!!
But it is one hell of a pack!
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This is the 2nd High Sierra back pack that was purchased in our home in 4 months. Upon a recommendation from his younger sister my older child, an 11th grade boy bought the exact same bag. He is not real particular about the color, the number of pockets or the style. The most important thing we looked for was durability and the large space for many books and binders.
Everything works with this bag. I picked 4 other bags at retail stores, some more expensive, some less and one brand name that he didn't want to wear but he wasn't happy with any of those choices.
This is a perfect bag.
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I was a bit apprehensive when I selected the color(charcoal blue) since it didnt give the bag a fresh,new brand look. I got my bag withing a week and when I saw it, it was not at all disappointing. Overall, I like the bag very much. Too comfortable to carry al sorts of things that u need. My only concern(and a trivial one) is that my laptop has to be pushed in it with a little force.It would have been better if the laptop compartment would be a bit larger. But overall..the bag is too good. An indeed very good product to have!!
Not only is this backpack absolutely gorgeous, but it's very sturdy built too. The colors on the design are bright and very well done. The backpack itself is roomy without being overly large, the seams well-made and the zippers have been very durable. I got this for my daughter and she absolutely loves it. I wish I had gotten one for myself too!
