A Great Backpack
I was searching for a smaller backpack. The backpack needed to meet the following specifications: •Small, but not too small •Side pockets large enough to securely carry a 20oz cup or water bottle •A small zippered pocket on front for quick storage of small items •An external charging port •An internal pocket to hold a power bank •A place to put my tablet •inside pockets for storing small items like pens •modern and simple looking •Quality material that is water and dirt repellant •Easy to travel with, must have a luggage strap •Grey •Not expensive Mode: A-1 Color:Grey I quickly realized that finding a small back pack that also had these specs was not going to be an easy task. I read through hundreds of reviews, looked at countless pictures, and sifted through hundreds of styles. I even purchased a different back pack; only to be disappointed with the size. It seemed as though all of the smaller sized backpacks were small in height, but quite large in width. So basically, I could find a smaller backpack, but it would stick out like a turtle shell. It looked as though I was wearing a child's backpack. I also noticed that one of the hardest to find specs on my list would be the front zipper pocket. Most of the backpacks that had the front zipper pocket, stuck out pretty far because the pockets were too deep. I also had a hard time finding a backpack with a luggage strap. I quickly realized that finding a backpack with the above specifications would be a very difficult task... then I found this backpack. I read the reviews and tried to identify any problems that appeared to be a design flaw or a manufacturer’s issue. I saw a lot of complaints about it not being waterproof. It is not waterproof. It is water resistant, however. Water/liquid does bead off of it. I purchased the A-1 Grey, model. This company sells several different models and it seems as though all of the reviews are lumped together. This creates some confusion when reading the reviews on a specific model. The other frequent question was whether or not it had a luggage strap, like the pictures indicate. The A-1 model does have a luggage strap. It appears to be study as well. The side pockets are large enough to hold a 20oz steel cup. It is a tight squeeze, but it will fit. I actually like the fact that it holds it tightly. It will definitely hold a bottled water. The side pocket located on the side with the usb charging port had a little strap. This is nice for holding my phone securely while it charges. There is a pocket on the inside to hold my power bank. The backpack is wired with a usb plug for the power bank. This does somewhat concern me. I don’t know what the life span of it will be. If it quits working, the usb port will be useless. So far, it works perfectly. This backpack has a small zippered pocket on the front that is. Ice for gum and sunglasses. It also has two larger zippered compartments. The smaller compartment in the front has storage pockets for pens and other small items, and then there is the main zippered compartment for all of your larger belongings like your laptop or tablet. Many similar style backpacks just have one large compartment. I really like this feature. My iPad fits perfectly into the laptop pocket. The Velcro strap secures it into place. There is no padding on the bottom though. I can hear the sound of the bottom of my tablet hitting the floor when I put it down. This was not a huge problem, considering that the backpack met all of the other requirements. I simply put a little rolled up cloth in the bottom to cushion it more. I also have a protective case on my iPad, and I am careful about sitting my backpack down, so this is not a deal breaker. The only issue that this backpack has thus far, is that it will fall over. It doesn’t stand on it’s own when you sit it down, it falls forward. It might sit up if the bottom is full and contains something heavier, like a laptop. I consider this to be a small inconvenience rather than a major issue. I just lean it against the wall or chair when I sit it down. Some other reviews stated that the backpack had a strong “smell” to it. Honestly, mine just smelled like a new item to me. The smell went away after a couple of days. It wasn’t a bad smell, it just smelled new. I tried to consider the positive side of it, considering the alternative. Other than a couple of small, and easily remedied issues, this backpack is really nice! It fulfills all of the other requirements that I have for a functional, smaller, and clean/modern looking backpack. It is not a high end, expensive tech backpack. If you are expecting that, then you will be let down. It is a really nice backpack, especially if you considering it’s price point! You can’t buy a Toyota and expect it to have the features of a Tesla. I would recommend this backpack to anyone who wants to downsize, yet still have the space to carry everything they need. I have carried this backpack for a few weeks now. I have also traveled with it several times. If I end up having issues with this backpack at some point, I will come back and update my review. Read more
