I teach in a large, urban high school. Every day, I see the value of a spacious, durable backpack as my students lag a big pile of books, a laptop, a binder, notebooks and more from classroom to classroom because they never get a chance to go to their lockers during the day.
This backpack is made of heavy duty canvas with a liner on the inside. There are two large pockets on the inside - the main pocket and a spacious padded computer sleeve. You can stuff a lot into this backpack. There are also two small pockets sewn into the lining.
The backpack does not have a zipper, instead it is cinched shut and covered by a flap. Not having a zipper isn't necessarily a bad thing. Every year I see kids ruin a lot of nice backpacks by simply stuffing too many things into the backpack and ruining the zipper.
The flap has faux buckles on leather straps. Rather than actually buckling shut, the straps use magnets to keep it closed There are also three exterior pockets - two on the sides and one in the back. All are closed by the same type of magnets that hold the flap in place. At first i was not impressed by the magnets but they are actually a whole lot stronger than they look.
The straps can be lengthened out quite very far. Usually, I have to let a backpack's straps all of the way and then make minor adjustments to tighten things up. This backpack required a lot of tightening (easy to do - just pull the strap) and would be a great backpack for people with big shoulders.
The straps are very comfortable and there is a loop to hang the backpack on a hook or as an alternative way to carry it.
We've used this backpack at our house all summer because it has been sitting out to be tested. We love it.
The backpack comes in five colors: coffee, black, army green, grey and khaki.
I rate this backpack 5 stars out of 5.
Note: I received a free or heavily discounted backpack in exchange for an honest review. This really is a great backpack.
As of the time of this review, this backpack cost $32.98 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Aidonger Vintage canvas and leather backpack.
Tested at Disney World - Comes Through with Flying Colors!
I got this backpack-style daypack to take to Disney World on our summer vacation. But, once I tried it on I realized that it was just too small for me - it felt like I was wearing a little kid's backpack. But, I have a nine-year-old and I let her use it and it fit her perfectly (there is a bigger version that is a little more than 1/3 larger available for $5 more). She carried the little essentials at Disney World - a small umbrella, a map and, of course, a little notebook to get autographs from all of the Disney Princesses and sometimes a water bottle.
This daypack can fold up into a small pouch for easy storage in a car or wherever. When you unfold it, the pouch is in the backpack and serves as an internal pocket. This backpack is water-resistant but not waterproof. While we were at Epcot we were caught in a thunderstorm and the backpack protected what was inside.
This would not be a heavy-duty backpack like kids would use for school and they do not claim to be. But, this was great on our trip. My daughter had no complaints, except that the straps hurt when she overloaded it, which is to be expected.
The daypack comes in 7 different colors (black, blue, green, orange, gray, purple and red) and two different sizes (20 L and 35 L).
Note: I received a free daypack in for testing purposes in exchange for an honest review.
As of the time of this review, this daypack cost $16.99 on Amazon. The larger size cost $21.99. Click here to check current pricing: SUNYOO® 20L/35L Large Lightweight Backpack-style Water Resistant Travel Daypack
I Am Torn When It Comes to This Bag.
I am torn when it comes to this bag. First off, let me tell you that I was offered a review copy of this bag from IBsound so I paid nothing for it in exchange for an honest review.
Second, I have to tell you that I actually received two copies of this bag. The first one I received came without two of the three magnetic belt cinch straps that are used to close the pockets. I was sent another one right away. I would not even have mentioned the problem with the first bag (mistakes happen and they fixed it right away) except that the second bad also had an issue. The loop handle at the top was not sewn correctly - there's no way that anyone would have purchased it at a store the way it was sewn. But, I just took the belt straps from the new bag and put them on the old bag and between the two of them I had one complete bag. But, I felt that I had to report that both copies that I was sent had problems.
My high school-aged daughter loved the bag on sight and she used it for 4 show choir events to keep her personal items in. These show choir events are literally all day events (18+ hours long) so she really got to know the bag well. She siad that she would rate it a B/B-, which I interpret as 4 stars on the 5 star scale that I use.
But, when I told her he price of this bag she was troubled. At the time of this review the asking price for this bag is $28.99. (Check here for current pricing:Winkine Durable Vintage Casual Lightweight Canvas Backpack
). She said that she would pay no more than $15 for this bag, especially when compared the $45.58 price tag of her heavy duty school backpack that gets a real workout every day (she goes to a large high school and does not have the chance to go to her locker between classes so she carries everything in it) and looks as good as the day she got it.
The bag is made of a lightweight canvas. The straps, buckles and loop at the top are all made of a plastic leather-like material (I call it "pleather"). This pleather is better than the pleather of the past but is not fooling anyone within 5 feet of it. The main pocket has a cinch top. Inside, there is a additional zipper pocket to hold something small like a wallet or some change. My daughter put her battery to re-charge her cell phone in it. The leather straps are meant to look like they cinch shut but the buckles are merely decorative and the pockets are actually held shut by a magnet. If you do not overfill them, they will stay shut.
This is a lightweight bag. Don't try to use it as a heavy duty bag to carry a bunch of textbooks - it was not designed for it and it will not hold up.
Considering everything, I have to rate this bag 3 stars out of 5.
