Showing posts with label roxy backpack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roxy backpack. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

iSafe Guardian Backpack

Guardian Backpack Color: Blue/GreyThis backpack is nice quality, and sturdy enough for my 7 year old grandson. It is cool colors and a good size. The sound of the alarms is deafening!!! That thing is loud! I feel safer knowing it is there...just in case he needs it.

This bag is great! It's high quality, and the alarm is LOUD!!! Do not use alarm in the house. This might seem obvious to some, but we tested it in our house just because I didn't want to freak out the neighbors and it was very painful to the ears. My 9 year old is walking home from school for the first time this year, and this is just a little extra security. Of course, it's no substitute for "stranger danger" talks, but even double the price would be well worth it for this bag. We've had no instances of the bag accidentally going off and have not yet had to replace batteries. Just for an idea ... I told my son not to tell anyone what his bag does to avoid any curious kids wanting to pull the alarm. When kids asked what the speakers on the bag are for, he told them it's to connect his ipod. He doesn't actually have an ipod, but that took care of the curiosity. ;)

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Osprey Packs Flare Daypack

Osprey Packs Flare DaypackI have been buying Osprey packs for over 15 years. Currently, I have about 6. I have never had an issue, EVER. They go into the washing machine and come out like new. From a hydration pack to a 65 liter Atmos, and the Halo, Flare, Focus, and Quantum in between. I love them all.

The Flare is perfect as a day bag. Recently, I packed it with a pair of sneakers an extra coat and my iPad w/chargers and headphones, and had room for snacks, papers, gloves and a knit hat, with room to spare.

My only complaint is that they don't wear out, so I can't justify buying more!

I have tried North Face and the external mesh pocket ripped, as well as cheaper bags that don't hold up.

I cannot say more about the quality of Osprey bags. They are very comfortable with many ways to adjust the fit. Check Osprey's website for sizing. If you don't like your purchase, I'll take it!

This backpack has taken a lot of abuse over the past couple of months. I load my backpack far beyond normal and is never mollycoddled. It has held up admirably. The backpack itself is pretty light, but the construction is top notch. No complaints at all.

Buy Osprey Packs Flare Daypack Now

Absolutely fantastic backpack. Amazing quality. The additional internal pockets are great for keeping your papers and books organized while on the move. Exterior pouches are perfect for the items you want to carry there: cell phone, bottle of water, etc. Zipper pull stirngs make for easy opening and closing. Multiple carrying handles allow you to get a firm grip no matter what angle you grab it from. The color is great and thankfully not as bright as it looks in the pictures. Highly recommended!!

Read Best Reviews of Osprey Packs Flare Daypack Here

great bag for vacation. Wore the bag for a week and never really felt like it was on. Holds everything you could need for a day trip.

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Friday, June 20, 2014

Saddleback Leather Thin Briefcase Large

Saddleback Leather Thin Briefcase Large, Dark Coffee BrownI bought this off the saddleback leather website. This briefcase replaced a Kenneth Cole Reaction leather messenger bag. I have had the bag with me for almost 2 weeks, I'll update this review when I have 6 months with the briefcase.

First the good stuff:

Awesome look and feel. You can perceive that this briefcase was made for the long run. The look is a very "manly" look; the whole thing has more character than some of my coworkers.

Top notch quality. From the leather to the stitching to the rivets to the hardware, these guys spared no expense on making sure you get an outstanding hand-made quality product. I state hand-made because you should not expect perfect alignment or centering of stitches, this is not a product made on a precision machine.

Lots of space. The first thing I noticed when I got the briefcase was that it seems a lot smaller than I had thought it would be, but when I started to fill it with all my stuff, I was able to fit all of it and then have some spare space. This is what I carry in my briefcase:

* Dell latitude E6410 laptop

* Power cord

* 2 pens

* 1 magic marker

* 1 small moleskine notebook

* 1 medium moleskine notebook

* 1 first aid kit (aspirin, alcohol pad, iodine pad, band aids, compressed paper towels, Dayquil caps, salonpas pads...)

* 1 bluetooth mouse

* 1 kensington slide changer/laser pointer

* 1 business card case with business cards

* 1 chapstick

* 1 advil cylinder (with ~12 tablets)

* 1 2gb ironkey

* Trident chewing gum

* 3 bank netkeys

* Inside a Victorinox 4.5x10" pouch I have: Ipod usb cable, earphones, small emergency sewing kit, 2 Shout! Wetpads, Blackberry usb cable, my favorite: a small kit containing micro stapler, micro adhesive tape, staple remover and hole puncher

* 1 moleskine cahier (you can safely assume I love moleskins!)

* A plastic folder to keep papers and printed documents

It's a long list, but this goes to saying that this briefcase can accommodate a lot of stuff!

Flexibility to convert to a backpack. I think this may come in handy when carrying this bag across long distances.

Waterproof. Once you look at the briefcase you just know that rain won't get in your stuff.

No zippers, Velcro or any other non-durable features. If they're saying it has a 100 year warranty, might as well take these features off.

Internal pockets. There are 3 of them, two are for pens and the other is for whatever else. This is just the right amount of pockets for me, more would take space, less wouldn't be practical.

Now the bad stuff and/or things that worry me:

Even though the briefcase is able to stand up by itself, mine stands tilted towards the front. I would prefer for it to stand up straight. I'm not sure if this will happen with time -maybe-.

The closure strap has already taken a beating after closing/opening the briefcase. I'm not sure if this is normal and/or if it will affect the sturdiness of it. Wouldn't want for that strap to break soon. This is something I'll report on after 6 months of use.

I did not feel like the bottom of the laptop compartment had enough cushioning. Saddleback says that the outside stitching helps protect the laptop and that makes sense, but I put some neoprene gasket on the bottom just to be sure.

Strap pads when using as a backpack. I found that when you use the bag as a backpack the O ring can be uncomfortable on your back, but if you place the strap so that it twists, then the O ring gets out of the way, but now you have one strap pad backwards. This is an easy fix though, just unbuckle the strap and flip one of the pads.

This is a heavy briefcase. Yes, it's the heaviest bag I've had and I guess if I walked to work or spent too much time carrying the bag it could become a big problem, but I don't.

Overall, this is the best briefcase/bag I've had. And just so you can compare, I've had a Samsonite roller, a Victorinox Acropolis, a Dell plain laptop bag and the Kenneth Cole I mentioned at the beginning of the review.

UPDATE 02/10: I was robbed and the bad guys took my saddleback bag, so I won't be able to write a review on the 6 month mark. I am saving up to buy an identical bag though, so once I have it with me for 6 months, I'll write about that one.

UPDATE 03/11: I got a new bag! I bought the exact same one and there are things I saw worth noticing:

You can tell these bags don't come from a production line by the differences within the same bag model. It's not that this is radically different, but the "marks" on the grain, the stiching, the way the bag stands up, etc make this new bag seem to have a different personality than the other one. It's like getting to know a pair of twins, they seem the same, but in the details there are things that make each one unique.

The quality still seems top notch.

This bag stands up almost straight. The other one didn't

UPDATE 09/23:

So now I've had the bag for a little over six months and I couldn't have asked for more. The leather has taken some character already and it's much softer than before, although it still maintains its sturdiness.

I've gotten som compliments on the bag, and a neat thing about it is that so far I've traveled to Europe, within Mexico and a couple of times to the States and I haven't seen any bag that can beat this one.

I've started to buy more saddleback products now, some wallets and a kindle pouch. You can see my reviews of some of them, but this goes to say that I'm a big saddleback fan now!

I purchased this item directly from the vendor's website.

First off, this is a very heavy item. For context, the strap alone is noticeably heavier than my previous laptop bag. Think about that. With my MacBook Pro in it, it slows down my commute (I walk). I will certainly be a stronger fellow by virtue of lugging this around.

The strap is difficult to wear, though I hope that with time the leather breaks in and it becomes more tolerable. For now, I'm taking a break from the strap because it's been breaking me in (I literally have a bruise on my collarbone from carrying the case cross body).

Carrying the case by its handle is somewhat annoying because the large O ring is right under the carry handle and interferes with my hand. Hopefully this will improve with age as the handle stretches away from the body a little.

I have used the case in its backpack configuration. Bottom line: it is uncomfortable. First, the O ring sometimes digs into your back, which is unpleasant. Second, getting it onto my back is somewhat difficult because the O ring does not hold the center strap in place resulting in all the slack being on the wrong side while trying to get my second arm through the straps. There can also be issues with positioning the pad on the side with the buckle, the pad cannot extend over the buckle, so it is not optimally placed.

In terms of appearance, it is handsome. I think over time it will gain more flavor, right now mine is quite new looking.

Access into the main body of the case is slow due to the buckle mechanism combined with the thickness of the leather. When I initially got the briefcase, I almost couldn't open it because the tongue on the buckle is very long and the leather didn't want to bend that far. I really had to yank it.

Regarding the lining, pigskin is not soft. I wasn't aware of that when I ordered it. I will have to get a sleeve for my macbook, you might want to consider doing a custom order and asking for the suede lining.

In the interior there are two pen areas, one on each end. You will probably need to buy new pens if you want to use them because the thickness of the leather is such that the clips on most pens will break from being stretched. I'm clipping my pens to the large interior pocket, which is thinner.

20/22/2010. After using this bag for quite some time, I'm clarifying this review for Saji by docking a star.

Buy Saddleback Leather Thin Briefcase Large Now

I have the extra-large thin briefcase and I LOVE it. This is one stout leather briefcase. Not many bells and whistles but that is part of its genius (and the 100 year warranty) the simplicity of it all. This thing just FEELS good on my shoulder. I love carrying it in to work each day. I want to hug it as I fall asleep.

The one thing some people may not like is that even though it is somewhat dressy ... it is not as polished a look as you will find in other products. There are around 11 d-rings on the outside of this briefcase ... all made for functionality like tying an unbrella or a tripod to your briefcase ... but for a corporate boardroom look you may find it a bit over the top. As I am not the president of a company I couldn't care less. :)

I am now the owner of three products from SaddleBack Leather and I have my eye on a fourth .... :)

Read Best Reviews of Saddleback Leather Thin Briefcase Large Here

I am an attorney and have owned many briefcases over the years, and I have to say that the quality of the leather and construction of the Saddleback Thin briefcase is the best I've seen. Unfortunately, I didn't accurately estimate the size I needed, and the Large was too big and heavy for me. But after sending an email to Saddleback Leather, they allowed me to return the Large for a full refund with no questions asked. I used the refund to buy the Thin Medium, which was the perfect size to carry a 15" Macbook Pro, iPad 2, Wifi hotspot, 2 power adapters, iPhone charger, 2 pens and some paperwork. I'm completely satisfied with both the product and the customer service.

UPDATE: I've had to downgrade my review to 3 stars due to the fact that the finish stains white or light-colored clothes. The Q&A from Saddleback's Website says that the leather will not stain clothing, but I noticed that whenever I carried the bag on my shoulder while wearing light colored pants, I would end up with a brown line across my hip. I thought that it might just be that I had placed the bag on something dirty and the dirt was coming from the bottom of the bag, but that wasn't the case. I took a white cloth and lightly rubbed it across the side of the bag, and the cloth was stained. This makes the bag very difficult to recommend for business use unless you always plan to wear a dark colored suit.

Want Saddleback Leather Thin Briefcase Large Discount?

Made of the highest quality materials available and boy does it show. This bag will likely take at least a year to even begin to break-in. The first day I had it I already started receiving compliments. It smells divine. I've never felt a bag that feels so sturdy you can even *hear* how sturdy it is. It's odd to explain but once you get one you will know what I'm talking about.

I got the large size in Chestnut after returning the medium because it was just too small and looked like a woman's satchel on me. This thing is perfect and it is NOT too heavy. Are we men or mice? I am 6'0" and 180 lbs. the bag looks perfect for my frame.

I also own the medium saddleback leather wallet and the card sleeve. All of the highest quality leather. I am amazed at the affordability and can't wait for my next pieces of Saddelback Leather!

P.S. the customer service with this company is hands down some of the best I've ever encountered. Exchange process for the medium to large briefcase was a breeze and the response time is uncanny. I hope this company is around for a VERY long time.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Stephanie Dawn Women's Backpack 10009 Casual Handbag

Stephanie Dawn Backpack - French Quarter * USA New Handbag Quilted 10009-002This backpack is really very nice. It is large enough to hold all of the daily things, i.e., a newspaper, an ereader, some snacks (I don't bring my lunch but I believe it would be big enough to hold one), your wallet, checkbook, cell phone, ID badge, etc. And there are plenty of pockets to organize things if you want your ID and transit card where you can easily locate them. And it is made in the US. I have this bag in both the French Quarter pattern and the Mocha Paisley and the colors on both of them are spectacular. They really brighten up a dull day. Pretty and practical -what more could a person ask for?

Monday, April 28, 2014

Disney Princess Jasmine Toddler Rolling School Backpack (22197)

Disney Princess Jasmine Toddler Rolling School Backpackit is a nice product, but is actually smaller than it appears to be. nevertheless, liked it. it can either be worn on the back or dragged with the handle

Great quaility and adoarable. I had to get this since my daughters name is Jasmine. She just used this for our first trip. (It is small and child size. Will only fit a few book or DVD's or small toys. Not recommended for clothes unless its maybe a day trip.

Buy Disney Princess Jasmine Toddler Rolling School Backpack (22197) Now

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Seal Line Black Canyon 10-Litre Dry Bag

Seal Line Black Canyon 10-Litre Dry Bag, BlueThis product was just as described. Kept all my gear dry in Costa Rica during the rainy season. We even became submerged in a creek bed when the water became really deep on a trek towards a waterfall in Cahuita. It doubled as a flotation device. All my camera gear stayed dry the whole time. Thank you to Amazon for shipping it as soon as it was ordered.

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Friday, April 11, 2014

Disney Pixar Finding Nemo Blue Rolling Backpack Bag 12" Travel School

Disney Pixar Finding Nemo Blue Rolling Backpack Bag 12' Travel SchoolMy 2 year old loves pulling this backpack around. Good size for him and good size to fit things. Wish the mesh net pocket on the side was a little bigger because it's a little hard to put his water bottle in. Good quality. Super cute. Perfect for a Nemo lover.

The backpack was a gift for my grandson and he just loved it. He kept pulling behind all day long and refused to let it go.

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Grandson Loves it. This item was received very quickly and was what was expected. Would recommend for anyone with a toddler that likes Nemo.

Read Best Reviews of Disney Pixar Finding Nemo Blue Rolling Backpack Bag 12" Travel School Here

Friday, April 4, 2014

VG Messenger Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Acer Aspire One AO722 AO725 AO756 AOD25

Silver Blue Messenger Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Acer Aspire One AO722 AO725 AO756 AOD255 AOD255E 11.6 inch NetbookI really did not need this. My purse had a compartment for acer notebook chrome c7 and did not know this until I order this

A very good quality bag. The wife is using it for her Aspire 11.6" network and can pack everything she needs. Note: If you pack in your power supply and an full size mouse it's a little snug,

Buy VG Messenger Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Acer Aspire One AO722 AO725 AO756 AOD25 Now

This bag is sturdy and well constructed. Nice compartments and pockets hold mouse, cords etc. The strap being optional works out great. I am happy and would recommend.

Read Best Reviews of VG Messenger Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Acer Aspire One AO722 AO725 AO756 AOD25 Here

Monday, March 17, 2014

Everest Deluxe Double Compartment Backpack

Everest Deluxe Double Compartment BackpackI purchased this backpack for my 6th grader. It is nice quality, perfect size for his needs and I love the padded shoulder straps.

It was shipped fast and customer servie was outstanding.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Mobile Edge Eco Backpack 17.3-Inch Laptop, Black

Mobile Edge Eco Backpack 17.3-Inch Laptop, BlackI have a 17.3 inch Acer laptop, and it *just* fits into this backpack (with the sleeve on)! Fits my cooling mat, mouse, and power cord as well. Great product, sturdy materials.

First off I want to say this backpack is very sturdy. It is very light for being kind of bigI was able to fit my laptop and a PS3 (just to try it out) without it looking or feeling cramped. It was still a little too tall for me.

One of the problems was that the color did not even closely match the one depicted in the photo. I ordered the olive green and it ended up being more of a forest green with black accents. In the photo the green is a lot lighter and there is also like a dark blue/green accent around the top zipper which was not the case with the one I received. Also there is what looks like brown leather on the front and bottom whereas on the actual unit its black and doesn't look that great. There is a strip on the front and its kind of like Velcro which makes it look extremely cheap.

I could have overlooked all of that had the craftsmanship not been off. The one I received had been stitched incorrectly at the bottom making the front part look lopsided. When I put it on it looked like I had left one shoulder strap longer than the other, that was enough for me to return it. Unfortunate since it's so hard to find a good bag for 17 inch laptops.

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Bought this backpack for my daughter whose new laptop would not fit in the old case. She loves it--raved about its roominess, "just right" size, and I love the value for the price.

Read Best Reviews of Mobile Edge Eco Backpack 17.3-Inch Laptop, Black Here

The backpack was delivered in perfect condition, I didn't find a single thing wrong with it! It's the perfect size for me to wear on the motorcycle! Great product!

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I bought this bag for my son's 17.3" ASUS gaming laptop. It does not fit into the laptop compartment. I does fit into the main compartment of the bag outside of the laptop compartment. I believe that an average 17" laptop would fit, but snugly.

That being said, I am returning this bag.

However, this bag does seem to be very well made and is very good looking. It is very sleek. But it does not have room for much more than a laptop and accessories. A notebook or a 1.5" binder might fit in addition to a laptop and accessories, but that would be about it.

The seller shipped this item very quickly and it was packaged very well.

If you have a 17" or smaller laptop and don't have many other items that you want to carry with you, I would recommend this bag for you.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Incase Alloy Backpack (Steel)

Incase Alloy BackpackThe Incase alloy backpack is an awesome looking bag with a futuristic, chromatic look and feel to it. It has several slots and little pockets hidden within the smaller front compartment for writing tools, cords/cables, zip drives etc. The main compartment also has two slots for a tablet and up to 17'' laptop. The back is padded quite well and it also provides for great security to laptop/tablet slots inside the pack. There are two faux-fur lined pockets at the top of the pack and one on the front and they are well designed to hold small valuables and electronics while still keeping them accessible while the pack is on. It is incredibly sturdy and the design quality shows over time. I get comments on it all the time so it attracts eyes.

Obviously I am content with it however I do have one complaint about it. The shape of the pack makes it wider towards the top of the pack which leaves for a smaller footprint, meaning if you sent the back down, on its bottom...it WILL topple over. It must be braced up against something and given the slick nature of the 'alloy' outer, it slides very easily leaving it flat on the floor. Again, this is a small issue but I've never noticed this effect so pronounced on a backpack.

But in summary, its a cool looking, functional bag that turns heads and does its job.

I couldn't believe the price for this top-of-the-line backpack for hauling all of my computer stuff. I was skeptical but seeing as how Amazon has never steered me wrong before, I placed the order. Half-expecting a "bait and switch" with a less capacious backpack or one with different materials (I ordered the crumpled nylon fabric called "Alloy" to match the same finish macbook pro sleeve I already owned), I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was indeed a new incase backpack just like advertised but at a lower price than anywhere else by a wide margin. Kudos to this seller and to Amazon for a quick and fulfilling buying experience without hoopla or hassles.

The backpack is currently housing my macbook pro 15" with Retina Display in its luxurious faux-fur lined but breathable padded compartment with enough room left over for my Bamboo graphics tablet in the same slot. The sleeve holds my iPad along with several file folders worth of documents and keeps them all nice and straight (no folding or crumpling of my documents). At the bottom of the backpack is a convenient hollow space for bulkier items like headphones, books and harddrives and you don't have to worry about squishing them to pieces 'cause the computer and iPad and other accessories are suspended above it nicely. The second zipper houses a functional utility area with mesh pockets that snuggly hold my external optical drive (my new Retina MB Pro purged it in its bulemic slimming down), an external 300 GB hard drive, my magic mouse, a folding bluetooth keyboard, rechargeable batteries, an LED flashlight, an Apple remote, pens, CDs, and business cards. Again, there is a hollow area towards the bottom of this section that can hold other sundry stuff. Three smaller utility pockets are included in the minimalist outer design and are great for small stuff like iPhone, keys, wallets, sticky pads, pens, paperclips, iPods, remotes, utility knives, etc.. One of these pockets is conveniently and surreptitiously hidden in the padding for your back--a great place to stow wallets and other valuables. The pack itself is breathable and super-light though sturdy. The straps are beefy, breathable and distribute the considerable weight of all the stuff I have piled in there comfortably and securely.

I absolutely love this pack from incase and it is now the favored conveyance for all of my stuff. I have a cool Zero-Halliburton attache case that matches all of my Apple swag, but it isn't nearly as capable and comfortable as this backpack (I always have to carry another bag with all of the overflow stuff). Oh, and the incase backpack looks minimalist modern cool while the Hallliburton case makes me look like I should be carrying $100,000 in cash or a bomb--not the kind of vibe you want to be putting out. The design philosophy is on par with Apple's but as utilitarian as an SUV. It's a perfect marriage of uncompromising form and excellent function.

Buy Incase Alloy Backpack (Steel) Now

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Dakine Girls Academy Back Pack

Dakine Girls Academy BackPackBefore i ordered it, I checked the dimensions of my backpack, hoping itd fit my 14.1" laptop. The backpack came smaller than I imagined it, but my laptop actually fits! The interior is perfect for just enough stuff for college a 1" binder along with a book or two.

I absolutely think the size is perfect for me since I normally tend to stuff my backpacks with junk, and this helps me to limit what I need to carry. The two smaller pockets in the front are good for my small necessities although i wish the middle pocket didnt have just one zipper, since my things kept falling out.

The side pockets are useful for a water bottle and the other side for small stuff as well. There is a pocket on top above the main compartment which is useful for pens/pencils in my opinion.

My mom bought this for me a few days ago, as I was starting up school soon. Well, I've recently received it and am fairly pleased with what I found.

I have an HP TouchSmart Tm2 laptop. It's fairly small, 12.1 inch display, and it fits well in the laptop pouch. There's a little wiggle room which makes me fairly certain my Kindle might be able to slide in with it, but I'll have to wait and see. There's a little pouch on top that's just big enough that I can squeeze in my spare battery, which is nice.

It's a little small, which makes it perfect for college classes, as I hate having a huge backpack to have to lug around my campus. I got the red designed one, and as there are very few computer backpacks made with any consideration to women, I'm happy with the look.

The 'cooler' section on it might be my only complaint. It's not very big, but maybe it was only meant for a small bit of food. It's on front too, so it's where it might easily be crushed by outside forces. But honestly, that isn't that big of a deal to me as I'll probably only use it for my small planner and notebook and not any food.

The strap seem to feel good too, and look sewn well. Anyway, I'll probably update this after it's had a little more use, but I'm pretty happy with it right now.

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Has a pocket that is insulated for food to stay cold, has a pocket for everything. Love the side pockets for my water bottle, love the pocket for my laptop and the soft pocket for sunglasses. It is very nice and I am very happy I bought it! I got it for $50 and it my bookstore at school they were $70, so that's a plus!!

Read Best Reviews of Dakine Girls Academy Back Pack Here

I received this book bag promptly. I was so impatient to get it, I kept looking at the tracking on the product. It might seem small, but I can fit a good amount in it. There's even a pocket in the main compartment for a laptop. I can fit my laptop and at least 4 notebooks. It's perfect for any college student. The insulated front pocket to keep foods cool is a great and convenient touch also. There are 2 side pockets, and one of them even stretches out to double as a drink compartment. I would certainly recommend this back pack for anyone.

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My bookbag started splitting at the bottom last semester, so I knew it was time to invest in a new one. I have heard great things about Dakine backpacks. Fortunately, the Dakines on Amazon are much cheaper than ordering directly from the website. This item shipped quickly, and I was so excited to begin using it. The separate laptop pouch is perfect for protecting my ultrabook when going to campus. Also, the cooler pocket is amazing. I can finally take food with me to campus, rather than buying from any of the cafeterias. Overall, this bookbag is perfect for keeping things organized, for protecting your laptop during travel, and for taking snacks to class with you. I will never switch from a Dakine!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Osprey Packs Kestrel 32 Backpack

Osprey Packs Kestrel 32 BackpackI'm not a gear-head. I usually tend towards buying cheaper stuff (student budget, ya know?). I don't write Amazon reviews (never have before). But this pack rules. It is my favorite consumer item. I like it enough that I decided to come online and write about it. That much. Why?

1) it's really, really comfortable. The hipbelt has some sort of diagonal strap system that is super easy to use, but just makes this fit perfectly and transfer weight to your legs rather than shoulders. And it has spanners on the shoulder straps, to pull the weight closer to your back.

2) it's really well built. I guess if you're checking out Osprey's products that's probably one of the reasons why. But seriously, this exceeded my (already very high) expectations for quality. I've put this pack through countless rough trips (strapped to the roof rack, terrible weather, serious bushwacking, backpacking in south asia) and crammed it too full, asking too much of the zippers, and NOTHING has broken. I've had it 3 years and it scarcely looks worn in.

3) it's really nicely designed. The built in raincover fits and does its job well. There are just enough pockets and not too many. The external pouch that can accomodate a water bladder works just perfectly when you want it, but otherwise you don't even know it's there. The compression straps on the sides work perfectly to synch things down most of the time, and for that odd occasion when, say, you need to strap a tent to the outside (oh yes, I've managed backpacking trips with this pack), you can reverse the straps and they cleverly buckle across eachother to allow you to strap on big items if need be. I'm not explaining this well, but it's really helpful. Trust me.

4) it's a good size. In some ways, it's kind of a compromise size. Not quite big enough to be a true travel pack, but a little big to be a daypack. However, rather than being suboptimal for both, it somehow just works for everything. I've used this pack for countless weekend trips, lots of grocery and laundromat runs, and as a day-to-day schoolbag to lug a laptop and books and lunch around. (The compression straps let you make it appear smaller). I've used it on a couple of overnight hiking trips (caveat: I pack light, and this was a bit of a stretch but it was possible!).

So why not? Well, back to the start. It's expensive. But it's lasted me twice as long already as most cheap packs. And I enjoy using it every time. It kind of changed my shopping mentality and reminded me that quality and design are really important, and we should probably all be buying fewer things, and instead buying things to last.

I bought this bag for a trip to Europe I was told by many that this would never hold two weeks of stuff, but I pack organized and light, and this bag ended up serving me well. My husband got a top loader, but I really liked the panel loader and didn't have to unpack the whole bag to get to something on the bottom.

The Osprey panel is comfy to wear we hiked in Italy and used this as a daypack, and our backs kept pretty cool throughout the day. The shoulder straps are comfortable, and all of the loops are useful and well designed. I fit 4 pairs of shoes (including heels!), 2 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts, 12 shirts, toiletries, and even my flat iron in here! I love that it is versatile for day tips or two week trips.

Buy Osprey Packs Kestrel 32 Backpack Now

excellent backpack...suitable for travel. very comfortable fit. love it love it love it. better than his northface back pack. durable

Read Best Reviews of Osprey Packs Kestrel 32 Backpack Here

It is supposed to be the best company among others that produce such equipment, that's why our choice was quite understandable. But... It was a bit frustrating to recieve a backpack with defects, such as different color of some symmetric small details and a whole in front pocket of this item :( well, not a big deal but still...

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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Dakine 38-Litre Blade Pack

Dakine Blade Pack, 38-Litre, BlueEverything is on this bag is very functional everything works, most importantly this bag stayed comfortable on me all day long!

This is a great pack and I just love it. Has plenty of room and very comfortable, great for the back country skiing that I do.

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

STM Bags Armour 13 inch Laptop Shoulder Bag

Armour Small Hard Shell Laptop Sleeve, Fits Most 13-Inch ScreensGreat bag Fits MacBook Air 13" perfectly. There is a small insert in the bottom of the bag (extra cushion I assume) that needs to be removed for the best fit but I use that as a wedge at the top of the bag to keep the MBA from moving. I searched all over for a hard sided bag, since I use the Otter Box product for my iPhone and I like that level of protection. I was led to this product after seeing STM's messenger bag but the feedback said it would gap open and let water in and that is obviously not hard sided Apple never mentioned this case in their website and I had to search STM's to find it. Very heavy duty, strong zippers etc. I also liked that they have a separate bag for accessories so the MBA does not get scratched up and I don't have to lug the accessories around if I don't need them. It comes with a little hook to attach to the main case but I went out and got one of those carabiner clips just because it is easier to take off and on. I've used it for a few months now and my only complaint to STM is cosmetic. It is a fine, hard case but the bottom of the bag get's a little pitted where it is banged around and it is not through color black little grayish / white divots can arise. My only other complaint is directed at Amazon. For some reason UPS partners with the Post Office for deliveries from Amazon and instead of delivering to my house they deliver to the post office this takes longer and I had to go to the post office and pick it up.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Dakine 25-Litre Campus Pack

Dakine 25-Litre Campus PackThis Backpack is nice. It's very comfortable and has plenty of room, pockets, and different areas to keep my things organized.

I am satisified with my purchase. There isn't that annoying slacking in the bottom like the typical budget or Jansport brand most people seem to have. It is a bit narrow if you need to carry more than a couple books and a laptop, but it does hold a 15.6" laptop. Just barely, but it does fit. I was a bit hesitant about it for that reason, but I think I'll keep it. I didn't want anything large since I like to have more compact things if I'm carrying them around. I don't think I'll ever use the glasses pocket, or the insulated front pocket for what they're used for, but I like the style and being able to put a compact umbrella in the side pocket and it being barely noticeable. I don't agree with some reviews about the limited space to hold pens/pencils, I have no issue with that and carrying several of both. The only downfall I will give is that it barely would hold a couple of 1" binders and my laptop. But I don't need any more and with my classes, it's rare you will need to carry one around anyways since a lot is online anyways.

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I've been looking for a good campus back pack for a while now. Something with nice room, good support, and sturdiness. I definitely found that in this back pack! It arrived in the mail on time just as expected, and I have had no issues with it tearing or falling apart. I love everything about it, and highly recommend Dakine packs to anyone who is looking for an excellent back pack.

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My son loves this backpack and the overall durable stiching has held up to all of his text books with no problem.

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Kind of on the pricey side for an 8 year old but factor in how hard my son is on shoes, coats, clothing. I think it is the best option for him. Best of all it will last several years.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Le Donne Leather U Zip Mid Size Backpack/Purse

Le Donne Leather U Zip Mid Size Backpack/PurseNeat little backpack. Not the softest leather, but feels robust. One issue is that after a month of use the fabric around the zips is starting to pill. Can be cleaned up easily enough though.

This is my third in this line. I have had the smaller, lighter brown for year (still have it but it's showing its age) and also recently purchased the smaller one in black. Love them all, well made, attractive and I can fit my iPad in this larger one. If you want an attractive, leather backpack style purse I highly recommend this one.

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This is my new favorite purse. There is a place for my phone, my pepper spray, my credit cards and my wallet so I don't have to rummage through the whole thing to find what I'm looking for. The straps are sturdy and long enough. It's a little heavy, but it's not a problem because it's comfortable to wear. It looks good and is easy to clean. It was a little pricey, but I think the quality is well worth cost.

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This bag is perfect! Not too big, not too small, but just right. Plenty of zippered pockets, large main area with zippered pocket for pens, lipstick, etc. After years of using shoulder strap bags and purses I finally am using a back pack again. Reminds me of college days. I love having the option of carrying the bag on one shoulder or two or in my hand with the top handle. It even has room for a paperback or one of my smaller knitting projects. Nice leather and constructed very well.

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This backpack purse is very good quality. It is a good size for menot too big nor too small. It fits well on my back. It is a good deal for the price and is leather. It's hard to find backpack purses in stores, so I'm glad I found this site. I have neck pain, so a backpack purse is the most comfortable for me.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Pokemon 16 Inch Holographic Backpack - Black

Pokemon 16 Inch Holographic Backpack - Blackthe image on this backpack is very cool looking. My third grade son (8) loved it immediately. As a mom I am a bit concerned that the main storage area of the backpack is not very big so for 3rd grade I'm wondering if I won't be buying another backpack once the school year begins if he starts bringing home a lot of books. He had a similar Pokemon backpack last year that seems to be similar in dimensions but had a large front pocket too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one works out as his one last year was durable enough to make it through the entire year with a 7 year old boy!

t's a nice backpack but material is flimsy. Bought it when school started in August and it ripped at bottom corner in December. Lasted about 4 months.

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I bought this backpack for my 9 year old daughter's birthday to use for the up coming school year. She got about 2 weeks use out of it. Like other reviews here, a hole appeared in the lower side near the drink mesh and about 2 days later the entire bottom of the book bag ripped out. I ended up taking the cool looking 3-D part of it off and she uses it like a poster. I was extremely disappointed by the quality of this product, the actual backpack material felt dried out and old, but I thought for sure it'd last for more than 2 weeks. Would not buy again.

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Purchased this item at TRU this year for my 2nd grader. This thing was ripping apart at the seams after TWO WEEKS. Sad that some products are made so poorly these days.

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I purchased this backpack at TRU in Aug. 2012 for new school year. My 8-yr old son (3rd grade) loves this backpack; however, it started falling apart by Nov. It's very thin and not very durable. The front pocket is small and not very useful. Also, the matching lunchbox fell apart too by Dec. It slowly started ripping and just completely useless by Dec.

Not worth the money but my son loves it! I've sewn so many patches on this bag but my son refuses to carry a new bag.

Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place 16 Inch Backpack - Blue and Purple

Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place 16 Inch Backpack - Blue and PurpleI got this new backpack after I had tried the other one I previously reviewed which I found in a WalMart in Tennessee. It is very nice I have been complimented on it. These are made in China, and on the tag it says Global Design "New York" but is shipped from from Vernon, California at least mine was. So I think they may ship from New York too but not sure. They are made to be widely available.

I haven't yet had the chance to use it going through TSA at the airport but do anticipate it usually I have with me in the past a bookbag or a briefcase. While again I am not a big Disney fan (if at all) I am taken with the "Armed with charm" of the series this item is based on and the concept. I'm not superstitious but supernatural power has its allure. I'm going to sum it up by saying that I am very pleased with the item and would make sure to purchase this type item again. It will fit a laptop and a few books and whatever else I can put in it when I want to take a trip, I have alot of use for this in store. The colors compliment each other, blue/purple, blue/white. Overall I am very impressed and would order this item again.