It's not too small - see pics!
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016
I PAID FULL PRICE FOR THIS ITEM. Unlike several other 5 Star reviews, I did pay full money for this item. I got it three days ago, but I thought I should post a review nonetheless. Don't worry, I'll also update this review.My needs for this bag:I'm going on a study abroad to India, and I realized that none of the bags I owned were secure enough or would hold enough for my everyday needs. We're going to be traveling a lot, and I kind of needed a bag that could do it all: give me a hands-free experience, yet be carried comfortably at my side/in front of me for security; speaking of security, I needed this to be pretty hard to access for pickpockets, but easy to access for me; I also needed it to be extremely sturdy, able to be used for my everyday essentials on a daily basis.Initial Impressions:Initially, it arrived without any fancy packaging. Just in a plastic bag with a couple generic tags. Smelled faintly of leather but has since lost that smell. So I'm not too sure how "genuine" the claimed genuine leather is.Regardless, it seems sturdy and well-made. The material feels quality to the touch, the design features are on point. The design is ridiculously utilitarian. Besides the main pocket in the middle, there's a smaller pocket on the front with a magnetic closure, a zipper pocket above that one, two small zippered side pockets, and a large pocket in the back. You can wear it as a sling back, backpack, or even as a shoulder bag (though it looks kind of funny, I find it extremely useful).I've used it every day since I've gotten it. I'm a full time university student with a full time job, so it has gone through quite a lot. But only a fraction of what I need it to go through in India. So far, it's been comfortable no matter how I wear it. Yet, the straps are thin when converted into a backpack - so if you weigh it down, the bag will obviously be uncomfortable after a while. As for the weight of the bag itself, I don't find it to be heavy at all - but then again, I'm used to carrying around a heavy bookbag.I can see myself loving this bag, but there are a few things I'll be keeping an eye on:1) I'm slightly worried about the hardware on here. The zipper pulls have a lot of strain on them, and they don't seem to be of the highest quality.2) Same goes for the lining. While it's not the cheapest I've seen, I can imagine it ripping. It's an easy fix, though.3) The seams also worry me a bit. I'm not sure how well the straps were reinforced, or the edges at main tensions points, like in the main pocket. If these rip, it will be harder to repair. The main way to combat this, though, is to not weigh the bag down.I'll update to comment on durability later, but I just wanted to post this now because I'm ridiculously surprised at how much stuff I've been able to put into this. Yesterday, I carried the following items in this bag:1) My wallet (which holds my passport and several other items - it's one of the large rectangular types)2) A pouch full of hand sanitizer, hand lotion, nasal spray, and chapstick.3) A pouch full of mints, gum, and an ibuprofen bottle.4) Two notebooks5) A book6) Two Arizona Iced Tea Arnold Palmers7) My phone's charging cable8) My huge set of keys9) A DVD10) A slim pen caseWhile I wasn't able to grab a picture of this impressive feat, I did want to share what I packed today. I wouldn't recommend carrying this much weight in this bag, I did want to show just how much I was able to fit because, if you play Tetris with it just right, this bag can hold pretty much whatever you need it to! In the attached pictures, I showed how I was able to fit everything in it. Here's a list of what I could fit inside it below:1) My dog's dog toy2) Green 3x5 notebook3) Black 5.5x8.5 notebook4) 10.1in Samsung Galaxy Note tablet (with cover on)5) My huge set of keys6) My wallet (black and floral print)7) My 25oz S'Well water bottle8) Large pencil pouch stuffed full of highlighters and mutli-colored pens9) A book10) My charger (I forgot to put it out, but I was also carrying to wall charger)11) Tic Tacs and chapstick12) Lady things I'd rather not picture.It's not larger or smaller than I expected, but I'm definitely pleased with how much I can comfortably hold. Again, I would not recommend carrying this much weight in the bag (I just needed to bring some things from my place to a friend's for the night), but even so, it was comfortable to carry in every configuration. For less weight, this bag can definitely handle the same kind of volume as what's pictured here.I'll update to comment on durability, but just a heads-up on how much actually fits in this!
I love it!
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2015
No problems with the zippers, smelled like leather when it first arrived. (So it is genuine leather) I've been using it for a month or two now with no problems. I can carry it on my shoulder or unzip the straps and use it as a book bag. Definitely a good buy!
I hate it so much
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2016
Literally got this 5 minutes ago. It's damaged. The lining is extremely loose and not attached to the inside of the bag. It's a bag in a bag. I hate it so much. I would have to cut the lining out to make this somewhat functional because it's too much fabric. I wouldn't be able to find anything! Terrible purchase.
Great bag for the price, highly functional
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2018
I've had this bag for 1.5 years now. Overall, my feelings are positive - that's why I'm giving it 4 stars.The pros:1) Lots of outside pockets, which I really like & use.2) Roomy inside3) Nice looking. It's low cost, but I've actually gotten a few compliments on it.Cons:1) Inner lining IS very loose, as others have said; mine hasn't torn, but it sometimes gets stuck in the zipper - it's a pain, but not an overwhelming pain.2) After 1.5 years of DAILY use, the straps are starting to fray, and there is some white material showing underneath the leather. (Could just be the inner, unstained leather; I don't know). I will need to replace it, it looks too raggedy now. However - I like the bag enough that I am strongly considering buying it again, which is why I am on this page looking at the bag again, and decided to write a review.
I've purchased many packback purses, and this is my favorite.
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2017
I really love this purse. First, it is a backpack, which is so freeing to not have your hands or shoulder encumbered. Second, it's real leather, not pleather, so it is very durable. I purchased 2 of these other backpack purses in March 2016: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TEK22C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but they both had holes or broken straps by November. Both of them. Not this one. The real leather makes this much more durable. Another good point is that the zipper to the main pocket is next to your back. That's a benefit to security. No one can easily access the main pocket while you are wearing it. The inside is spacious, too. I hold my 7-inch tablet in there when I need to. I'm buying one a month for a few months so I will have back-up purses. Eventually I'll wear this puppy down, and I'll want another. Please keep making them.
Revised... LOVE IT - Its perfect in every possible way!! Both as Backpack and as a Purse
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018
This is a Revision to Original Post.... I wrote this not thinking the straps were adjustable... Well my kid showed me I was wrong and now I have to give this 5 stars!!!! Great Product and Great Price!!!! Its Perfect!Great pack, Good craftmenship, Nice color, Great price, Holds all my stuffBUT........ the Straps are not adjustable and the HURT ME..... They are to small... I still use it but It Hurts Me!! No buenoMake the straps adjustable and this backpack that amazingly also turns into a purse would surly be a 5 star.FYI, Im slim thick, not thick thick.. So if you are thick thick good luck with this, and if your just slim then shouldn't be a problem for you.Thanks
Well, to be honest....
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
Ok, there is a nice leather tag that accompanies this bag. That is NOT the lesther you get. This is "genuine" leather in the legal.sense as it is the thinnest layer of top grain leather you can possibly get and then affixed to a sub layer of fabric No, it is most definitely not good quality but uts 35.00 bucks, what can you say? Also, the straps are not leather ,(that percentage allows them to claim the bag in general is leather.) , that's why the straps and the binding starts to split, those parts are not leather. I like the function of the bag, my bag's lining is fine so I'll.keep.it,but don't plan on it being a 200.00 leather bag for 35.00. It is what it is.
Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2019
Spacious and practical... Said my wife while eating a chees cake.
Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2018
est en cuir véritable super contente ses ma plus beau sac a main ou a dos:)
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2018
I loved all the compartments on the outside and the one at the back for private cards. I was disappointed that there were no compartments inside.
