I travel a lot for business and I used a laptop case to carry my files, receipts, laptop, chargers, etc. As an airline carry-on option, the laptop case was convenient because of its size, but it had one strap, and I was finding that my tendency to put it on my right shoulder over the years was causing my back to go a little out of whack, and switching sides constantly was not the solution I needed. This backpack was discounted a bit for Black Friday, and having seen the quality of AmazonBasics products before, I knew that $30 was a fair price and I expected a decent product based on the reviews. When it arrived, I was able to take everything from my laptop case - passport, flash drive, files, chargers and more - and transfer it into this backpack with ease. There are dedicated pockets that are intelligently sized (there is one small pocket that is flash-drive-shaped, which was amazing). And, because of the way it's constructed, it's smaller and lighter than my laptop case. From the beginning, I was impressed, but that was only the beginning. The backpack itself complies with my airline's (and, let's be reasonable, most airlines') definition of a "personal item" rather than "carry-on luggage," whereas my laptop case was too wide to be considered a personal item (though most airlines wouldn't bug you, still, it's always better to be able to point to the regulation and say you're in the right!). This bag maximizes economy of space brilliantly, and fits under the seat in front of you on the plane, so no rummaging through the overhead compartments looking for your bag. I thought the bag couldn't get any better, but it didn't stop there. I was initially concerned about whether having a backpack rather than a laptop case would appear "unprofessional," but as a traveling salesperson, it didn't appear that anyone judged me for having a backpack rather than a case. The zippers are strong and large, so no cheap metal or plastic breaking on you as you try to open a zipper that got stuck on cloth. Everything is laid out very well. Having all my chargers, cables and files handy was useful during my presentations, when I was able to pull out hotspots, folders and other things with ease, and even keep my coins together for easy reach while paying tolls. I'm excited to use this backpack for personal 1-2 day trips also, because I can definitely fit a bit of clothing in the other pocket I didn't use (there was so much space, I didn't need to!) and be able to travel in a plane, train or automobile without having to worry about lugging around...well, luggage. The side compartment is perfect for the average bottle of water, for people that want to use this backpack in the outdoors or for long trips, and just about any laptop will fit inside the slit in the back. If the events of Amazon's history as a company in the last two decades had only culminated in the design of this backpack, that would honestly be enough to justify its existence. Of course, I'm exaggerating, but this backpack is yet another example among the many reasons more and more of my purchases are being made through Amazon. Their reputation for quality and economy of design understates the achievements of this backpack, which sets standards beyond all those previously achieved by Amazon. Thank you again, Amazon, and I look forward to seeing what the next item is that you decide to improve in ways I didn't even realize I wanted.
