Just Porter Sable Rucksack Rolltop Backpack | 16" Laptop | 29L-34L

I needed to substitute my long-lasting Deuter with a new backpack that would primarily serve as a hand luggage for the weekly trips across the globe. Also I thought it would be nice if the backpack could serve my daily routine needs and became my commute partner.My price range for the new peace was about $200 and I wanted to have this time more casual version of backpack. Three brands made it to my top list: Chrome, Mission Workshop and Just Porter. Luckily SF Mission Workshop is few blocks away as well as Chrome shop. The main reason I decided to order and check out Just Porter, because it offered very smart packaging options: I need side straps for yoga mat, laptop-friendly pocket, and option to stock things in front pockets for a fast access. Neither Mission Workshop or Chrome had anything to address all needs especially for yoga mat But let`s be honest, there is a big issue in quality for the price by Just Porter. Ok, let`s get to the review!DurabilityJust Porter fails both to Chrome and Mission Workshop in quality of the outer material. The defect of the water-proof material is that you can easily scratch it and you`ll find white base layer that most likely won`t last long as waterproof. There is another customer review already covering this issue, so let`s not stop for to long here.QualityI bet zippers will fail first. It is 2018 already and I believe that the quality of zippers should go up far from what Just Porter has to offer. They should be covered, hidden and be of a better set. It is not an option to have open-ended zippers as depicted on the photo. When you price tag your product get ready to comply to the market standards. On the outer material quality: dirt sticks to it easily but is removed easily too.CompartmentsI can`t tell how great is the backpack structure as you can place tone of things inside and still have the backpack closed. Most Mission Workshop and Chrome backpacks won`t close if all capacity is used. Just Porter solution is amazing. You can use the stripe above the top compartment and at the same time cover it over. Kudos for this. From the capacity standpoint Just Porter is better by 100%. I loved the fact that back pocket for laptop is decided into two compartments itself, so I can store laptop and books or docs separately. my 15' laptop fits easily.BucklesMagnetic buckles are good enough to serve the function. But there is one thing that can drive you crazy. When opening buckles, you would slide them outwards. Huh, both buckles go to the right and it makes a lot of confusion and is very inconvenient. Out of many other this is a critical thing to improve and change. When opening of the backpack makes you feel bad - most likely you`ll feel bad about your overall experience. I wish my buckles where updated right away to be slides outward. You can see on the photo on both buckles there is a direction in which they are opened. There are reviews on the buckles straps length. The strap length is perfect. And no, there is no inconvenience when straps go over the pocket zipper at all, at least for me.ComfortIt is a great backpack when it has a lot of staff in it. The find out that straps go the way they should go over your shoulders. There is no discomfort and chest strap is just perfect by design. If you plan to keep only laptop in your backpack and may be few items, there is a higher chance you feel some discomfort with straps. For my needs the comfort is great. I am used to walk mid to long distances with backpacks and this one is very well put together for the trips.Side strapsI got lucky they are long enough to go around by yoga mat but I have almost the thinnest yoga mat among my all friends. I suppose straps are designed to adjust the size of the backpack when it is half empty and not to hold anything.Sum-upGreat for longer trips. I believe It is too big, too heavy and not that comfortable for each day commute. But if you are in search for something that comes as a hand luggage for your holiday, this is a good piece.There is a feeling that Just Porter team had am amazing vision of the product. And then they faced the reality of production and made several huge compromises. I don`t believe there is a strong match between the price and value for this one unless this backpack has some features so valuable for you that you are ready to pay some extras. I plan to keep this backpack. Already had my trip to Tahoe and there are two transatlantic trips that I take in the next 6 months. I think it will last up only for 2 years for me, unfortunately.

This is such a beautiful bag! I had it on my wish list for a few months before I finally purchased it. The form factor, size, and the quality of the materials were the main drivers for that decision.Space This is probably a reason that you are considering this bag as it's enormous. I'm 5'10" 175 lbs and it looked a touch large even on me but the space was so necessary to me that I was fine with that. I'm an engineering student and I carry a lot of material all day every day. This bag held my laptop, two large hardcover texts, 3 smaller paperback texts, a water bottle, calculator, assorted writing utensils, a few notebooks, headphones, and many small items beyond that with room to spare.Quality The materials and construction are fantastic in person, by far the best I've found in a bag to date. Even though it's not entirely waterproof, it would be easy to keep your valuables safe(assuming you had the top rolled up tight) if you got caught in the rain for a few minutes. The magnetic buckles are pretty nice but they are so light that they felt a bit cheap. I had a bit of fear that in the long run, they would be a point of failure for the bag but I don't really have anything to support that other than my initial impression of how they felt in my hand.Cost Yes it is expensive. Yes that is okay as long as it delivers on what it promises. I buy a new bag every few years and this one was meant to replace 2-4 purchases which would have still made it a good deal for me.Comfort This is what killed it for me. The straps are too close together at the top of the bag. The chest strap does a great job or redistributing the weight of the bag but the shoulder straps pinched my neck and scalene. I have an athletic build and I'm not overweight or musclebound. My neck is not large but I still found the straps(specifically the piping on the straps) to be really uncomfortable even with a lighter load in the bag.Service Considering how much time I spend with a backpack on me and how uncomfortable these straps are, I chose to return the bag. It was accepted promptly and without hassle. I had my refund in my account the same day I shipped it back at no cost to myself.