Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was looking for a backpack big enough to use with a carry on for longer trips, and not too large for me (5'1"). Pros: The size is perfect for someone vertically challanged. You can fit quite alot in the main compartment, using either the nylon separator that you can clip up to make 2 compartments (very thin so it doesn't take up space) or ignore it and have one large compartment. Has an expandable zipper. Front compartment is very useful for smaller items with easy access. Has a mesh zippered compartment inside, an expandable water bottle holder on the outside that tucks away nicely when not in use, a zippered in luggage tag, pen holders, straps to keep your clothes in place, etc. Lightweight. Color is exactly what I expected (I purchased the turquoise). Padded laptop or tablet storage, located safely close to your back. Shoulder straps comfortable. Con: It comes with a thin waist strap that doesn't lend much support, BUT, that said, it also comes with a nice thick cross over strap (I can't imagine ever wearing it like this). With a $4 plastic buckle and 5 minutes on a sewing machine, I turned my crossover strap into a waist strap. It can still be used for it's original purpose, but for me it is a great waist strap. UPDATE: Pros: fit everything on our trip that I needed, and even more when we returned with souveniers. Fit under the seat or in the overhead on the airplanes, and I really had it full. Because it is lightweight to begin with, the backpack itself didn't affect the weight of all I planned on stuffing into it. Amazing what went into this back pack and I never had to use the expandable zipper. Very, very comfortable to wear, even full. I am not young (late 50's) or tall (see above review), although active, I have found as I get older backpacks hurt my back and use them less and less. This did not happen with this backpack. It didn't hurt my back no matter how heavy because of the thick padded straps BUT it also needed that heavy waist belt (see my review above). We always walk if we can so I wore this 'stuffed' when we walked to and from the train station while also wearing a purse that was very full, and pulling a suitcase. Walking around the trainstation and airport, this pack never felt heavy. I plan on making it my weekender travel bag it holds so much and is easy to use.