SwissGear Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack

4.9 stars ... ALMOST perfect :) I love this pack. I use it every day, and I love it. That said ... I'll start by telling you the ONE thing I'm not crazy about ... the fact that unless it is completely full OR I'm packing something very rigid and flat in the bottom, when I set it down on its base, it wants to tip forward. OK, so I know that now and I lean it facing against a vertical surface before I let it set on its base ... but I'd prefer if, like my first SG pack, it sat up properly, on its own. But that's a minor point. Very minor. Everything else ... I love. This is the third or fourth Swiss Gear backpack I've owned and I really must say these guys continue to knock them out of the park. Let's talk particulars: APPEARANCE More than any of my previous SwissGear bags, I love the looks of this one. The red and black are perfect for me and the trim design on this one is just right. Everything is easy to find, easy to reach, and the color scheme is just what I was looking for. While the blue/black and the gray/black bags I've had in the past were attractive, this one is my favorite. COMFORT Full or empty, for hiking or office, this pack always feels great when I wear it. The weight distribution is wonderful, it never feels heavy on me, even when full, and unlike some older models, the straps really seem to like to stay where they belong, instead of twisting under in ways I can't control. My first SG bag had a terrible problem with the pull straps twisting as they came through the slide fittings ... not this bag ... the straps stay nice and flat and tighten and release without a hitch. COMPARTMENT DESIGN This bag doesn't look any bigger than the previous SG bags I've had, but it seems like I can just keep putting more and more stuff into it all the time and I never run out of space. OK, I do ... but the bag consistently takes more than I think it can. There are several primary storage compartments to tell you about. 1) LAPTOP/FLATS - Closest to your back is a laptop storage compartment with a single zipper that goes from the base of the pack to the top, but only on one side. Easy in, easy out ... that' show I get my laptop in and out every day, and it's a big improvement over the double zippers that ran down both sides when you don't NEED full access to this compartment. Brilliant. 2) TABLET/FLATS - Next out from your back is a double zippered compartment that allows you, if you want/need to, to open the back of the pack completely and lay it flat ... they suggest for airport inspections. The netting between compartment 1 and 2 allows for quick visual inspection of the laptop area (C1) and the "tablet" area (C2) ... yes, you can pile all kinds of folders and such in compartment 2, but it has a nifty little pocket built in for storing your tablet as well ... and the design of C1 an C2 keeps your laptop and tablet safe from scratching each other. Great design. and if you don't have either a laptop or a tablet, C1 and C2 will work great for large notebooks, files, folios, etc. Tons of room. 3) MAIN - Next in, moving forward from the back, is what I'd call the main compartment ... and it is cavernous. At the bottom, nearest the back, are three dividers for keeping folders or such along the back plane of the compartment but separated from each other. Forward of these dividers (which collapse almost completely upon themselves when not in use) is a larger area for storing thicker things ... stack of books, bulkier items that are several inches deep, combinations of the two. This is the area where I often keep a few poly folders, my lunch container, a hat, gloves, a small thermos ... and more. As always, the central storage section of these packs just keeps taking whatever you have to give it. 3.1) MAIN FRONT TOP - Built into the main compartment is a sub-zipper compartment in the outer flap that's great for things like loose cables or other small items you want to keep handy and protected. The netting keeps them visible but secure. It's big enough to keep receipts, a check book, even your wallet, if you like. Very handy. 3.2) MP3/PHONE/SMALLS - Onto the top of the back plane of the main compartment is a small pouch for ... well, for whatever you prefer ... MP3 player or phone being likely candidates, as there's a quick access hole just above this pocket that leads out the top of the pack and is marked for headphones ... handy. But, if you don't have an MP3 or phone to store there (which I often don't), I find stacks of post-it notes, flags or other small, delicate things you want to be able to get to quickly while keeping safe (this pocket is nicely padded) work just as well. A note on the access for head/earphones ... coming up from the inner pouch is a small hole for the cable to fit through ... this is shielded by a small hood to help keep water from getting in if you're hiking/walking in weather. Great idea! 4 and 5) TWIN SILOS - Along the size of the pack are two deep, vertical pouches (red topped for easy visibility) that are great for things like narrow water bottles or other small things that you can stack vertically. In one, I keep a SwissTool in the bottom, a pencil sharpener atop that, and a tin of breath mints atop that. In the other, I keep a full sized tube of toothpaste and a full sized tooth brush, and a few other personal items. But water bottles would fit just as well, provided they're not too large a diameter. 6 and 7) WEB WATER POCKETS - Outside and at the base of the two vertical SILO pouches/pockets are two traditional webbed pockets for water bottles. You know about those. Nothing fancy. 8) TOP FRONT - at the top of the front of the pack is a small, quick access pocket (with the SG logo on it) with a single zipper that's great for whatever things you want to get ready access to most often. I can see possibly keeping a cell in here ... if it wasn't always in my shirt pocket or a wallet ... if it wasn't in my other shirt pocket. Personally, I keep my cell recharge adapter and cable in it. I'm grabbing them all the time and they're super easy to grab for a quick recharge from this pocket. 9) BOTTOM FRONT - as with most S/G packs I've had, there's a nice pocket in the front divided with sub-pockets for things like a day planner, pens, pencils and loose items such as a small hand sanitizer bottle, mini-flashlight, etc. ... whatever you need that's on your quick access list that needs its own little inner pocket to live in ... PLUS ... for keys, an easy on, easy off plastic clip sewn into the back plain of this pocket that's great for securing them. SPECIAL FEATURES - Front mounted D-ring: I put my keys there sometimes when they're not at risk and I want quick access to them - Bright silver zipper pulls - packs I've had in the past had black zipper pulls ... hard to find in low light conditions ... not these ... super easy to find. - twin loops - they always seem to have these on the front ... I don't use them, someone must. :) - shades loop - on the port side strap (as worn) is a loop for slipping the stem of your shade through ... would I? No, but I wear prescription shades. - indestructible handle - this is the most indestructible of all of the grab handles I've had on an SG pack ... they were all beefy as heck, but this one could probably survive a direct hit from a ... well, I'll leave that to your imagination. - mystery loops - at the top of the shoulder straps, there are two loops, each with a small rubber emblem on them with two arrows pointing in opposing directions ... I have no idea what they're for. I'd love to find out. :) - side synching straps - not enough stuff in your pack to justify the depth ... use the synching straps to snug it up. I'll add to this review as I spend more time with it and learn more ... for now ... just lovin' it.