Customer Reviews

DAKINE Girl's Prom Pack

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This bookbag is awesome! It's really the best bookbag I've ever owned. I'm in graduate school and I use this all the time, and I really think it'll be the first bookbag I've owned that won't get all beat up and ripped looking pretty soon. I bought it back in March, and it's still bright and not dirty at all! I bought the Pink Plaid variety.

This bag has a million pockets, and it's so nice and roomy. I can fit everything I need in here. There's a front insulated pocket for food or a drink (right now I have two pairs of flip-flops in there so you know how big it is), a bigger middle pocket that has several smaller slots for an mp3 player, your pens, cords, headphones, whatever...and a very, very roomy main pocket. Right now in the main pocket I have my Wii, 4 Wii games in the cases, a game controller, my Nintendo DS and that game case, a folder, and a book, and there's still room for my 13.3" computer (I know because I just took it out) and my external hard drive. Just so you know, there's an extra laptop pocket in the main pocket. There's also a felt-lined pocket on top of the bag that's made for sunglasses, but I store my computer adapter in there (don't wear sunglasses) and two small pockets on the side...not sure what you could keep in there, but you can reach them while the bag's on your back.

With all that stuff loaded up on my back I don't even feel the heavy weight of it all unless I've had the bag on my back for a few hours. The back and straps are padded to relieve pain (which is a BIG draw for me because I have chronic back pain) and the cloth the bookbag is made out of is very durable. I have been telling everyone where I got this bookbag from, and I get compliments on its style all the time. Honestly, one of the best $45 you'll spend. Shell out the extra money and get a durable bookbag...your back will thank you (and so will your pocket when you don't need another one a year from now).

**Just as a warning, my review is lengthy and very detailed, somewhat "essay" like. I don't like reviews that are "THIS IS SO GREAT!" Because they aren't exactly helpful with determining quality, as any one piece of the product could be great and they overlook an important issue. If you want all the deets on this backpack, as I see it, then go for it. If you're going for the quick and dirty, definitely not the review for you.**

I got my bag yesterday, on the first day of the time window given by Amazon. The box was a little bigger than necessary, and the excess packaging (brown paper) was more so because of the fact that it was a backpack, not a vase. It could have been shipped in a big 3M bubble wrap envelope, as it is so flat. I open the box and think "Crap, that is a really small bag. What if my textbooks won't fit?" And then I open it up. It is the perfect depth for a resonable sized Macbook, and the width is enough to fit the whole Mac cord, a thick notebook, my laptop and a bag full of yarn. I bought the Navy/Vivienne plaid one, which is $29.99 (It's a steal, really) and the inside lining was a complete surprise to me when I opened it. It has navy polka dots on a magenta background. Both of which are the same colors as the outside.
I kept opening up all of the pockets to discover where they all were. The very front pocket is almost as deep as the backpack itself, just as others have said. It's loose enough to stick a pack of gum in there and I wouldn't be concerned with it falling out (as there is no zipper). I imagine it being a great place to put things you use often that are not very valuable.
The second pocket back is the one for the accessories; ie, phone, wallet, pens, head phones, check book. I feel like I no longer have to carry a purse. I always felt like an idiot with a purse AND a backpack, but my old one wasn't condusive to smaller, random items. This one was made with a woman in mind. There's a place for a phone and an iPod (I have an iPhone so I don't quite know what I'll do with the other space). The electronics sub-pockets are lined wih a plush microfiber fabric that cleans screens (for realsies!). There are several spaces for pens also along side the iPod pockets and they are roomy so you don't have to worry about larger pens (a sharpie would probably be the biggest you could do, so thick highlighters would not work). I never used the slots for pens in previous backpacks because they were too slim to put a good pen in, and there wasn't enough room above the top to easily remove them. There is also a zippered pocket, that would be difficult to access if you were not the owner of the backpack. My biggest concern is someone getting into the front of my backpack while I'm standing around somewhere and stealing something important. I put my checkbook and wallet in that sub-pocket as well mas my headphones so they don't get wrapped up in anything. It's low profile and still accessible if you know where you're going. The whole pocket itself is kind of like a cup. If I unzip it completely while walking I still wouldn't lose anything sitting in the base of the pocket. Extremely well designed.
The third pocket, which is the big main compartment is next. The base of the backpack is deceivingly small. You expect a whole lot less to fit in there, hoever when you stuff everything you want in there, the pack is still not half as bulky as a Jansport half full. My thing is that I don't like feeling like there isn't enough in my backpack when I don't put a lot of stuff in there. It makes me feel like I'm forgetting something important, which is no good when you're rushing out the door. The substance of this backpack is considerable enough to not feel too light when just a few things are in there, and displaces the weight evenly when there is a lot in there. The base is signficant enough to set the backpack down with, however it does need to be leaned up against something, it is not very good for free standing. I feel like I could fit a days worth of textbooks in there and not feel like I was busting the seams. I also don't feel like the backpack is too deep to reach down to the bottom of it. On a slightly larger than standard notebook, there is about 6 inches of space left above it. So if you had to stuff a sweater in there on a day where you also had books in the compartment, there would still be space. Overall, a good amount space for your larger item, without feeling like you lose things in the bottom all of the time.
The part that I was most interested in was the laptop compartment. Let me tell you, it does not disapoint. I have a 13" Macbook Pro with a somewhat thick sleeve on it and it easily slides into the compartment. I could probably slide a notbook or slim binder into the space as well. I probably wouldn't suggest putting a 17" Mac in there, as you would probably leave a lot of one end exposed, but a 15" would be just dandy. It has a good deal of padding, so if you knew that you weren't going to be throwing the bag around, it would be okay to leave off your sleeve. I don't really want to risk it, so I leave mine on. Better safe than sorry. If you're not a laptop person or you don't carry yours around with you, don't count this bad boy out. The compartment would be awesome for loose paper, notebooks, or a binder that you use often. For moms on the go, a couple diapers, some baby wipes and the fold out changing pad would also fit and be easy to get to. I don't know if this or the 2nd pocket is my favorite, because they are both so useful and well thought out.
The auxillary pockets on the bottom corners of the bag are also pretty nifty. The one that is just a small open space is awesome to put your keys. You probably wouldn't fit too much more in there without hogging some of the inner compartmet space, but if you had to you could. The one on the other side is for your water bottle or coffee cup. It unzips to reveal a mesh compartment with a adjustible top (that is also polk dotted). A Vitamin Water bottle slides in there with plenty of room to spare, but with the adjuster, it stays in there nice and snug. It would be a good place to put spare change for the person who doesn't carry a bottle. And the last auxillary pocket is the advertised sunglasses pocket. It's at the very top back of the pack, right near the base of your neck. As I live in Washington, I don't think I'll need to use it till August, but it would be perfect for its exact purpose. The plush lining is the same as the iPod sub-pockets, just a little longer, thus more squishy. I would totally feel comfortable putting a good pair in there, because the only way you could break them would be to drop the bag on it's top. Which would be incredibly stupid and a total user error. Altogether, a fantastic little set of pockets.
Finally, all of the other miscellaneous tid bits about this bag. Formost being the straps. They are BY FAR the most well designed straps I've encountered. As a rather busty woman, unisex backpacks tend to fall right over the worst possible place, which is the exact center of each of my ladies, making the bag shifty when I walk and all around uncomfortable. These straps totally bypass any boobage and make the bag more desirable for the ladies. Very well designed and that alone makes the bag worth the money. If the straps go where they're supposed to, like unisex straps do on men, then the bag is displaced properly across the back instead of weighing down on your shoulders. Another awesome feature is the waterproof lining. I have not yet had the opportunity to experience what happens in the rain, but I'm sure if I went outside in 10 minutes I would probably find out. I have no doubt that it would adequately protect all of my things in the bag. My only concern are the zippers, which are not waterproofed. But they are not a lot of the surface space, so even if it did leak a little in a torrential downpour, it would eliminate a lot of the issue. I took the opportunity to test out all of the zippers before I threw away the box, because I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any fault in them. I found none. They are rugged zipper that have the fabric part of them exposed and there are no over hang to cover them up, which is where a lot of snags originate. Unless you zipped a sweater up in there, you wouldn't have any issues, inside or out. The fabric of the whole bag is durable polyester canvas thickness. Plus the inner coat of rubbery water proofing, I highly doubt I will be tearing this one up.
So, if you made it this far, congradulations! You are a brave soul. I hope this was a helpful review. Buy this bag, you won't regret it!

I needed a backpack for school that will accommodate a laptop and a couple of books while looking good. This backpack is exactly what I needed. All my stuff fits in comfortably. Straps are nice and sturdy and they don't cut into my shoulders. Material is durable, stitching is good quality. I like the rubbery inside which makes the bag waterproof (I did not test it in pouring rain but whatever ran off my umbrella did not get through). Nice front pocket for your pens, phone, etc. Insulated cooler pocket is a nice touch but I don't use it for lunch and such. It is really deep lengthwise but not deep enough front to back to hold anything thicker than a regular sandwich or maybe a banana (but you can stack a lot of bananas and sandwiches :)). Side pockets are awesome! Both can fit a regular plastic water bottle but one has a mesh and drawstring inside so it expands to hold your bigger fancy water bottles (or whatever else). This backpack is super cute too! Definitely a girly print (poodles and tiny cars) but I like that. I got a lot of compliments on this backpack.

The bag is sturdy and well-padded, comfy to wear even when full of overlarge physics textbooks. It's made of waterproof material, so my books never get wet and my notes aren't ruined. My 15.4 laptop fits fine in the laptop pouch. Currently the bag has a laptop, a 1-inch binder, a folder, a medium textbook, a solutions manual, an agenda, and a pencil case in the main pouch, and it could hold a bit more. I'm sure the front cooler pocket would be good for lunches, but I can't really say as I actually keep my hat and mitts in there. The medium pocket has a smaller zipped pocket in it, as well as some of those little open-top pockets for a cell phone, an iPod, and pens. There are also two other small zippered pockets on the bag, and a collapsible water-bottle holder.
My favourite part is that the bag doesn't have those elastic cord thingies on the outside, like it's pretending to be a camping backpack or something. It's a school bag for college students, it works like one, and it looks like one.

My daughter picked this backpack. She likes it, but it is way too big for her. I would recomend for 10 y.o. and up.

I was a little hesitant buying a bag I hadn't physically seen but all the other good reviews are true. This bag is really awesome! It fits my 15.4 in dell inspiron perfectly as well as having lots of other room. I also like that it's a backpack that is cute without being too childish. Perfect for grad school

It would have gotten 5 stars, but it's just a little top heavy when I set it down. Straps are super comfortable and there a lot of space and pockets. It just tips over to the front when I set it down. Other than that I love it.

I've had this backpack for about a year and I love it. the straps are thick and padded so it supports all the books and my laptop I put inside of it. Its extremely roomy on the inside, I can fit my laptop, a binder, and about 3 textbooks on the inside before it starts to feel like i'm running out of room. The backpack has two side pockets which are plenty big, a pocket on the top of the backpack for quick access, as well as two front pockets. The very front pocket is insulated so you can stick anything that you want to keep cold inside of it. Overall its a very sturdy packpack, can withstand quite a bit of weight on the inside, the only negative is that it will get soaking wet if you get caught in a rainstorm.

Oh and Dakine will replace any item it makes if something breaks, just take it back to the store you purchased it at. They should replace it with the same item or a like item.

This is honestly the best backpack I've ever owned. I'm in college, and all throughout middle and high school my backpacks wouldn't last a year without getting holes in them or starting to fall apart; and I'm not even hard on my backpacks. But this backpack is made so nicely and has really done well so far. It has many nice feature - I especially like the lined sunglasses pocket; I can't tell you how many times that has come in handy. I also find that this bag makes me stand up straighter whereas other backpacks made me hunch over. That may be because it's designed for a girls body as opposed to being unisex, i don't really know. What I do know is that this bag is a great investment. It may be a bit more pricey than say a Jansport, but its really worth it!

I LOVE this backpack! I use to buy L.L. Bean backpacks, but this one blows it out of the water! It is cute AND functional! It has so much storage; it never feels too heavy. The reason I bought this backpack is the fact it has an insulated pouch which i put my lunch in. I can fit a lot in there, but if you put too much, it can cause the backpack to tip over and it starts to take up space in the other compartments. When i get this dirty, i just throw it in the washing machine and it comes out looking like new. The only thing i don't like about this back pack is that one of the outer side compartments is a small, non usable zipper pouch, so you only have one drink holder. Also, the fact that when you put a lot of items in the insulated pouch, it will tip over. Because of these reasons, I bought the Jewel Dakine backpack and am going to retire my Prom. It has been a wonderful investment and has been beaten and bruised! If your interested in buying this backpack for the insulated pouch so you can bring lunch with you, you might want to check out the Jewel Dakine backpack. It basically is prom, but the pencil pouch and the insulated pouch are on top of one another instead of behind each other like the prom backpack so you can fit more in pouches. I go to school and work from 7:30 to 7:30 and this thing has enough room so i can fit everything in. I will never buy anything else aside from dakine backpacks! WELL WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY, HAS LASTED 3 YEARS AND COUNTING!