6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect backpack combo for biz or recreational travel, March 5, 2010
Bought this for vacation trip to be able to carry everything on my back.
Functionality: Outstanding. Main bag fits in overhead compartment and holds clothes for a couple days. Wheels are good, and it's reasonably comfortable as a backpack - not for outdoors hiking, just navigating airports and harbors and general travel. Day pack is easy fit under seats and extremely well organized with pockets in exactly in the right places. AND - it will carry a laptop with a little room to spare. It took one or two times to master zippering the two bags together, but it seems to be a very good design. The entire combo together is surprisingly comfortable given the substantial load it carries.
Manufacture and workmanship: Great for the money, though this is not Gucci or TUMI, either. Seems like pretty good materials and is assembled very well. It looks like fairly heavy duty though one plate has already bent a little. I will use it for business trips no problem and the day pack is fine for carrying stuff from hotel rooms to meetings.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Unique Idea, but Reality is Just One Small Step Behind, June 18, 2010
I travel a lot, and wanted to have a small suitcase that would be my signature, small check-in/carry-on one that I can rely on on each of my travels.
I have a High Sierra backpack (picked that brand on a whim), and besides very thin inner compartment linings, it was perfect - lots of compartments, very tough and rugged exterior, strong yet light, comfortable yet secure.
A good backpack once on worn makes you feel like you're carrying your house on your shoulders, but with ease of mind and comfort. Those who travel often (not for business) know what I'm talking about. When you just up and go, your very best friend is your backpack. It is the ONE thing that you clutch on to and never forget. I stuff everything in it, from small household/travel necessities, to my PSP, netbook/laptop, DSLR camera, to important documents like visa, passport, tickets, money, etc.
So it was extremely important that I picked the right suitcase. I looked around, from SwissGear to Targus. But since I already have a High Sierra, I thought I'd give them a chance and look-see to find out what else they have to offer, and found these 2-in-1 suitcases. There were 3 styles I was going to choose from, but in the end I chose this one because it was the highest model in the right size for what I needed.
But when it arrived I have to say I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love it, hence the 4 stars, but I'm not IN LOVE with it.
First of all, the zipper pullers are big and strong, yet the zippers themselves didn't quite have that smooth and quality "roll" that high quality zippers should have. If you know anything about high-end fashion/accessories, you know that good zippers are paramount.
Secondly, and very related, I am disappointed in the attachment/detachment mechanism between the day-pack and the suitcase. It is attached by a zipper, that when you have the 2 packs attached, is fine. But once you have them separated, it is not easy to attach them again. In a hectic airport check-in scenario, you don't want to be all frustrated fumbling around trying to attach or detach them.
And finally, for its price, I expected a little more out of its material quality. It is very strong, thick, and tough, but it doesn't have that high-quality feel to it. Remember that you can get good full-sized suitcases for around $50, so for something that is double the amount, it does not correlate well between price and quality.
These gripes aren't very big, however, and within them I stated the good things as well. And also, the handling and transportation mechanics are very good - strong, sturdy handles (both the lifting, and the pull-out ones), and awesome, smooth, and strong roller wheels. It is not too heavy either, so for guys it should be no problem when worn on the back. I can't say the same for the ladies, or even for guys after you put in some extra-thick jeans, towels, jackets, etc., but hey, that's why they have the pull-out handle and wheels.
In the end, I still love it and will keep it. The idea is very novel, and I'm sure it will save me more than once down the road in a tricky airport situation, as well as being very practical in actual usage.
You should definitely check it out, and you should check out its cheapest cousin
High Sierra Carry-On Wheeled Backpack with Removable Day Pack
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT FOR COLLEGE, August 19, 2010
I am an engineering/environmental chemistry major and without car so I have to carry my books that I need for the day with me. Between 4 full-sized hard bound textbooks, 2 lab manuals, 5 notebooks, a netbook, a water bottle and various assorted supplies a backpack just won't cut it (unless of course I want back problems for the rest of my life). After looking for months to find a bag that could organize my supplies, not feel like I'm lugging a trunk around, and would be heavy-duty enough to take the daily grind I found this bag. School is just getting started so I'm not sure about how well it's going to hold up over the semester but I do know that all my stuff fits and is well organized. The bag seems well constructed and unlike other reviewers, I have no problem detaching and reattaching the day-pack from the main bag. I'll update this review as the semester progresses.
UPDATE: (May 2011)
This bag has made it through 2 college semesters and is still going strong. It is very durable, easy to organize my books, work and supplies into and I have received a lot of compliments on it. Also, more than a few fellow students (young and old alike) who wanted to know where I got the bag from. Definitely the best set-up I have ever had for school. Worth every penny and more. I expect to get several more semesters out of this bag since it's not even showing any signs of wear and tear yet. And if you wonder how much use it's getting....I have 19 units this semester and NO online classes. :)
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