21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a very specialized-purpose pack, January 17, 2009
This review is from: Mountainsmith Market St. Backpack (Sports)
I ordered this pack to replace my old backpack, as something that would be more "presentable" in a business/work-related context. I know that shoulder bags, briefcases and messenger bags are generally considered more formal, but hey, they screw up your (my) back, so they're not an option. The appearance of this pack is very classy, so I thought it would be a good alternative to those other back/shoulder/neck destroying options.
If all you need to carry all day, each day, is a few folders, notepads, a laptop computer and accessories, and a lot of little electronic gizmos (PMP player+accessories, cellphone+accessories), then this pack will work great for you. If you also need to carry things like a travel mug, 32 oz water bottle, umbrella, lunch, then do not buy this pack: there is next to NO general-purpose space. There is also no external storage space (mesh pockets, etc) for a wet umbrella, etc.
For my purposes, the pack is over-organized. The main compartment, where the laptop sleeve goes, is replete with pockets of all sizes. But it leaves no space for bulkier items. There are no compression straps, so it will not shrink or expand to accommodate different loads. This is mitigated somewhat by the stiff padded construction, so it doesn't feel saggy even with smaller loads. But it also fills up very quickly.
The quality of construction is very solid. Zippers are solid and slide smoothly. Everything is well-padded, and laptops and other electronics are very suspended from shocks and generally well-protected in this pack. It also looks very stylish, especially the brown two-tone.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stylish, Comfortable & Functional, August 23, 2007
I use this bag every day on my bike commute. I ditched my messenger bag because I was getting a sore shoulder and wanted a real backpack. It's got a lot of nice corduroy-lined internal pockets to keep everything organized and great padding on the straps and back. I like the one-sided zips that are easy to access with one strap off, but the center zip pocket (obstensibly for sunglasses) is almost impossible to get to without taking the bag off completely. I would have also preferred a chest strap for increased comfort, but it's still pretty nice without it.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Business Pack!, July 17, 2008
This review is from: Mountainsmith Market St. Backpack (Sports)
I use this bag daily, and am very satisfied with it. The quality is extremely high - well made, durable, and intelligently designed. It travels well, and stows easily in airplane overheads and under seats, because it is streamlined (it has no outside pockets to catch or hang up). Mountainsmith thought of many small details - for example, the pockets are lined with corduroy to ensure that your sunglasses, iPod screens, etc., don't get scratched. The placement of internal pockets is well thought out, and the use of space is efficient. The only gap I noticed is that I switched to the Mountainsmth from a Lands End canvas briefcase, which was legendary for being able to hold more stuff than a normal human can lift. The Mountainsmith holds less, comparatively, but that's not a bad thing. Be thoughtful about what you need to carry in your bag, and you will love the Mountainsmith!
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