I needed a bag to replace my tried and trusty Longchamp le Pliage bag (it's started fraying at the corners) for my frequent day trips in Europe. I often travel several hours by bus and/or by train, and so a travel bag that will accomodate many necessities is absolutely essential. I deem my Kindle, iPod, camera, umbrella, water bottle, tissues, and small snacks as the bare minimum for most trips, and needed a bag that could accomodate all of these items plus of course my wallet and keys. So any decent bag has to be able to accomodate all of these and still be durable enough to survive the trip. After researching various bags, I decided on the Overland Equipment Donner Bag.
Pros: I love the two side compartments that are separate from the main compartment. My 24 oz
CamelBak Bottle fits on one end, and my collapsible umbrella fits on the other, and the treat is that any condensation on the water bottle or rain on the umbrella is abosrbed into the pocket without getting everything in the bag wet. Also, the interior slip pocket is the perfect size for my Kindle (which I have in the Amazon leather cover with light). The main compartment is big enough to accomodate snacks, my camera and have space left over for any small souvenirs. The front outside section has a nice assortment of slots and pockets to accomodate tissues, lip balm, pens/pencils and other odds and ends. The bag of the bag has another slip pocket that is very convenient for stashing tickets so that they don't end up lost in the main area.
Cons: I wish the strap had a cushioned pad attached because the bag can get heavy if you fill it to capacity (especially with a water bottle and such), and I've found it starts to cut into my shoulders when I'm not wearing a jacket or sweatshirt. The front flap is only secured by velcro, so I'm hesistant to store anything of value in the front section, which is a shame because there is a lined pocket that would be ideal for storing my iPod but I don't want it in a pocket that isn't secured by a zipper. The front velcro closure was the feature that kept this from being a 5 star bag for me.
Bonus: With the special edition of the Donner Bag, you get a
Everyday Shopper Bag included, which is a good deal since the regular edition doesn't come with this.
