Great build quality (seriously - this seems to be as close to weatherproof as a bag can be without being a dry-bag), stylish (it looks as good as the promo materials which is why I didn't upload a pic), professional looking, and thoughtfully designed organization. So far it has proven to be waterproof when carried for 20-mins in heavy rain without an umbrella for protection (I'm a raincoat person - which handily fits in this backpack with plenty of room to spare). I like that I can carry this with me from meeting to meeting if I'm mobile for the day, and have it be both more professional and practical than a backpack. Also really pleased to see more designers marketing totes to men, they are far more practical/functional than a briefcase for loads of reasons. Here's what I carry inside of the tote daily:
- 13" laptop w/charging block and cable
- Padfolio
- Rolled raincoat that's not bulky but also not crazy packable
- two packable grocery bags by Chicobags (they are very small when packed)
- an 18oz water bottle (interior and exterior water bottle sleeves are solid)
- 10' tablet
- Sunglasses case
- portable tripod
- Tech Pouch
- Stick of deodorant
- USB-c to HDMI dongle
- a handful of small random items that go in the front outside pocket
With all of the above in the bag there's still plenty of room for misc. things I may need to stuff in there throughout my day/commute. Even though I don't 'NEED' the extra volume, it is nice to have on days when I have to transport more to or from work. It seems to be holding its form quite well and is comfortable to carry for most commutes (obviously this is subjective).
Haven't traveled with this yet, but I love the luggage sleeve and it's big enough to use as a personal item without feeling like I'm making a giant sacrifice on volume by not carrying my 26L backpack.
No real downsides for this. It is a lot for a tote that isn't leather but I 100% think it's worth the price. The only people who may want to avoid this are (a) people who are on the fence about having a tote as an EDC or semi-regular carry (this is a lot to spend on a tote that you don't regularly use); and (b) anyone with back and/or shoulder issues (they should be using a backpack with appropriate load distribution).