I must start by saying that I've grown very fond of this bag. I've been backpacking and WWOOFing through Europe for over 9 months and I still have a few to go. This bag is basically my home.
Let's start with the pros. PRICE - quite affordable for a bag of its class. There are many convenient pockets and straps. I'm able to fit everything I need to survive. It's effectively waterproof and has the rain-fly thing for heavier rains. The material is extremely durable - hardly a scuff on it and not a single tear in any of the fabric (seams are another story; see below). It shrinks down alright when not fully stuffed. And most importantly, when adjusted correctly, it IS comfortable. This is crucial for me, as I've been doing a fair amount of hitchhiking and find myself walking 5-15km at a stretch if is lady luck isn't shining.
If it's got all of those pros, what cons could possibly drive me to only give it 3 out of 5 stars? The seams. Zippers, straps and buckles have busted seams. It started VERY early. Within only a couple weeks of use, the inner adjustable velcro strap that folds over the left-side interior aluminum back brace tore its top seam; the bag has sat crooked since then. The seam around the zipper on the bottom where the rain-fly is stored is giving way, and I've used that only a handful of times. After about 2 months of heavy use, the seam holding the buckle on the bottom right strap broke, as did the lowest of the four seams connecting that strap to the front mesh pocket area (I used these straps to hold my heavy coat when I'm not wearing it - I was able to reattach the buckle using duct tape, needle and thread). Luckily, none of these have been enough to put the bag out of commission.
One final minor annoyance, but not necessarily enough to detract from the merit of the bag, is that I wish rain-fly were slightly larger. I have to store my sleeping bag on top, and with the bag strapped up there the rain-fly simply doesn't cover it all.
In conclusion, I really do like the bag and I hope to get many more years out of it. But to have seams busting within the first month of use is unacceptable. Regardless, what's done is done. I will simply try my hardest to repair these issues when I get back stateside and have the luxury of actually emptying the bag of all its contents - a rather daunting task, I assure you.
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