Piel Leather Traditional Backpack

I just used this bag to travel around France. It was the perfect size when site-seeing around Paris and other cities/towns.

• Did the product fit true to size? Yes, the bag is a wonderful size...not too large and not too small...perfect for carrying a smaller amount and not breaking your back!
• How is the quality of the product? Great.
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? Yes, no issues with defects.

I like the size, the quality of the leather and the comfort of this backpack. However, the zipper on the small outside pocket broke within one month. Not only was the workmanship poor in that it wasn't secured properly on the ends and came unsewed, but the zipper itself broke away from it's backing in the middle of the zipper. It has to be replaced, but since I am no longer under warranty, I will pay an additional *** for this work to be done. The problem with the straps mentioned in other reviews seems to have been rectified, and they can be adjusted freely now. I think it would be a good idea to put in an inside zippered pocket for safety -- to secure a wallet, for example. Just having an outside side zipper which enters into the main compartment doesn't secure your wallet. This backpack has potential, but needs better, smalle, stronger sewing, and re-enforcement on the ends, and would be improved by a zippered inside pocket.

I needed to transition out of a tote for work as my shoulder has been giving me problems. I walk about 25 minutes from the train to my office and, though I tried to change positions, I was really getting my body out of balance by carrying a one sided bag. I didn't want an ugly backpack either though and this absolutely fits the bill. Nice leather and the large is the perfect size. Just the right amount of pockets and it even has a zipper in the side so you can put your wallet in the bottom of the big compartment so you don't have to worry about anyone getting it from the top, but then it's easy to access if you need it. Great value for the price.

This is a fabulous backpack. I bought it for 3-month trip to Europe. After doing extensive research, and extensive online shopping, I finally decided on this bag. Although I didn't want to spend the money it costed, I now know it was well worth every penny. The leather is incredibly high quality, and it has endured much over the trip. I get compliments everywhere I go. It's beautiful, function, and lightweight. I like that it is large enough and padded enough to hold my MacBook Pro. It has enough pockets to be functional (and a water-bottle side pocket- VERY convenient), but not so many to be confusing and leave you unzipping 84 compartments to find something. I highly recommend this bag, and as always, Overstock's customer service was fabulous. I know this is a bag I will be using for many years to come, and I think it's going to last me through my whole college career.