The High Sierra Access Backpack is a 5-star bag! I bought this bag to use when I commuted to and from work on my bicycle. I've used it for that and also to take with me on work trips.
The bag is VERY roomy, with plenty of pockets and space for a lot of items. Most recently I have used it to carry my workout clothes with me on work trips, including my running shoes, several shirts, socks, shorts, leggings, sun visors, and there was still plenty of room to store more items.
The two front-most and smallest pockets are great for little items, and I often put my HR monitor and running watch in there, along with my earbuds, phone charger, and other electronics including my tablet. The larger of the two smaller front pockets has an attached carabiner on a strap so you can snap on your keys inside a pocket. There's also lots of little pockets inside that pocket, almost like a wallet, for items like business cards, credit cards, and items like pens, etc. There is a larger carabiner attached to the outside front for the same purpose as the one inside, to snap keys, or whatever you want to hook onto the pack.
The next and next larger 'medium' pocket is where i often put my running shoes. Plenty deep and there's always room left over I can add more items. The last pocket, the largest of them all, and the one that is closest to the 'back' of the pack is just enormous. It also has a built in divider. You can easily store a 15" laptop in here for storage, and the padding is good enough that unless you drop it from height, I wouldn't worry about damage to the laptop.
On the very top of the bag there is a little mp3 player pocket. I never use it and would suggest they just get rid of it. Who uses an mp3 player? And now cell phones are getting big, such as the Samsung Note series and the IPhone 6+. You could probably cram a mouse for your laptop in there, maybe your sun or reading glasses.
The shoulder straps are nice and wide and well padded. However, the padding is not breathable and of course, if you wear this on a hot day or you're using as I do, cycling with it, you're going to sweat under it. They call it Airflow padding but to be honest, you're going to sweat. There's no air getting between your back and a full pack. There are LOTS of straps to adjust to keep the load from shifting once you have it on. Chest strap and a waist strap. The chest and waist straps might annoy anyone who isn't using this like I do - cycling. For day to day walking around they probably would annoy me but for cycling, they are necessary to keep the load centered. The straps adjust and clip together easily.
The included rain jacket looks nice but I have yet to have an occasion to need it. If it's going to rain I don't plan to ride my bike. It's nicely stored on the underside of the bag. It took me a while to figure that out because it's so inconspicuous!
The side of the bag has a super mesh pocket for a water bottle. It's a great feature!
On one of the shoulder straps there is a little detachable 'media' or 'cell phone' case that I just removed and tossed into a drawer. It's pretty tiny. I don't know what modern cell phone would fit in it as it looks like it is made for those clamshell flip phones from 5 years ago. I think you could put a set of keys in it, or some lip balm.
The zippers are good quality. They are recessed under some flaps to help protect them and that can make it a little tricky opening the pack up. I'm happy with this as it's an extra layer of protection for my 'stuff.'
My coworker had spent $180 on a fancy cycling backpack and was insanely jealous of my High Sierra as it held 2x the items his held.
In summary, if you are a cyclist commuter, a college student, or anyone looking for a backpack that holds a whole lot of stuff, this is your pack! This isn't meant to take in to the backcountry, but for day to day city use, it's fantastic.
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This backpack is decent but not as rugged as I would like
I am a college student that has all of their classes in one day with teachers that all want me to bring a textbook to class. Therefore I have a lot to carry around a lot of heavy stuff. This bag is just the size I need to carry all of my stuff. I really like the rain tarp that pulls out of the bottom and covers the bag. I have had a chance to use the rain trap and it worked great and keep my laptop dry and safe. This bag also seems to be comfortable to wear even when weighted down with 30-50 pounds of books and a computer. It fits a 15.6 inch computer very well. It does have a place to store the waist straps. I have highlighted the one issue I have had with it in my photos and video. As you can see from the marker, some of the stitching has come out in the stretch part of the strap. On my second time using the back I had a lot of stuff in it and when I put it on I heard the stitching pop. I have decided that I will repair this and keep the bag because it is the right size and has a built in rain tarp. I also wish the rain trap wasn't bright yellow. This is a color that really, really stands out, but it works so I will just live with it. The zippers seem to be decent enough but I have notice that the main zipper can be a little sticky when you have a lot of stuff in that compartment. This bag also has two ways to get into the main compartment. The first way provides a quick way to get to your laptop and the second way opens up the whole main compartment. You might be able to see this in one of the photos. All in all, I like the bag and hope it gets me through several years of college.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2015
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Géraldine Entiope
Excellent produit, matériaux de bonne qualité et très résistant
Reviewed in Canada on May 5, 2018