Got this for my daughter for a Christmas present. Her hubby helped us pick the color (brown) and we added a monogram. She loves this bag. In all kinds of weather she has to carry lots of papers and books between middle schools as part of her job. She just loves the looks and the way it holds everything she needs for the day. I am very pleased and find this to be a great bag and a great value.
Accordion file, purse organizer, wallet, mug, bottle and additional small tote jammed with papers. Still not full.
... it would be perfect. I hoped the end pockets could serve, but as my photo shows, they're too wide for a small bottle and too short for a big one. A bottle will fit inside but I worry about spills. Still, the bag is very nice - it's lightweight, sturdy, attractive and holds a TON of stuff. I regularly carry an accordion binder with papers and folders, a purse organizer for little things, a large wallet, a water bottle and/or travel mug, my 10" netbook - and that's just in the main compartment. The photo shows just what I carried today (including another tote INSIDE this bag), which fit easily with plenty of extra room.
I've been using this bag for about two weeks now and it's performed admirably. It would be great to have a handle on the top flap, but it's still a great bag.
I surprised my husband with this messenger bag as a Christmas gift. He immediately emptied out his OLD (VERY OLD) LL BEAN briefcase and started using this for work. He likes the size and function, but I have to admit that I chose it for it's good looks and styling. We have every reason to believe that this bag will last as long as the OLD (VERY OLD) one did, because the LL BEAN quality is there.
