Samsonite Tectonic PFT Laptop Backpack, Black/Red, 17-Inch

***UPDATE***I've updated my review at the bottom of the original review.************Let me start off by saying, from what I understand the straps and part of the backpack that meets your back is the back of the bag and where the logo is where everyone can see it is the front. This terminology may prevent any misunderstandings in the review.If you're only looking for a list of Pros and Cons, see the end of my review.I ordered this backpack in replacement of the Adidas Ridgemont backpack because the Ridgemot started giving me some pretty heavy chaffing because it didn't keep it's shape and the bottom rubbed up against my back. Before all of this I was on a quest to find a backpack to replace my work backpack and to take with me when my band plays out of state. So I made a list of my requirements in order from most important to least important:-very large capacity (at least 2000 cubic inches) so I could fit a laptop, portable charger, tablet, cords, practice pad with one pair of drum sticks (I play drums in the band), clothes, towel, and shaving kit and still have room for anything else.-zippers that could support a suitcase lock.-suspension system to make it easier on my back.-very durable with a well built handle on the top.-laptop and tablet pockets.-decent price:size ratio.-loops on the front or on the straps to clip my IEM case to.-pocket on the side for a water bottle or other beverage.-various sub pockets and holders for accessories (cords, pens, etc).-NO WHEELS. I don't need wheels on my backpack. That's why they have straps.I did tons of research before deciding on this particular backpack. I watched video reviews, I looked up sizes and pictures wherever I could find the information. Here's a list of backpacks I considered and why my final decision was this pack:- Targus Demolition (I read reviews about the handle on this pack breaking off. With as much stuff as I plan to put in the backpack, this was not acceptable and there were also not enough large pockets)- Targus Drifter II (there were not enough dual zippers for me to secure this backpack with luggage locks and make sure all of my stuff would be locked up and there wasn't enough space to hold everything I wanted it to hold.)- Oakley Kitchen Sink (The name of this backpack drew me to it, but there's really not enough space in this pack for what I need it for and the price for such a small capacity backpack was ridiculous. pretty much paying for unnecessary latches.)- Ogio Renegade RSS (Once again, not enough dual zippers for all the pockets, so I couldn't secure it with luggage locks)- Swissgear Scansmart (not enough room in the backpack and the laptop pocket was inconvenient for my use.)- Thule Crossover (Too many 1 zipper compartments and not enough space for the price.)- Jansport Odessey (Looked like there wasn't much there for strap suspension.)- The North Face Router (There was no cushion or padding on the handle on top. Just a strap that looked not so durable.)-Adidas Ridgemont (my decision came down to the Adidas Ridgemont and the Samsonite Luggage Tectonic when I ruled out the others. I ended up getting the Ridgemont at first but like I said earlier, it didn't hold it's shape, the sound it made when you move it was much like what it would sound like moving a large tarp, there weren't enough pockets and I had to return it.)After all consideration and returning the Adidas Ridgemont backpack, I got the Samsonite Luggage Tectonic backpack, and when it arrived I noticed the pros and cons immediately. Here's what I found.Pros:- LIFETIME WARRANTY. (this is huge to have on a backpack to ensure it lasts you as long as possible).- tons of pockets to keep most of my accessories in.- well designed shoulder suspension.- dual zippers on most pockets and loops for luggage locks at the end of each zipper.- 2 side pockets for a bottled beverage.- laptop and tablet pocket.- loops on the front and on the straps.- padded, mesh back for good airflow.- very good quality of material and zippers with a very tough feeling handle on top.Cons:- Space. Apparently 2200 square inches is not enough to hold everything I need to carry in this. There's a huge flaw that no one has pointed out in any review I've read for this backpack. The pocket at the top is for headphones as you can see in the pictures. but the pocket doesn't have it's own space on the bag, but instead takes up space in the large middle compartment making it difficult to pack clothes or a shaving kit.-There's not a convenient pocket for a laptop cord. I use the pocket in the tech gear compartment for usb cords, tools, and an external battery. So my laptop cord gets put in one of the side pockets meant for bottles, unsecured and out there for anyone to just grab.Here's a list of what I have fit in this backpack:Electronics: Jackery Giant external battery, 15" laptop, 10.1" tablet, 5 usb cords in different lengths, D/C to A/C converter, AC usb charger, headphones, external portable hard drive, 3 various computer cables for work, and my in ear monitors are clipped to a loop on the front.Tools: screwdriver, a straight razor, Snap-it pocket knife, Leatherman Multitool, 3 drum keys.Office supplies: Journal notebook, Merch count notebook, 5 pens, post it notes, sharpies, and a small roll of duct tape.Yes that's a lot of stuff. But I have yet to even try to fit clothing and a shaving kit in this thing and it's almost jam packed to the brim. I'd also like to note that I have an 8.5x11 grid it organizer. Since it doesn't fit in the tech compartment and will only fit in the middle compartment, I took all my cords and gadgets out of it and put them in the front tech compartment so I would have more room for clothes.All in all, I think I'll keep looking for something better and return this backpack when I find something that meets my needs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated in the comments section below.***UPDATE***I ended up keeping this backpack and taking it with me to a show in Houston that my band played, just to see if I could make it work since I couldn't find much in comparison and time was running out. After some major rearranging, I decided there were a few things, I could leave at home when going out of town.Here is what I was able to fit in this pack:2 sharpies, 2 pens, Gridit organizer with usb cords, hootoo portable router, hard drive, external charging battery, laptop, tablet, one set of clothes (shorts, underwear, shirt, 2 pairs of socks), knife, screwdriver, Leatherman multitool, over the ear headphones, sun glasses, keys, drum keys, IEMs, laptop charging cord, AC USB charger, DC inverter, standard sized shaving kit, 5X7 spiral notebook, and a bluetooth keyboard/case for my tablet.I ended up leaving my journal at home because it was taking up way too much space, and I put the roll of duct tape in the merch box with the tshirts. All in all, I made this backpack work, and ended up really enjoying it. I increased the stars to 5 due to the great experience I had with this bag. I still had a little bit of wiggle room left with all the gear I put in this bag. I just needed to do some rearranging and everything eventually worked out. I recommend this bag to anyone looking for a good quality pack to travel with and I hope my review helps.

Wow, I never thought I would like a bag this much. It's so well designed.I'm a service and IT technician by trade, so I carry tools, notebooks, and a bulky laptop wherever I go. I needed something I could cram everything I might need into for a service call, without hurting my back. If I could use it for personal travel, so much the better.Wearing and Carrying:There's a fair bit of padding built into the bag and straps, which means it sits nice and snugly against your back. The padding is vented and breathable, though, so it doesn't leave you sweaty when you're walking around the city with it. The bag itself is well balanced, so even when it's stuffed completely full the weight is distributed nicely across your back. (Regrettably, the only thing that pulls it slightly off balance, for me at least, is placing a full water bottle in one of the bottle holders). I know it's terrible for your back, but wearing it with just one strap is also pretty comfortable and balanced. Notably, this is the first bag I've had which hasn't left me with red bruise-marks on my shoulder when it's heavy and I'm only wearing one strap.Laptop section:My old work laptop is a 14" HP Elitebook 8440p (13.2" x 9.3" x 1.2" - but a bit chunkier with the extended battery on it), and thanks to the adjustable "Perfect Fit" laptop holder, it fits perfectly and feels very well protected - the laptop section is snug and padded, and the entire exterior of the bag is also protecting it. But, once that's in place, I can also fit a second laptop into the same section (though I do put it in a neoprene sleeve, because it's nowhere near as protected as the main bit). When I'm travelling for pleasure, the work laptop comes out and I adjust the "perfect fit" thingy to fit my 15" Macbook Pro in there exactly. I don't feel the need to place it in a sleeve to protect it, either. (I wouldn't want to go out of my way to drop it though - the bottom FEELS thick and well-constructed, but... still, I can distinctly feel the outline of my laptop through it).Stuff-a-bility:I keep keys, screwdrivers and sharp tools in the second-from-front section. They've never once pierced, cut or scratched the inside. I also keep a 7" tablet behind them in the tablet section, beside a 2.5" hard drive and my Nintendo 3DS XL, and not only does it all fit well, nothing's ever been hurt by the sharp bits. The headphone section is great - I can fit some nice studio headphones in there, but I don't travel with them, so I just keep my glasses case there. Service manuals, notebooks and a plethora of cables go in the middle. And I still have room to fit the parts I need for service in.Travel:Going through x-ray (e.g. at the airport) is a breeze, you just undo the zippers and lie it flat. For some reason, this greatly amused and impressed a security guard last time I had to have this scanned. There's also an elastic strap on the back to hold it on top of a wheelie suitcase/carry-on case. The handle is well balanced, reinforced, and solidly padded - so you can effortlessly lift it, even when it's loaded up. Of note is that when lifting the handle, even if every compartment has been unzipped, nothing falls out - they seem to have mounted it in just the right spot. (Unless you've pulled the zippers down completely to lie it flat for Xray, of course...).When I'm travelling, I empty it out and carry just the bare essentials. Despite absolutely stuffing it full for my normal work day, I find that it compacts back down really well. Generally, just the thin laptop, a book, my keys, a sweater, and some gum for the plane. Because of how everything opens from the top, when it's in the overhead lockers on the plane I can access every single compartment in it (and slip my laptop out) without lifting it down. This also means that when I'm on-site visiting a client with this, I'm able to open everything and access any tool or part I want without having to flop open the whole bag and dig through it - it's SO accessible.Overall:It's a fantastic bag, really tough and well-built. I didn't think I'd get anywhere near the level of use out of it as I do, but it's been great.Notes:- The first couple of times I used this, the straps seemed to stretch out and break in a bit. That made me nervous at first, and I thought I'd overloaded it and damaged the strap's stitching or something. However, it's been nearly a year since I got it, and I carry it every day - and I've had no issues whatsoever.- The biggest pain with this bag is going through a Bag Check with security - there's so many compartments to open.

Excellent backpack, I love it. I have used this for 7 years to work. I carry work tools and laptop.