I commute to my office 3 times a week by train. I need a backpack that's not too protruding from my back, because the train may get crowded. I have done a lot of research to find one and I narrow it down to 3. InCase City Compact, Belkin Slim Backpack and Cocoon Slim. On the thickness, Belkin slim is very slim and its edges are tapered so it looks very slim. Cocoon is probably about as thin. Of all 3, InCase is the thickest. I have a reserve on Belkin because I want to carry my Bose QC35 to work as well, and Belkin may be too thin for that. Cocoon was my second consideration and I really like the built in rubber band grid to gel organize things inside. Cocoon slim fell out of my favor because of other people review about its durability. So I came back to InCase. I owned 3 InCase backpack and messenger bag before and the quality build is a gaurantee. One of them is coming up 10 years and its leather age really well and not cracking. That says something about quality/material that they use. When I received this backpack, I address my first concern which is how thick it's going to be if I put in my MacBook and my Bose headphones. To my relief, the backpack doesn't bulge up over the side wall of the backpack at all. It stays within the profile, as you can see in one of the pictures that has iPad sitting on the strap. Second is how heavy it is going to be. The backpack itself is really light, unlike another InCase that I have that's so well built it is on the heavy side in and of itself. This backpack is light but not skimming on padding and protection at all. Every compartment is well padded with soft material and be able to bump/bounce to give your precious carry proper protection. There are slots that can help you organize things although it's not enough for me. Fortunately, it can be addressed easily. I'm purchasing the Cocoon Grid-it to help me organize cables, thumb drive, small headphones and battery. All in all, I'm really happy with this backpack.