I needed a good backpack for everyday use as well as for travel. This bag meets all my needs.First, I noticed the material is thick and strong like denim. I have not tested it's water resistance but it certainly seems like it would repel rainwater for a short period of time.Second, I love how many pockets there are inside. When traveling, you want all your stuff handy when you need it. With this bag, I can have my charger, my medications, my tissues, my passport, and whatever else I may need in a convenient, separated, and easy to get to pocket.Third, this backpack holds a lot. I got the smaller size, which fits nicely in the airplane storage under the seat with room for my feet as well. Despite the smaller size, I can fit a tablet, a change of clothes, cell phone, backup battery, passport, medications, some toiletries, a Kindle, and everything else I needed for 24 hours of travel. So I was very impressed!Lastly, the cushioned back liner makes it comfortable to carry even when it's full of stuff. I also want to note that the "security pocket" in the back liner is a great idea. However you will not want to store more than a little bit of cash and maybe a passport. Anything thicker than that and it begins to interfere with comfort while carrying.There are only one criticism I can think of. The shoulder straps do not adjust easily while you are carrying the backpack. This is probably a result of using a thick cotton material for the straps instead of cheap nylon. So the friction makes it harder to adjust. However, I think I prefer the look and feel of the cotton over the nylon and over time it should become easier to adjust.+++++UPDATE: MAY 2021+++++Changed from a 4 to a 5 star because this bag really held up over the past 2 years and shows almost no wear. Also the straps adjust easily now, which was something I complained about above. I am not sure when that happened but it didn't take too long. Probably should have updated this review sooner. However, I am still super impressed with this backpack! Definitely worth thirty something bucks for sure.