This is by far the best backpack I have ever owned. It seems to do everything. It takes books for school, protects laptops pretty well for not having that in the design, travels exceedingly well, etc. It is incredibly comfortable to wear, and sits very securely when you need it to. The angled carry scheme is fairly awkward, but nobody says you have to use it. The many straps work well for boards, coolers, whatever. Zippers are industrial, as are all the straps and clips. The 'x-carry' padding at the back acts like a soft frame on a small bag, giving it a regular shape and a decent amount of support. Basically, this thing does whatever you ask of it; great backpack.