I use it for a school pack 80% of the time, and skiing 20%. Perfect volume in my opinion. It has enough space to put in some food, an extra layer, water bladder, and whatever else you can think of. But it's small enough that it isn't sagging over with extra space or getting caught on the lift. The laptop pocket doubles perfectly for bladder storage. It looks great and has all the straps you can think of. My only concern is the quality of the buckles, but I haven't had a problem with them yet. And I'm used to Osprey quality.I might use it as a peak ascent day pack next summer, since it has no frame and rolls up well.No complaints about the pack. Happy with the investment.