This backpack is light, solidly built and versatile. I've traveled by backpack thru Europe more than 15x with Jansport and Rick Steves backpacks (both great and well built). This Matein backpack is my favorite. It's the ideal size for me (which of course varies by person), as I've learned from years of travel the invaluable benefit of packing light. Still, this pack easily holds everything I need, including a separate pocket for an additional pair of shoes/sandals.Some reviews in here say the zipper broke on early use, but I never experienced issues with zippers or anything else. My backpack must be durable, as I travel thru Europe by train and to multiple destinations, so it gets carried a lot on my trips and gets a bit roughed up at times.The Jansport pack I traveled with in my younger days was excellent and well-built, but was a top-loading pack, which can be very inconvenient for easily accessing all the contents. Still, I continued traveling with it for years until a shoulder strap broke.The Rick Steves pack, also very well-built, sort of hung on my back like a sack of potatoes. I traveled with this backpack for many Europe trips and its durability and comfort were great. The biggest issue I have with this pack is the laptop pocket is on the outer side (meaning farthest away from my back), which is not ideal for weight distribution, especially for heavier laptops. With the Matein pack the laptop pocket is right against my back, which is ideal weight distribution. This really makes a big difference when carrying the pack for extended periods. Backpacks get heavier when carried for extended periods and in hot weather as you become worn out and tire (more reason to pack light!). I thank Rick Steves for helping me learn to pack light.This Matein pack is soft-sided with more firm corners and adges, which gives the pack stronger form so it doesn't hang on me like a sack of potatoes. This is one of the benefits I really appreciated, along with the location of the laptop pocket and the fact that it fits in the overhead bin on flights (never waste your time checking bags). For a traveling style that requires a backpack to be both durable and comfortable, this is a good one. It also has an outside handle to carry it like a suitcase with the shoulder straps easily tucking away into their own pockets.Given all of that, I've only traveled with this pack once for two weeks, jumping on and off trains (sometimes several times a day), and it performed very well and exceeded my expectations. It handled very well my somewhat rough and rigorous travel style.Most people overpack. Consider what backpack size you need and always aim to underpack - your future self will thank you!