I purchased this pack from http://www.jsburlys.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=sertedcblue with my own money. I received no compensation for this first impressions review.

HELM wasn’t making anything up in the video he posted at http://edcforums.com/threads/edc-backpack-offer-for-forum-members.121372/. While I bought the blue pack rather than the black one, it’s otherwise identical to what’s in the video.

Every stitch appears to be straight and uniform, with not a thread out of place. It’s very comfortable (keeping in mind that I’ve only been walking around the house with a light load). The sternum strap may be entirely unnecessary, as the pack rides just fine without it.

Everything about this pack screams quality, starting at the framesheet and including the velcro (inside and out), stitching, materials, design, and zippers. I’ve had it for less than an hour so it’s not exactly a long-term torture test, but this pack feels like it could stand up to a lot of use and abuse.

The color may be a bit darker than the photo at the store link might suggest, but it’s a very handsome pack. This would blend in neatly on the street, a plane, or wherever.

My work laptop is a Lenovo ThinkPad W510, a 15.6″ widescreen monster of a desktop replacement. It’s freaking gigantic. It fits smoothly and easily in the pack, with room to spare at the top.

The zippers for the larger organizer section and the main compartment have weather flaps that cover the zippers nicely but stay out of the way. The laptop compartment does not, so keep that in mind if you cart your laptop around in the rain.

One thing I might add would be a hanger for a hydration bladder, if I chose to carry one instead of a laptop. It looks like it would be easy to fold over the webbing carry handle at the top and use that. While at first I was thinking I’d also like a port for a hydration bladder tube, it’s hard to justify whatever extra cost that would add considering that a tube could come out in a small gap between the two zipper pulls of the laptop compartment.

Another thing to change would be a removable sternum strap, a la Goruck. This is a nit. If this really bothered me I might bust the existing strap off and buy a removable one. But I doubt I’ll go that far.

This pack is a crazy good deal at $95 shipped. I’m super happy with it.