I''m a frequent road warrior with "unique" needs in stuff transportation my friends refer to my car as "the place things go to die" because I pretty much trash anything I come in contact with. I have worn out more bags in my day than I ever thought possible, and if anything lasts me more than a week I''m fairly pleased with it.
I got an Ogio Metro backpack from my workplace as part of an attendance incentive, and didn''t think too much of it. Its not a bag I would have bought myself (I usually buy snowboarder backpacks due to the more rugged construction) but I''d just worn out my messenger bag so I started using this one. I have never been more pleased with a laptop bag in my entire life.
The main laptop pocket works perfect for my dell inspiron, and the inside pocket (the file pouch or whatever) fits my macbook pro like a snug glove (yes, both at once) while leaving the majority of the open section empty and ready for my stuff. A few water bottles, couple of notebooks (I use the thin 1" ones for most things, athough it''d probably hold 2-3 of the "normal" sized ones), some other gear, a couple paperbacks and some peripherals fit easily, there''s a couple waterproof pockets with headphone holes for my iPod and would fit a small CD-walkman if I had one, and with my blood sugar issues I LOVE the smaller side pouches because they''re perfect for a couple candy bars in case I have a sugar attack. Digital camera goes in another pocket for quick access, with its usb cable and some spare batteries in another.
Padded ribbing and neopropene (sp?) helps the comfort, along with some webbed padding in the shoulder straps. Weight distribution is good, and it survives getting thrown around in and out of my car and never has a problem. The hand grip on the top (by which I frequently drag the bag) is both comfortable and integrated into the design rather than being sewn on as an afterthought so is much more durable than most grips.
Although I''d never have bought this bag to begin with (I''d never even HEARD of Ogio) I would buy another without hesitation and suggest it to anyone who needs a new bag even if they don''t need it for an actual laptop.
I LOVE this bookbag. I got the Ron Burgundy Color not only because it was an absolute STEAL at $28.00 plus free 2 day shipping, but the color is really rich and vibrant too. I''ve never owned any Ogio products so of course I read all the reviews before I bought it. And they are SPOT on.
The main storage area for your books and such are pretty spacious,although my only complaint is that it''s not roomy enough? But I guess its hard to fit 2 huge science texts, two 1.5 inch binders and another textbook ( its a tight fit) The problem with this tight fit is that the books absolutely will put pressure on your laptop ( pining it against ur back), risking damage. I think if u have only a book and binder or two, then this bookbag would hold an additional laptop PERFECTLY.
On the left side there two pockets. I use the bottom one to hold my contacts, solution, hand sanitizer, anti diarrhea med ( for exam days,don''t ask lol), miscellaneous stuff. The top one I stuff with about 6 granola bars and a pack of gum. On the right side, there is a tall pocket that fits a bottle of water PERFECTLY ( I use a 28oz blender bottle) Or you can put a ti-83 and such there.
At the top there are 2 weatherproof pockets. I have yet to test their weatherproofness though. The smaller one is the audio pocket with headphones port. If ur thinking, wont the water enter through the port...It wont because the port doesnt open directly into the pocket. Simple and ingenious. The bigger pocket can hold cd size things. In fact I usually put my G1 phone and canon 790 IS camera in there. Fits great.
Right below the main compartment where the books go is another pretty large compartment for additional storage. It''s divided into at least 6-8 additional areas of various sizes for really practical and useful storage: slots for pens, a big zipped pocket, a clear plastic lined pocket for ID cards?, a small pocket with a velcro cover, and so on. Absolutely great.
At the bottom front of the bookbag is another weatherproof storage pocket for Im guessing the power cord,mouse and other accessories. I use it to hold my ti-83 and a little scientific calculator.
The handle and shoulder straps are sturdy and hold the bookbag up really well. The zippers feel really solid and well made. The weatherproof seals are also well made and have a tight seal. Oh and did i mention that 30year workmanship and defects free guarantee Ogio stands by on this bookbag ( not mentiooned on amazon but comes IN bookbag upon purchase. That says it all.
Basically my only complaints are maybe not enough room for books, but if u really think about it, no bookbag can hold 3,4 textbooks and accompanying binders AND a laptop. Maybe could use thicker padding for lappy for extra precaution. But otherwise, this bookbag is well made, with sooooo many storage pockets that are just downright useful and extremely practical. U won''t be disappointed in this Metro bookbag. HIghly recommended. Although i dont use this to hold my laptop because of reasons stated above, it is nevertheless an AMAZING daily book lugger.
UPDATE: January 18, 2011. It''s been a little over two years since I bought this bookbag and I still love it. I carry just about everything in it for school, with daily usage weight of about 30-45 pounds, and I''ve never had a problem with the bookbag. ( I don''t use the bookbag to carry my laptop (I have another Ogio one for that :P). My only issue is that the plastic, waterproof linings along the pocket on the very bottom, and the two pockets near the top are now starting to crack and probably will come apart. To me, this is a minor issue, given how the bookbag had performed overall. I would not hesitate to buy this Metro bookbag or another type from Ogio again. I hope I can get another one at the same price I paid for this one.
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I cannot recommend this backpack highly enough. I got mine junior year of high school a full seven years ago and it''s still going strong. The only damage in all those years of lugging heavy books around, checking it a few times on airplanes, and who knows what else, is as follows: (1) one of the two chest strap buckles broke a few years ago (not a big deal), (2) the water-proofing sealant material inside the main pocket is finally starting to peel off, and (3) the rubber piece around the headphone hole fell off a few years ago (not a big deal). I''m only just now considering buying a new backpack (not even looking around my new one will be another Ogio Metro) because of the peeling material inside, and because a pesky mouse chewed through one of the pockets to get at a granola bar I had in there.
Things I especially love about the Metro:
(1) Obviously, the durability is phenomenal. I have not been gentle on this backpack, and it has gone all over the world with me, without a single complaint or problem, for over seven years. The materials are heavy-duty and dependable.
(2) The laptop pocket is SO convenient. Most backpacks now claim they have a laptop pocket, but it''s almost always inside the main pocket. When I''m going to airport security, my laptop slides in and out in no time while the suckers with North Face backpacks are still busy digging through their entire back to pull out the laptop. The Metro pocket is also great for sliding the paper or a magazine in and out easily for a commute. No need to open everything up and stuff a magazine down in there with fingers crossed that it won''t get torn up.
(3) The big water bottle pocket on the side is incredibly useful. Like the rest of this bag, it''s enormous, and I carry a 22-oz water bottle with me all the time, with room to spare for snacks if necessary. I''ve also fit two 20-oz. Coke bottles in there together on multiple occasions.
(4) The neoprene handle. Another commenter speculated that a neoprene handle is less durable than rubber NOT TRUE!!! Mine is in perfect shape, and I''ve dragged it around by that neoprene handle for years. Like the rest of the bag, the handle is incredibly sturdy. And neoprene is definitely more comfortable than some hard rubber.
(5) The chest strap is actually perfectly sized to fit an iPod in a case with a belt strap. It looks kind of ridiculous, but it''s incredibly convenient to have it right there, easy to access for changing songs, turning on/off, adjusting the volume, etc.
(6) The two small side pockets are perfectly sized for my (Apple) laptop charger. I keep both the charger and the extra-long plug cable in there all the time it''s great not to have to dig through a bunch of stuff to get to them.
Things I would change/potential cons about the Metro:
(1) This isn''t specific to the Metro, but I think the headphone hole in so-called "media pockets" on backpacks is stupid. I haven''t had any problems with it except for the rubber thing (decoration really) falling off, but it''s really inconvenient to keep your iPod or whatever in your backpack while listening to it because you''d have to take your backpack off to change the song, turn it on/off, adjust the volume, etc. So I think the headphone hole is just pointless.
(2) I have yet to find a good use for the front bottom pocket. This isn''t really a complaint at all because I''ll take an extra pocket any time, whether I can use it or not just a personal note.
(3) Literally nothing else.
Read Best Reviews of OGIO Metro Backpack Here
When my oldest son purchased an OGIO Metro Pack I thought it was a well thought out backpack. It seemed to be the perfect backpack for our needs so I ordered two more, one for both my younger son and myself. After just two months all three OGIO Metro Packs are coming apart at the seams. Either OGIO has compromised their quality or we were stuck with a shoddy knock off. Before purchasing these backpacks, both of my sons had OGIO backpacks that lasted well over 3 years of hard wear. I''m very disappointed and unfortunately did not keep the receipts. I guess the lesson here is BUYER BE AWARE OF ONLINE PURCHASES. When ordering through Amazon.com, you never know if the company that you end up ordering the product from is truly and authorized seller of the product that you are ordering.
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I have had this bag for a week now and I love it. It has many compartments for pens/pencils, glasses, mp3 player, water bottle, and stuff so everything is easy to find. I also like the fact that it has a large undivided main compartment. That makes it possible to carry an assortment of different sized books and binders. My laptop travels in a different bag so I use the laptop sleeve for notepads and folders. I have found this to be much more comfortable than the single strap messenger bag I usually carry to school. I like that there are a couple of water proof pockets and that one is easily big enough for a TI calculator. I have recommended this bag to friends and would certainly buy this bag again myself.
Glad that I was able to find these for my kids'' REI hydration/daypack. They chewed up the original ones and I did not want to have to buy a new bag. They should start selling these in stores like they do with Camelbak
