adidas Ridgemont Backpack

*UPDATE*----------------------------------------------------If you don't keep this backpack jam packed full of stuff, it does not keep it's shape. This causes the bottom of the backpack to sag and if you have a tablet and laptop in it, it will rub against your lower back and unless you wear really thick, baggy shirts, this causes chaffing and eventually you will get a red rash from the bag rubbing up against your back or it will just cause a lot of discomfort. I'm returning this backpack and getting the Samsonite Luggage Tectonic bag to see if it can actually holds up to my lifestyle. Read on for my full review.----------------------------------------------------Let me start off by saying, from what I understand the straps and part of the backpack that meets your back is the back of the bag and where the logo is where everyone can see it is the front. This terminology may prevent any misunderstandings in the review.If you're only looking for a list of Pros and Cons, see the end of my review.Before I ordered the Adidas Ridgemont backpack, I was on a quest to find a backpack to replace my work backpack and to take with me when my band plays out of state. So I made a list of my requirements in order from most important to least important:-very large capacity (at least 2000 cubic inches) so I could fit a laptop, portable charger, tablet, cords, practice pad with one pair of drum sticks (I play drums in the band), clothes, towel, and shaving kit and still have room for anything else.-zippers that could support a suitcase lock.-suspension system to make it easier on my back.-very durable with a well built handle on the top.-laptop and tablet pockets.-decent price:size ratio.-loops on the front or on the straps to clip my IEM case to.-pocket on the side for a water bottle or other beverage.-various sub pockets and holders for accessories (cords, pens, etc).-NO WHEELS. I don't need wheels on my backpack. That's why they have straps.I did tons of research before deciding on this particular backpack. I watched video reviews, I looked up sizes and pictures wherever I could find the information. Here's a list of backpacks I considered and why my final decision was this pack:- Targus Demolition (I read reviews about the handle on this pack breaking off. With as much stuff as I plan to put in the backpack, this was not acceptable and there were also not enough large pockets)- Targus Drifter II (there were not enough dual zippers for me to secure this backpack with luggage locks and make sure all of my stuff would be locked up and there wasn't enough space to hold everything I wanted it to hold.)- Oakley Kitchen Sink (The name of this backpack drew me to it, but there's really not enough space in this pack for what I need it for and the price for such a small capacity backpack was ridiculous. pretty much paying for unnecessary latches.)- Ogio Renegade RSS (Once again, not enough dual zippers for all the pockets, so I couldn't secure it with luggage locks)- Swissgear Scansmart (not enough room in the backpack and the laptop pocket was inconvenient for my use.)- Thule Crossover (Too many 1 zipper compartments and not enough space for the price.) - Jansport Odessey (Looked like there wasn't much there for strap suspension.)- The North Face Router (There was no cushion or padding on the handle on top. Just a strap that looked not so durable.)-Samsonite Luggage Tectonic (my decision came down to the Adidas Ridgemont and this pack when I ruled out the others. I was really leaning towards getting this backpack, but after reading some of the 1 and 2 star reviews and finding out the fabric between the compartments on this pack would rip after a while, I knew I couldn't let myself buy this pack)After all consideration, I got the Adidas Ridgemont backpack, and when it arrived I noticed the pros and cons immediately. Here's what I found.Pros:- LIFETIME WARRANTY. (this is huge to have on a backpack to ensure it lasts you as long as possible).- tons and tons of space. (over 2700 cubic inches)- well designed shoulder suspension.- dual zippers on every pocket except for the top compartment which I don't plan on putting anything of value in.- 2 large mesh side pockets for a bottled beverage.- laptop and tablet pocket.- loops on the front and on the straps.- pockets for my gadgets in the front compartment.- padded, mesh back for good airflow.Cons:- loud material: this backpack's material sounds like a tarp when you move it around which is inconvenient when I don't want to wake up my family in the morning while I'm getting the backpack packed for work.- Not a lot of pockets: This backpack has a few nice sub-pockets in the front compartment, but not as many as I would have liked in it. It has one large zipper pocket, one small mesh zipper pocket, one open pocket for mp3 player or phone, and 3 pen pockets to hold pens.- laptop/tablet pocket quality: Although there's padding on the back of this backpack and padding on the bottom. the laptop and tablet pockets have a small layer of padding between them, but no other padding. The pockets are very loose too which allows the tablet and laptop to hit each other quite often when walking.- doesn't keep it's shape: When the backpack doesn't have a lot in it, it slouches horribly when you go to put it on your back. Not so much as a con, as it is loss of convenience when trying to put the backpack on the floor without it falling forward instead of backwards. This is because the laptop pocket is so loose it allows your laptop and tablet to lean forward, instead of keeping it securely at the back of the backpack where the padding is. If you're not careful and the bag falls forward, it may be possible to cause damage to your tablet since there is no padding in front of it.All in all, I think I'll keep looking for something better and return this backpack when I find something that meets my needs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated in the comments section below.

I've had this backpack for about a year-and-a-half and it's held up, save for some material on the shoulder that's ripping, but that doesn't really affect the function. My favorite part about this backpack is probably the laptop and tablet sleeves that are in the back pocket, and the small pocket on top, which I use for headphones and chargers. I also like that you can fit a ton of stuff into this backpack- kind of like a Mary Poppins bag. It has two water bottle pockets on each side, which I really like, and is something you can't find on a lot of other backpacks.I'm a college student, so this backpack is good for walking long distances. I've also used it as a carry-on on airplanes a number of times, and it fits nicely under airplane seats.However, there a several things that I had a problem with. One is that material on the shoulder is ripping, which I mentioned before. Another is that a lot of times while I'm walking around, the back pocket unzips by itself. In fact, in order to prevent that I now have a paper clip attached to the two back zippers. This backpack is also advertised as waterproof, which is one of the reasons I bought it. However, it is definitely not waterproof or even water resistant. Every time it rains and I'm walking around, the backpack gets wet, and often times the stuff inside the backpack gets wet too. Another thing is that the backpack kind of sags in a weird way. If you're walking around with something heavy, no matter how long or short you have the shoulder straps, this backpack will droop. A few days after I purchased this, I saw the same exact backpack somewhere else for cheaper.

My high school student has loads of binders to carry every day. We had another brand backpack before and the binders barely fit it.In this backpack he carries daily 4-6 binders, rectangular (about 4 inches thick) lunchbox, and PE shorts and shirt. Plus some other extra stuff as well.The backpack is roomy, with enough compartments. It does not feel as heavy on shoulders as it actually is, because of the strap design.Though I rated it 5 stars, here are the problems that we encountered:1. We bought white/gray/blue backpack. Each compartment is highlighted with its color. Because it has so many colors in it, the backpack looks very large. If I were to choose the backpack again, I would select a solid color, probably black, maybe with colorful zippers, but definitely not multicolored.2. The shoulder strap mesh separated from the strap within 3 months of use. The backpack itself is in good condition. It was loved and cared for; it was not abused or anything, but the "spring system strap" broke. The reason I still give the backpack 5 stars is because we called the manufacturer and they took care of the problem.With understanding that stuff happens we appreciate the good design, strong materials used for the product, and manufacturer's warranty.It is a great backpack.

So glad to have FINALLY found the right sized bag for our seventh grader's needs. Considering that the lockers are so small and he has to carry large books in addition to 2" binders, this bag holds almost all of them. It's designed well with the exception of the lining. They should've used a heavier lining. I'm afraid over time, with carrying heavy books around, the lining is going to tear. It has a separate padded compartment for a laptop and also a separate padded compartment for a tablet...which is what he uses for one of his classes. He said that this pack is much more comfortable than ones he has used in the past because of the design of the straps with elastic. I would buy this again and would recommend to anyone looking for a very large backpack.