what's in my bag #17: university backpack

Carrying a shoulder bag has resulted in a sore left shoulder so just before Christmas, I bit the bullet and purchased this backpack. What stood out for me were the straps and how padded they were, the design of the bag and also the size of it. The straps make it easier to carry the same load as before and my shoulder pain has since subsided - result!

Here are a few of the things I carry in it (add in two notebooks and a laptop and it's about right):

From top left, clockwise: umbrella, Soap and Glory hand cream, my planner, pencil case, tissues, purse, contact lens solution, water bottle, Pom Bears (too cute to eat), a pouch with painkillers and other stuff in (such as a contact lens case, nail file, etc).

A bigger bag has often meant that I may end up carrying around more than needed so I often have to be wary of overstuffing it. 

Within the bag, there is a laptop compartment which has the softest and fluffiest lining ever (you can kind of see it in a picture above). I still put my laptop into its own sleeve though - just to be on the safe side - but with a lining like that, you kind of want to dive into the bag itself.

The one negative about the bag are the lack of pockets, especially on the outside. I get a bit nervy when slotting in my water bottle as it's quite easy for water to leak into the laptop compartment so it would be nice to have an external water bottle pocket (though it would definitely make the bag look a little bit uglier!). To combat this problem, I carry my water bottle by hand whenever it's more than half full and whenever I'm travelling or walking for more than five to ten minutes. Though it can look silly on the tube or on the bus, at least I know my laptop is safe from accidental water damage!

Since finishing school when I was eighteen, I vowed I would never use a backpack ever again but Herschel, with their 'Little America' backpack, have changed my opinion of that as it is aesthetically pleasing and meets about 95% of my bag requirements! It is quite a big bag for a girl and I think I just about get away with it but if you're petite, it might not suit you.