Review on 🎒 Durable Exterior Backpack by Chrome Industries: Ultimate Reliability and Style by Michelle Jackson

Please note before you read that I have a large frame so I tend to have large backpacks. However, this bag was a great upgrade. I have a Citizen messenger bag that I love, but it gets old to carry a lot of stuff and can be uncomfortable if you fill it with lumpy things as it's basically a soft bag with no structure. Do not get me wrong. That's great, but sometimes an actual backpack is the answer. That brings me to the volcano. The first thing you'll notice is that it's very stiff. The heavy canvas lining on the outside gives way to a mid layer and then a padded layer on the inside. Because of this, it basically stays in its cereal box shape at all times, which is great for Tetris-style packaging once you shape it into the right shape after flattening it for shipping. You can only load a few things in before it turns into a big round loaf of bread. Pros: Semi-rigid, great everyday bag that will fit jackets, groceries and everything without changing shape. It also stands alone so you can stand it upright. Excellent weather protection. I left in the back of a truck on a dirt road. The entire outside of the bag was covered, but the inside was completely clean, dry, and safe. Plenty of padding not just for your back and shoulders, but for everything you carry. My DSLR and laptop live there and have seen some nasty crashes. Nothing is ever damaged. Intelligent organization. Plenty of pockets to fit things you actually carry like a laptop (15 inch so anything but a macbook will fit), pens, headphones but not many pockets making it a black hole for your trinkets. Deep pockets for water bottles. They actually fit in a Hydroflask bottle and once it's all set it holds everything well enough that you can put the bag down without getting the bottle out. It's a personal preference, but I also like that it's not too strappy. Don't get me wrong, a backpack bag is great, but when you're running through the store, the office, the airport or whatever, all those straps turn into flails that can hit anyone or snag on anything. The only thing this bag has is a chest strap which is perfect for everyday use. Cons: This bag is big. Not only in capacity, but also in area. I'm tall so it fits me, but if you're skinny you'll look like a little kid on the first day of kindergarten. The Hondo could be better, albeit less versatile. He's heavy too. It has so many layers of protection that the bag has a noticeable weight. Again, if you're stacked like a fridge, you won't notice. But still. The straps could be a little longer. When wearing this over an oversized coat or motorcycle jacket, I usually don't have enough straps to undo it before putting the pack on and buckling it back up. Stiffness may not be for you if you wear large, baggy clothing like sweaters. The bag doesn't really expand, so you'll have a hard time filling it like a padded bag. I carry less than fits in my bag so I have room, but that's just me. Holes and valves can be a problem because they are so narrow. The backpack always wants to be closed, so whenever you want to get at something in the bag, it just wants you to close it. The inside is black. I love backpacks with a brightly colored lining so you can see what's inside. Even in daylight it seems like you're staring into space when you look at this thing. There aren't many mounting options on the front. If you're the kind of person who likes to attach things to a bag instead of stuffing them in, stay away. This pouch is a one-piece box with a single loop for your tiny U-lock. All in all this is probably the last bag I will buy now that I have it, a shoulder bag and a hiking backpack. I really think this is the perfect bag for commuting and everyday use.