Review on 🎒 Rival Laptop Backpack: The Perfect Blend of Style and Protection with Hardshell Pockets by Kelly Burton

I've been buying a Rival pack for a few years. Of all the packs I've tried, Rival has proven to be one of the smartest and most durable options. The layout and capacity are great and allow for customized organization. Year after year the backpack seemed to maintain its great design and performance. However, I just received my latest Rival set and was surprised that they changed the design. Not for the better either, but it looks like austerity measures from SOLO. There used to be a zipped pocket on top of the backpack (ideal for all my various keys) which has now been removed. In addition, the shoulder of the strap and the upper handle are no longer reinforced (riveted). These were excellent structural features, especially for those of us who carry some weight and travel frequently. They also removed the chest strap which is also great for weight reduction and comfort. The self-sealing cable connector is also removed from the new design. Not that big of a deal, but it was another nice feature, even with all the wireless options these days. The front housing is also different (office housing). There used to be 3 pen/pen holders, a phone sized sleeve, 3 card holder sized pockets and 2 bottom pockets which were great for portable drives (see main photo description). The new design has only one pen holder, 2 phone-sized pockets and 2 bottom pockets (not shown in the photo in the description). Again, not the end of the world, but much less room for organization. The inner material also seems to be cheaper, my old backpack is more like a fabric while the new backpack is more like a plastic/synthetic based material. To be honest I can't remember if other kits felt the same when I first bought them, so this might be the case. These are just some of the minor differences I've noticed so far. Basically it feels like I have a bootleg version of a once amazing package. That's the best way I can summarize the comparison. I think overall it's still a great design, but there are definitely some changes in the wrong direction. Hopefully SOLO brings the Rival back to its original design and features. To me, this is a perfect example of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I think I'll be sticking with the previous Rival for a while, even if the zippers are starting to fail and the bottom is fraying from frequent use. and the padding in the shoulders is completely worn out.