I have carried a competitor's sling bag for the last five years and was looking for a change. I carry it as a handbag because I work on a large university campus and often have more to carry than just one bag.  The RFID protected card slots sold me on this bag. It is compact and well thought out. The pockets are all the right size and in the right places.  Everything fits well and it holds an amazing amount of stuff. The water bottle pocket actually holds a water bottle securely and the bag is well balance so a full bottle does not throw the weight distribution off. The shoulder strap is very comfortable for wearing for an extended length of time. It slipped around a bit in the beginning, but tightening the strap took care of that.  I also like that it sits upright rather than flopping like my previous bag. It is extremely well made and feels like it will last for a very long time.