UPDATE:

Well after another 3 months in Eastern Europe, the extra compartment on top finally tore off and the front zipper broke. I still think it's a great value however. I used it for nearly 2 years on 4 different international trips each spanning for at least a month. I am pretty sure ANY bag would have broken with what I put them through!

I bought this for a summer trip I made to Japan, China, Laos, and Thailand. I spent 4 months abroad with nothing but what I could fit in this backpack. I seriously put this pack to this test by cramming it into trains, buses, boats, and planes. The pack held up GREAT!! No rips, tears, broken zippers, or anything like that. Its not too bad either as a makeshift bed with the soft frame since I had to sleep on it twice, once in the Bangkok airport and once at a Chinese border crossing. Couldn't have lived without it!