Just took this bag on a 8-day tour of Peru, and it was great! Used it as a carry-on bag for flights and had enough room to hold the necessary items. The large, zippered outside compartment held paperwork and other thin items. I used the small, zippered inside pocket to hold little things like pen, keys, hand wipe packets, etc. Sturdy, rugged construction so I didn't worry about it falling apart on the trip.

Like others who reviewed this bag, I thought the two buckled straps on the outside were only decorative. But one day on the trip it became too warm to wear my fleece jacket. I took off the jacket but did not want another item to carry around. I didn't have enough room inside the bag to stow it. It then occurred to me to roll up my jacket and use the straps to fasten my jacket to the bag. It worked perfectly! The adjustable straps tightened enough so my jacket was secure. Since this is vintage style bag, my boyfriend suggested that the straps were used in the old days to carry a bedroll. Whatever the reason, the straps on this bag have a practical purpose - just need a little imagination to figure out how to use them!