I bought this bag through Amazon to take to Europe on vacation and use as a day pack while walking.  I never overloaded the bag, using it to schlep a bottle of water, a Rick Steves' guide book, a table-top tripod and some candy bars.  I didn't use the side bottle pockets because of comments I had previously read on Amazon of problems with it.  Despite careful handling, the bag's top hanging handle started to separate from the bag during the trip. Careful inspection revealed that the bag is really poorly assembled with what looks like wide basting stitches. Using a sewing machine back home, we stitched over all the seams and will be taking the reinforced bag on another vacation. I am 5 foot 9 inches tall and had to extend the straps to their full length to wear the bag on my shoulders. It could be a nice day bag, but it is really a cheaply made product that is not constructed by the Chinese factory to last while traveling.  I like the Rick Steves' guide books a lot, but with this poor quality, he should be ashamed to endorse this Civita Day Pack.