Apex Backpack 4.0

*This is my second purchase. My husband permanently borrowed my first bag.* I searched for months for the perfect backpack after I finally transitioned away from a diaper bag. I travel a lot for work, so here was my criteria: - sleek looking, but can still hold a lot - fits over the handle of my luggage - lightweight, but sturdy - has pockets, but not too many - has good padding for my laptop (I've had a Macbook break due to insufficient padding in an older "laptop" bag) - light to no branding - can hold a fairly big water bottle (shown in the photo is Owala 32 oz) without it pushing into the bag and taking up 1/4th of the space - sustainably made The Apex meets all of the above. I don't know if I can write the other brands I looked at, but it was a lot. Roughly the same price range. There's a bonus perk -- it stands on its own. This is oddly convenient. I also really like the structured front so that if I were to take my kiddo on a play date, I can put snacks and things inside without it getting crushed. I've also fit: overnight clothes + toiletries, workout clothing, including shoes. I also really like the zippered side pocket. It allows me to either use it as a second water bottle holder for when I'm traveling with kiddo or a secure stash pocket for keys/cash/AirPods (I do this a lot when I'm on the go). Love this bag, and I get a ton of compliments on it and questions about where it's from. It also looks really nice, even after multiple trips. It's also easy to wipe off and clean.