We purchased this backpack and with it, did day hikes on the Wedgemount, Joffre Lakes, Rainbow, and Garibaldi Lake Trails in Whistler, Canada (totaling 3370 meters / 2.1 miles in ELEVATION gain, and 58 kilometers / 36 miles in distance hiked). We hiked in both rain and shine. We used every compartment and strap, opened and closed the pack multiple times during the hikes. The backpack still looks brand new. Not only that, it's stylish enough where you could just keep a couple items in it and walk around the city during the daytime (heard strangers commenting "that's a cool backpack").The 2 mesh side compartments hold 1 L water bottles perfectly. There are 2 small lateral zipper compartments, located along the topside of the backpack, that fit wallets/cell phones/keys perfectly. You can also fit an IPhone5 into the front shoulder mesh pouch, for even easier access, and tuck your earphones into the opposite strap that has a little loop. The bulk of the backpack is separated into 3 compartments, and the "outside" 2 compartments have individually sewn compartments located within, to help keep things organized. The back and shoulder straps are nicely padded. I found the hook attachment perfect for strapping on my sunhat, but of course it can be used for other things.We were able to fit into this backpack:- 2 rain ponchos- 2 one Liter water bottles- 2 jackets of medium thickness (size M and XS)- 2 sweaters- 2 Bear-Naked sized bags of trail mix- 6 Protein Bars- 2 phones, 2 sets of keys, 2 wallets, 2 sunglasses and their cases, 2 earphones- Magnesium Fire Starter and 2 Mylar blankets (just in case)In short, this is a terrific backpack for couples doing day hikes, and walking around in the town at night while still trying to maintain a sense of fashion sensibilities. Thanks to the padded backside and straps, and the design of the strap juncture and width, it was still comfortable to wear this backpack during the hikes (as comfortable as lugging around a backpack can be).Plus, at the price, it offers incredible value. There are few other products I can think of at this price point, that offers this much in terms of durability, functionality, multipurpose use, convenience, and looks all into one. One of the best purchases of the year!