Herschel Little America Laptop Backpack, Navy/Tan Synthetic Leather, Classic 25.0L

This is an honest review from a real purchaser. This is an extremely popular backpack at my College/Grad school, but it’s not as externally durable as people would think. The stitching on 2 of the bands that the leather straps integrate with simply unraveled on their own after a few months of light use for school. Also, the posterior sides of the leather straps are prone to random breakage, leaving the anterior sides still attached. The bag is still very aesthetically pleasing, so I’m going to sew the bands back on with matching thread, and use superglue to reconnect the straps integrity. In contrast to the external side, the internal portion of the bag is very durable and the cushioning protects laptops very well from any kind of drops. After the straps and band were already broken, I decided “what-the-heck” and went ahead and tested washing the bag for the first time (on a Cold/Delicate machine cycle). Surprisingly, it cleans in the washing machine very well without any issues. The bag came out of the dryer looking brand new. I like how the bag looks and feels, it’s just the issue of external durability that this company should work on. I suggest adding more stitching to the ends of the bands that articulate with the leather straps, and applying a coating to posterior side of the leather straps to prevent the leather from random breakage.

It is a well-built backpack because it has now lasted for me for about three years. However, there are a few issues. I have owned much more comfortable backpacks, and the lack of a water bottle compartment makes it hard to carry a water bottle. The backpack is also not waterproof so it is not the best for the rain. The leather on the buckle has started to crack and look ugly.

The mid volume is too small.

This backpack is pretty huge, my 16-month-old toddler crawled into it and made me carry him around. He wears a 4T haha! That being said, it is very sturdy and fashionable. So glad I bought this backpack! I foresee many semesters of college using this. Only downside is the canvas fabric collects a lot of cat hair (story of my life) but I dont really care cause everything I own is covered in cat hair. Also the inside is pink, luckily I am a girl (although I am not partial to pink) but if youre a guy this might deter you from purchasing. (real men wear pink tho, amiright?) Buy this bag and you wont regret it! Comfy cushions on the back and straps. The leather straps do not actually connect though, which was weird, they are secured by magnets. Will update later for quality reporting...

The bag was nice until recently (purchased December 2020, broke November 2021). I had trouble contacting Herschel via phone for warranty info but was able to live chat right away. Instructions from Alice were, You fill this out and our team will review your claim - the end result is a gift card code for the value of a replacement through our online site. Amazon is separate and so will the Herschel store on Amazon - youll list the retailer as Amazon and you can upload a screenshot of the proof of purchase. I hope this indeed does work with the replacement, but as far as the bag quality is concerned, I am not impressed.

Bigger than expected but high quality and comfortable. Looks great too!

Very comfortable and roomy backpack. Love the Cool Blue color. Highly recommend!

Fabric feels and looks great. I love the wine red color and the sharp contrast with the tan leather. Inside lining of white and red pinstripes go well. Overall, the bag is well-made and good for a short trip or daily commute. I particularly enjoy how the laptop sleeve is well-padded and slightly elevated from the ground. I only rate it a four star b/c I wish they had a separate sleeve on the side to carry a bottle. It would have been perfect!

I have to give it five stars for me personally, since it is exactly what I wanted - but, I do feel like I should be clear that its a bit of an odd size. It would be very large for an everyday back-pack. On the other hand, its not huge like a good hiking pack, either. I really did not want something that looked like camping gear. I dont camp. Im not sports-y. I would feel like a fraud carrying something from REI - but I needed something bigger than your average large back-pack. And thats the niche the Herschal Little America sits in. We went to France for eight days, and the Herschel was perfect for my needs - BUT, I also had a large tote bag. I probably could have eliminated a few things and done with just the Herschel - but, it would have been tight. As it was, the Herschel + tote was about exactly right. There are no dividers or pockets - just the laptop sleeve and a couple too-small-to-be-useful pouches - but I never use the organizers features when I have them, anyway; Im-a-toss-it-in-and-go kinda girl. (I have to say that I love the lining - totally makes the bag for me.) It seems solidly made and the straps and padding are all modern and up-to-date. Like I said - its not a hiking pack, so its not a highly engineered, ergonomic wonder - but it was reasonably comfy for this indoor girl to carry through airports and the jaunt from the bus station to the hotel, etc. Im very pleased with it. I would recommend it highly, provided you check the measurements against your needs.

I bought this bag a little over 2 months ago, and so far it has held up great with almost daily use. I live in NYC and commute on the subway, and the backpack accompanies me almost everywhere. Im 53 with a petite frame, and I think Im happy that I went with the mid volume bag instead of the full size. However, because this bag is a slightly smaller size and not a stretchy material, dont expect to be able to over stuff it, especially if you want it to last. Nevertheless, I can still fit a lot in here. On an average day, I use the larger pocket to carry my Kindle, a water bottle, my (overstuffed) wallet, a light jacket or windbreaker, an umbrella, and 1 or 2 tupperware containers. The smaller pocket houses my keys, lotion, hand sanitizer, chapstick, and other small items. I think people are generally surprised how much I can fit in here! So far the materials of the bag are holding up great. I chose the navy backpack, and the dark color hides any scuffs or dirt from daily travel. The faux leather straps are still in mostly good shape, but the tips are slightly fraying. I love candy striped inside of this bag, and I get a lot of compliments on how it looks. Even when Im carrying a lot of items, the bag is normally comfortable to have on my back. Also, it is true that this bag wont fit computers larger than 13. I have a 14 laptop, and I was hoping that I could squeeze it into the laptop pocket, but I have had no such luck.