I travel, a LOT and have struggled for years to find the perfect backpack for my small stature. With a back that measures 15.5" I used either a child's backpack that lacked durability and polish, or struggled with an oversized adult bag that bumped and rubbed on my belt line and became a huge struggle to manage with long treks through airports and train stations. Enter the Lorimer. I'll break down what I love about the bag and what I would like to see improvement/changes on for future models.
LOVE:
-The shorter height of the bag works for smaller frames. This is an increasingly difficult feature to find in backpacks in North America (I have resulted to shopping Korean and Japanese bag brands for this reason).
-The simple and efficient organization of the bag--the bag isn't over-designed with gimmicky pockets or bulky compartments. The double zip front pouch-pocket is perfect for quick access items like passports, phone, keys, lip balm, earbuds, etc. While the secret pocket in the back is great for your wallet. I also love the no-fuss laptop sleeve, no excessive padding or zippered compartment means lighter weight for the bag and the compartment can be used for other (albeit flat) things. It is incredible how difficult it is to find all of these features in one backpack!
-THE TROLLEY SLEEVE! Amazing you guys, All bags should have a trolley sleeve!
-No external water bottle holder. I prefer to keep my water inside my bag so it stays "clean" and really hate the look and awkwardness of external water bottle holders that most backpacks have.
-The color options are tasteful and professional and I think the black lining with the white logo is stylish and cool.
SUGGESTIONS:
-The rounded/arched top of the bag limits what you can store in the bag when it is full. May I suggest a square shape? Would love to see this portion of the bag redesigned
-Dimensions could be adjusted to hold a little bit more while maintaining the shorter height that works for us petite people. May I recommend the following dimensions: 12"W x 16.5"H x 6.5"D
-The materials. I would LOVE to see you guys make some of your classics in higher quality materials like YKK zippers, MIL-SPEC Webbing, and robic nylon or ultra grid. While you do discount your products regularly, I would pay full price for a bag with these features and made of premium materials.
At any rate you can tell I am very passionate about this backpack. I've been using my current Lorimer bag for 3 years now and it has held up pretty well to all the abuse I've put it through (the zipper pulls and coils have seen the most wear). I sincerely hope you all read my review and know it comes from a place of respect for your company and desire to improve a product I already love and hope to see as an offering for many years to come.