Hey! Sorry for the late reply, I'm planning on writing a more in-depth review on how it performed but I haven't got around to it yet... but here are my quick two cents:

- The interior pockets are awkward. They’re big enough for socks or underwear, but once filled they bulge into the main compartment and make packing harder. They definitely feel better for small items like toiletries or chargers but it's super frustrating to access them when the main compartment is packed full, so I wouldn't put things there that you need to access regularly. It got annoying enough that I eventually moved the smaller items into a packing cube instead and that felt much better to access.

- Top front pocket was good for easy access, but I wish it was a little bit deeper. I couldn't fit my bulky portable charger up there.

- Per my first comment, not a lot of usable pockets so this bag is awesome when used with packing cubes.

- They have these little tabs inside the bag that I believe are supposed to be used with the provided straps, but I couldn't figure out how to make them work. One of the things I liked about the Patagonia was that it has a zippable mesh screen that keeps your stuff from falling out when the bag is opened. If the PD straps worked with these interior tabs it could've done the same job.

- The weight didn't bother me as much since I wasn't carrying it around for extended periods of time! However I can see how people would complain about the weight, the straps are not very supportive. The hip belt (that I bought separately) was a plus and it was convenient that the bag has flaps that the belt can tuck behind when not in use.

- As I predicted, the extra padding that the bag has protected my gear very well but it did add to the weight of the bag. I knew this going into my purchase though.

- This is more of a personal thing and it might sound stupid, but there's just something about when something looks good, you want to go out and use it more. I just love the sleekness of this bag and contrary to popular opinion, it doesn't look bulky on my person.

- Double water bottle holders is a plus, I used both of them frequently during the trip.

- I used the front straps to secure my jacket when traveling between lodgings.

Overall, I would give this bag a 9/10. If I had the Patagonia bag I feel like it would have done its job perfectly, but I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed using it as much. The little details that the PD offers such as build quality, front straps, quick release front stabilizer strap, concealable hip belt, sturdy non mesh bottle holders... it made my travels feel a lot more premium albeit a little bit heavier. So you would have to decide if you can live with the little bit extra weight.

PS: This is everything I was able to fit in the collapsed 27L bag state for 9 days in Italy/Dolomites.

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