I really struggle to find the right size bag for things like all-day music festivals or day trips. I have so many bags that are too small, or crossbody bags that once I put in everything I need, they're painfully heavy. I used this little backpack for a week when I was taking classes at a camp -- it held my water bottle and morning coffee in the outside pockets, and then in the afternoon I could switch out the coffee for an umbrella if needed. I also carried it on a day trip to an island, and a daylong music festival -- both places where I needed to pack for a whole active day. The outside pockets are mostly great (one is too small) to have my phone (in the slip phone pocket), sunscreen, keys, etc., and the inside holds a notebook, cardigan or raincoat, a hat, snacks, whatever you need. In short, it's great to have everything with you when you're out all day and you need to have a variety of stuff that would be too heavy in a crossbody bag -- the straps are soft and it doesn't feel too heavy. I also expect to use it at a festival where I carry in my lunch, and I think plastic sandwich boxes will fit.It's not big enough for a laptop, and my only real complaint is that there's a pocket for a tablet but it's loose and kind of in the way more than anything else. Also I got this on sale, but it's pricey -- I'd buy one for a gift if it wasn't so expensive.