The North Face quality is excellent, and I've enjoyed my 2022 Utility Pack for backpacking trips across Europe. However, for classes, it felt too large-I'm a small-framed woman, and the Women's Utility Pack looked oversized on me (people even joked I was backpacking to class). The Daypack, on the other hand, fits me perfectly. While the smaller size is more manageable, it comes with trade-offs. Space is tight, making it harder to fit everything, especially if the side water bottle pockets are full. My 2022 Utility Pack had expandable buttoned side compartments, while the Daypack replaces them with a stretchy band-I now use it to hold a pen for easy access. The main compartment has a section for an iPad/book and small zips, but when fully packed, accessing them is difficult. It also has fewer compartments, no bottom shoe storage, and lacks attachment points, making it less versatile. The new gold "TNF" interior branding is also less appealing than the previous muted beige in the older lineup. Before purchasing, I compared it to Lululemon bags in-store, and the difference in quality was noticeable. The North Face material feels sturdier and more premium, whereas the Lululemon bags felt flimsy in comparison. That said, despite missing the extra space, the Daypack has been functional for my needs as a medical student. It fits on my desk at the library, encourages mindful packing, and should pass as a personal item when traveling. With my packed-full Utility Pack, I often worried it wouldn't qualify as a personal item on certain airlines-ultimately wasn't an issue, but this bag would certainly relieve some travel anxiety. I also plan to take it to the hospital when I start my rounds, and I'm hoping the smaller size will fit in lockers. Overall, I'd recommend this as a school backpack if you don't carry a lot of textbooks or as a casual day bag (the "Daypack" name is fitting). Like my Utility bag, I hope the Daypack will loosen over time to allow me more space :)
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