Customer Reviews High Sierra XBT - TSA Backpack

Before first use, I noticed a flaw (open seam about 3 inches long) in the bottom of the bag. Otherwise have enjoyed it.

Before first use, I noticed a flaw (open seam about 3 inches long) in the bottom of the bag. Otherwise have enjoyed it.

Pros - So many pockets! I love to stash various items in too many pockets and this bag certainly has enough for me. The tablet compartment is great if you actually have one (or for storing documents you don't want wrinkled) and after over a year of use of school, weekend trips, and occasional travel, the seams are still in tact. The zippers are large and easy to pull, no sticking, and fit a travel lock quite well. The zippered side compartment is surprisingly deep and fits a variety of small stash items quite well. Cons - The airflow system on the back doesn't work, at all. After only a little use it lost its stiffness and now lies flush with the back of the pack. The additional mesh padding is comfortable but incredible sweaty in the sun or during lots of walking/hiking and the padding on the straps compressed within weeks of purchase and now provide very little support. The stretch panels at the top of the straps lack any padding and will dig into your shoulders very quickly when the pack is is loaded with a few pounds or more. Also, at 5'5, the pack is far too long to qualify as a one size fits all and the mesh at the bottom is prone to pulling up shirts while walking. High Sierra could have added a fleece pocket for storing glasses or other delicate items as well considering the retail price.

Pros - So many pockets! I love to stash various items in too many pockets and this bag certainly has enough for me. The tablet compartment is great if you actually have one (or for storing documents you don't want wrinkled) and after over a year of use of school, weekend trips, and occasional travel, the seams are still in tact. The zippers are large and easy to pull, no sticking, and fit a travel lock quite well. The zippered side compartment is surprisingly deep and fits a variety of small stash items quite well. Cons - The airflow system on the back doesn't work, at all. After only a little use it lost its stiffness and now lies flush with the back of the pack. The additional mesh padding is comfortable but incredible sweaty in the sun or during lots of walking/hiking and the padding on the straps compressed within weeks of purchase and now provide very little support. The stretch panels at the top of the straps lack any padding and will dig into your shoulders very quickly when the pack is is loaded with a few pounds or more. Also, at 5'5, the pack is far too long to qualify as a one size fits all and the mesh at the bottom is prone to pulling up shirts while walking. High Sierra could have added a fleece pocket for storing glasses or other delicate items as well considering the retail price.

Poor quality, straps and handles are tearing apart. This is my 3rd backpack I the last 4 years.

The mesh Side pocket is ripping off as soon as it arrived. Highly disappointed in the quality of High Sierra. Earlier I owned another backpack from HS that worked fine for 4 months before it started loosing from seams. So I bought this one. I have not USED it yet just put my stuff in, and I guess one of side pockets is of no use.

It's a great backpack, but after 3 days the strap broke. The same backpack (before this new one) lasted many years.

The Laptop compartment does not keep your laptop safe and secure. The laptop fold out is massively oversized- you could easily fit 10+ laptops in it- and there isn't a pouch or strap. So- your laptop is oddly loose- and the padding on bottom is not on edges - so unfortunately if you want to actually travel with a laptop- this is a poor choice. But- quality is really good, shoulder straps fit me well- but as a TSA Laptop- look elsewhere.

I bought this maybe 2 months ago and the seams on the shoulder pads are splitting. Good backpack, just not quite the quality I had hoped for.

I used this backpack all the time. I wore it to school, brought it with me on trips, and so on. I just got the bag on September 5th and it has already begun tearing in the bottom corner of the bag. Everything about it is amazing don't get me wrong. But either there is a sewing problem with this specific bag or it may be going on with other people's XBT Bag.

I have a black TSA bag that has failed over time thinking it was due to my use. I bought a blue one to replace my black backpack. Within the first week of use, the zipper inside a main compartment failed. I have email customer service but have not received any response from them in the last four days. While I really like the backpack, I am thinking it isn't constructed well enough.

I have a black TSA bag that has failed over time thinking it was due to my use. I bought a blue one to replace my black backpack. Within the first week of use, the zipper inside a main compartment failed. I have email customer service but have not received any response from them in the last four days. While I really like the backpack, I am thinking it isn't constructed well enough.

Switched out my Tumi bag for something more lightweight and more room. Other than the seams falling apart, its a great bag. I travel as a consultant and I put alot of use on the bag.

Switched out my Tumi bag for something more lightweight and more room. Other than the seams falling apart, its a great bag. I travel as a consultant and I put alot of use on the bag.

This is my fourth TSA XBT in three years. Each one later a little shorter than the one it replaced. I can understand some wear points as acceptable. That's why I keep coming back for another. But this last one lasted ONE TRIP to Asia and the rear straps are already fraying. And you cannot take these to a taylor or saddlery because they tell you the material is designed to stretch and the seams will continue to come apart.... arrggghhh. I'm done. I'm going to find a far more robust product. This last one I purchased was a deal breaker for Samsonite.

This is my fourth TSA XBT in three years. Each one later a little shorter than the one it replaced. I can understand some wear points as acceptable. That's why I keep coming back for another. But this last one lasted ONE TRIP to Asia and the rear straps are already fraying. And you cannot take these to a taylor or saddlery because they tell you the material is designed to stretch and the seams will continue to come apart.... arrggghhh. I'm done. I'm going to find a far more robust product. This last one I purchased was a deal breaker for Samsonite.

I bought two begs, one of shoulder strap stitches is coming out within 4 days.

I originally had the gray and green version of this book bag. After about a year and a half, that book bag started to tear at the seams. I didn't think much of it due to every day use for carrying school supplies (notebooks and laptop). I sent in for a replacement and the company was very nice and replaced it for free. I then had the black and red version and within a year it is also ripping( more so than the first). I am about to see if third time is the charm with these book bags.

I originally had the gray and green version of this book bag. After about a year and a half, that book bag started to tear at the seams. I didn't think much of it due to every day use for carrying school supplies (notebooks and laptop). I sent in for a replacement and the company was very nice and replaced it for free. I then had the black and red version and within a year it is also ripping( more so than the first). I am about to see if third time is the charm with these book bags.

This is an okay backpack... I used it for my sophomore year of high school. It's great that it fits a MacBook Pro and is able to hold books/binders/notebooks/etc. I felt like I kept having to take extra papers out of those things to allow for more room and to make it lighter. The bag itself is almost 4 pounds with nothing in it. I've began developing back problems because of this backpack so I'm looking into buying a new one from somewhere else, most likely the North Face. This backpack will definitely not work for me for my upcoming 2 years of high school and the college. Very disappointed in this backpack.

went back to this company and style backpack because i had one for 15 years bought one had it for two weeks and side strap broke (no pressure on it at all) i use this backpack for work called the company and they are replacing it but had to go through the ringer and back and forth e-mails to get them to replace it now i have to go with out backpack for work because they made me destroy it and take pics of it 4 proof untell new one arrives

went back to this company and style backpack because i had one for 15 years bought one had it for two weeks and side strap broke (no pressure on it at all) i use this backpack for work called the company and they are replacing it but had to go through the ringer and back and forth e-mails to get them to replace it now i have to go with out backpack for work because they made me destroy it and take pics of it 4 proof untell new one arrives

As a student, I use this bag for transporting my books mostly. I have used it a few times for disk golfing, but I never abused the bag. Within a few months of use, a tear began at the top of the bag on the main pocket seam. After about a year of use, the hole is 4 inches long, there is a tear where the drink holder attaches, and the headphone pocket is starting to detach. Pros: Looks good Lightweight Strong fabric Large carry capacity Cons: Weak stitching No rain bag This is my third bag from high Sierra. The last one retired after 6 years of use. I really like the bags, but not if quality has dropped over the years.

As a student, I use this bag for transporting my books mostly. I have used it a few times for disk golfing, but I never abused the bag. Within a few months of use, a tear began at the top of the bag on the main pocket seam. After about a year of use, the hole is 4 inches long, there is a tear where the drink holder attaches, and the headphone pocket is starting to detach. Pros: Looks good Lightweight Strong fabric Large carry capacity Cons: Weak stitching No rain bag This is my third bag from high Sierra. The last one retired after 6 years of use. I really like the bags, but not if quality has dropped over the years.

Have similar version bag in black that I recently replaced after a seam ripped. A couple of uses and it ripped again! I'll take a new one if High Sierra sends it to me but I'm done spending money on their products. Buy at your own risk!