I originally bought this as a book bag for my last year as an undergrad. I needed something big to handle my large amount of books and papers. For those of you going through your senior or masters projects know how many periodicals you end up copying and cataloging. Thankfully this bag was large enough to handle my needs.
As an added bonus I got a good daypack for hiking.

What is it?
This is a large backpack that is designed as a daypack. You would never use this for backpacking unless you were going overnight and packed nothing but food, water, and a small sleeping bag to lash on the outside. As far as a school backpack is concerned this is overkill, unless you carry a lot of books around.

How it works
This works like a normal backpack. First, here is what it is lacking.
-No true hip belt that supports the weight on your hips.
-No straps to pull the load towards or away from your body.
-No way to move the shoulder straps or hip belt for different sized bodies.

But it does have the normal adjustments to tighten/loosen the strap pressure on your shoulders. It also has the simple strap/clip to hold the shoulder straps in place.
There is a hip belt but it is not very effective, especially for taller individuals.

Pockets, loops, and accessories
First, there is no hydration pocket on my pack. There is on the newer version, see below.
There are two pockets on both sides. I always have one side filled with 16-ounce water bottles. I can put three in. The other side pocket usually contains my vacuum bottle for my coffee.
There is the typical pocket in the front and it is quite large. I can fit 4 16-ounce water bottles in this without fear of overloading the compartment. Normally I put my Palmpilot, writing tools, and my Targus keyboard in this compartment. For hiking I will put my sandwich in this compartment because the sandwich survives the trip better.

In addition
-Each zipper has a loop around it to make using the zipper a little easier.
-There is a loop-strap on the top so you can carry it around like a normal bag if you wish.
-There are two plastic squares on the top that can facilitate add on pouches if you were so inclined. I personally would never do that because I think it would overload the bag.
-There is a hammer, ice axe loop on the bottom of the backpack.
-Two compression straps on the back.

How comfortable is it?
I would rate the comfort level a 7 out of 10. It is as comfortable as you are going to get with a simple backpack design. The main issue is it does not feel like an extension of your body. The shoulder straps are large but do not conform perfectly to your body. There is also no real hip belt so you are forced to support all your weight on the shoulders (the hip belt does not work well.)
With that said the only time I have found it to be uncomfortable is when I improperly loaded it or put too much weight in it (like 40 pounds of books.) For the simple and everyday stuff it is quite comfortable. There are two pads that cover your shoulder blades for some minor comfort. The large, padded straps make a huge difference in the comfort level of this pack.
The other issue with comfort is this style does not breath well. So in hot environments this will be a problem. The newer REI daypacks are fixing this issue by adding textured backs for comfort and breathability.

Durability and age.
I have had this since 1996, so that makes it 8 years old as of this writing. So far there is no major damage or concerns, and only a few minor issues. I feel that this backpack will last me another 5 years.
Upon carefully examining the pack I did not notice any damage at all. One zipper can get stuck in one location so that my go bad on me in a year or two. There are also minor stains, scratches, and other superficial marks.

Where is this now?
This pack has been replaced with a better daypack and I choose the Northface Terra 40 for that purpose. But I do use this for work and class to transport paperwork, books, notebooks, etc.

About the newer version of this pack
I basically wrote this review as a testament to REI quality. You cannot buy this version any more. You can buy the REI Alpine, which is a superior backpack and a little more expensive.
The newer version is the same basic design. The outside pouch is now a hydration compartment. The straps are more ergonomically curved and the back is textured and looks like a more comfortable design. All of the basic features are improved. (note: if you do review the new pack on Epinions let me know and I will add your link with my other links on the bottom of this page.)

Capacity and weight
Weight: 2 lbs, 8 ounces
Capacity: around 2500 cc. total

Summary:
I have owned this pack for 8 years and I still use it to this day. It is a solid design, relatively comfortable, well made, and fits lots of stuff. I have not repaired or replaced any part of the backpack nor do I feel it is going to fall apart on me anytime soon. But this is also an old design which is why REI does not sell this version any more. They have replaced this version with a much better design that is simply called the REI Alpine. This pack is an example why I trust the REI brand.

Other REI products that may interest you.
REI Basecamp, 6 man tent.
REI piggyback, Child carrier backpack.
REI first-aid kit.


Recommended: Yes