Rothco Khaki M-51 Engineers Field Journey Bag

I'm a case manager and have been looking for a bag with wide openings so things wouldn't get stuck on the narrow corners as I pull papers, binders, and a laptop out many times/day. I also wanted a tall bag, not wide. I went as far as to measure the dimensions I needed to fit all of my items into one bag (I hate carrying around multiple bags). This was the only one I found that lived up to all my needs. It can hold a great deal of items and has many compartments. It's not really fashionable, and if you're small like me it looks like it's bigger than you! But it holds everything I use (laptop + mouse+2 power cords+2 other items, clip board, multiple pens/pencils/markers, large hand sanitize, papers, keys, 2 cell phones, 3 note pads, a few file folders and some other small stuff). Having the shoulder strap is great, but being short like me, it's not very comfortable at times because the plastic threading thing sits on the top of your shoulder and the comfort strap does not cover it... but I try to not carry it for too long as it is heavy with the amount of items I have. Alone, this bag is really light (so if you don't have the office in your bag like I do, it won't be a problem).I would recommend this bag if you're looking for functionality, lots of space, multiple compartments, and being tall not wide! (And for the price... I couldn't find anything more reasonable!)

This bag only rates a single star as it is minimally useful, and I can't give it a lesser review. I've ordered this bag twice and returned it both times for quality issues. While well laid out with useful pockets and organization features, it is shoddily made- both examples I received had stitching that was unraveling on key seams, and musty, funky smells. The single stitching used to attach the shoulder strap to the top of the bag will give way under strain. My second bag had rust stains around the clasp and blue dye stains on the back. The panels that give the bag its shape appear to be cardboard. The untreated canvas is going to absorb moisture and stain rather easily.Excellent size and layout, and I really like the look- if only it had been made by workers who cared about it, and spec'd with quality materials.My advice- look elsewhere, especially if you intend to carry anything weightier than a small paperback in this bag. I am soured on this manufacturer's products now.

This is the second M-51 Engineers Field Journey bag I've owned. I purchased it because it's perfect for holding all my pens, pencils and various art supplies as well as a sketchbook or two dependent on size. The back flap even has spaces that are perfect for keeping paintbrushes in and protected. That being said, the construction of this bag's handle and strap where it connects to the bag is poorly designed and the stitching in those areas is very weak compared to the remainder of the bag. The straps would give more support had they actually been placed along the sides of the bag instead of the top. EVERYONE seems to have an issue with the main clasp for the flap top. They're very cheap and break without warning. I had this bag for about a month when the top handle broke on one side due to the poor quality of the construction. It certainly wasn't due to the weight of what I had in it. Also, forget about using the side compartment for a bottle of water. There's no way you can make a standard 20 oz. bottle fit into it. There's no way I'd want to purchase this bag ever again which is sad because it's the only one I've ever found that adequately held my art supplies so nicely. The poor construction of the bag negates all of the good it had to offer. Right now, I still have it and am going to redesign the straps and connections to be on the sides as I outlined already and hope that solves my problems.

I am enjoying the bag quite a bit. It was larger that I was expecting, but not too large. (Review the dimensions again, trust me) It is quite sturdy and will stand up on its own--which is handy. I've had other bags in the past that look great but aren't very sturdy and that becomes inconvenient. The bag has been a hit with my guy friends as well and 2 of them have ordered it for themselves. It has lots of space for pens, pencils, keys, cell phone, files, etc. I don't see myself changing from it soon.

The strap is made of low-quality canvas material that is too narrow and cuts into my shoulder with only an iPad mini, a book, and a bottle of water. The "pad" on the strap is nothing more than the same material attached by a few loops. It is fairly uncomfortable even with a light load. The hooks are attached to the "handle" on the top flap and are already showing signs of strain. The "reinforced" pockets appear to be nothing more substantial than cardboard sewn between two layers of the canvass. The two side pockets are too small for water bottles, and I certainly would not put anything of value in those pockets because the flaps are held in place with inexpensive eye and hook fasteners. The rear pocket side zipper opens if the items in this pocket are too heavy. The large center pocket is great, but it is covered by a flap of canvas that is not water-resistant despite the plastic lining on the inside of the flap. I would never use this bag in a light mist and definitely not in the rain or snow. I gave this bag three stars because I need the pockets and the dimensions are perfect, but I only use it when I am carrying just my iPad mini, a book, and a bottle of water, and the weather is assuredly dry. For another $20 or so you can find a better made bag on Amazon as good as if not better than this one and for the extra money, a better made bag is a better return on your investment.