I really expected to love these shoes, especially after reading all the positive reviews. My boyfriend has the men's and loves them. Unfortunately, they just aren't for me. They exacerbate pain in the ball of my foot that I don't feel with other athletic shoes, and at first I thought it was just the shoe being extra-supportive, but I think it's simply the shoe not being right for me. There is support for the rest of the foot, and it feels very sturdy, but the toe lacks padding and you feel it after only a mile or so (at least, I did). I tried all sorts of inserts, but the odd shape of the footbed and lack of cushion just takes its toll, and like the other reviewer, my feet just ache when I wear these. I've had 'em about a month, and I'll have to take 'em back.

Maybe someone with less joint issues will love these as others have.

I just got this pack a few weeks ago with the intent to "one-bag" it to New Zealand this fall. I "tested" it on a short cross-country flight, and already love it. I'd heard how well it fit into the airline overhead, but still marveled at the ease with which it slipped effortlessly into that compartment (it probably could even fit under your seat if it isn't fully packed).

The main compartment of the bag is nice & roomy, and is easily cinched down on the outside, making the pack more compact and more manageable. Organized packers will be amazed with how much they can fit inside this bag. Two roomy outside pockets hold your 3-1-1 bag and a book, or even a pair of shoes. I could have used maybe one more smaller outside pocket, perhaps for keys, just for organization's sake, but it isn't a dealbreaker.

The shoulder straps are comfortable. I haven't really used the waist straps a whole lot, since they aren't padded and seem to be there mostly to keep the bag close to the body rather than support the load. Both the shoulder & waist straps slip easily into the back of the pack.

There are carrying straps everywhere you'd want one; my favorite are the two on the loading side of the bag that make it easy to pick up out of a trunk, or to lift while the bag is unzipped and still being packed. In addition, there are bigger, more padded straps on the top and side.

So far, this seems like a very well-designed and thought-out pack. I'm looking forward to taking it on more trips!