Acme Made Union Street

I have received a few backpacks lately and this is the first of the type that I've ecountered. I've been using it three days and I like it but honestly, it takes some getting used to. Once you have, it's a great item.Although you can see it's a rectangle from the picture, I don't think the picture really shows how long it is compared to wide. There's a reason that's not been the style for most of the time b/c depth (as in a drawer) makes things harder to find. In this case, the pockets are such that it's actually quite effective.The material is light, it's easy to zip up, you can stuff it (you shouldn't need to for a typical gym trip) and to put shoes, a phone, buds, 2 towels (including on thick bath towel and one to wipe off the equipment), a toiletry bag, a water bottle, a 200G sized protein powder and socks in it, you'll have no problem.If you get this, do yourself a favor and before packing it, open it up and look through it. See the pockets and how it's supposed to be used. Segregate your things from items you will essentially keep in there (you're deodorant, shampoo, razor blades & shave cream) from things you'll always change out (towels, socks, underwear, shoes, t-shirt and shorts - or yoga pants or whatever you wear). You can segregate so that you can quickly pack and unpack it which literally will save you as much as five minutes. If I don't keep things organized at first, I end up looking around for the right places and things get shoved in. This saves time on packing but makes unpacking a nightmare b/c you end up taking out things you don't need to. If you place the permanent or mostly permanent things in designated places and just pack and unpack what you're wearing and using, you'll end up spending a few extra minutes the first pack, afterward the packing time is the same and unpacking time is greatly reduced. Trust me on this. Just look at the bag when you get it, learn how it's supposed to be used (if you're like me, you'll try putting a square peg in a round hole b/c you're used to laptop backpacks) and enjoy.It's well worth the time and effort.

Good idea, mediocre implementation. This is a generic gym bag with backpack handles instead of regular handles. At half the listed price ($70 as of this writing), this is an okay bag.What I'd like to see improved:1. The size and shape of the straps make them uncomfortable to carry like a regular bag, so that limits its versatility. At the very least, a grab handle on the top (like regular backpacks have) would make this bag a lot easier to port around, say, the subway, bus, or anywhere else you may want to take it off your back temporarily.2. The bag has straps for a yoga mat, but they can't be adapted for a water bottle, so you'll have to toss that into the bag with your clothes and shoes (and of course open the bag if you want a drink).3. The zippers feel pretty flimsy, so I have doubts about durability.4. The lack of any kind of interior pocket is disappointing. Your only option for keys, wallet, etc. would be the exterior zipper pocket on the side, which is long and narrow. For security and organization, I strongly prefer some kind of interior pocket for this stuff. As it is, small stuff gets tossed into a smaller bag inside the larger bag, when a simple pocket would have worked.5. The fabric and overall manufacture quality feel pretty cheap, again not as durable as I'd hoped.On the plus side, it's big enough for sneakers, socks, clothes, etc. It also expands a fair amount, so you don't have to fill it up to wear it comfortably. There's a "back panel air system" that is supposed to help keep you cool (and allegedly look cool, apparently), but I haven't noticed much difference with that.Be sure to check the measurements, since this bag is considerably longer than your average backpack. As a 5'4" person, I find it longer than I'm really comfortable with when I'm sitting (and I really miss the top handle when I take it off to sit down).

I really wanted to love this bag! It gets five stars for creativity, five stars for quality, but loses my vote on functionality.This is a good size for someone who is carrying a lot of stuff to the gym. It's longer than it looks. The yoga straps are a bit cumbersome, but still cool. Now, if you have a heavier mat like I do, it's not very ergonomic... wish it was on the center somehow instead.The bag opens between the backpack straps. There are no quick exits on this thing. It's cumbersome to carry NOT on your back, because there's no room for a shoulder strap (this would have solved most of the issues for me), so you have carry it only as a zipped up backback than you can't access too easily. Maybe this would work for a subway commuter? But not most people who want to get in and out of the bag, or like me, hold it open while I check into the gym and carry it that way for a few.Some high points - The bottom (which is the back in the photo) is nasty-proof. It's a very washable, durable surface... I'd feel comfortable setting it down anywhere. The straps are VERY ergonomic and comfy. The zipper is strong, the pockets are great, it's sleek looking.I wish it had a removable shoulder strap! But it's just not practical for me, or anyone who wants easy access or to be able to carry it off your back for short spurts.

If you like a tall gym bag that has just one compartment (no additional pockets), then this might be your bag. This bag keeps it simple and possibly assumes that you'll have your own toiletry bag. On the front of the bag is a flat, rubbery material for where you'd place the bag on a bench or the floor -- nice and rugged. The main zipper runs along the back instead of the front likely down for an optimized design. The zippers run smooth and have a built-in cloth cover to prevent water splash from easily coming in. On the side are straps in case you want to bring a yoga mat but other items could be stored there such as a rolled towel. The bag feels rugged although the current price of about $65 seems a little high for what you get. This is a nice bag, but not quite my style as I like a few extra pockets and zippers. But I can see that some people would indeed prefer this bag so I recommend it as long as you know what you want upfront.

This is a pretty sleek and handsome gym bag. The neoprene top gives it a simple and classic look that I like. It's a pretty simple design, with a main zippered compartment that opens up between the shoulder straps. There's also a smaller zippered pouch on the outside for smaller storage, and a set of straps for a yoga mat. We got this for my son to use for soccer, and there's room for everything - ball, cleats, shin guards, water bottle, etc. The construction seems good, especially with the metal should straps clips and the sturdy strap buckles. My only complaint is that the material is thinner than I'd hoped. It's holding up well but I wish it used a slightly thicker fabric. Overall, I like it: classic simple styling is handsome, straightforward design with easy access to the main storage area, and plenty of room.