Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I originally ordered a Kavu Rope Bag. I was looking for a purse/backpack hybrid that wasn't too outdoorsy and Kavu's rope sling and cool patterned fabric fit the bill. After 2 weeks of light use there was significant wearing off of the color on the corners and edges, not something I would expect on a 50.00 bag! So, I returned it and tried the Meru. Although they look identical in photos, there are some design differences in the Meru that I find preferable. I will detail them below in case anyone is trying to decide between the two. First is the small combination zipper/Velcro pocket on the outside. The zipper is more secure imo than Kavu's Velcro closure and it also has a key tether sown in. Plus, you still get a small Velcro pocket that sits on top of the zippered compartment. The larger of the two outside pockets is the same size as the Kavu's and will fit a large cell phone. Second is the orientation and placement of compartments/zippers. The main compartment opens just to the left of the two outer pockets and its zipper runs the full length of the bag. It has a smaller zippered pocket inside that is larger than the Kavu's. The second compartment with the padded back is just to the left of the main one. Its zipper is slightly shorter but the compartment is roomy and runs the full width and length of the bag (the Kavu's second compartment only went halfway). The orientation of compartments/zippers means that you can swing the bag around from back to front and access all compartments from the top securely without anything falling out. The third perk is the mesh water bottle holder inside the main compartment. It easily holds a standard plastic water bottle as well as my FiftyFifty insulated bottle (3" in diameter). There are two grommeted holes below the holder to deal with accidental spills or condensation which is smart. I chose a solid color hoping to minimize the appearance of any potential color fading. The Olive Green I ordered is great, more akin to a grey/sage green than a drab olive color. The fabric of my bag is soft canvas and is not "crunchy" like some reviewers described. The strap is less of an issue than I thought. It is comfortable and unobtrusive in appearance. It lacks the nifty elastic band of the Kavu which allows you to roll up the excess but I fashioned my own by rolling up the excess strap around an elastic hair tie and attaching it to the buckle (see pic). It was an easy hack that seems to also prevent any slipping of the adjustment. Size-wise, the Meru is slightly smaller than the Kavu (8.5 liters compared to Kavu's 10.8). Since I was just looking for a large-ish purse that could carry a few extras while hiking/walking around town, this is fine with me. I don't like to carry a lot of weight anyway. All in all, I'm happy with this bag. My only real complaint and the reason I knocked off a star is all the loose threads that needed trimming. These did not appear to involve the integrity of the seams but were strands of fabric edge that got caught in the stitching. This does indicate sloppier assembly that hopefully will not compromise the utility of the bag long term. The price was substantially less than the Kavu so for a bag under 30.00 I'm OK with trimming a few threads.