A good backpack surely sits atop the list of campus essentials. Enter the JanSport Merit, a spacious 2,700-cubic-inch backpack that will serve as a student's closest companion throughout his or her school-age years and beyond. The Merit is outfitted with ergonomic S-curve shoulder straps that follow the natural contours of the body, with a fully padded back panel for increased cushioning comfort. The two large main compartments, meanwhile, can hold everything from books to sack lunches to gym shoes. Add in a 17-inch padded laptop sleeve and dual front utility pockets with an organizer and you have all the storage you need for your daily activities. Other details include side compression straps to help you manage the load and a web loop handle. Made of 600-denier polyester, the Merit measures 13 by 18.5 by 11.4 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 1 pound 7 ounces.
About JanSport For more than 30 years, JanSport has created products to help you carry the stuff you need, where you need it, in the most functional and fashionable way possible. JanSport's success extends across the globe, where they have become a leading designer and manufacturer of durable backpacks, luggage and gear. The company is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has offices in the United States and Europe.
Manufacturer's Warranty JanSport Outdoor Equipment is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product. The warranty applies when the product is used for the purpose intended, under normal conditions, and does not apply to damages caused by typical wear and tear, unreasonable use, or neglect.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I purchased this to bring with me on a ferry while commuting back and forth to an island every day, and from the ferry to and from my construction site.
Some positive aspects are the straps are comfortable, with plenty of adjustment for a man my size of 200lbs, and feel strong at the top seam. The back of the bag is comfortable against my back also. It has a small side zippered pocket for things as keys or boat tickets. It was the largest backpack, and it does have quite a bit of space. There is one side net pocket that a Gatorade bottle fits in. The laptop slot inside is a nice touch, but the securing strap for it should be adjustable to keep smaller laptops tightly secured- if you have a 13 inch, it will flop around a bit.
Some negative issues I found are the bottom of the back does not have an extra layer of nylon, or a thicker layer to begin with, so any surface other than a desk will prematurely ware the bottom away. As many people have complained of, the zippers are terrible at catching on the weather flap, or nylon fabric that extends over the zipper- really inconvenient when I'm trying to get into and out of my bag quickly. Compared to my LLBean rucksack, the fabric does not have a weather-resistant membrane inside, so I anticipate the fabric getting soaked in a downpour, allowing the contents to be exposed to moisture. I also would like to have had the nylon thicker than it is.
Overall, it is a good bag for books and folders, and for use in an academic and nonviolent environment. It is not designed for a hostile atmosphere, where subjected to unconventional conditions. For the price, I'm not so sure I would have purchased it had I found it in a store where I could examine it further.
