I bought two of these backpacks for my two elementary school kids and they are perfect for what they require. The backpacks themselves are durable and just the right size for the kids. I would say they are comparable to other canvas type backpacks out there that are 2-3 times the cost. The backpacks can easily hold a binder, a notebook, a pencil case, a lunch, a few books, and a sweater with room to spare - keeping in mind that this is for elementary school kids again...our kids are young so they don't carry much at all. If you're planning on carrying a High School load of text books, you may want to consider getting the larger sized backpack. The stitching at the seams is durable and we've had no issues with torn seams or canvas. The zipper also runs very smoothly.Because the backpacks are solid in color, we ended up decorating the backpacks with acrylic paint to spice things up. The paint dries well on the canvas, looks vibrant, and give the backpack an extra protective coat. If you're considering drawing on the backpack with Sharpie, keep in mind that Sharpie on canvas tends to bleed a bit, and won't look quite as vibrant. You can also remove the "Everest" label very easily if you don't want the tab there and clean the material underneath with a toothbrush and stain stick - the coloring under the label will come right off. If you want a good glossy finish, you can also finish the painting with a clear acrylic coat. We did Lego Avengers on one bag and Japanimation Hello Kitty on the other - the kids love their backpacks!