Smart Alec Size

[flushpuppy]

I'm considering getting a Smart Alec to be my version of a Swift backpack. I'm wondering about the size of it. I'm a 5'7", 135 lb girl - can anyone tell me how they think it might fit on someone my size? Mainly the length of it. Thanks for indulging my anal tendencies! Don't feel like waiting til the store is open again to make the trek to see for myself!

[Shiva]

Hi there:
I have the Smart Alec---and I am very small (5 feet something and it fits really well. On someone taller, it should fit even better. Very adjustable shoulder straps; and it also has a sternum. It is a fairly voluminous backpack--one BIG pocket on the inside--so don't be fooled by just external dimensions. For example, it can carry a large and two small packing cubes meant for the Western Flyer, plus a couple of books or even a laptop. So it holds as much, if not more than the WF in my experience.

Shiva

[flushpuppy]

Thanks for the reply! The reason I'm considering it is because it does have the one big pocket - much easier to cram knitting and lunch into! But because I also take the bus, I don't want to end up with some unwieldy beast. I currently have a Patagonia pack that they don't appear to make anymore, so I can't compare dimensions/volume accurately. I may have to order it to check it out.

Thanks again!

Chris

[flushpuppy]

P.S. One more thing - is it soft on the top? So if it wasn't full, I could squish it down on my lap on the bus?