I'll be honest...I was impressed from the moment I opened the shipping box. The backpack was fully wrapped in a thin, foam-like material that clearly provided good protection against any abrasion, which was then sealed in a clear plastic bag to prevent moisture penetration. Upon unwrapping, I found that all the leather zipper pulls were individually wrapped in the same foam-like material mentioned earlier (pictured), which prevented abrasions against the metal zipper teeth during shipping. And the zippers, themselves, are excellent...very smooth action and relatively quiet. The external material is very nice...similar to the material used for standard backpacks, except the weave if much, much tighter, resulting in a much smoother surface than a standard backpack. The shoulder straps attachment points appear to be very sturdy with significant additional stitching. The out-facing side of the shoulder straps have the same tightly weaved material as the backpack body, but they have much more breathable mesh material on the body-contact side of the shoulder straps.Moving on to inspection of the interior is where I truly recognized that this was a very high-quality product. First thing I did upon unzipping was the "sniff test"...there was not even a hint of any odd odors from the manufacturing process or off-gassing of any materials. Though these types of odors typically fade away after several days, it was a pleasant surprise to not have it at all. The interior stitching is where I was sure I'd find the veil of high-quality lifted...but to my surprise, I was wrong! Average backpacks, without fail, will have stray or loose threads in the interior stitching. You know, the kind that you pull and realize you just undid an inch of stitching that will inevitably be the starting point for integrity failures, holes and/or eventual destruction. Not this backpack! I very carefully inspected every seam, every stitch, every interior pocket, and I found not a single stray thread or loose stitch! This just blew me away! Every backpack I've ever owned from high school through all the backpacks I've had in adulthood (and as an IT professional, I've had probably over a dozen backpacks in my 30 year career), and all the backpacks my kids ever had, have had a few of these or many more. The quality control on this item is simply better than I've ever seen!Finally, I'll say that the numerous pockets, pouches, compartments, etc. are really great...I like to keep things organized in my backpack, so these work really well for me. Also, for the first time, I can store my water bottle inside, and there's a pouch inside that keeps it upright and tucked to the side. And that extra strap to keep the backpack on top of my suitcase by sliding over the handle...that will be a requirement for any future backpack of mine...very handy! If the look of this backpack appeals to you, I highly recommend you give it a try...I don't think you'll be disappointed.