I have a few VB products and this is by far my FAVORITE. But a few starter notes: This is not suppose to be a large tote, hence the name "SMALL tote" However, for it's size, it can hold ALOT & there is lots of flexibility. Material: This is NOT the classic cloth VB material. It has a sleek smooth feel AND water repellent, which is a GREAT improvement from the old VB fabric material that soaks up water. (see closeup photo.) The poofiness is also lighter too, but the padding is not compromised. The new VB logo is kind of shy, just on one side and a plastic plate. There is also the brand logo on some of the silverware. (The D-ring for attaching the straps, and the swivel snap hook.) I really like this feature, as it really highlights the brand and quality. HOWEVER, like the recent new products from the VB line, I am sad that they did away with the logo zipper pull. It's one of those subtle touches that I have always loved on their products. (See pics.) The short handles & long straps: The short handles are padded, which is always nice. It goes along well with the fact that they bag can hold some nice heavy items. The straps are also nice and long as well. I'm plus size and I can wear this as a shoulder bag AND crossbody. Versatile bags ROCKS. The main zipper closes all the way to the edge, which is a plus. Many of the older purses left a 2-3" gaps on the edges and I was never a fan. This makes sure everything is contained in your bag and no risk of things spilling out. The base of the tote/the bottom is defined, so it ensures you have a flat even bottom. See pic for size compared to a giftcard. Inside the bag is a nice light color lining. This makes it easy to find items. I like the deep zippered pocket, which is 6" deep. (Deeper than most purse inside pocket zipper.) The opposite side has 2 smaller open pockets. They are 5.5" deep. A update to the outer pockets is that instead of being in the front & back, the large pockets are now placed on the sides. So now you get 4 pockets, 2 deep & wide pockets that are 7" deep and 2 wide zippered side pockets that are 5.5" deep. The thing about these pockets is that it has the capacity to hold alot, BUT it will cut into how much room you have inside the bag. For example. I am able to fit a 24oz Thermal flask inside one of the pockets, but as you can see in the pics, the room for the bag decreases significantly. However, in doing so, you get to keep your bottle or whatever you want in there, separate and organized. You also have easy access to it too without having to unzip the main compartment. Overall, I love the bag and have been using it daily. I'm no longer a Parent that needs the full diaper bag, I still need to carry more than the usual amount. This bag lets me carry all I need, look stylish, water-repellant and have the added bonus of carrying a quality name brand bag.
