Having a nice bag for everyday use is a must for me, and always has been. While I was a student, I would walk a couple miles every day going to and from classes. The need for a high quality backpack was essential, as these things tend to take a bit of abuse over the years as you use them. Mission Workshop is a company dedicated to creating top-notch backpacks, messenger bags, and outerwear. I was lucky enough to get my hands on The Sanction ruck sack. Hit the jump for my thoughts.

The Sanction is Mission Workshop’s small ruck sack. In case you didn’t know, a ruck sack is a backpack-esque bag that usually utilizes folding flaps and snaps in lieu of zippers for the main compartment. Ruck sacks can accomodate a greater number of items (i.e. taller items than would normally fit in a backpack) as well, thanks to the adjustable straps. In general, I prefer ruck sacks to backpacks any day.

The Sanction is an extremely simple bag. There are no gimmicks or bells and whistles. This contributes to the incredible aesthetic of The Sanction. It is, in my opinion, the most attractive bag I’ve ever seen. Sporting a look from the military days of yesteryear, The Sanction is a looker. The bag itself is constructed from 100% waterproof material, and the zippers are coated in urethane to ensure your pockets stay dry, too.

The main compartment runs the length of the entire bag, allowing you to put your biggest items there. Moreover, there is a zippered in the back of the compartment that also runs the entire length of the bag. This compartment is where you’d want to store things like your laptop, tablet, and any books you may have. Like I mentioned before, the straps that help close the compartment can be adjusted to accommodate taller items if needed.

Underneath the flap, there are two zippered pockets, along with a non-zippered pocket. With uses for pencils to flash drives, the pockets are perfectly sized to hold just about anything you’d need on a daily basis. The zippers are of extremely high quality, and open and close easily, despite them being waterproof. Lastly, there is a velcro pocket near the bottom of the bag. I use this pocket for things like my wallet and keys, and other things I need quick and often access to.

The Sanction is well-balanced while wearing it, too. Both the straps and the back of the bag are padded for comfort. Moreover, there is a chest strap that ensures that The Sanction doesn’t droop as you walk with it. Overall, the bag is effortless on your back, even when you have a heavy, 15″ MacBook Pro, and a couple books along for the ride.

At the end of the day, The Sanction is a bag that oozes quality craftsmanship and functionality. Like I stated before, it is the single best bag I’ve ever used. When I leave the house now, I actually look forward to bringing my bag along with me, because it’s aesthetically pleasing and so comfortable. At $179, The Sanction surely isn’t cheap, but this is a perfect instance of the age-old saying “you get what you pay for”. You can check out The Sanction on Mission Workshop’s website.

MSRP:  $179

Pros: Beautiful, functional, top of the line materials and craftsmanship.

Cons: None.