I bought this bag to commute with a small laptop, the contents of a small purse, and my lunch. It's perfect for that. I wanted a large central pocket instead of the multiple medium-sized compartments that my existing laptop backpack had. The central pocket could fit gym shoes and maybe a workout shirt if I've got the laptop in it. (I'd have to take out the laptop and anything else if I wanted to fit all of my workout clothes and shoes in it, so it's definitely too small to be a gym bag.)The description said there's a side pocket that could fit a water bottle, but I definitely wouldn't try that. The side pocket is really about the right size for a cell phone, wallet and keys, but I wear my bag on the subway and I wouldn't trust the other commuters not to help themselves. It'd be easy for someone behind me to get into the front and side pockets without my knowledge and I don't like riding the train with my bag in front of me or on the wet & muddy floor, so I leave those pockets empty. There are a couple of interior pockets that I use for small sundries, like my company ID badge, breath mints, band-aids, etc. I actually use my regular small purse in the bottom of the bag for more organization, which is especially useful on weekends because I can pull out my purse to run around doing errands that I don't need my work laptop for.In short, it's a backpack that is small without being a purse, looks absolutely fantastic, and has a respectable amount of interior organization without sacrificing space in the largest pocket. It would be a lousy security bag if you needed that while traveling. The material feels sturdy and hasn't taken any damage from commuting for a month. It wipes off easily and feels like water-resistant-treated luggage material.Overall, it's a great commuter bag and I love it.