Vera Bradley Backpacks Comparing Sizes Review

I am going to compare these two bags to illustrate which one you may want to go with. My large bag retails for $80 to $90.

I don't use backpack pocketbooks exclusively but they do come in handy when, for example I have a lot to carry or am going shopping and want my bag secure. 

We travel a lot so I thought the larger size would be nice for traveling and it is. It is nice and light just like my smaller bag. It's made of cotton so for the summer my small bag was perfect. For traveling I don't care what season it is!

What's different?

The weight is different. When I hold my small Vera Bradley I hardly notice it. When I hold the large one I know it's in my hand. This is true of them on my back as well. 

The adjustable straps that make these backpacks are different sizes. My large Medallion measures 1 ½ inches. My small blue Paisley print measure just an inch. They feel different. The large one's straps feel much more durable than the small one as if it knows it will be carrying a lot of items!

Looking at the front of the large Vera Bradley I see a really nice large Velcro pocket with a place for an identification card. My small Vera Bradley has a zippered compartment in the front rather than the Velcro.

My small Paisley Vera Bradley back pack has two side compartments which I love. The Medallion has two large pockets on each side that zipper. 

They both have zippered compartments in the back and on the large Medallion I have two zipper pulls that take me inside rather than one. Going inside there are a couple of compartments on my Paisley Vera Bradley and one on my Medallion Vera Bradley. This surprised me when I first saw it. I would expect more inside compartments.
The insides are roomy on each bag relevant to their size.

The size is 12 inches long in my smaller Vera Bradley backpack and about 15 inches on the larger one. The larger one is one inch deeper coming in at 5 inches rather than 4 inches and the width is about 10 ½ versus 12 ½ just measuring the front panel. 

The name Vera Bradley is shown on the ends of the zippers and inside but they aren't so obvious that I feel as if I should get paid to advertise the bag. 

Am I recommending one over the other? No way - they are both super bags. Buy both - you'll use them both  but but if you are giving them as a gift obviously the larger one would be great for a teenager or college student and the small one for an older person. I do not see young people wearing backpack pocketbooks that often (unless they are fake designer ones!).