Dakine takes it to a higher level with their Project Blue Recon pack. Project Blue is a surf industry effort to keep our waves rolling, our water blue and our coastlines pristine. Two bucks from each pack go to the Surfrider Foundation.
Dakine doesn't go halfway; the Recon is seriously eco-friendly, 100% PVC-free and made with a lot of material from recycled PET materials from plastic bottles. Maybe they compromised on features? Not! The Recon is very well laid out to go from campus to beach, with a top-mounted fleece-lined sunglass pocket, insulated cooler cubby and seam-sealed wetsuit pocket for your skanky second skin.
The organizer pocket has sleeves for phones and music players so they don't slosh around scratching each other. I've always given extra points for pockets that can be accessed while the pack is being worn, and the recon has two: a small mesh bottle pocket on the wearer's right and a zippered pocket on the left, perfect for a cell phone that you want to secure out of sight but handy. The pack is deceptively tall, providing a more-than-you'd-think 1,900ci inside. There's even a sternum strap. About the only thing missing is a hip belt, but the Recon is made to go short distances so most users won't have a problem with that. Beach rats will love it.