Personally if U are gona use it after u graduate go for the taiga, if u can afford to buy another bag when u start work, GO FOR GEANT, had mine since July and I don't know why bagsnbags says it's not as durable (maybe her friends IS REALLY ruff on stuff) but I have banged it into bleachers, cement walls and been caught in rain (I have two, one for school/banging and one for traveling/time when I am more careful) and this abuse is all being done with the school/banging bag and NOT ONE tear or rip and the water spots didn't come on because I used applegaurde aerosol and there are no marks on the leather or the canvas, no loose strings either! I LOVE them TO BITS!