I finally saw the hopewell in person today and was able to try it on and the straps are a bit longer than the ones on the mandeville but it was still an armpit bag on me. I'm not sure if other people will have better luck with it but it definitely wouldn't work as a shoulder bag for me. My dh noticed when I had it on my shoulder that there is a zipper that goes around the sides and the bottom of the bag allowing the bag to expand.