Closer Look: Internals

The Fortress is divided into two main compartments and four smaller ones. We find the first pocket at the front of the backpack. It utilizes a zipper and slider, covered in rubber and with Cougar's name on it. It is large enough to easily accommodate an iPhone 6 plus, iPhone X, and our car keys. The next compartment is the second-largest of the bunch.

First Compartment

The first compartment consists of two parts; a right and left side.


On the left is a medium-sized pocket that covers and secures its contents with a zipper. We used this pocket to store a large purse.


Two medium-sized pockets are made out of mesh; the one on top has a zipper. We found these pockets to be really helpful since we do have things that are very small, so they tend to get lost; we also put things we had to take out of the backpack without too much of a hassle into these pockets.


Three pen pockets have also been placed where they are readily accessible, and another small pocket in which we can hide a few things is just behind these.

Main Compartment

Our sample's main compartment's zippers are not rubber-coated, which strikes us as odd since this is the most important and most-used compartment of all.


Besides the pockets, Cougar also integrated two pairs of elastic straps with a disconnect quick-release clip buckle. The main compartment's sides are reinforced with an extra thick foam layer to keep the contents safe in case of a sudden drop. Since this is the main compartment, we expect it to have wide pockets in order to fit the larger peripherals.


This compartment consists of two parts. The pocket on the right side can hold a 15–16" laptop, and we can place either a larger laptop or other peripherals into this pocket before securing the contents inside with a disconnect quick-release clip buckle.


The left side of this compartment houses the second-largest pocket in which we can store another laptop or just a tablet. This compartment has safety Velcro tape to keep its contents in place. Three medium-sized pockets made out of mesh are on top of the bigger pocket and can fit other, smaller peripherals, such as a mouse or charger. Both large pockets with enough room for a laptop or tablet even have a structure that absorbs vibrations for improved protection.

Rear Compartment and Pockets

Every backpack must have a pocket for a thermos water bottle. The Fortress has one such pocket on its right side that also features a zipper and mesh for extra safety. However, since it is a bit small for a normal-sized water bottle, this pocket can also be used to store something else; e.g., headphones or an MP3 player.


By now, you have probably realized that the Fortress has plenty of pockets, is multi-layered, and has lots of padding. With this backpack turned on its side, you can also see that it is of a specific, stable size even when empty. Its stability is mainly due to the main compartment's thick foam layer, which is hard enough to keep the backpack in a vertical position even when empty.


On the other side of the backpack is a 3-digit lock which locks the main compartment by inserting the two zippers into respective sockets. A lock is always helpful.


The rear has three foam-padded panels, which will reduce the pressure this backpack will put on your back. Behind the padded panels is another large hidden pocket. The shoulder straps were initially hidden inside of this pocket and secured with a zipper. This is another pocket inside of which we could easily store another 15–16" laptop, along with some other stuff. The shoulder straps are also padded for an extra layer of comfort. Finally, there is another medium-sized pocket with a zipper on the rear of the backpack; it is a great pocket for important things we may want to get to while wearing the backpack.

Closer Look: Zippers

We put a lot of emphasis on the zippers and their stitching since we have come across many zippers in the past that either broke shortly after purchase or just don't function properly anymore. Most of the zippers for the Fortress are coated with rubber and have Cougar's name engraved on them. The rubber zippers are definitely more ergonomic since a user's fingers won't slip while trying to open them. The zippers slide easily and work properly, and their stitching seems to be immaculate.