This bag is well made and is almost perfect for a beginner. The grey colour is slightly darker in person (which I prefer). If it had an extra narrow pocket for a phone it would be excellent. The side pocket is ok for mini's, a torch and even a towel but i'm not confident about keeping my phone in there too. The side pocket zip finishes at the back which seems a little backwards. Would be better if it finished (closed) at the front. Bottle holder is good if not a little big, but the drawstring does a great at keeping it in place.
Overall a superb bag for a beginner but if you're a fan of keeping your phone a little more secure and easier to access, consider moving up to a slightly better model.