58
votes
Bags and backpacks! What do you look for, what do you use?
Recently I've found myself with my previous backpack running through its life, and its not something I'm confident I could repair myself. As such, I'm on the search for a new daily bag. I'm curious what others look for in a daily bag for work or school, and what options people like right now.
I look for versatility and quality. And for that, I pretty much always gravitate toward Tom Bihn. They have a very nice selection of styles and their "Ballistic" material is unbreakable. Their bags aren't cheap, but they will probably last a lifetime. They have loads of accessories like packing cubes and laptop sleeves and a lot more. For a great daily backpack, take a look at the Synapse 19. Whenever I need a bag, Tom Bihn is pretty much the only brand I consider.
I have a dozen Tom Bihn bags and live very close to their showroom! But I'm really worried now that Tom sold the company that things won't be the same. They've already started swapping fabrics for cheaper ones :(
Whoa. I didn't hear about this. Any more information on the sale?
It was kept very quiet. You see it alluded to on the blog but the "new CEO" does not reveal she's actually the owner of a VC firm.
https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/q-a-with-cindy
https://www.reddit.com/r/tombihn/comments/10hfrqf/_/
They got the acquisition nuked off the internet but here's the text:
Tom Bihn, Inc. Acquired by Snow Hill Capital Posted by IndustryNet on Thursday, January 20, 2022
The end of 2021 saw the successful sale of Tom Bihn (www.tombihn.com), a high quality manufacturer of backpacks, travel bags, and business attaches with an operating model that emphasized innovative design, direct to consumer E-Commerce sales, and superior customer service in a transaction facilitated by IBA’s (www.ibainc.com) highly regarded manufacturing industry transaction team.
IBA was uniquely qualified to represent the founder of the company, Tom Bihn, and the other shareholders in the sale based on the firm’s knowledge and experience working with domestic manufacturing companies and businesses operating in the online retail space. The lead mergers & acquisitions intermediary at IBA for the transaction was firm President & CEO, Gregory Kovsky.
Mr. Kovsky, a twenty-eight year business brokerage professional, was very satisfied with the “win-win” transaction he facilitated in an environment of confidentiality while employing best practices throughout the sale process. The buyer’s acquisition was supported by Live Oak Bank with Heather Endresen serving as the lead banker for the deal.
If professional representation in the sale of a manufacturing company in the Pacific Northwest is desired, IBA would welcome the opportunity to interview for the M&A intermediary position.
IBA, commonly regarded as one of the most selective sell side representation business brokerage firms in the nation, traditionally operates with a 100% paid on performance compensation model with the goal of only being paid by satisfied clients.
Wow, sorry to hear that! I used to swear by Timbuk2 bags 10 years ago - U.S.-made and bombproof back then. The company sold and it's been downhill ever since.
This actually makes a lot of sense. I was looking into grabbing another TB bag as a travel backpack around 6 months ago and was struggling to find something that felt like a tom bihn and actually worked with my style, plus the prices were much higher than I remembered paying for the bags (obviously, I bought mine 10 years ago, but still - felt too pricey).
Thank you for sharing this. I likely won’t go back to them then, and I guess I actually have to learn how to sew my own bags ti get exactly what I want. Bummer.
Wow. That reads like a death knell. I’m gutted. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll definitely pay closer attention to them for my next potential bag purchase.
This suuuccckkkssss.
TB bags were the best. Here's hoping this is the first time in history a VC firm doesn't fuck up a decent company.
I’m honestly more than a little upset about this news (I didn’t realize I would be). Because it’s been so quiet, but Tom sold out for a cash grab, it feels like with selling to a VC. I don’t know that I could trust the quality especially with it being so hush hush.
I’m so bummed out about that. I really liked the community that Darcy built up. I liked it because it didn’t feel like buying from some soulless company but out of someone’s garage. Every detail of the design and production and the forum posts was part of why I followed the brand. No wonder the recent emails felt “off”.
I also have a bunch of TB bags and have been trying to keep an eye on things. I hope they continue the quality they are known for but I am weary. The only bag I have purchased since the core team left is the bantam and I really love it. I plan to order a synik 30 soon and hope the quality is still there.
that's quite the appealing option tbh. I'm guessing that it stands up to weather well from your previous comment about the material. Is there anything that bothers you about this backpack? Something that immediately stands out to me is the lack of pouches on the side.
I don't have the Synapse 19, though I wish I did. I have a Patagonia backpack for hiking, which I bought because it was cheaper and it's good enough that I have no reason to replace it. I have Tom Bihn's Aeronaut 30 for travel, and so does my wife. It's a great bag for one-bag travel, which is how we do it. The material absolutely stands up to weather and just about anything else. I also have a handful of other Tom Bihn items, like their Side Kick bag which is kind of my important documents go-bag (easy to just shove into something else) as well as packing cubes and other organizational pouches.
I can understand wanting side pouches for water, which the Synapse doesn't have. But I think they make them generally contained for weather-proofing and durability. Those elastic side pouches (which my Patagonia bag has) seem to stretch out over time. The fit and finish of these bags are super high-quality, and nothing about them communicates that any part of them will break down over time.
The next bag I want from them is the Bummer, but they just don't have a color combo that suits me right now.
I've had a Western Flyer for about 12 years now, still going strong. Another similar brand (made in US, high quality) is Red Oxx.
I have the Tom bihn synapse 19 and I’ve had it for over a decade of travel and sometimes daily use, it’s still in almost new shape. For travel it’s a bit smaller than I like now, but I still love my bag for overnights (I just took it with me on a geocaching overnight!) and it is really handy that it’s compartmentalized. My true daily carry is actually a Vera Bradley Disney backpack that’s a little dirty and I love it. I can fit my iPad and anything else I need in it every day. They still have the size bag, but lots of different designs, I got mine in 2019 and the design has since been retired.
i might be a bad person (in this regard) but i ... buy bags less than $10 and keep like 4 or 5.
so here's my reasoning: when i'm going to see my nephews and neices, i need my uncling supplies. i grab an empty bag and throw in some toys/games/candy whatever and i'm off.
when i am going to a protest i need some water, snacks, a bluetooth speaker, a mask... lets not enumerate every item. lets just say i grab my most nondescript black bag that i can replace for nothing if i i were to lose it somehow.
family bbq, house party, work, picnic. i have small, cheap bags, no such thing as EDC (well, i am a guy, so i have pockets for whatever i consider my edc).
anyway.... i don't know if this is a good recommendation, but i found it works for me because, other wise, i'd go through months of decision paralysis just choosing The One Bag to rule them all.
I'm pretty similar.
I buy Herschel bags, but I always buy them used. They end up being about $20-$30 after shipping, but I don't mind if they get ruined (they haven't).
Now, I don't do anything nearly as rad as protesting, but I've taken the same bag to work for 5 years and it's in no worse condition than when I first bought it. My school backpack is only 2, but I've driven all across the country, flown with it, and have beat on it pretty hard with minimal fraying to the edges.
That's such a familiar feeling and it's sort of what I've been doing for a while, though I just keep one on me. I wanted to look into getting a better one though, mostly waste and curiosity.
I like sustainability and think it’s important, but a big part of sustainability is if you’re actually using what you’ve got/buy until it’s unusable. If you want lots of inexpensive backpacks, you can always thrift them. But i think shaming someone for not being as sustainable as possible if they’re getting use out of their items is gatekeeping sustainability. If that works for you, do it.
I used to buy cheap backpacks. They always lasted a couple of years and then broke. Whether it was the zippers, straps, or bag itself, something always gave.
I was in the market for a new on, and my friend showed me his Goruck GR1. $350 for a backpack?! That's crazy. Then I saw how well made and designed it was. Heavy duty fabric. Reinforced straps and handles. Huge capacity. And it opened completely flat.
I can't recommend Goruck's stuff enough. If it's not your thing, still recommend spending more on something well made.
I bought a GR1 about... 12 years ago now? Still looking fresh. The only thing that's not like-new is the wraparound plastic on the paracord zip-pullers. I'll take that for 12 years of abuse!
Over the years I've come to joke "this bag hasn't failed me yet" every time i'm trying to reorganise contents and squeeze in a last-mintue-something. Hasn't failed me yet.
I'm the same. Once I went with a GR1, there was no coming back. I also fell in love with making my own zipper pulls from paracord dammit. It's such an amazing backpack, at first it doesn't look like it has enough pockets and compartments, but I quickly figured that a dedicated pouch is better than a pocket inside. Now I have my backpack full of pouches and it's amazing.
Also, I'm gonna miss r/onebag and r/edc :(
It's an interesting bag for sure. It doesn't look like it has any pockets tho, and I'm a big fan of pockets for organization. Do you find that to be an issue for you?
You're right: it's mainly one massive interior pocket. It does have an exterior front pocket, two additional zipper pockets on the other side of the flap, a slot thing on the inside, and a laptop compartment.
But yeah, the lack of built in interior structure threw me in the beginning, too. I love it now, though. If you want to throw a bunch of clothes for a weekend trip, then it all fits, and there's nothing to get in the way. If I need more organization, I can throw packing cubes, sleeves, or other things in. There's MOLLE on the inside, too.
There’s definitely a learning curve and MOLLE attachments can help customize them a bit, but these bags are bulletproof.
My GR1 is the best bag purchase I’ve ever made. Love the thing.
However, the company isn’t something I really love. I got my bag back when the company was just an ex-special-forces owned bag making shop that wanted to create bags that could handle being used in the field.
Over the years though, they’ve leaned farther and farther into like military worship. I haven’t checked in on them in a while, so things may have changed, but they’ve traditionally been very “America!” in a way that doesn’t leave this northeastern US liberal particularly comfortable anymore.
Thought it’s worth mentioning, in case that’s important to OP.
I like the Evergoods CPL as a similar backpack (same layout, great construction) but with a less military style (especially when they release limited non-black versions).
And there's a also the Bellroy Transit with that layout and a more dressed-up look. Although I haven't tried that one.
Thank! The CPL looks awesome. I hadn't seen it before. If you have one, how's it holding up? The Goruck bags are made of 1000D Cordura, and it looks like the Evergoods ones are made of some 840D nylon.
I have a Bellroy Venture Sling. The design is great, but the fabric on mine is weird. I wish I could have felt the other choices before choosing.
I use a grey CPL24 since 5-ish years. It's holding up very well, I can't see traces of use basically, except that it got dirty and I need to wash it sometimes.
Thank you. I might need to add one to my bag collection...
I'm a big fan of Goruck too.
I started with the Rucker, since it was much cheaper than the GR1 and I didn't need a laptop compartment. However, it was bigger than expected and I quickly realised I didn't need all that space or the sheer weight of that bag.
I managed to score a great eBay deal on the old-style 500 Cordura Bullet Rick - the one with a separate compartment for a water bladder. This thing is the best backpack I've ever had. Lightweight and compact, but extremely durable and has a deceptive amount of storage space. I've used it nearly every day for 6 years now, and the only sign of wear is that the nylon straps are starting to fray from constantly cinching and uncinching them. They aren't anywhere close to wearing out - they just look a bit unsightly.
The Rucker doesn't get much use, but I always take it when travelling by plane. I'm a One Bag kind of guy. I can fit enough gear for a 2+ week holiday in the Rucker, plus the Bullet and a water bladder, and take it on the flight as carry-on. When I reach my destination, the Bullet becomes my day pack.
The only downside to Goruck is that, as an Australian, their official store's shipping is obscenely expensive. We've all complained about it for years, but the company has never done anything to address it. It's put me off ever buying anything else from their official store, but there are amazing deals to be had on eBay.
The GR1 is bigger than it seems, for sure. I bought an Echo when they still made them. They're essentially the same backpack, but smaller. I get a lot use out of it.
I hear you about shipping. That sucks. If you find a large kit bag on eBay, I highly recommend it. It fills a similar role as a duffle bag, but has a different, more manageable, shape. I love mine. It makes a great airplane carry on bag.
I'm extremely utilitarian in my backpack choices.
MOLLE system is mandatory so I can swap bits and bobs out. I've got a Wisport Sparrow at the moment. I've got two rocket pouches and some smaller ones for when I go overseas / travel on my motorbike. But generally, it's just the mainback pack that holds my EDCs.
Expensive bits of kit though, and hardly fashionable!
I had no idea about MOLLE, It's cool that backpacks have a sort of standardized connection system. Are there any places you would recommend looking for MOLLE gear, or any specific bits of kit? Modularity is awesome, but if it's mostly military usage it probably won't be for me.
The Goruck backpacks I mention below have MOLLE attachment points, too.
I also had to look it up. Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. Another great acronym for the trivia hopper.
You'll find MOLLE on a lot of kit these days, mostly military.
You can however, get a lot of military bags in colours that aren't always camo/drab. So you can pick up a decent ruck sack in white (for example) and then customise it as you need it.
I’m also a big fan of MOLLE. I looked for a long time before I finally found the Tasmanian Tiger Assault Pack 12 which I think doesn’t look too military in the black color. I’ve been extremely pleased with the quality of construction and the durability of the zippers.
That's a nice bit of kit!
I've found that most MOLLE bags come with two flaws. They're either badly stitched together, at which point they disintegrate the first time you wash them. OR, They're poorly put toggether, so they lose shape over time.
The Wisport kit is fantastic to avoid both. But it's expensive (£200 for the bag alone) in some places.
I love that one though. Looks very like a normal rucksack.
I think it depends on 1) what you typically put in your bag (computer? Lunch? Extra layers? Coffee?), 2) your mode of transit, and 3) whether your bag is used throughout the day or just for commuting.
I generally bike to work these days in an area that is very often cool and rainy, so I use a waterproof Ortlieb pannier that’s big enough to fit my lunch, a computer if needed, a few books, and extra layers in case of a change in the weather. Once I’m at work, I only rarely use it so I don’t need anything that’s comfortable to carry by hand or that looks professional (this one is good for neither of those). Cycling is much more comfortable without the weight on my shoulders.
I’ve used Timbuktu messenger style bags in the past when I spent a lot more time walking and always carried a computer, a few notebooks and pens, a snack or lunch, and a thermos of coffee. They were great all-purpose bags with a lot of convenient interior and semi-interior pockets and dividers to keep things organized. It was great for keys, wallets, pens, usb drives, etc. I always knew where everything was and I had a lot of small things I used regularly in various rooms for research and teaching.
I haven’t used a backpack in a long time aside from hiking, which it doesn’t seem like you’re as interested in.
The only thing I really need is room for a 13" laptop and charger, everything else I can techncially go without. I'm a student, so a space for notebooks and a drink of some sort are very nice, but not necessary.
As an aside, while I'm not much into hiking backpacks my brother very much is, so I would be happy if you wanted to pass along any recommendations.
I'm using a Heimplanet 28L bag at the moment.
Ironically I got it for some big life changes that didn't quite pan out as planned. So at the moment it's loaded up with "daily driver" gear and sat on a shelf.
The full zip clamshell thing has caught me out a few times, but overall I'm very happy with the bag. I'm just waiting for the chance to truly get to use it again.
I have a GoRuck GR2 for international travel and a GR1 for local stuff / general carry (both in black). I got them both over a decade ago and I've never really wanted another bag since. After 10+ years the stitches on the GR2 shoulder straps are starting to fray so I'll see how good the Scars lifetime guarantee is soon!
I also have a Killspencer Weekender 2.0 in black leather from way back in the day that I have also used when traveling by car; it's not very practical to carry by hand so that's the only use it gets. Looks really cool though 😅
I have a Kavu sling bag that served me really well on a trip to Hawaii. For every day stuff… yes, I’m going to say my lululemon EBB bag. Yes it’s technically a fanny pack but it’s great if you’re just running around town or going to a ball game.
I have a Jansport I bought from MEC like 10 years ago and it's still just fine, if a bit dirty.
I have a jansport half pint that’s my Disney parks bag and have had it for a long time. I really enjoy wearing it because it’s comfortable and holds a 1L water bottle, sunscreen, and a 30000mAmp portably battery. It works really well for that.
(Ok, I collect backpacks and really love them for my edc as well as trips. As a woman with back issues I can’t wear standard purses no matter how light because of imbalance issues. So I’ve really gone all in on backpacks. My current geocaching backpack is a Kipling Seoul small and it’s a great bag too. It’s very durable and not too expensive. It gets weekend use and is generally packed to the brim with everything I need for caching including a first aid kit and a sweater.)
I commute to school and work exclusively by bike, so I look for something completely waterproof (we get sudden rainstorms fairly often), with a padded sleeve for my laptop. I've been using an A-Lab Model B roll-top waterproof backpack, but after two years of daily use (including in hot summers and sub-freezing winters) the material is cracking a bit at the top. Would be open to any suggestions from people in a similar boat.
One of my backpack purchases recently has been for raves or music festivals. Did a lot of research and when I was initially eyeing Osprey for their hydration packs, I ultimately settled on a Lunchbox Pack. It uses the same hydration bladder as an Osprey, the Hydro Pak. Additionally, my concerns for pickpockets was mitigated by their feature set: ripstop nylon; inverted zippers, no external facing zippers; zipper clips. It's funny because I've seen them many times before at events but never paid much attention as to why or who made them. I gotta say it's very well made and for the specific purpose it was built for, it exceeded my expectations. They have a cool community who for many good reasons rep the brand, and I love their use of interchangeable backpack skins and electroluminescent wire to differentiate from others.
I wish I had seen one of these before I ended up with a cheap, $20 clear stadium bag off Amazon. I go to a lot of concerts and get VIP, so they give you these damned tour posters BEFORE the show. So if you're at barricade which you normally get from being VIP, you have to somehow magically protect the poster.
The clear vinyl bags work pretty well, but the Lunchbox looks like it's on another level. Those locking zippers solve one of my biggest fears.
Yeah, I was going to purchase something that was borderline fast fashion and not needing to reuse it more than a couple of festivals but I figured let's do some research and away from Amazon. It seems like Lunchbox is in your alley as they offer the clear versions too.
I'll warn you however, in your use case, the compartment area isn't like a full-fledged backpack which extends all the way to the bottom of the bag, it stops about half way. This is where I find the Lunchbox shines, especially when venue rules state you cannot bring backpacks and hydration packs are in a grey area, the only place I'd be able to roll a poster and fit it is on the side located on the outside of the bag. I'd check out videos that would show it better than my choice of words here.
Darn that’s a bit of a dealbreaker. I love the idea, but sometimes the posters are even bigger than 11x17 (and mine barely fits those).
I’d love to step away from the fast fashiony bag I do have. I will keep the Lunchbox in mind for when this bag inevitably degrades.
I know of a few venues around me that would not be ok with the water bladder unfortunately. Philly venues are on two ends of the spectrum: either they look you up and down and let you in or they go full TSA on you.
Fortunately, the water bladder is removable which grants space in the insulated compartment.
Peak Design 30L
I have it packed as a daily work go-bag such that all I need to do is insert an iPad and or laptop and I just work from wherever. Kitted out with a PD toilet bag and tech bag. If I didn't have sleep apnea, I could easily live out of my bag alone for a couple of nights.
Plus, as a Trek nerd, it has this whole Trek TNG-like angular panel thing going on. I dig it.
In the before-times, I would frequently work out of most any place with access to electricity, a place to sit, Wi-Fi, and caffeine. Otherwise, I was a home body because I've worked remotely since 2006.
+1 for Peak Design!
I have owned the Everyday 20L (V1) for many many years, since their original Kickstarter for it, and it has been my go to daily for work or fun. Great on the train or when I ride my motorbike, and perfect for carry on when travelling.
The materials are great, no substantial signs of wear or tear in all this time, it’s got a hydrophobic shell which gives some peace of mind when it rains, and the various pockets and pouches and zips are awesome to get at your stuff however you like.
They are pricy for sure, but with how long it’s lasted me, I’d have no trouble saying I’ve found it worth the price of admission. Have been considering getting their Duffle for longer overseas trips…
The V1s are on a huge clearance since they're trying to clear stock. I feel like a shill saying it but I am not an advertiser! They're a pretty sweet deal now!
Fun fact: my wife was obsessed with getting the perfect backpack. I only bought mine after she did tons of research. She doesn't even like the PD! She says the straps hurt her. I bought a bag and here she still hasn't! The V1 straps are a bit firm, sure, but I've had so much worse. Great bag!
I had my eyes on peak when I was also looking for the perfect backpack for months. I went to multiple stores to see if I could try one on, but never found a place. I am on the smaller side so many things make me look like a 12yr old.
REI has them at times
I don't know much about backpacks, but I've recently learned what I don't like.
A few years ago, I bought a Wonder Woman-themed backpack. I saw it, touched it, tried it in person before buying it - and it felt good. It was a bit pricey, but it seemed like good quality.
I sometimes over-stuff my backpacks, and this one copped a bit of internal damage due to one seam coming apart. The exterior is still in top nick: no visible wear-and-tear at all. It's just one section of one interior seam, on a wall separating one internal pocket from another. It still works as a backpack, but it's a bit open in one internal spot.
Anyway, during some of the lockdowns, I went on a bit of binge and bought some cheap backpacks via eBay: two designs, some different colours.
One design actually gave me mild nerve damage in one shoulder earlier this year, when I overloaded the backpack, and the shoulder-strap cut in to my shoulder too deeply. That caused a bit of pain in my left hand. Months later, the pain is fading, but I still have some extremely minor twinges in one finger. (I've had pinched nerves before, so I knew it was just a matter of waiting it out.)
The other design was slightly more comfortable, but I've noticed one of the buckles on the shoulder-strap doesn't actually grip the strap, and there's no fold at the end of the strap, so it often slips through the buckle and comes loose, leaving me with a one-strapped backpack.
A little while ago, I attended a geeky convention, so I decided to use my Wonder Woman backpack... because I can!
Wow. The difference was mind-blowing. It was so comfortable. Capacious. Comfortable. Had all the right pockets. Comfortable. Tough and durable. Comfortable. Looked good. And... did I mention comfortable? That was the biggest eye-opener for me. I hadn't realised how bad these new backpacks were until I put on my Wonder Woman backpack.
I don't know why it's better, but it just is. I'm going to have to get that internal seam repaired. This backpack is coming back into circulation.
I have another, older, basic black canvas backpack, which is similarly comfortable to my Wonder Woman backpack. But those cheapies I bought via eBay are pretty decorative pieces, more than functional baggage. They're okay for carrying a few light items to the office and back, but not good for loading up with a lot of stuff.
So... if you find out who made the Wonder Woman backpack... I highly recommend their products!
I have a north face recon, which I've had for probably 8 years now. It has held up exceptionally well, and it works perfect for me. It looks like they've redesigned it a bit from the one I have, but most of the same features are still there. I can say for sure that mine has impressed me with it's durability.
I use a 511 Rush 37L
It replaced my 21L Timbuk2 messenger bag mainly because the messenger bag was getting rough to carry on my shoulder with the huge buildup of stuff I'm carrying if I need to go out in the field, of course, this means I don't also have to carry around a toolbox so I think it's a wash.
I mainly need it to carry my laptop (actually a surface pro 9 but I use it as a laptop, and it dual boots into mint which can be helpful if I need to SSH into something), tablet, powerbank for all, plus water bottles (on beaners on the molle on the outside), and a full toolkit (which involves an ifixit full kit, wire crimping/stripping tools, a bunch of images on USB plus a bunch of bootable USBs, and around 25ft of cat 6 just in case). I can also cram my lunch, kindle, and misc in it if I need to be on site for a few hours.
The downside is when is fully loaded up is that it weights ~50lbs, but it will stand straight up and open full clamshell so once I get it to where I need it, it's very easy to work out of.
Wow, this sound great! That's pretty much everything I might carry, minus some of those tools. Honestly the weight might even be a good thing for me too, get some exercise while walking around campus.
Out of curiosity is your job related to networking? I can't imagine too many other situations where a spool of cat6 could ever be a "just in case" situation.
Close, I'm a Database Admin, but there are occasions that things are broken badly enough that I need to actually be in the server room and plug my surface physically into the switch . . . and the "spare" server room cable is missing (7 times so far in 5 years since I've been remote).
It's a bit pricey and I don't go to school or work anymore, but for traveling I really like LTT's Backpack a lot. He has a whole video on the features and it's pretty thoughfully designed and big enough for multi day trips at least.
I also pair it with a sling sometimes, Tomtoc's sling and Alpaka's Tech case are two that I've been flipping back and forth between.
This is one I've considered, but I've had the reservations since it's YouTuber mech and all. Also don't think my water bottle would fit in there, I've got this massive 40oz one that I've gotten too used too to give up.
Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of advertising "I WATCH THIS CHANNEL" or anything but honestly it's pretty muted and is built very well from what I can tell. The water bottle sleeve is on the inside which I don't love but I also grabbed one of their water bottles too and they work well together, but I totally understand what you mean.
LTT has very high QC standards and wants their merchandise to have a very reliable reputation. I've bought a hoody from them and it's probably the highest quality hoody I own, unironically.
They do advertise that it can hold water bottles, on their product page it shows that it can hold a 40oz bottle.
I haven't used it personally, but it's something I'd be considering if I was looking for a new backpack.
I'm not really an LTT fan, I actually just like the stuff they sell. It feels like its designed by people who care and want to make cool stuff. Its not like other youtuber merch that's just drop-shipped crap.
I don't know how the backpack is (out of my budget at the moment) but the LTT logo is pretty muted on it and it looks like its sewn on so you could just cut it off and it would be even more nondescript. I cut logos off of random stuff often enough.
All that said, I would have a tough time spending that kind of money on ANY bag if I couldn't feel/touch it first.
I just treated myself to a Finisterre Nautilus 23 and I am very pleased with it. It's very well made, looks great, sustainable (ish, they try at least), very comfortable and has space for a 15 inch Thinkpad in the laptop pocket. I'm hoping it will be the last backpack I buy.
After agonizing over reviews and different bag manufacturers, I settled on this one from Aer.
I wanted a backpack that I could pack for a work trip without fooling with a carryon that could also compress down to be a manageable day bag. I was worried it was going to be too big at first, but after using it for the past three months I can safely say it's quite manageable. I genuinely love this bag and it makes me happy every day I get to use it.
Another vote for Aer's bags from me. I had the Flight Pack 2 as my work bag when I was commuting with a laptop. It was sleek and minimal and professional, and I was specifically looking to avoid a repeat of my high school Jansport days. I bought the Travel Pack 2 for carry-on travel purposes and wow it fits a LOT inside.
I bought this Carhartt backpack a couple years ago when it was on sale and I've been happy with it. It's comfortable and well made. Lots of storage and various sizes compartments. I also like that it isn't flashy looking.
https://a.co/d/5qe2nEr
I’ve been using an 18L REI Ruckpack. It’s big enough to use for a weekend getaway, small enough to throw on my back to run to the grocery store and back.
I know the brand and bag don’t have the greatest reputation among enthusiasts but I have the Fjallraven Kanken laptop bag and it’s really great. As a student all I really carry around is my laptop, a couple notebooks and folders and some stationery, all of which fit great in the main compartment. I also use the smaller front pocket for some energy bars, my keys and wallet and a charger for my phone.
Overall the bag is still in great shape despite getting rained and snowed on repeatedly, as well as my general wear and tear. I don’t baby the bag at all and have dragged it through all sorts of pretty crazy adventures with friends and it’s lasted great!
I even use it as my personal item when I fly and it serves that purpose well.
That's pretty much my use case. What's the issue with Fjallraven though? I'm not too familiar with them, I just know their prices make me cry when I'm at REI.
I personally don’t have any issues with them, though some people say that bag is not as feature rich as competitive products at the same price. Also a fair critique is that the side water bottle pockets are too small (but you can get add in pockets from Fjallraven to fix this if you have a really big bottle). Lastly I’ve also heard people say the straps aren’t very comfortable (especially for larger people). I’m pretty mid sized so it fits me well but your mileage may vary.
They are quite expensive I agree, but it seems to be very well constructed and I think it’ll have no problem holding up for several years. There’s posts on Reddit of people who have used theirs for over a decade with minimal wear and tear.
Also, I’ve heard that Fjallraven may not be as green as they claim so you may want to look into that as well.
In the past I've used Maxpedition bags. They make a wide variety of sizes and shapes, great MOLLE gear for adding accessories. They were well made and very durable.
Currently I'm using a bag from Nutsac. Again, very durable and a good variety of sizes and styles. The waxed cotton material is water resistant, very durable, good looking and the scratches and scuffs can be wiped off.
I have a bit of an obsession with bags. I’ll recommend a couple rolltop backpacks I own and recommend if you are willing to spend more on overbuilt packs with premium, durable materials (these bags should last far longer than those made of less durable materials or with less care). I like rolltop enclosures because they are not prone to breaking like zippers when overloaded due to pressure being exerted on the zipper tracks.
Outlier’s Nexhigh Rolltop
This is an excellent rolltop pack made of durable Mylar film with a polyester outer face. A nice feature of rolltop packs is their ability to roll up or down depending on your load (Outlier claims variable volumes between 20-28L). It has magnetic clasps to keep the rolltop closed, and has zippered entry points on both sides of the main compartment. It also has a zippered front pocket. There’s no organization in the main compartment other than a suspended laptop compartment. This is my go-to for normal daily carry of light loads or for short, non-outdoorsy trips.
Pa’lante’s Simple Pack v2
This is another excellent rolltop pack. This is a frameless pack intended for day hiking and ultra lightweight backpacking. As such, this pack eschews zippers (as they are more prone to failure, esp. when taking abuse in the backcountry) and uses a simple, robust aluminum g-hook to keep the rolltop closed. It has nice features like external, cinch-able side pockets for holding water bottles and/or telescoping hiking poles, etc. There is an Internal pocket meant to hold tent stakes (which, when stowed, adds structural support to the pack). The shoulder straps are also padded well to add comfort when the pack is loaded, and have pockets for smaller water bottles or holding a phone or other small odds and ends on your chest. It also has Pa’lante’s signature bottom pocket, which is a stretchy mesh pocket that lets you stash trail snacks and/or trash conveniently without having to open the rolltop main compartment. Like the Outlier rolltop, this pack is overbuilt in terms of both construction and materials. Pa’lante is a small “cottage industry” company, but their products are very well made. This is my go-to pack when doing day hikes, camping, or short backpacking trips.
I tend to like bags with little to no internal organization, as I prefer to organize my stuff with packing cubes/pouches/stuff sacks/dry bags/Dopp kits etc. I’m not opposed to some thoughtful built-in organization, but I don’t like when there are too many organizers, pockets, or other extraneous details that I end up not using, so the packs I go for are often more minimalistic, but still function over form.
Rolltop bags also can be excellent in rain! But if you've never used one, try to test one out first - I got a rolltop back and hated it. I much prefer a bag that can be unzipped to be flat and spread out. Good zippers will last if you don't get a cheap bag.
Yes, some people don’t like that rolltops are “black holes”. If you don’t use packing cubes or otherwise carefully pack you stuff, it can be hard to find things at the bottom.
GoRuck is my good to. I have 3 different ones for different occasions. They’re expensive but will last a lifetime. Probably some of the most durable bags on the market.
I have their bullet style pack that I use for mountain biking + gravel riding and I’ve put that thing through hell these past few years and after a clean up it still looks brand new.
Call me a minimalist. Call me "moto" or "tacticool" (yes those two are counter-intuitive to one another, but let me explain). I am very picky with my bags. I tried 14 bags out over the course of 14 months before I was happy (I don't have a problem or obsession over bags). From the GO Ruck GR2, to the North Face Router, to the Maxpedition Falcon 2, to the Jansport canvas backpack, a pack from Tom Bihn, and everything in between. I am a fan of a one bag for everything. Work, school, vacation, leisure? One bag please (okay maybe two if I am wanting to have a shoulder bag).
I prefer bags with little to no internal organization. A solid admin pouch on the front and maybe one or two pockets inside is all I ever need. I prefer the versatility of more space over organization pouch clutter. Usually this leads me to lean towards military style packs. There are exceptions as I loved the North Face Router, but it had one to many separators to be "the perfect pack" for me. If it was one large pouch versus two, I would have adored it. I tend to pack a bunch of odd items (lighter, notepad, multi-tool, swiss army knife, mints, etc.), a couple of laptops, chargers, and a folder or two for paperwork in my bags. If I can get away with it and the pack is large enough, I throw my gym gear in there too. I also prefer a pack where I can fit my hydroflask (A taller 32oz nalgene like bottle) on the side for convenience.
TAD Gear FAST Pack EDC
Today, I utilize the Triple Aught Design Fast Pack EDC. This pack is overpriced due to the "Made in the USA" sticker and 1000D cordura, but I have owned it for several years (Certainly did not buy the pack because it was my favorite pack from my favorite video game, Arma 3). The admin pouch is good enough for me. The transportation tail is useless to me, but the space it has to offer is sufficient. I could fit three laptops, my odd items, a folder, and workout gear in it (albeit the pack will be stuffed full). I will probably end up selling this pack and go back to the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault Pack (I love Mystery Ranch's tri-zip design) or pick up something Finnish like the milsurp packs from Varusteleka.
NutSac Jones 15
Sometimes I like something that doesn't scream military, is smaller, and more minimalist. When I want to feel like Indiana Jones and just bring the essentials to work, I use the Jones 15. Probably one of the highest quality leather bags I have ever owned. Once again, price is very high due to the American manufacturing, but the product is superb. Very simple bag with a few dividers in the bag, but it can fit my Macbook Pro, Dell XPS 13, and all my gear reasonably well. The Jones 15 is certainly a buy it for life item. I hope it lasts me for many decades to come. I always get compliments in the office when I bring this bag. The bag develops a lovely patina with time and I am certain over time the bag will only look better.
I don't think you could go wrong with something like GO Ruck as others have suggested. It is a rock solid pack that I owned for many years before buying the TAD Fastpack EDC. Many of the North Face products are really nice for something versatile, reasonably priced, and has potential to last many years. Best of luck on your search for a new daily bag!
Honestly surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but the GREENROOM136 Rainmaker is my personal choice. A nice backpack that will take a beating and it's something that you can even pass down to others in the future if ever needed.
I've been using a côte&ciel Nile for a few years now and absolutely love it. The design is eye-catching and I've gotten numerous compliments taking it out and about. The inner pocket has just enough organization to hold all of my electronics and smaller items securely, while the outer pocket is a cavern that can hold as much or as little as I need on a given day. If you want to look like a tech ninja while also being able to carry a weekend's worth of supplies, this is definitely a bag to look into.
Plus, it comes with a build-in hood. What other backpack has that?
Check out Go Ruck's options. They have great small daily packs. Ignore all the tacticool branding if its not your thing, the packs are solid and will last a lifetime.
So, I always used to get backpacks that broke in like a year and that was always a pain because I'd end up walking around school for like a week with a broken backpack. So I took it upon myself to actually buy a decent backpack. I decided to give AliExpress a go and managed to find something for about £30 iirc and it's basically a knock off Swissgear backpack, having learnt a bit more about Chinese manufacturing I'm fairly confident that it came from the same factory as those backpacks. Anyway that was about 7 years ago now and it's not any worse for wear than when I first bought it. So I'm very impressed, and if it wasn't for such long shipping times I might have bought more stuff off of AliExpress.
About 3 years ago I used to carry around a heavy, but very nice leather bag. Got a ton of compliments, but the weight and size made it less than ideal for grab and go.
This one: https://www.vagarantraveler.com/briefcase-w-backpack/17-in-ceo-full-grain-leather-large-briefcase-backpack-travel-bag-lb17
Great bag, but too heavy to throw in car to run down the street. Then I found timbuk2 backpack. Felt weird spending $200+ on a backpack, but now realize how high quality a backpack can be. Sometimes I think about going back to the leather bag for a while, but it's a pain to switch back and forth.
I'm a big fan of the design in the leather one tbh. I don't think it fits my needs rn, but if I ever travel lighter than I usually do I'll have my eye on it.
I picked up my first TIMBUK2 backpack this summer. While the brand's quality may have dipped according to others, I've found it to be great. I took it out in the rain and was shocked to see water beads on the outside. I'm used to moisture just soaking in. If you ever want another bag for cheaper, check eBay for "TIMBUK2 Branded with Tags". I got mine for way less from an ex or current employee selling their branded pack. The only difference is the bag will have a Verizon, Paypal, etc. logo on it.
I recently discovered Bellroy when searching for a lightweight, simple EDC bag and ended up getting a new bag and wallet from them. The bag I purchased is the new 2.5L Venture Ready Sling. It fits my wallet, sunglasses, field notes, and plenty of other random EDC knickknacks without being too cumbersome.
It’s small, rugged, and doesn’t interfere too much when walking or trying to do stuff. A sling bag may not be for everyone, but it beat out larger, more bulky options for me. Highly recommend Bellroy both due to build quality and customer service.
This is more utilitarian than you were expecting, but an inner frame and hip buckles along with camelback bladder and lifetime warranty was how I picked the Osprey Manta 36 for my school in AZ. Helped me survive 120F days.
Since I've gotten old and creaky, I decided that I didn't want to devote the extra 3 lb. or so to a heavyweight, indestructible bag anymore. I wanted something that looked reasonably professional (or at least not like military/camping gear), with low environmental impact as well.
This 27L backpack from Everlane fit the bill for me. It's nicely minimalistic, with just the right amount of pockets and padding. The sizing is good for anyone from 5' - 6' in height. It fits a ton of gear (including a full-size keyboard and extra monitor panel), but meets airline underseat standards. So far, it's held up to general business, travel, and bicycling use without noticeable wear. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a mesh back and it can get sweaty.
I like pockets and durablity. Light weight isn't a huge priority because I tend to travel heavy anyways.
My daily work bag for the last 4ish years is the Synpase 25. Great bag.
My weekender bag is the Tortuga travel 30L. Also a great bag.
For my every day pack I have a topo designs daypack. It is pretty minimal but is stylish and gets the job done and I love the bright interior. At 170$ its pretty overpriced (I got it on a pandemic sale for ~$45).
For travel I used to have the nomatic travel pack. I was in southeast asia and travelling for work every week so I needed something where I could fly into a country, go straight to a banking client with something that didn't look ridiculous and then could go to my hotel afterwards. This fit the bill welll, was comfortable and the expansion meant I could travel with just my backpack for like 4-5 days no problem. Oh also their customer service is legit. They have a lifetime warranty and one of the zippers on my backpack had an issue where it was catching on fabric on the interior of the bag. I sent a vid of the issue and they sent me a brand new V2 of the travel pack (I had the V1) free of charge. That alone makes me highly recommend them.
I left that job and still enjoy onebagging but no longer need the office professional look so I got the wandrd prvke 31L. I love the aesthetic and the rolltop proved to be super useful on my last trip in Kenya. The bag is super durable though I wish there was slightly more organization build inside. I'm not a photographer so I only use it as a travel pack.
I keep three different bags.
A Thule backpack for my work related things. In here I keep an extra charger, ID for work, cables, a spare mechanical keyboard and mouse. I just have to throw down my laptop and I can head to work when I'm not working from home.
A Saddleback Leather messenger bag. This one is very heavy and the least in use. It is more stylish so comes out once in a while for a business meeting or similar.
And lasty i have a big military style backpack perpetually packed with climbing gear. Harness, shoes, etc. Once again so I can just grab it when I go climbing and I'll be off, knowing I have what I need.
Well, I've got a pretty standard backpack that I use for school and stuff - laptop, textbooks, if I've got a busy day occasionally lunch (usually I can head home for lunch, which is convenient). But I frequently find myself only needing my laptop - or my laptop and like a single binder (and pens). I've been considering getting a regular canvas tote bag and decorating it with some prints or paint, and maybe sewing a pocket or two into it. I looked into "laptop bags" for a little while but they seemed quite uncomfortable and not too pretty.
I might look for a more bookbag-esque backpack/rucksack at some point too: my current one will be fine for a number of years but once it wears through I'd like something that sits flat. Those burlap designs with the two straps always looked cool.
I got myself a Kraxe Prater Vogue while on vacation in Porto (where they are made). So far it's been very dependable, I use it every day and often carry a laptop around. It has a lot of room for everyday bits and bobs and some smaller pouched for keys etc.
My only complaint are the straps, which can be a bit rough on the skin when not wearing something with sleeves.
I use a Rains Backpack Mini. It's sleek looking, made of high quality waterproof material, and has just enough space for my 13in laptop, 40oz water bottle, and a couple other cables/tech things. I don't need much space. It also helps that my work gave me it for free.
If you like that sort of look but need more space/pockets they have plenty of other options.
This has been my daily for a few years now: https://www.portlandleathergoods.com/products/leather-rolltop-backpack
They are pretty good at doing free repairs as well.
For work I use a Timbuk2 messenger bag that I've had for about 15+ years. Used it daily since college. It's held up very well, but I walk about 2.5 miles round-trip from the train station to my office and it's starting to hurt my back. Plus there's no good way to hold a water bottle, so I may eventually switch to a backpack. But, I'd say those are limitations of all messenger bags and not a fault of Timbuk2.
When I'm with my toddler, I wear an LL Bean Ridge Runner which I absolutely love! It's incredibly comfortable, fits a ton, but still compresses very small when empty. It's basically perfect.
When my son was born, we used a 5.11 Tactical Rush 24 as a diaper bag. That may sound ridiculous, but I was really happy with the decision. The MOLLE webbing let me configure it exactly how I wanted. (For example, I found an ammo pouch that fit a few diapers and wet wipes perfectly so I could easily change a diaper without having to open the backpack). And it fit everything in a reasonable form-factor. Our son was born right at the start of the pandemic, so it was great to carry basically our whole lives in one backpack.
Someone else reccomended the bag, and I really do like the functionality, but given the school settings I'll have to be in I have reservations about a tactical bag, especially one with a CCW pouch.
It's probably a non-issue, but on the chance someone recognizes I don't want to be a source of stress, y'know?
Yeah, unfortunately that's probably a wise decision given the current environment. It's shame though because MOLLE webbing is such a cool feature.
Big bag: Mission Workshop Vandal. BIG. Heavy. Partly waterproof. Expensive. Not terribly practical. I love it.
Medium bag: Timbuk2 Parkside that was on deep sale presumably because it's in a truly hideous jungle print. My SO bought one for each of us because they were so cheap. Ugly as hell but still every bit a Timbuk2. I love it.
Dinky bag: Timbuk2 La Banane "festival bag." Best fanny pack ever. True to its name, it actually comes with a hidden postage-stamp-sized pocket that seems to be explicitly for getting your drugs into the festival or whatever. I'm deliriously in love with it.
When it comes to bags, I have three aspects that must be high in quality in order to buy it:
material
material
material
Then I start thinking about size, pocket configuration, and the like.
One brand of backpack that I have always heard people praising is Jansport. I owned quite a lot of them in primary school. To their credit, most of them lasted the entire school year. But none lasted more than a few years before they would wear down and fall apart.
These days I look for bags made of high quality canvas - preferably cotton, but there are some worthwhile synthetics out there too. That one factor is the main thing that I have found to influence longevity. The best stitching and construction techniques do nothing if the fabric itself falls apart.
The last time I bought a bag, I was looking for the perfect vacation messenger bag; one good for carrying a large ebook reader and/or steam deck without fear of them breaking, with a strong magnetic clasp so it’s easy to open and close with one hand. I went through hundreds of bags from countless brands. I considered buying $200 ones if they could make it just like I wanted.
The one I ended up buying was a $40 Amazon special, and even though I couldn’t personally inspect the quality, it exceeded every expectation. All I could tell about the bag at the time was that it was made of a thick canvas, and it came out perfect.
Looking through this topic I either see very high end suggestions (which do seem very appealing), and people that use cheap backpacks. I used to do the latter and still have some cheap backpacks (decathlons Quecha comes to mind) that have some specific uses to me. I thought my daily backpack was of some higher quality, but the price might suggest otherwise. I use a Burton Prospect 2.0 20L Backpack (60€), which is water resistant and has organization options to my liking. Additionally it has a lifetime warranty. The outer pocket could be smaller but is very convenient to open if you swing the backpack from around your back to the front hanging from one arm. It has a special sunglasses compartment which I didn’t knew I needed. It has a separate laptop and tablet sleeve which with soft inside material.
This one is the one I’d recommend if you’re stepping up from budget backpacks. For a deeper look, have a look at this video: https://youtu.be/q-mpkpZg2uI . A special mention goes out to IKEA, nowadays their backpacks seem pretty ok for the price. Probably gonna have a look at some higher end suggestions in this topic, might’ve sparked an obsession..
MilTec 36L pack, for almost anything apart from longer trips to colder climates.
It does pretty much everything I need apart from being waterproof in torrential rainfall.
It's my dedicated carry-on and daily bag for longer trips, and my one piece of luggage for shorter ones.
For daily use it holds my laptop, gym clothes and anything else I might need to throw in.
It's pretty tough.
The waist strap means that if I don't want to carry it on my back when on the motorcycle I can strap it under the seat and have a 36L accessible tailbag.
Can't see myself wanting anything more unless I'm in a setting where I have to have something fancier and more business-like.
I've been daily driving a black Savotta Jääkäri S for a good 6-7 years now.
Fits a 15" laptop, it's absolutely bullet-proof and I can slap in extra MOLLE pockets on the sides if I need more capacity. I can actually pack everything I need for a weekend in it easily.
It's just one huge compartment that can be overstuffed by extending the straps. I find it easier to organise my stuff into small bags and pouches in a big cavern rather than having a pack that has 42 different compartments that are usually just the wrong size for what I need to be.
The military-ish style is not for everyone, but I'm way too old to care about being stylish - I want my stuff to be comfy and practical.
I've got the 45L Patagonia Ascensionist Pack that I've been using for about a decade for just about everything. I used to work in the field quite a bit and it was perfect for a days worth of work/personal gear. For climbing/hiking/split-boarding it was the perfect size (if sometimes a bit roomy). It's even large enough to backpack with if you're running light. The access point makes it perfect for really stuffing it (the top opens up for an extra 10L of space with the inner cinch bladder) or turning it into an easy grab bag (the goes in and the cinch opens up fully). The hip belt and be secured around the back so it wears like a normal backpack as well. They designed it really well. It's been repaired by Patagonia 3 times for free (once replaced the straps, ones a few patches, and once replaced the backplate). I even had a random person yell out to me on the street one day "ORANGE BACKPACK GUY!!! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN AGES!" It's been a pretty reliable fixture in my life.
I overwhelmingly use messenger-style bags, as the backpack brings me back to college and I really don't want to feel like a kid again.
After all my bags got stolen during a work trip, I bought a nice waxed canvas bag with leather straps from Amazon. The leather was thin but decent, and the canvas is good quality. After two applications of dubbin oil to the leather it seems to finally be worked in all the way.
I think a briefcase would be super cool, but have never been able to find one that's decent quality and not awkwardly formal.
Not sure if those are available in the US but I go with Deuter backpacks designed for light hiking for my everyday usage.
I have a Deuter Futura 28 and use it as a laptop computer, small suitcase, motorbike pack or hiking pack. It costed me some 100€ almost 10 years ago and only the color has faded, the rest is like new despite the abuse.
In general a good hiking pack is a safe option and Deuter are known for the good quality of their products.
My money ended up going to a brand that actually had a store I could walk into and try on all their bags. It’s really rare in the age of online shopping. I am on the smaller side so I wanted to make sure I got something that didn’t make me look like a child. I ended up walking into a fjallraven store and spent about 30min in there and walked out with their Fjallraven Ulvo 23 . It’s minimal, compact and waterproof. The only downside is that it does not stand on its own and tips over.
I used to always buy skater backpacks. My first was a Clive that lasted me a good 15 years till a zipper broke. I tried a few fancier expensive messenger ones over the years and something always busted sending me back to the thing.
I gave a moyy one right now. Kinda cheap but seems ok. I like the pockets and separators, but my expectations are pretty low.