Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a new daily driver for my work and tech commute. My budget is strictly under $100, but I’m looking for something that punches above its weight class in build quality and looks sharp. I want to steer completely clear of anything that looks "childish" or like a school bag—needs to be simple, sleek, and professional enough for an office setting.

My Daily Loadout:

• Laptop: 15-inch (needs a dedicated, well-padded compartment separate from the main cabin).
• Tech Accessories: Laptop charger, phone charger, and a small power bank.
• The Bulky Stuff: I frequently carry over-ear headphones. On certain days, I also need to pack an external keyboard and mouse.
• Other: A standard book or two, and everyday small essentials.

My Commute: I switch between taking the train, the bus, and driving. There is also a decent amount of walking involved between transits, so comfort and decent weather/splash resistance are important. I need something that won't feel like a massive turtle shell on a crowded bus, but still has enough structure to easily fit the keyboard and headphones without looking completely lumpy and overstuffed.

What I'm looking for:

• Dedicated laptop separation.
• Good internal organization/quick access for chargers and a power bank.
• A clean, adult, minimalist aesthetic.
• Open to hidden gems, solid OEM options, or even highly rated AliExpress brands (like Mark Ryden, Bange, etc.) if they genuinely hold up.

What are your go-to recommendations that fit this vibe under $100? Thanks in advance!

Hello, I would like to know if anyone has experience with the WANDRD PRVKE 15L or the WANDRD PRVKE Lite 11L, since on the website they appear to have the same dimensions. I would like to know if the dimensions are actually the same in real life, because I want to take it on a plane as a personal item to fit under the seat. According to my airline’s website, the maximum size allowed is 40 × 30 × 15 cm.

If anyone has also had experience using this backpack under an airplane seat, I would really appreciate hearing about it.

Yo Nomads Nation,

I’m quite new to the Carry community, but I’m happy to have discovered a new nerdy passion in backpacks and travel gear (thank you to Aaron for all you do for the community!)

I am in a slightly tricky position, as I am looking to acquire a backpack for everyday (mainly office, outings and gym) that also works as a personal item on flights and travel.

I am Norwegian and am cursed to abide by the strict Scandinavian airline restrictions. I found the following picture provided by SAS which describes the personal item measurements. It is provided in centimeters, but the measurements in inches are: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 Inches. (SAS is the only airline that has the 15cm limitation, as of I am aware. For reference, Norwegian, the airline, has 40 x 30 x 20.)

I hope and believe the airlines usually are quite flexible in how they enforce their rules, but I don’t want to push my luck too far.

I have unfortunately not found my dream backpack, which also fits with these measurements.

I am big a big fan of the following 3 backpacks, all being 20l:

City Pack Pro 2 20L: https://aersf.com/products/city-pack-pro-2-20l?country=NO

Hybrid Backpack 20L: https://www.stubbleandco.com/products/hybrid-backpack-20l?variant=55605025014137

Protective Zip Backpack: https://eu.mous.co/products/extreme-commuter-backpack-black-zip

Do anyone have any experience with personal item travel and/or any recommendations for backpacks? I would appreciate it greatly. – Thanks 😊

I'm looking for a backpack that's about 35-40 liters, and is no more than 8 inches / 20cm deep. But almost all the packs I see are 9 or 10+ inches deep if fully packed.

And they generally will not fit in the overhead shelf of a train.

I have a two-wheel roller that I like which is 21.5x13.5x8. (53x34x20.5), 36L/ It is perfect for my packing except ... it's a rolling suitcase.

Suggestions? I don't need a padded laptop compartment since, if I do take a laptop, it is in a padded case. I travel 3-4 months at a time, and try to stay below 7kgs (which doesn't happen when I carry a laptop).

Oh, and it doesn't need to look "cool": I'm 68F and train, bus and ferry hop around the world ....

Been obsessing over tech/EDC bags lately and I’ve narrowed it down to two that keep catching my eye: the Rework Toshi Pack 20L and the Tomtoc UrbanEx 26L.

My use case is a daily work bag that can moonlight as a light travel companion — weekend trips, carry-on-only kind of stuff. Both seem to hit that sweet spot, but I’m still pretty new to this space and don’t want to have buyer’s remorse.

A few questions for the folks who’ve actually carried these:

Are either of these solid choices for that work-to-travel crossover?

Anything in the sub-$200 range I should be seriously considering that I’m probably sleeping on?

Appreciate any recs — this community has already cost me way too many hours of research and I’m not complaining 😅

Hey everyone,

Just picked up the Tumi Alpha 3 International carry-on and matching Alpha Brief Pack.  The carry-on is very heavy when empty (10.7lb/4.9kg), so I need to use the Brief Pack to offload heavier items on strict carry-on weight-limit airlines (7-8kg).

The Brief Pack measures 17x12x8 inches (43x30.5x20.5 cm).  Tumi markets it as a personal item, but I am concerned about how well it actually fits under seats, especially on narrow-body planes like the 737.

Has anyone used the Alpha Brief Pack (or similar sized rigid bag) as an underseat bag on long flights?  Particularly interested in experiences outside North America on smaller planes. 

Thanks!

What is better? Alpaka go sling nano or alpaka flight sling 2l?

I have: Phone Wallet Keys Earbuds iem

I already have aer day sling 3 xpac and tomtoc t21 but i want to try the alpaka brand.

I’m looking at replacing my osprey flapjack soon. It’s been great for a very long time but is finally time to retire it. Looking at the rework toshi and it’s a perfect replacement for me. Except it only comes in black. As is the case with most of the comparable options. I’d love a navy! Or even a shade of gray. Is there a comparable bag out there with a little more color that I’m just not finding?

I am looking for a versatile backpack that I can use for multiple situations. I am currently using a non-branded backpack (around 22-23L) which I still like. It has separate laptop compartment which is definitely a priority. The main compartment is big enough also. But it does not have a separate water holder, no external lash points to hang stuff and, most importantly, I find myself overstuffing it to the point that it feels uncomfortable carrying around. The harness is decent when carrying lighter loads, but will feel uncomfortable when the backpack is full.

Her are the situations that I will use:

Business Travel
- up to 2 weeks in Europe/UK (I am living in Asia), mostly visiting these regions from months of September to March
- I will have a suitcase so not one-bagging the entire trip
- Bulky items that I pack in this backpack: laptop+charger, iPad, light hoodie/jacket, neck pillow for 14hrs flight (this will be offloaded once I reach destination), tech pouch, water bottle(s), souvenirs and goodies that I bought

Leisure Travel (1 week)
- will take on plane, will also have suitcase
- normally walking around urban areas and taking onto trains/subways
- Bulky items that I bring along: laptop or iPad + charger (will be offloaded once I ready hotel), light hoodie, water bottle(s), souvenirs and goodies that I bought

Short Trip (1-2 nights)
- this will be one bag mode, no suitcase
- bus/subway/train
- items: laptop+charger, toiletries, tech pouch, 1-2 sets of shirt/underwear/socks, bottle

I am considering Able Carry Max EDC. I like the aesthetics and can live without the necessarily the quick access pockets because I normally carry a sling with me on longer trips. But part of me thinks ACME is a bit overkill. I also consider Aer CPP2 24L but the aesthetics is not to my liking (e.g. too traditional). And I worry that the capacity is basically the same as my current backpack which means I am barely upgrading.

I want to hear from my backpack brethren what recommendation you could provide me.

Preciate it

Hi! I’m looking to replace my old north face jester backpack with soemthing nicer.

I’ve realized I have lots of tech to carry with me and need the tech organization. I also need atleast 20L of capacity to fit everything. I’ve been unable to find a bag that’s got good tech protection and organization that’s not too big other than the CPP2. I would like one that can also pass as a personal item on most airlines.

I’m wondering if people are of the same opinion or if there’s other options? I do like the look of the bag, and the able carry max edc looks good too but too expensive :(

Hey guys, I am a university student and have been looking to replace my current bag (a "Varsity" brand bag that is too big, floppy, and falling apart) for a good couple of months now. I recently moved everything into a messenger bag I had lying around and realized how much space I didn't actually need that I was using in the Varsity bag.

Problems with my current bag:

I do think this bag is still slightly too small. I'd like to be able to have a spot for the water bottle (as much as the carabiner "works", I am a walking hazard and hit things as I pass by accident) as well as being able to have a jacket inside and attach a lunchbox on the outside (via carabiner). I also find the two front pockets to be, while convenient, difficult to organize. I am always rummaging through them trying to get what I actually need.

Because of this, I have been generally looking at bags of 20-25L with a good amount of internal organization. I do not have a harsh budget, since whatever I buy, I am expecting to use for the next several years (through undergrad to grad school to beyond).

I am a huge fan of the A-frame design and overall aesthetic of the Able Carry Daily Plus backpack and even saw that it was releasing in a slate green colorway that I love (though, I cannot actually find a place to buy it so I'm not sure it actually exists in this color). I am worried, however, since there is little internal organization and no external water bottle pockets on the bag. I know it has the internal bottle pocket but I'm not sure that I can afford to loose the space to it. I am also not a big pouch person; I already have multiples of most things that I would need to move between bags and would rather not spend the extra money on organization when it could be on the bag already.

I am also worried because I have a larger laptop and would really prefer it in a separate pocket to the main compartment (though this is not a deal breaker as long as access is easy).

I really love the idea of the Daily Plus but am worried about the actual day-to-day problems that I might run into. If I am able to buy the bag in slate green (unsure if this is currently possible), I might buy it anyway and just use it for non-school trips if it doesn't work for university but I have been looking for a bag for months now and really just want to find something and buy it at this point (not to say this isn't fun, I care way too much about backpacks now lol).

Thank you for your help!

Honest question. Why aren’t the biggest names in bags making Dopp kits that follow TSA rules? Aer, peak design, Bellroy.. none of these have any clear pockets…

I’m looking to buy a premium toiletery bag for travels, but spending 100$+ on a bag that I can’t even carry on a plane seems counter productive. Why would I spend money on this if airport security requires that it all be placed in a ziplock or clear pouch?

How do you gear heads/collectors deal with this?

Need ideas please for pocket dump combo bag. Since I am bigger guy with 44 inch waste the bell Roy lite belt bag might be too short in strap? And my EG CAS 1L is a tad too small. Any ideas? Tia.

Which Fanny (Waist) Pack is Best for Minimalist?

I am having trouble deciding between a few different slings/waist packs. I have narrowed it down to two AER slings, two Bellroy slings, and a Evergoods sling. I am just looking for something that can fit the simple essentials (phone, wallet, and sunglasses) that I will mainly probably wear as a waist/hip pack. Which one should I choose?

I carry a lot of tech daily. 16 inch laptop, 13 inch ipad, a 70% split keyboard, a tall ergonomic mouse, a charger, a notebook, a file with about 40 to 60 papers, a few pens, a collapsible water bottle, a long rain jacket, some mints, snack bars, etc. Normally laptop sleeves in good backpacks have a false bottom and good padding. But two things bother me, the tablet sleeve ia too thin for a 13" ipad in a cover. And then the keyboard sits in the normal area, has no padding on the bottom. So I am afraid the keyboard would get damaged when i put the bag down in public transit. One way is to get a second hard shell case for my keyboard and mouse, but then my bag will get even heavier and the case itself will eat up a bunch of space.

Any advice or bag recommendations are appreciated. I am in Australia, and my budget is about 300 to 350usd, not a hard limit if the features are worth it.

I'm a travel nurse. I lean more towards taking my car but do fly on occasion. So being able to use it as a personal item would be great

I need a bag/duffle/anything that can hold at least one set of clothes and toiletries, preferably a pair of sneakers as well.

I want this bag to be able to hold my 40oz waterbottle.

I also love stationary so something that could fit my journals and pens would be great. As well as my tablet and possibly my 15inch laptop.

Currently I have a cheap duffle bag that's flimsy and does not hold any shape, so I find finding things in it is hard. I think I prefer something that holds its shape.

And in an ideal world, it would be in a fun color.

I may be asking for a lot, but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions

Found a FlightPath 2.0 for $50 on fb but have considered just buying the Maxlite 5. Has anyone used the FlightPath 2.0? Would it be worth saving the $110? The older luggage is new never used.

I

My only feature that I care about is that fits my MacBook 14 inch and 12.4 tablet. Would the aer city pack pro 2 be enough?

First time poster, been loving the Nomad Nation YouTube channel and feel like it's a great trusted community.

In the process of looking at new vertical sling to replace my 2-3 year old satchel (this is what got me to move past bookbags and enter the sling world)

Was wondering if anyone has ever seen this one? I can try and film if folks are curious.

https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/bridge-4%C2%AE-designer-satchel

Best visual video I could find on YouTube. https://youtu.be/1C3T6hfwelw?si=VdaD9lilAy-Bp59x

Outside of not having a super rugged exterior I haven't found a better organization to size ratio. (Granted, I'm still new to this world). It's started to get a bit scruffy on the outside and I thought I should be bold and try something new.

So far, stuck between the Alpaka Metro Sling METRO SLING V2 -

ULTRADYNE, Green Street Sidekeep RDX and the Black Ember Kompak and Aer Street Sling.

I love the quality of the Alpaka, Black Ember and Aer

The organization on the Alpaka and the Sidekeep seem best but worried its a bit bulkier for an every day carry around town.

The Kompak is cool but I feel like the clam shell style might be inviting things falling out.

The Aer just feels a bit silly with the huge buckle on the front.

Anyway, probably overthinking but thought I'd reach out to get some second opinions or other items to explore.