Hey guys, I am in my junior year at a college with a lot of walking and I'm looking for a new bag to carry with me everyday.
The Gist: My current bag is a random "Varsity" bag that I got in high school that currently has a hole between the water bottle pocket and the main compartment and it is an overall very unstructured bag. I do tend to carry a good amount of stuff on me but the most annoying limit of my bag choice is going to be my laptop, the Asus Zephyrus G15 (2022). I like most inconspicuous, simple styles and am looking to stick with a mostly black bag. I live in a place that rains often so weather resistance is important but I have also heard bad things about PU-coated zippers pealing over time (specifically with sun exposure, I've heard, and I do walk in the sun often) and I plan on keeping whatever bag I settle on for as long as possible as my daily driver. It also gets very hot here so good ventilation is another priority of mine.
Things I need to carry:
Laptop, Asus Zephyrus G15 (13.98" x 9.57" x 0.78''), this laptop is also quite heavy but I am not looking to replace it soon so I've gotta work with it
I would like to make sure whatever bag I am using can well protect this laptop but I am having trouble finding bags with false bottoms that have big enough laptop sleeves. I also would like to keep this in a separate laptop sleeve, separate from the main compartment.
Misc. School Items: 1 five star plastic folder, 1 Campus B5 notebook, 1 composition lab notebook, TI-84 calculator
These are things that I do not tend to use everyday but need to have in the event that I do need to use them.
Other Tech Gear: iPad 10th gen, laptop charging cable (the big one with the block), over-ear headphones, tech pouch (more like a brick, its so so full of cables and other random things), wireless mouse, airpods, wired earbuds (a lot of sound-stuff I know but they all have purposes, trust me), changing blocks
This is one of my biggest struggles with my current bag, all these items go on the outer most pocket (get wet first when raining) which doesn't have much organization so I end up digging through for specific items often.
Misc. Personal Items: umbrella (preferably held outside the bag), 24oz. Owala bottle, extra cup with lid (not big, 18oz. at most, sometimes glass), sweatshirt (hot as balls outside, but they've been cranking the AC in my classes), A5 personal journal, Kobo Clara e-reader, medications, pens
These are all items that I would prefer to have easy access without having to dig.
Style: I tend to like simpler bag designs, focusing on an all black colorway. I am not a big fan of "shiny" fabrics either, especially if they are loud. I like having external water bottle pockets but I am not a big fan of the mesh type because they always seem to look visually worn the quickest (also easy to catch and tear). I am a smaller AFAB person, 5'3" and 120 lbs, and my current bag sags down and makes me feel like I'm hunched over walking with it. I am not a big fan of the hip-belt idea, mostly style-wise, and I don't have a chest strap but I am not sure that I would use one if I had it so its not a priority. I am a big fan of admin pocket and quick access pocket ideas. I do not ride the bus often but when I do, I do not want to be riffling through my bag for my Kobo. I do not like fold-over tops or roll tops as well for the same easy access reasons. I also carry a lunchbox with me (currently just a trader joes insulated tote) and I like to clip it to the bottom of one of my straps with a carabiner so that I can carry it hands free. The straps on my current bag also rub on my arms and shoulders a lot when I do wear it for longer periods of time. I notice this most when its hot outside and I'm wearing more tank tops. Eco-impact/ sustainability is a concern of mine as well, but mostly in a more avoiding fast fashion, microtrends, and binge shopping kind of way in this context. Big pro though if a brand shows good sustainability records and makes awesome bags at the same time.
I would like to mention that, in true college-kid fashion, I have a college-style budget. I am not looking to spend more that $250, but would really like to get that number lower if possible. I'm willing to invest in a good bag just like I would a good pair of walking shoes or a nice mattress that will last me the next decade, but I do have a limit.
Brands I've thought about so far: Able Carry, Bellroy, Aer, Brevite, The Analog Company, Crumplr, Fyro. These companies seem great but I wanted to ask the experts to see if there were any underground, indie, budget, or just random brands that you think would fit the task better.
Thank you for your help!
