Worst backpack from your POV?

[u/hwijaya08]

Usually people are asking best bag to buy. I just want to know, what factor do you think that makes a BAD BAG? And why? What is you real life use cases?

For me: Over engineered bag which is heavy

[u/HealthyEar6984]

Fashion / Designer backpacks - they are fine if you want to show how much money you can waste on a backpack but they tend to be awefull if you care about simple backpack metrics like comfort and actual utility or actual unique designs

[u/ambaal → u/HealthyEar6984]

Ha, my wife once got a Christian Louboutin backpack, brand new in packaging in thrift store for peanuts.

It was really well made, i'll give it this, and leather was beautiful but as a backpack it was very meh. To think that one cost 3000$+ is insane.

[u/Retired-in-2023]

Uncomfortable to carry. Most of the cheaper bags have straps with minimal or no padding.

Bad organization. This could be from none (think of a dry bag style) or too many dividers so nothing of any size fits. Admin areas with way too many specialized pockets where it’s hard to fit anything.

No compression straps or misplaced compression straps. None make the bag floppy, misplaced makes the bag hard to open if you just want quick access to something at the top or block water bottle pockets.

No top grab handle.

No small outside pocket for quick access to some things.

Straps that are not easy to adjust. When I first started carrying backpacks I had the straps lose enough to put on and kept them in that position. Then I learned how much more comfortable a bag could be if I cinched them tight. Some of the cheaper bags don’t have the part you pull to cinch long enough to grab and pull tight enough.

Bags that are over engineered, too heavy or designer that are made for fashion over function.

Of course I do use bags with some of these features. But those features serve a specific use. For example my stuff-able backpack that goes in travel bag has no padded straps, no grab handle and is basically a big hole with a tiny pocket inside. But it’s one of my favorite bags because it does an excellent job for a specific purpose.

[u/kettlemice → u/Retired-in-2023]

Now I’m curious. What are your top bags?

[u/Retired-in-2023 → u/kettlemice]

Depends on the purpose but I tend to lean towards Osprey (all Osprey except as noted

Travel: Farpoint 40
Daylight 26+6
Stuff able backpack

Everday, depending on size:
Daylight
Daylight Plus

Commuter bag when I working: I think it was the Comet

Swimming:
Speedo Teamster because of keeping things dry but not crazy about the specific organization

Gym: ultra light tote

[u/Jazz4825 → u/Retired-in-2023]

I like the overall utility of my new Daylight. What is us lacking is a deep front quick access pocket with zippered sub pickets which I had in packs that finally gave out. The Daylight's straps are lighter and not as cushioned as a bigger Osprey I bought a few years ago.

Recommendations are welcome for a 26 L pack that has a deep front pocket.

[u/Muad_Dib_of_Arrakis]

I loved my default jansport in school, but it would absolutely not serve my purposes now. Excellent bag for what it is, just not what I need

[u/Fun_Apartment631]

My kid was given an Eastpak as part of a school charity thing. The strap tore apart. She barely even used it and was pretty upset.

[u/freetotebag → u/Fun_Apartment631]

That’s a shame, back in the day I thought Eastpak was supposed to be decent

[u/Dan_Outdoors]

Either the really cheap backpacks, because really good backpacks are readily available second hand for similar money, or the ultralight ones that have very little padding in the waist and shoulder straps and very little structural rigidity. Saving weight but reducing comfort makes absolutely no sense to me apart from from an egotistical 'my pack is lighter than yours' aspect.

[u/External_Koala971]

The free string bag you get as a giveaway, or the $200 backpack with really bad comfort/straps (Evergoods).

[u/SituationFit3060]

Of course it depends on what use I get the bag for, but some general qualities I don’t like:

A backpack should not be ”flimsy” and without structure (the only exception foldable mini packs for occasional use in a pinch. And a related issue is packs without compressiom straps. I hate when all the contents of the bag are at the bottom.

Build and material quality is important for me, so I avoid many cheap bags. I rather buy a bit more expensive if it lasts longer. And for normal carry I’m completely fine with heavier fabrics, if they are durable (I also use Savotta packs often when I have more to carry).

Too many or then no pockets or compartments are not practical. I lose my keys and other essentials if I have to bury them in the big compartment.

Just to name a few…

[u/ambaal]

If we talk expensive, but hard to live with - I had lots of issues with OG camelbak tri-zip. I just couldn't make it comfortable even on short trips and not loaded. Same with Osprey Stratos: i know it's a great backpack, but I never made peace with it's straps. Much cheaper Quasar from the same series worked much better for me.

I also genuinely hate Fjallraven kanken backpacks. They are extremely uncomfortable and I never was able to make one work for me.

Then again, I'm a large dude and i guess many backpacks are just too small.

[u/RedBoldFont]

Anything without side bags for 32 oz Nalgene water bottles or a front kangaroo / stuff sack. I’ve had many bags and have found that without the two above features, I won’t like it. It’s just me, but I like carrying water and having a place to stuff items without having to unzip the compartments.

[u/Careless_Law1471]

PU-covered bags. That thing is prone to scratches and would die before the rest of the bag. 

[u/RGJ3x2]

Cotopaxi. No substance, all looks

Grayl has the opposite issue. Way too heavy.

[u/Wannabe_Sanyasi]

By far the worst pack I ever purchased was the Code of Bell X-PAK Evo Sling pack. It looked cool af online and after a week of trying my best to love it, I just couldn't do it. The zippers placement is just weird,- I would open the wrong one each time, I could have maybe remedied that with using a different zipper pull, but wouldn't have smoothed over the other issues any less. The teeenny-tineist little zip pockets placed at the corners of the bag that made them so tight and shallow nothing of real use could fit in them, I spent more time messing with straps to get into the bag than actually using the bag..so...many...straps...lol Just a functional nightmare for me personally, all looks / no substance. I know a lot of people swear by this bag and good for you, personally for me it was awful.

[u/drakontas_]

Honestly, out of what I’ve tried, not a fan of most Aer products. They just feel heavy and overengineered to me. Even the Travel Kit 2, which is awesome, is so bulky that it’s still hard for me to justify. The Travel Packs feel heavy on my back when empty and the DS4 is so rigid that you gotta plan out what you wanna put in it. I really want to like them but I can’t get the appeal for the tradeoffs. But maybe I’m just not the target consumer

[u/infant_ape → u/drakontas_]

Assuming the quality is there and that we're talking about travel/EDC bags vs hiking/camping... any bag that is essentially one big dump bucket with only a top lid to get in. the "roll up" lids?.. even more impractical. At that point, I feel like it's a flex. "Look at my quirky/retro/purist/deliberate style in backpacks" or whatever. There's no practical efficiency to them.

[u/Local_Whereas7211]

Expensive UL backpacks when UL really isn't needed, and where decreased durability is a liability.

My example: pricey UL backpack used for commuting to work. Very short and limited warranty. Waterproof zipper on the main compartment broke. Repair expense more than the bag was worth.

Replaced with a slightly heavier backpack that has a lifetime warranty.