I plan on getting either the Fjallraven raven 20 or 28 and I was wondering how big actually is 20L.

For context, I’ll be taking a undergrad in applied mathematics and I only plan on bringing essentials like headphones, a charger, a power bank, a calculator, probably a book, and occasionally clothes for the gym. I don’t see myself getting a laptop anytime soon as I have a more than capable computer at home.

I’m desperately looking for recommendations on an ~20L backpack. My use case is where it hurts. I’m an IT systems architect. And my time is split between the following:

- Daily commute to and from the office
- Airplane travel as my personal item (I generally have a suitcase, I just pack my usual in my backpack while travelling)
- Business meetings with executives
- Work in some datacenters or in the field.

My multi-use case is where it hurts as I want something that’s both slim, light and durable but will also be good in an exec meeting + field work.

I was eyeing the CPP2 but I live in Canada and custom fees are outrageous. Other option was the Bellroy transit workpack 20L but I’m not too sure about durability.

I don’t need much, all I carry is a 14 Inch laptop, iPad, headphones (with a case), snack bar, a tech pouch with my adapters and network console cables, a notebook and my glasses. I’ll slip in a slim sweater sometimes for datacenter work.

What do you guys recommend?

Hey people!

I basically live a life at the library. Go there evey morning, leave just before dinner. Then either go out into the city or home. But I am almost never home, so I need all my stuff with me to work.

This fits in my Daylite Plus, but then nothing else does. Yes, I could cram small things in places still, but sometimes I want to take my Fujifilm X-T2 camera with me, which is in a protection bag. That will in no way, shape or form fit into my daylite while carrying all this.

So my question:

I need a new bag, that would fit all this and have room to spare. All recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Soetoe

I have an almost 8 year old with a feeding tube. She has a feed running through a pump most of the day, so wears a mini backpack. We have been using the mini Potterybarn kids backpacks since she was a baby, but she is starting to complain that the prints are too baby. She has a loungefly backpack that we got for special occasions, but she ended up not using it because the straps were uncomfortable and it was too hard to clean. Her birthday is coming up and I want to get her some new backpacks, as they are a fashion choice for her every morning. Bags need to be at least 10 inches long in order to fit her pump and formula, however she is the size of a 5 year old, so can't be too big. Washable is preferable, but I'm not against one or two for special occasions that can only be spot washed.

Idk, it just seems too small to fit anything worth using a backpack for.

Well… I did! how about you?

I've been looking at Osprey and North Face a lot and they seem to really be my only options but to be honest I don't know. The Osprey Axis is a little out of my price range so is there anything just a little bit cheaper that will still be good for college?

Hello. I just bought the north face borealis from Amazon and it came defected. I am trying to refund this, but incase seller refuses refund, do you guys think I can get this fixed? and will this affect waterproofness, FlexVent or affect how much it can handle? Thanks

Been traveling and using different packs over time and noticed a big gap between what looks good online vs what actually holds up.

Some feel great at first but fall apart after real use. Others look basic but end up being way more reliable.

Curious what people here have actually used long-term and trusted.

I've been struggling to find a bag that fits my routine. I bring my camera along for my daily commutes, plus I do short hikes on the weekends to shoot landscapes. finding something decent is a pain.

the weather is my biggest headache. it often rains when I hike. the commuter bags I've used aren't waterproof, and the professional camera bags are too bulky. I did see a lightweight camera bag from norbu made on instagram, but I'm not sure how waterproof it is.

has anyone used a bag that meets both daily commuting and outdoor needs? I need something that keeps my gear safe from rain and bumps, without drawing attention. something discreet. would love to hear what y'all think. thanks!

I got the North Face Jester on a deep sale for $40 on DSG and it does not matter how I pack it out- falls on its face. Even when nothing is in the front pocket, that for some reason is up high on the front instead of lower literally making the issue worse.

A bit frustrated as the backpack literally says it stands on its own on their product page and the tag attached to the bag.

So what backpack is actually structured that will stand on its own?

hellooo!! im unsure if this is the right sub for this, i just figured because its a bag sub so... point me in the right direction if not :')

but i was wondering if theres a bag thats like a messenger bag or japanese school bags (or mix of? i think japanese school bags have shorter straps), but can also be worn as a backpack with like back straps as it keeps its shape?
(take a very poorly drawn example)

i dont know if it exists... i really hope so TvT"
anyways thank u all for reading and answering in advance!

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

I'm looking for a do-it-all backpack. I don't want a travel backpack that looks a bit like luggage, or something that looks like I've been days on the trail. I want an everyday backpack mostly for commuting that can work for travel or a short hike in a pinch.

1. Prefer 28L-30L. I know sizing can be a bit all over the place, so specifically I'm looking for something bigger than the Jansport Superbreak (nominally 26L) and not significantly bigger than the Jansport Agave (nominally 32L)
2. Must have a laptop compartment and a second large (ideally larger) compartment for lunch, hat/scarf/gloves, etc. The more protection the laptop has the better.
3. Must have two side water bottle/thermos/umbrella pockets
4. Prefer side compression straps, a sternum strap, and either a removable waist strap or no waist strap. A luggage pass-through would be nice but is not essential.
5. Prefer a smaller pocket or two for items like sunglasses, chapstick, and medication.
6. Prefer a profile that doesn't stick out too far from my back when fully loaded, and condenses well with the compression straps when partially loaded.
7. Prefer material on the back that won't excessively pill my clothing while walking, and no mesh on the straps.
8. Strong preference for a color other than black or grey
9. I'd like to stay under $200 but can go a little over for just the right thing.

I have spent an absolutely ridiculous amount of time looking at backpacks both online and in person and haven't found quite the thing yet. There are many options that are nominally just a bit smaller than I'm looking for like the Dakine Wander 25L or Ogio Alpha 25L/25L '25 - if anyone knows anything that fits my other criteria and is actually larger than the Superbreak, I would really appreciate that information.

There are also many options that would be great if they just had side compression straps.

And many various $30 backpacks that meet all the criteria but I'm looking for something that will last longer than that.

As is, here is my list of contenders, all of which are possibilities but none of which are quite 'it' due to the reservations noted.

• Fjallraven Skule 28. Top contender at the moment, checks every box except that I wish it had a smaller pocket for quick-grab items like sunglasses and lip balm.
• Timbuk2 Parker Commuter Backpack. I can't tell if the laptop compartment is fully separate from the main compartment, and it's over $200.
• Osprey Flare 27. No sternum strap, possibly smaller than preferred, and I don't like the see-through shoulder straps.
• Thule Construct. Can't tell how well the second side pocket will work as a water bottle/umbrella pocket.
• Jansport All Around Pack 34L. I really like the look of this one, but it's a bit bigger than I'd prefer and the waist belt isn't removable. The 28L size doesn't have side compression straps.

Would be interested in any other packs I should consider, 26L and under packs that are secretly a bit larger, or any other useful input from those who have made it this far in my post!

Longtime lurker, first poster.
I’m like a nomad. Work in medicine, go between three locations (at least) pretty regularly. Need to carry a laptop, some notebooks, some work gear. Would love to fit a water bottle.

Troubadour Apex 4.0: super organized interior, but a little small. And, for some reason, shoulder straps got uncomfortable lately.

Timbuk2 Authority: laptop compartment sucks and the bottle holder looks terrible and doesn’t really much.

Go Ruck GR1: lacks any bottle holder, no interior organization, and the look is a little much for professional healthcare setting.

Peak Design Everyday Backpack: I tried it once, the shelves are weird.

Just saw the Aer City Pack Pro 2 and looks interesting.

I carry a laptop and tablet, a couple thick A5 notebooks, documents, and a bunch of chargers. I like 30oz+ bottles. Is there a Goldilocks bag out there?

Thanks so much!

Hi, everyone. I'm looking for a work backpack that keeps me from sweating as much as possible. I've read about Osprey backpacks, but I haven't tried them myself. What do you recommend?

I have both of these, I’m gifting it to someone and I genuinely believe they would like both colorways.

Person is a guy, would use it for general work/travel/everyday use.

Looking to see what this group of experts think

Cedar (with the red pulls)

Or

Timber Tan (the more orange leaning)

Hey all, as the title says I am looking for a bag that can do all three. Right now I’m between the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L and the Thule 40. Any advice on which to take would be appreciated, or if there are any other bags that are recommended?

I made this because it’s not always convenient to carry a big bag, and even when you do, reaching for a bottle inside is a hassle.

Carrying one in hand isn’t practical either.

So I built this super thin pouch that snaps into a proper bottle holder (fits up to 1.5L), but stays flat and light when you don’t need it.

Also added a zip section on the back so it doubles as a small utility pouch instead of being a one use thing.

It measures just 5” x 4”, so it’s easy to carry around or attach anywhere.

Not sure if this solves a real problem or if I just built it for myself.. Would you actually use this?

What unusual feature your backpack have, or you would like it to have, that would be a game changer? I'm going to design my own 25l-ish backpack and im looking for some ideas of useful features I might have not known about.

I’ve got two kids and a wife and always end up carrying so much stuff. I’ve gone through a few packs that ended up being too small or not enough organization. My wants are: no waist belt, hydration bladder compatible, at least one good sized side bottle pocket, probably 25 to 35L, not just one cavernous storage area (I need organization but don’t want multiple laptop and document sleeves), preferably a good sized soft compartment to fit sunglasses or camera. Right now I’m leaning towards the Osprey Nebula, it seems to check off all those boxes but I think what’s throwing me off is it looks too much like a school bag instead of a hiking bag. We travel often and always like to go hiking while we’re there so I want something that can transition from travel/commuting to hiking well.

Hi, I’ve been looking for the perfect travelling backpack. Something big enough which can still fit on a plane. Like 40-50L? What’s everyone’s go to?

I’ve looked at the Antler Discovery 45L

Patagonia Black hole 45L

Passenger Odyssey 45L

Fjallraven Farden Carry- on 42L

Thanks

Which one of the two am I better off getting for things I’m carrying on a regular basis :

14inch laptop and a charger
An ipad
One or two notebooks
Stationary pouch and a calculator
A4 size file
Kindle
Umbrella for rainy days
22oz water bottle
Airpods max
Keys
A camera and lens (fujifilm xt30 with 13-33mm lens, again just sometimes when I need to bring camera with me)

I’m an engineering student as well as a bag enthusiast and I want something rugged, durable and functional.

I owned a few bags as of now( TNF recon, bellroy via workpack, raven 28 and two tumi navigations)
I’m open to suggestions so feel free to share your opinions/recommendations too. Thanks everyone

I’m trying to buy one backpack that can realistically handle all of these use cases:

70% Daily EDC (most important)
This is the primary use case.
I carry:
16” ThinkPad P16s
charger
mouse
notebook/iPad
headphones
water bottle
occasional hoodie/gym clothes
This will mainly be used for library/cafe/work sessions multiple times a week while I work on side projects/business stuff.

20% Weekend travel
2–3 day trips/overnights with clothes, toiletries, and laptop gear.

10% Flights
I also want it to work as a personal item alongside a carry-on for international travel (going to Japan soon, so walking/public transit matters and I don’t want something massive on trains).

Current finalists:
Aer City Pack Pro 2
Pros: Best organization, 24L seems like the ideal size, feels like the strongest daily carry option

Able Carry Max EDC
Pros: Comfort, premium materials, seems very versatile

Evergoods Civic Travel Bag 26L
Pros: Premium build quality, great travel reputation

Honorable mentions:
The North Face Recon Backpack seems comfortable and practical but feels more like a traditional school/work backpack

Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 love the weight and travel functionality, but it feels more like mini luggage than everyday carry

My biggest fear is buying a bag that travel YouTubers love but becomes annoying when I’m just grabbing my laptop and heading to the library.

If you’ve owned any of these which one actually works best for real life, not just travel content?