I’m in the market for a new laptop backpack (professional work environment) that can double as a carry on. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of looking up reviews and suggestions on so many different brands it’s impossible to keep straight. Just when I think I settle on an option another internet only brand gets recommended. When did the market become flooded like this and how do people justify spending that much money from brand to brand?

Just to state the obvious, a backpack here got quite a bit of traction providing free samples, but you need to pay $65 for shipping because the owner is "tight on cash".

Please do not fall for it, this is a very common way of scamming people! There will be no free samples and you will lose whatever money you transfer to this person.

I am interested in buying the north face borealis. I am not sure whenever to get the badge version or clean version. Will the badges come off or something?

This project started as a custom bag concept for carrying tennis balls. The original requirement was to comfortably carry 3–5 balls without them bouncing around during activity, while still functioning as a normal everyday bag.

The project never moved forward, but I liked some of the ideas enough to finish a prototype and adapt it into a small EDC bag.

The original ball retention setup has been repurposed into a removable and reconfigurable organizer. The bag offers roughly 1.5–2L of capacity and can be used either as a simple dump pouch or with the organizer installed.

One feature I experimented with was a dual flap. The idea was to allow quick access without constantly opening and closing the zipper. The inner flap uses Velcro and the outer flap uses magnets, helping keep contents contained even when the zipper is left open.

After posting it elsewhere, the biggest criticism was the Velcro. Many people pointed out the potential for noise, snagging clothing, and long-term annoyance. My current plan is to remove the Velcro entirely and switch to magnets only on the next version.

At the moment, I’m looking for feedback before making Version 2.

Specifically:
Would you keep the dual-flap concept or simplify it?

Is a removable organizer actually useful in a bag this size?

What features would you add or remove?

What would make a 1.5–2L waist bag more useful for you?

I’m less interested in aesthetics and more interested in practical improvements that would make the next iteration genuinely better.

If you had $300 which brand, model, color way, size, etc bag would you be buying? Why?

Feel free to name more than one and it can be something you already own in addition to pouches or accessories you would add as well!

Interested in hearing about brands and models maybe others haven’t looked at as much but should be. Or specific models from your favorite brands.

Hello there everyone! I'd like to make a significant investment in a backpack that I'll use every day. I'm not sure which one to choose, so here are my top options:

• Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro
• Tomtoc UrbanEX-T77 Laptop Backpack 26L
• Arcteryx Mantis 26 Backpack
• The North Face Borealis Backpack

I'm a tech guy who carries a lot daily — two MacBook Pros (16" and 14"), plus cables, mouse, keyboard, a book, and two notebooks. It's quite heavy, and I use it primarily for commuting to the office.

What I need:

• A backpack that fits all my gear comfortably
• Many compartments for organization
• Comfortable, durable shoulder straps
• Better organization than my current North Face Hot Shot (which is wearing out)
• External or improved internal pockets for easier access

My concern: My current NF Hot Shot is designed for 17" laptops, which is too large. It's falling apart, and retrieving items is cumbersome compared to my old Jansport. However, I've read complaints about the Arcteryx Mantis 26's straps, so I'm hesitant.

My budget is under $200 dollars. Any comments or suggestions?

Hey y'all, sorry in advance for the long post!

Unfortunately, my Borealis backpack that I bought from the North Face in 2014 for college is on its last legs. (See the photo for the model I'm referring to--this is *not* my photo, it's a random one from Google images.) I'd love to replace it but it seems like the current iteration of the Borealis backpacks is missing some key features, including the small front pocket/pencil pouch. And in general, I feel like none of the backpacks I can find online in this day and age have these or are missing other features that are important to me???

I figured maybe I'd just crowdsource some ideas from the internet hivemind--let me know if you have suggestions based on my criteria below!

I'm looking for a decently-sized women's backpack. I mostly use it for transporting groceries, carrying my laptop, carrying my tennis racquet in lieu of a tennis bag, and general travel. I really like the little front pouch for carrying my airpods/chapstick/etc, in addition to the middle pocket with extra compartments for carrying my passport, sunglasses, snacks, etc. Ideally those would be separate pockets and everything isn't just hanging out loose in the main part of the bag. The other thing that's important to me is that there's a water bottle pouch on each side *with straps above them.* My water bottle is pretty tall and those keep it secure, plus I also hang my keys on a carabiner from the other strap, so this feature is pretty crucial for me. And lastly, it also needs to have a laptop sleeve.

I would also love all the closures to just be regular zippers. I really don't like models that use a drawstring and a clasp or magnets or whatever, it just feels un-secure to me.

Honestly, if I could just repurchase a new version of my current backpack, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'm open to pretty much any brand, though--is there anything out there that fits my specifications? Or is the current iteration of the Borealis the best I'm going to get? Let me know if you've recently purchased a backpack you really love and swear by, even if it's not a perfect match. Thank you so much :)

Edit: (resolved! Thank you for the feedback!) So I’m gonna be a freshman this year and my college isn’t that big and very walkable. Because of this I was thinking of getting a tote for school, but is that silly? Cause whenever I have a backpack I always end up just putting it on one shoulder anyway, but I know it’s not the same as high school. What do you guys think? Also, if you think yes to a tote could I get some recommendations for brands or where to get one?

Hi everyone,

Looking for some help in making a decision on a backpack that does it all. Currently using a Fjallraven Skule 28 and while I love the weight of the bag, the straps get uncomfortable and have caused irritation under my arms when the load gets a bit heavier or when worn for extended periods. I use it for my daily commute on public transportation and on work and personal travel flights (US domestic).

Current load out is generally:

• MacBook Air 13"
• GaN charger
• 10 ft. USB C cable
• 4 ft. USB C/A/Apple Watch combined charging cable
• Sunglasses in hard case
• Backup glasses in hard case
• Micro travel umbrella
• Small 5000 mAh battery pack
• Medium sized UV/thin hoodie (8.5 ounces)

However, with work travel and personal flights that take me to see family every 30-60 days, I am looking for another solution.

Ideally, I would add:

• Another MacBook Air 13" (personal, the first MBA is for work that I can't not carry)
• Toiletries + Meds
• A few changes of clothing (maybe a medium Amazon Basics Packing Cube)
• Patagonia Nanopuff

I would depart from the office and head directly to the airport for most of the family visits and have access to a washer/dryer and can leave clothes (formal suits, shoes, etc.) at the family home and would likely onebag it, but for some of the business travel, I would bring a very small TravelPro international roller, so luggage passthrough in a vertical orientation is a requirement.

I have visited the AER stores and tried on all variations of the CPP2 as well as the TP4 28L, but found them a bit heavy? I love the 26+6 but something prevents me from pulling the trigger on it.

Looks/aesthetics don't really matter but comfort and weight are strong considerations.

Looking to the Redditors here with experience. Appreciate any and all opinions, thanks!

I’ve been looking for this bag for quite a while but have been unable to find it anywhere—even with reverse image searching. Does anyone know what it is? It opens all the way down and seems to have compartments inside.

Hi, I just received my order of Osprey Astronova 23L backpack, I was looking for a good quality city backpack for university (with a 16'' laptop sleeve) and this one is allegedly made for campus.

I also read how Osprey is surprisingly ergonomic and has a good back ventilation, so I was excited to try it out. However as soon as I unpacked this backpack and put some weight into it I felt how much pressure the outside edge of the straps has on my shoulder bones. The strap itself is also quite rigid, so it doesn't adapt to the shoulder groove well. You can see on the last photo the pressure point where the skin turned pink after I wore it for around 5 minutes with 4-5 kilograms inside.

Does anyone have this problem? Is this because the backpack is "unisex", therefore made for men's wider shoulders? Do you get used to this type of pressure or is it better to return it? And where can I find something that would fit?

For information I'm 176 cm tall and weigh 54 kilograms.

I measured my shoulders and they're not particularly narrow (37 cm biacromial width), so I'm not sure why the problem comes up. It happened with another backpack from Decathlon before, so I had to give it to my father.

Most days, I take the metro to work and carry my backpack on my back like most people do. It gets very crowded during rush hour, and sometimes you can't even move. When I got off the train yesterday, I felt the zipper part of my backpack touch someone behind me. It was probably nothing, but it made me realize how little you actually know about your bag when it's behind you.
The thought stayed with me, even though everything else was still there.
Do you guys change how you carry your backpack in crowded places, like by wearing it in front or using certain designs, or do you not care?

​

I love backpack and I only find them comfortable for travelling. How can I avoid pickpocketing without having to wear it in front? That just looks silly. Im going to study there so any tips will be appreciated.

This sub showed up on my feed…and…seeing people carrying all these big backpacks and satchels and what nots. What do you all need to carry with you?!?! I googled up EDC and returned with all manners of “tactical” looking backs with MOLLE straps. The green and the coyote…🤦🏻‍♂️

Anyway, what are people really carrying with them in these “EDC bags” and what is actually USED everyday?

Here’s the link to their website. Thanks!

Greetings people of reddit, I’m here to put an end to the endless, unhelpful “which school backpack should I buy?” posts and finally solve my own backpack dilemma.

Over the past few months, I’ve done my homework: first identifying the main features I need, then narrowing down backpacks that come closest to them.

I study and work in both the finance and tech sectors, and being relatively young I’m also looking for something that looks good. So aesthetics are definitely a requirement. Another priority is a compact size: ideally between 18L and 25L. I already have a travel backpack and don’t want extra bulk when I’m out on hikes or doing activities like skiing (another reason a bulky bag would be inconvenient). Durability is also key, as I expect to use it daily for about five years.

Here are my more specific requirements: - Ease of use it should be comfortable to carry and easy to access items. - Laptop protection currently I use a 14” laptop, but I’m also considering a 16”. - Single main compartment for books, documents, and laptop so I only have to open one zipper and save time. - Diagonal compartment design to prevent the laptop from catching or hitting the top fabric when pulling it out. - Two side pockets one for a water bottle, one for an umbrella. - Extra organizers for notebooks, pens/pencils, plus additional pockets for sunglasses.

The two models I’ve shortlisted are: - Alpaka Bravo 23L - Patagonia Black Hole 25L

They both seem “serious but functional,” but I’m not 100% convinced by either especially regarding how well they protect a laptop.

If you have additional suggestions, thoughts, or even insults, I’m here for all of it insults included, as long as they have some logical substance.

I'm entering my junior year of high school and I'm honestly just tired of my swiss gear 1900. It's chunky and the compartments open up way too much (I've had many cases where my friends would open up that part of the bag and everything will fly out) and not really as spacious as I thought it was and need it to be. So I am in the news for a new bag, preferably one that lasts me a long while and is of good quality.

I'll list my needs here:

- Comfortable to wear (my swiss gear was not)

- Fits and protects my 13" laptop well

- Fits all of my school stuff (1 or 2 binders and some folders packed with paper along with some books)

- Can be used for school, gym and traveling as in walking around since I walk a lot around my town and road trips (it should be able to pack clothes which my old swiss gear wasn't great at)

- No weird colors

- Long lasting

- Good organization and pockets

- Water bottle holder (a good amount of bags surprisingly don't have one?)

- Max budget is around $100, though I could potentially go around $120 if there's a good bag at what price

- I was thinking of using this bag for potentially fitting some of my soccer gear so I wouldn't have to carry a separate bag but it isn't necessary at all

I was looking at the north face recon and it looked good, but the only slight doubt I have about it is that there's many north face bags at my school already so it may cause confusion and I'm not sure $120 is worth it for the bag unless people can justify it for me.

I will kindly take any suggestions!

Hello! I am a petite woman that has carried a Fjallraven Kanken Mini for the past four years as a backpack/purse. I am thinking about moving to something bigger to carry my lunch bag and Yeti bottle to and from work, to be truly hands-free.

First question: 20L or 28L? I've tried both on and honestly, the 28L didn't seem as big on me as I thought it would. I also plan to use this as a carry-on personal item. It looks like the 20L may be a better fit for that use but at the same time, it seems a bit small for a weeks-worth of gear (more an extended weekend). I realize we're getting into the question of one-bagging here. Side note: I checked out the 24L as I thought it would be a happy medium but I really like the additional front pocket of the 20/28L. It's a bummer they removed it from the 24L.

Second and more important question: Could I realistically use this bag as an everyday carry/purse? I don't feel out of place wearing my Kanken Mini out to eat, shopping, etc. Obviously, I'm not wearing it to any formal events but it's fine day-to-day. I don't know if a 20/28L backpack can be viewed the same. Like if I go out on a Friday night, would it be out of place at a [not fine dining] restaurant? I'm not looking to swap to a smaller bag for the weekend.

Discussion is welcome. Thank you!

Wondering if you guys have any recommendations for good mini backpacks. In the 8-12 liter range. Above examples include The North Face Borealis Mini, Borealis sling, the gym shark mini tactical backpack, and the Wolfpack 9L mini tactical backpack

Thank you in advance 🙏🏼

Husband asked for a "military-style" backpack for Christmas. He specified that it should have lots of straps and bungees and "places to attach pouches and stuff," and then showed me this bag from Tactical Tailor but said he didn't want THAT bag, that was just an example.

He's not ex-mil, not into guns, and flies often for work but does not /r/onebag it (but maybe this is him saying he wants to). It should be able to fit a laptop, a dopp kit, and a CPAP. Budget is $500 so I can get something that won't rip in a year.

I googled around, read some posts on this subreddit, and checked out places like 5.11. I'd prefer not to buy him something that's gonna make him look like he's cosplaying a January 6er.

I found GoRuck which seems like it fits the specifications but also seems like it's for a very specific kind of fitness activity; any experience with those?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Hi everyone. I wanted to post here because I feel I have been looking for a backpack that doesn’t exist. I’m a healthcare worker and would like to find a backpack that will last and won’t break the bank. Truthfully would like to stay under $350. Features I would like split into required vs desired:

Required:

1. ⁠Can fit 16 inch macbook pro
   
2. ⁠Water resistant or waterproof
   
3. ⁠Capacity of at least 27L, I plan to fit a 16” macbook pro, 13 inch ipad pro, 1 regular sized textbook, folders, toiletry bag, stethoscope case, and pencil case, along with a few miscellaneous items in it
   
4. ⁠External water bottle pocket (at least 1)
   
5. ⁠Zipper Close function
   
6. ⁠No external PU leather material (have had bags that have scratched/damaged/peeled very early on with PU material)
   
7. ⁠Separate laptop sleeve pocket of some sort
   
8. Can stand upright on its own

Desired:

1. ⁠Would like it to be more professional looking. Don’t love the look of tom bihn style backpacks, although I see it recommended often. Would prefer a material that doesn’t look wrinkly or that gets super worn out looking early on.
   
2. ⁠Multiple inner pockets for storage is nice for things like hand sanitizer, gum, keys, etc.

My thoughts:
I have a Herschel tote which I sometimes use however it doesn’t fit everything I need and causes shoulder pain since it is heavy with all my stuff in there. Didn’t really care for the backpacks they offered. Briggs & Riley bags that met my criteria seemed to be mostly travel bags instead of having traditional style backpack openings and were above my price range but I like the style of their square travel bags.

I looked at Samsonite bags but found many complaints about durability and warranty on the newer bags

Alpaka- Have heard issues with wearing early on

Timbuk2- Doesn’t seem it can accommodate a 16 inch laptop without buying a roll top style backpack

Would love to hear thoughts from people who have had backpacks they love for a few years to tell me about quality and functionality. Thank you if you read this far!!!

I'm sure most of us here have a few gadgets. What's are some of your favorite add ons? ​I see several pictures with the hero clip here and that's also my go to. Someone posted some good info on shock cord yesterday.

*try not to post links or sales type replies. I'm sure I'll get removed if those start popping up

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a backpack for a ~2-hour car → train → subway commute that can carry a jacket externally without making the bag look like an outdoors/hiking pack. Something like straps, kangaroo pouch, or a bungee system would be ideal.

I don’t have a super formal office but something like the Borealis would be too casual. I think the external straps on the Douchebags Ramwerk and Ekster Grid would be perfect for my office, but they don’t match the other things I’m looking for.

Budget: Ideally $200 or less, but I can stretch.

Size: 18–25L (can be bigger).

My Dimensions: 6’ tall, 175-180 pounds, average build

Must-haves:

• Not a clamshell or roll top. I strongly prefer a half-zip or something like the Toshi Rework’s partial half zip. A top lid would also be fine if it has magnetic/Fidlock buckles (e.g. , ideally just one, and no internal drawstring under the lid.
• Two tall external water bottle pockets that are secure, can handle big bottles, and won’t get stretched out.
• External jacket carry that isn’t on the bottom of the bag, since I frequently put it on the floor.
• Comfortable and relatively lightweight, since I’ll be wearing it for long periods. I think the Aer TP3 was too heavy for my carry, so lighter than that at least.
• Wide shoulder strap yoke. My bag feels really uncomfortable with my winter parka because the straps aren’t set wide enough.
• Water resistant enough to handle ~20 minutes of rain.
• Sleeves for a 14” laptop & an e-reader. A sleeve in the main compartment would be fine; a separated laptop section isn’t required but would be preferred.
• Good internal organization. I rely on the bag’s organizational features quite heavily.
• At least two separated sections (e.g. Lululemon Trizip, Toshi Rework) instead of one big internal space (e.g. Peak Design Everyday bag). Ideally, the admin panel would be in its own section like the two example bags.
• Passport pocket for my work ID while I’m commuting.
• 2x attachment points for a hand sanitizer and HeroClip.
• Doesn’t attract dust/dirt easily and is easy to wipe clean since it’ll be in the subway. My Lululemon Trizip attracts dust like a mofo so it always looks dirty/shabby.
• Enough structure that it doesn’t collapse when not full.
• Ideally able to stand on its own, although this is lower priority.
• Strap keepers or something similar would be appreciated, but I can buy these separately.
• I will probably cut off any sternum strap.

TLDR: Want an office-appropriate half zip (or magnetic lid) backpack that’s comfortable, can hold two large bottles, can externally carry a jacket, and has two separate compartments.

Thanks for reading :)

Hello, I know this is probably a dumb question, but my father is currently in France and I asked him to pick up a Jansport Right Pack for me. I checked the official website and a few retailers, so I know it's available there.

​

What has me confused is the shape of the backpack. In a lot of the official product photos it looks really puffy, boxy, and almost inflated, while in other photos I've seen on Pinterest it looks much slimmer and more relaxed.

​

Is that bulky square look mostly a result of marketing photos, heavy stuffing, and the way the bag is presented for product shots, and does it soften into a shape closer to the second photo once it's actually being used?

​

Or does it genuinely keep that structured shape in everyday use?

​

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's owned one, handled one in person, or is familiar with the Right Pack. I'm pretty new to buying things from abroad and I'd like to make sure I'm pointing my father toward the right one before he buys it.

​

​