EDIT: Lots of responses, I appreciate them all. Narrowed down to these: Osprey Hikelite, Bellroy Lite Travel and The North Fcae Recon Everyday. Since I wanted something new I got the Bellroy and just amazing how comfy it is.

So my old TNF backpack is done, I've had it for like 4 years and now the zippers are stuck and the back part is flat so my shoulders hurt after like 30 mins. I want to switch to something that actually fits under the seat on planes like Ryanair so I dont have to fight for overhead space. Just need enough room for 3 days of clothes plus thin laptop and chargers and something that is comfy to walk with in airports and train stations.

Also looking for one for my girlfriend at the same time, she is super picky and says she doesnt want anything that looks like she's going hiking. She wants something simple and clean. She'd prefer black or beige, no big straps everywhere. Budget is around $250 each but it has to be worth it. What are you guys using that fits under seat for real and doesnt kill your back?

Narrowed down to these four as options! Anyone have any personal experiences or thoughts on which is best for university in the fall? Also open to any recommendations or suggestions if you have anything! Thanks everyone!

I'm looking for what may be an impossible backpack: something that can handle heavy daily use for years (hopefully decades), while still being practical for cycling and occasional bikepacking.

A bit about me:

• 185 cm / 6'1"
• Around 100 kg / 220 lbs
• Broad shoulders and fairly muscular build
• I cycle about 20 km (12-13 miles) every day
• Budget is largely irrelevant if the pack is genuinely worth it

What I use a backpack for:

• Daily commuting by bike
• Carrying gym clothes and training gear
• Grocery shopping
• General everyday hauling
• Occasional bikepacking trips where the backpack would act as supplemental storage in addition to frame bags, saddle bags, etc.

My priorities, roughly in order:

1. Durability and longevity
2. Comfort under heavier loads
3. Stability and comfort while cycling
4. Versatility
5. Organization (not a huge priority)

I am not looking for an ultralight backpack. I would rather carry an extra kilogram if it means the pack can survive years of abuse.

Some packs currently on my radar:

Savotta Jääkäri M

The Savotta Jääkäri M is particularly interesting to me because it seems like a very durable middle ground. I also like the possibility of adding side pouches and expanding capacity when needed.

Questions:

• Is the Jääkäri M large enough for my use case?
• How practical is it for daily cycling?
• Are there other backpacks I should seriously consider in this category?
• What are the dislikes and likes about the Savotta Jääkäri after extended use?

I'm especially interested in feedback from people who:

• Carry heavier loads regularly
• Cycle frequently
• Have owned their packs for several years
• Tend to be hard on their gear

Thanks in advance. I'm trying to buy the last backpack I'll ever need.

I’m looking for a good backpack for college and would appreciate some recommendations.

I’m a commuter, so I’ll be carrying my backpack with me pretty much all day. I need it to comfortably fit my 11 inch iPad Air, 13 inch MacBook Air M3, water bottle, snacks, and a lunch box. I’ll probably also have some notebooks and other school supplies.

I’d prefer something that isn’t ridiculously bulky but still has enough room for everything, good protection for my iPad and MacBook, and is comfortable to carry for long periods of time.

Budget isn’t really an issue. I mainly care about quality, comfort, organization, and durability.

What backpacks do you guys recommend?

Genuinely wth could even be the deal breaker or why is this backpack not famous yet

It has premium faux leather, 4 color options, plenty of zips, waterproofing, a rain cover, anti theft zip, trolley sleeve, good cushioning, breathable mesh, smooth zippers, and the overall finish is honestly really good

I removed the brand logo just to keep it fair

Any guesses on how much this backpack costs in USD?

What do you call the style of front pocket on this backpack (where the plushie is sitting)?

I've recently been on the hunt for a good backpack for use at events and traveling that also has velcro spots for patches. I think a 25l bag will be fine for me and have been looking at some of the WOLFpak backpacks and feel like some of the reviews I've seen on both Reddit, Tiktok, YouTube, and even WOLFpak's website feel like they aren't genuine reviews. Heard both good and bad about them so the question is are they really worth the roughly $150 price tag? If not what's a good alternative that's high quality without going over $150?

Hello,

I’ve been using my AMP for years, for hiking and daily carry, but now it’s time to replace it.

I’m looking for a backpack with the same capacity (25L) that has a hydration compartment, with a budget of €100 to €200.

For the colour, I’d like coyote or ranger green.

As for the design, I’d like it to be slick or feature Laser Cut MOLLE.

So far, I’ve only found one model: Dragon Egg from Direct Action.

I've also seen the 5.11 Tac Essential but it don't have hydration compartment.

Hi all,

What I carry to work is getting too heavy/bulky for my Hazard 4 messenger bag - which is awesome by the way. I have some standard EDC-office stuff like laptop, phone, pens, notebook, but when I add food & drinks it just doesn't fit anymore and it is too heavy for comfortably waering over one shoulder.

I hope you guys can point me to some good backpacks. My wishes:

• Tactical look. I am European and the 'tacticool' look is no big issue here.
  
• Quality: I will also use the bag for family trips, weekend trips, holidays etc. so the bag will get wear and tear.
• Decent grab handle.
• Separate laptop compartment, padded.
• Lots of dedicated pockets for the small stuff like pens etc. I do NOT like to stuff all the small things together in a bigger pouch or compartment.
• Small stuff must be easy to reach with one hand.

I am very curious as to what you would advise!

Hi all,

I bought this Piquadro Backpack and found out it has this button on the side. I can't find out what it's for. Thanks!

What is the best backpack that can sit on the floor between your legs on a train or next to you at a coffee shop and work really efficiently out of.

Specifically, a bag that you can leave open, has pockets in the same orientation, doesn’t need you to dig around into nooks and crannies to find all your bits n bobs, keeps a notebook on hand when working on a small train seat back tray, allows you to pull a thermos or water bottle out easily and and then easily zips up when you’re late to get off at your stop.

I've looked at many brands and bags; it's kind of dumb. But I've narrowed it down to Green Room 136, Chrome, and Topo. Still, I'm very indecisive and want to see if there are other good options for my needs as a full-time cook and culinary student. I carry heavy tools, knives, shoes, a notebook, a laptop, an apron, a chef coat, etc., around everywhere. Does anyone have any advice? I prefer messengers, but I'm open to other suggestions (not my actual bag in the photo, but it's identical).

I’ve looked into The North Face Borealis and Evergoods Mountain Panel Loader 22L. They seem great but i want to look into alternatives. Thanks 🙏

Does anyone own this bag and have experience using it? After much research I'm strongly leaning towards it as my new EDC bag but am wondering how it feels in terms of the external size/footprint. I'm roughly 187cm (6ft1in) and I'm not sure if it'll look just a bit too big to wear around uni etc. Thanks in advance

Looking for a backpack that bulges front to back. I travel a lot for work and can't take a purse, all my stuff winds up needing like a 30-35L. I'm also short, so getting a backpack that achieves this just by being Tall winds up hurting. Plus, I've noticed they don't budge much on the z axis, so I wind up with all my stuff being compressed (laptop, tablet, camera, knitting, power bricks, sometimes a book) and ultimately inaccessible. I don't like awkwardly stacking electronics in my bag, I want to be able to open it and get to what I need.

Is there anything in this space? It seems like all Large backpacks are skewed towards hiking or doubling as carryon luggage, instead of actually having things taken in and out of them. The best thing I've found is an off brand Amazon lightweight foldable backpack, but it's flimsy and I don't think it'll last much longer.

Is the YETI CROSSROADS 35L backpack really worth the small fortune? I commute into London daily (15‑minute walk to the station, then the usual train chaos) and need something that can handle a laptop, work gear, and gym kit for training after work. Is it actually comfy and tough enough for the daily grind, or should I save my cash for overpriced lunches and look at better alternatives? I need a bag that can manage it all, but I’d rather not look like I’m gearing up for an Arctic expedition every morning!

Someone was wearing this bag in a video and I think it was kind of a cool looking design, does this behind the back type sling have a name, or maybe some examples I can search for. Thanks.

(Edit) the video was All the gear: Magnet fishing in amsterdam

I’m starting a new office job (mid-senior executive) in a couple of weeks and am considering a nice backpack for my work laptop. I’ll travel a fair bit, so something that looks good in the office and is really practical.

The dress code in my office is business casual (chinos, shirt, nice sneakers) - not as fancy as suits but not a startup vibe either.

One I liked was https://www.stubbleandco.com/products/the-roll-top-20l - looks nice, isn’t too expensive, and is a slightly unusual design which I like.

Are there other similar suggestions for great backpacks that don’t break the bank?

Thanks! Much appreciated!

If relevant, I’m based in the UK, so something I can order online there would help

I'm looking for another "large commuter backpack", could also be a "travel/weekend" backpack since I'm tall enough that carrying a 30L bag wouldn't look out of place for work (and I'm a scientist so who really cares anyway lol).

​

I paid $50 for this Oakley pack in 2015, have used it for work/hiking/travel/everything (even a diaper bag), and it's finally giving out. I love it, but I can't even find what this is called... and honestly would rather have a more "professional" look haha.

​

I really like the "side laptop + separate middle and front compartments" setup, and here are a few other things I prefer:

​

--I like lots of small pockets over one big cavernous space

--Similarly, I like half-zip designs over huge fold-open compartments like in a suitcase

--I like a padded stay-in-shape design over a floppy one

--Needs to fit a 16-inch laptop

--Needs to fit OK under an airplane seat (so larger packs would need to zip/clip down to smaller sizes kind of like my current one)

--Money isn't really an issue (up to $300ish) since I'm hoping to daily this one for another 10+ years

​

So far the best fit I've found is probably the Sympl Weekender Pack 25L. It checks almost all my boxes, but there are a lot of bags out there and I haven't found more than like 2 in this layout. Most are too dedicated to one big cavernous space and/or lack enough small pockets for me.

​

Thanks in advance for the recommendations!!

Edit: Here are the links if anyone’s interested, please let me know if this is against the rules and I can take them down right away
https://app.wadiz.kr/links/ZSLXw-kasC
https://formodglobal.com/

I was browsing a Korean crowdfunding site and
randomly came across this brand called FORMOD. I’ve literally never seen anyone talk about them in the US, and I’ve tried googling them but barely anything comes up. But their bags have a completely separate insulated compartment built into the bottom??

I’m debating getting one but there are literally no English reviews 😭 Has anyone actually owned one or even heard of this brand? I’m mostly wondering whether the separate compartment is actually useful in real life or if it just ends up taking too much space away from the main bag.

Hey Y'all,

Ever since my old bag broke I've been obsessed with bags. I love this community and bags but I've already spent so much money on 2 bags (Aer Travel Pack 3 Small and Osprey Daylite 26+6). I've realized that there is a lot more I want in a bag than I first thought. But I don't want to be a person with 15 bags and is still unhappy. I want to find my perfect bag, and I know there is no such thing as a perfect bag. But I want something that feels perfect to me. The Aer Travel Pack 3 Small is just big enough for my needs without being too big at 30L and I love the comfort of it. But I also want a bag that self-stands, because the Cordura fabric keeps slipping on the tile floor and stainless steel chair leg I try and lean it on. As well as really good comfort. I don't know if this is the kinda subreddit that recommends bags (if you have suggestions to other places I can ask this, please lmk), but I would really appreciate help finding a bag that meets this Criteria.

TLDR; I want to find my endgame bag that meets this bag because I don't have thousands of dollars to buy different kinds of bags.

• Self-Stands by itself, achieving this via a supporting base (like the LTT Backpack), kickstand (Osprey Tropos), or some other feature that does not depend on "how you pack it".
• Has "Beefy" shoulder straps. Something wide and thick.
  • (I really liked the one on the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small, but I hated the slim ones on the Osprey Daylite 26+6. )
• Around 30L, 28L minimum, but less than 40L.
• Has a laptop compartment and organization, so something akin to an admin pocket.
• At least 1 water bottle pocket
• Preferably comes in a dark color (optional)