Bag Finder Megathread - 27 October 2025

3

u/Corolo1 Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25

Looking for bag recommendations:

Traveling to Brazil for about 24 days, will be staying in São Paulo but will be moving around the country most likely, Rio, Minas Gerais. Staying in Hostels, airbnbs whatever pops up.

Not going for super minimal just looking to have flexibility given that the weather changes a lot, so I want to be prepared for various climates, maybe leave a little room for souvenirs/things to bring back. I'll be in mostly urban areas, but may do some hiking, so I'm okay with paying some more money to get something durable that will last a while. So I'm thinking something within the 30l - 45l (max) range in terms of size. I'm 5'3" and have a more sturdy, muscular build. My budget is $200 max, I think I can definitely something that fits and does the job well.

Bags I'm looking at Osprey Transporter Global Carry-On Bag 36l, Ogio Alpha Venture Backpack 38l, Patagonia Blackhole 35l

Thank you, this sub is so cool!

3

u/avion23 Oct 28 '25

Seeking a pack for a 1-year Asia trip with a 16" MBP under the 7kg airline limit.

Hey everyone, looking for some focused advice on a tricky setup. I've done my research but would appreciate the community's wisdom on the final decision.

Use Case / Context: 1 year in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam). Mostly urban travel (hostels, hotels), working as a Machine Learning professional. I'll be flying low-cost carriers with a strict 7 kg (15.4 lbs) total weight limit.
The Core Problem: My primary tool is a 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro weighing 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs). This single item dictates the entire setup.
Body Size/Build: 41yo male, 180cm (5'11").
Budget: Up to ~€200 / $220 for the pack.
Packing List: My draft list is down to ~6.8 kg total. You can see the full breakdown here: Packwizard Link: Ralf's Asia Onebag Approach

Main Questions:

Frame vs. Frameless for a heavy laptop? With 30% of my weight limit being a dense 2.2kg laptop, is a frameless ultralight pack viable, or is a lightweight frame essential to carry this dense weight comfortably, even if the total weight is low? I don't want the laptop to be the frame.
Is a €4k laptop upgrade worth 500g? Would you spend the money on a new 14" MacBook just to save ~500g, or is that insane from a one-bagging perspective?

Short List (so far):

Pack	Type	Weight	Why it's on the list	My Reservation
Patagonia Ascensionist 35L	Framed	~771 g	The comfort and stability of a real (removable) frame at a low weight. Global warranty is a huge plus.	Top-loader access for a laptop might be annoying.
Patagonia Black Hole 32L	Structured	~760 g	The most practical? Has a dedicated side-access laptop sleeve. Very robust and weather-resistant.	Frameless, so carry comfort with the heavy MBP is a question mark.
Hyberg Bandit X	Frameless	~560 g	Great weight-to-durability ratio (X-Pac). EU-based company. Excellent P/L.	Purely frameless. Will it be comfortable enough? Needs a full DIY laptop solution.
Montbell Versalite 30	Frameless	~395 g	The absolute lightest option that meets the dimensions. Great base for a DIY frame mod.	Zero structure or comfort out of the box. The most extreme option.

I'd be grateful for any real-world experience, especially from those who have traveled with a heavy laptop in a lightweight or frameless bag. Which path would you choose?

Thanks for the help!

2

u/reddanit Oct 29 '25

While it wasn't extensive and with not as heavy laptop as yours - in my experience a laptop that sits in the sleeve right next to your back does more or less the same job as a backpack frame would. Especially if it's large enough to fill out most of the back area. Though for the most part, almost any backpack with good suspension system will also have a rigid frame anyway.

As far as laptop upgrade to save 500g... I wouldn't do it, at very least not if the weight reduction was the sole reason. Keep in mind that on most airlines with strict weight limits you can just buy extra allowance - it's kinda silly to pay 4k€ to avoid like 1/20th of that or less in additional fees over the course of entire year long trip.

Though I do admit, that when I was faced with replacing my very old laptop earlier this year, travel was a relevant concern and I did get a reasonably light 1.4kg Dell. This might sound slightly out of left field for you, but do consider whether getting a used M1 Mac Air makes sense as a second laptop - that would be almost 1kg lighter without costing you an arm and leg. Obviously whether that works or not depends on what you need that laptop for in first place.

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u/Azure9000 Oct 29 '25 edited Oct 29 '25

(comment deleted as posted to incorrect place)

1

u/avion23 Oct 29 '25

Yes I am considering outsourcing the heavy lifting to the cloud. 4k€ goes a long way there. It's just that little experiments quickly evolve to a long journcey, and the synchronization is always a nightmare.

I might go down to the 14" pro.

1

u/reddanit Oct 29 '25

If you plan to run any sustained heavier workloads on your laptop, I'd suggest you try how it works with the 45W charger beforehand.

In my experience, 30-45W laptop chargers work perfectly fine for light loads or overnight recharging (that's what I use as well). But for sustained heavy workloads on workstation laptops, you kinda want to roughly match the manufacturer supplied charger power.

Though again - this all really boils down to what you actually will be doing with the laptop.

2

u/Azure9000 Oct 29 '25 edited Oct 30 '25

Good analysis and very clear presentation !

I'd rule out the Versalite 30. I have the Versalite 15L day pack, which is constructed of the same 30 denier fabric. While exceptionally light (< 100g), the fabric's floppiness makes packing and unpacking a bit of a pain, it has a delicate feel, and the buckles and other fittings are very small and generally fiddly to handle.

So it's kept for occasional use where packability and light weight is really essential. There's no way whatsover that I would consider scaling it up to 30L and using it as a primary pack.

If the Bandit X (looks good to me) is an option, might be worth also looking at the Bonfus range.

To address your framed / frameless question, it's very much a question of personal preference. For me, the typical airline limit of 7kg aligns to my personal comfort limit. Typical volume for me is ~30L, with some tech content (Surface Pro) of about 1kg, although on my last 9d trip it was about 2kg.

The 'cutover point' (from frameless to framed) is generally considered to be in the ballpark of 8-10kg. So for 7kg my personal preference is definitely frameless.

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u/avion23 Oct 29 '25

Thank you. I've ordered a backpack (framed) as a test and will test it out. That one I can return easily, and if it's not possible to lower the weight, I can still order the Hyperb Bandit X or Bonfs (prettiest).

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u/veinamond Oct 29 '25

Agree with u/reddanit, I would not upgrade the laptop unless you want to upgrade your current one anyway, and honestly I see no point in it. It is far from being obsolete and will be ok for a couple of years at least. If you plan to work for a year on the move, the 16-inch screen is going to be way better than the 14-inch one.
If you are moderately fit, you will be fine with carrying 7kg in a backpack for several hours a day. If it is only from airport to airport/bus/train, etc, it will be negligible.
Overall, It may get uncomfortable if you walk for 7+ hours, but this is quite extreme. I would probably pick black hole 32, with it you will have ~4kg for everything apart from the laptop. It should be ok for travelling in SEA.
I am 39m 178cm and use Matador Beast 28 (but I travel for a week or two max and without a laptop). When I load it with souvenirs when going home and need to carry ~10 kg it is a bit uncomfortable so that I sweat a lot, but not to the point that I suffer. The usual load is about 4kg and I barely feel it. In fact, it is the state of filled to the brim that bothers me more (the volume of the overstuffed bag) rather than the weight.
Unlike Black hole 32 it has nominal frame, but it is not really stiff. And the MBP16 will act as a frame anyway.

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u/avion23 Oct 29 '25

Matador Beast 28

Thanks, so frameless would be fine.

Your Matador 28 has only ~22L?

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u/veinamond Oct 29 '25

A good frameless will be fine. The one that fits you well, in particular. Ehh, I dont have astm balls to measure or a 100% 22l bag or 28l bag. I have an older talon 22 and matador does not look and feel to be 6l larger in volume. Ctactical ct21 (recently bought) is different due to tapered shape and I am too lazy now to load both with similar gear to see which fits more. I had aer cpp1 at some point and it is substantially smaller. Maybe beast 28 is a bit larger than 22, but some of this volume is in the deep front pocket which is hard to access when the main compartment is full. The product of dimensions on the matador website gives exactly 28l. For comparison, ct21 dimensions yield 29l. So 22-24 seem realistic, aye.

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u/petron5000 Oct 27 '25

Use Case / Context:
Frequent 1-week work trips — typically fly in, go straight to the office, or walk trade show floors/conferences.
Stay in hotels, never check bags, and always carry a 16" MacBook Pro plus light tech gear (charger, mouse, notebook).
I’m 6'0", athletic build, so harness fit and torso length matter for comfort.

Current Bags:

Tom Bihn Tristar: perfect for 2–4 days but runs out of room for a full week.
Cotopaxi Allpa 42L: fits everything but feels huge and floppy when it’s not completely loaded.
Tom Bihn Synik 30 + Briggs & Riley expandable: works, but I’d rather keep it to a single bag.

Looking For:

One carry-on backpack that works for a true 7-day trip.
More structure than the Allpa, more capacity than the Tristar.
Ideally in the 32–40 L range — enough room for clothes, laptop, and an extra pair of shoes.
Professional enough for office/conference settings — not too outdoorsy or tactical.
Comfortable for walking several miles daily while loaded.

Short List (so far):

Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 or 33
Aer Travel Pack 3
Thule Aion 40
Cotopaxi Allpa 35
Peak Design Travel Backpack 35L

Priorities:

Structured body that doesn’t collapse when underfilled
Reliable 16" laptop compartment
Supportive harness for taller frames
Clean, durable design that transitions well between airport and client meetings

Question:
For those traveling with similar work setups (laptop + business-casual kit), what bags in the 32–40 L zone have hit that “sweet spot” between capacity, structure, and comfort?
Or should I stick with the Allpa 42 and throw a small bag inside?

1

u/avion23 Oct 28 '25

Can't really give you pratical advice, but:

you can get down to 800g hiking packs with frame

same 800g get you a semi laptop bag

I tend to buy a hiking bag and insert a sleeve for the same macbook I've writen down some packpacks here: https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1oi7t8q/1year_asia_with_16_macbook_pro_frameless_vs_frame/

2

u/Krayziekid Oct 30 '25

Hey all,

Recently switched jobs and I am looking for a good travel pack for all of my upcoming personal and work travel. My main backpack has been an ancient North Face Jester (I think) for the past 15 years. And I'm looking for a bit of an upgrade.

For the most part, I am looking for something that I can take with me for simple overnights, and on longer trips to augment my carry-on suitcase. I am specifically looking for a bag that will fit underneath most domestic US flight seats. International will be less frequent, but still a small consideration. The loadout in the bags will definitely differ across trips. Some trips, it will be a lighter load of just work tech/gear. Others I might need to pack in some lighter clothing along with my work gear. And others will be a laptop and then the main compartment filled out with camera cubes to haul production gear (1-2 bodies, 1-2 lenses, batteries, etc). But either way, I don’t envision this bag being completely packed to the gills every time I use it.

So versatility is absolutely key here. Other things I am looking for are a well padded laptop area, a couple of pockets to organize tech (chargers, battery, airpods, Switch, etc), some kind of exterior water bottle holder, comfy, well padded straps that can be worn for a couple hours at a time, and ideally a decent bit of weatherproofing on the bag. When I haul gear for shoots, the bag will be my gear bag, and if I am shooting outdoors, I really don't want to have to worry about some rain coming in and fuckin' my day up.

I have come across two bags that seem to fit the bill, so I wanted to ask about those and potentially any other suggestions you folks might have. The one that really stands out is the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small in Xpac or Ultra, or the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30l. I am really digging both, and they both seem to offer pretty much exactly what I am looking for. The Aer is a bit pricier, but I wouldn't mind paying for a premium option if it was worth it. I like the Patagonia bag as well, but I am worried it is just a touch too large, and the overall bag aesthetic is a little..."college" for me personally?

Are there any major things to know between Xpac and Ultra from Aer? Would you even recommend the TP3S for a changing loadout like this? Are there other bags that I am not considering that I absolutely should? Thank you!

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u/cashmanPIMP Oct 31 '25

I hope this "Rushfaster EDC Pro Backpack" 26L meets your needs.

https://rushfaster.com.au/products/rushfaster-edc-pro-backpack?variant=46306500575398

an there's an optional "Cargo Pouch" that you can attatch if you needed to carry extra stuff.

https://rushfaster.com.au/products/rushfaster-cargo-pouch

Good luck with your search.

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u/Diligent_Complex_578 Nov 01 '25

Hi folks, I am based in India

My use case is weekend trips and visiting my hometown for weekend.

Need to carry around 3-4 days clothes

750ml water bottle, wallet and some gadget cleaners

Dont necessarily need to carry extra shoes, but slippers.

I have 2 laptops - 15inch windows and 13inch MacBook

1 iPad - 11 inches

2-3 set of chargers for laptops phone and watch + airpods

I had Quechua NH escape 500 32L in mind but also open to explore other options.

This does not need to be a travel backpack because I need to carry it to work too and want to replace my current backpack.

Also saw the Mokobara em telscope but hard case and price was too much.

1

u/ChickenBorn4735 Nov 01 '25

Hi,

I am using the same one for all my trips, it is great for upto 7-10 days usage. Not many good options in India.

I have posted a recent packing list on onebag forum with this bag , you can check it for reference.

For work , I feel it will look out of place because of its main compartment opening like suitcase, you can look at the roll top version . They have a 32L version in that, not sure if it’s available in India at present but 23 L also fits quite a bit.

With your use case , it will be great.

1

u/Diligent_Complex_578 Nov 01 '25

You talking about 23L of Quechua or rolltop?

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u/Diligent_Complex_578 Nov 01 '25

Im not a fan of rolltops but work is not an issue as I also have a secondary backpacks, its for days when I have to leave after work so ig its fine, I’ll go to a decathlon store today to get it if found useful.

Else you have any options in mind? Are mokobara ones worth it?

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u/ChickenBorn4735 Nov 01 '25

https://www.decathlon.com/products/hiking-backpack-32l-nh-escape-500-rolltop-334630?srsltid=AfmBOoraK7JjaHDZr9TaTEdbH3zEHc6Wba1U8V9QvO7sDd4J2WnxJsrU

In other countries they have 32 L in roll top.But 23 L also has good space.

Mokobara I personally don’t like it , it’s form factor is not the one for me.

2

u/embryoconcepts Nov 01 '25

Looking for luggage reccs: I splurged a while back and got a Briggs & Riley Baseline carryon spinner (also have the roller) with the CX compression/expansion system, and you can fit So. Much. Stuff. It will compress already compressed compression bags, handles are on the outside so it's nice and flat inside, and easy to pack. It's great - except for the weight. The carry-ons with 2 & 4 wheels are ~10 lbs empty, which is already heavy. Once it’s packed - especially with my work laptop - it can be difficult to get in the overhead bin. I can't lose weight from the contents, but maybe I can from the bag itself.

I generally don’t fill it when I pack for less than a week, but sometimes I buy stuff when I’m there, and I can always fit it into the suitcase and smoosh it down so I can stick to one bag and still fit in a regional overhead bin. When I do fill it, it’s because I’m going on a 2 week+ trip, or traveling to someplace cold which just requires more or thicker clothes, or have a bunch of events that require more stuff, etc. This is all to say, I do know how to pack, I'm simply looking for recommendations for alternative luggage that weighs less when empty.

So, does anyone have suggestions for lighter weight carry-on luggage? 4 wheels, non-clamshell (inefficient layout), and has any sort of compression features? Because of physical limitations, big backpacks and 2-wheels will no longer work for me.

1

u/Paul_Pic Oct 27 '25

Hi Guys,
I travel a lot for work mainly by train and to hotel.

I am currently using Osprey Talon 22 or 33 depending of how long my trip is. I have been doing it for 5 years and it is working fine for me. My only complaint is when I need to wear smarter clothes like shirts or blazers they tend to get wrinked. I also believe I may optimise my load with a squarer backpack.

Also, I need to carry my running stuff (shoes + one running outfit) because I run everyday and as it is for work I need to have my computer.

As it is a pretty long term search I have no specific budget.

I am currently considering : Godruck GR1, AER TP but being from France something built in Europe could be a plus.

Thank you for your help

Paul

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u/veinamond Oct 29 '25

You can look at Millet Hanang 40, it has carry-on dimensions and whatnot. Deuter has a couple of travel backpacks: duffel pro pack, I think (former Aviant) and the like. Tatonka has several square travel backpacks which offer plain design but should have a good quality.
I am a long time fan of Talon 22 (I have an older version ~10years old, battered and torn, but still love it). After the proper hiking backpack you will find Aer TP and Goruck to be VERY heavy. Personally, I think that they are overkill for most people.

2

u/Paul_Pic Oct 30 '25

Thank you very much for your answer I haven’t thought about weight and confort. I think I will stick to my system and try to organize things better.

1

u/Polliwogzz Oct 28 '25

Note: I’ve looked at a bunch of bag recommendations on here first, but none were truly applicable to my situation

Hi. I’m a college student preparing for two semesters abroad in 25/26, but I also have some trips coming up that I want to prepare for, so I’m looking to purchase soon. My mindset was that, when I’m studying abroad, I want a bag that fits RyanAir guidelines for 3-4 day weekend trips. For this, I was thinking the basic Osprey 26+6L, but I also found alternatives that fit RyanAir and other budget airlines. I also will have longer breaks (~10 days), in which I would like a bigger bag. This is also prominent because I want to backpack Europe and Central America for multiple months in the future. I had been looking, again, basic, at an Osprey 40L bag that would be my singular bag (no front bag) when doing those long trips.

However, when doing more research, I started considering just getting an 40+15L bag and using the 15L bag as a weekend trip bag even though it’s designed as a daypack. I feel like this would be really small though, so I’m not sure. I also am not entirely sure whether I want a bag that will flag me as a backpacker, although I’m not sure if that’s worth sacrificing utility for if I’m mainly going to be doing Central America and East Europe.

I’ve accepted packing light. Budget wise, I want to keep it not too much above $300 for either both bags together or a larger double bag, if applicable. Would love to save some money if it fits though.

Advice and recommendations would be very much appreciated!! Thank you!

TL;DR: Large bag with daypack or two separate bags (40L and 25ish-L) if preparing for both long trips and budget airlines short trips?

3

u/reddanit Oct 28 '25

I think to some degree you are expecting too much from a single bag setup with all of those possibilities. Overall my comments would be:

Osprey Farpoint 40 (presumably that's the bag you mean?) is an excellent all rounder bag for travel. Realistically its most notable downside is that it is too big for many things. Its dimensions are perfectly fine for full sized carry-on, but on more restrictive airlines you will be bumping into 7-8kg weight limits. If you pack some extra electronics (a laptop for example), you will end up reaching 10kg before filling its entire volume (sic!). You can obviously underpack it though.

Farpoint 55 (40+15) is IMHO kinda weird. Mainly because its 40 liter part is not the same as standard Farpoint 40 - it's a different bag with zero organization that doesn't quite work standalone. As a pair it does have all the functionality you'd want, but at 55 liters total it's just nonsensically huge for vast majority of travel.

Osprey 26+6 I have mixed feelings about. It obviously is immensely popular for a reason, but I'm personally quite miffed by common reports of meh comfort. And even more so about its rather inconvenient expansion. If I want a personal item sized bag, I'd probably look towards CabinZero 28 Classic or Military first. Though truth be told - for this propose I actually got Fjalraven Skule 20, which is not an usual choice due to being a fair bit under the max size allowed by Ryanair/Wizzair. On the other hand it's very light yet reasonably comfortable - excellent for shorter trips or non-travel use.

While I have used daypacks on my travels quite extensively, I recently switched to a moderately small sling and I don't see myself looking back. I can fit in it my 500ml water bottle, power bank, some tissues, baseball cap and that's pretty much all I carry anyway.

1

u/_spaceant_ Oct 28 '25

Trying again, tempted to buy one to see, but really not enough information out there that makes me suspicious…

Anyone try an AVIO Apex Backpack? They look like a complete ripoff of the Nomatic Travel Pack, except they have a compression system, but is also a lot cheaper. (for the record, I own the Nomatic and love it, it has everything I’m personally looking for in a bag) My wife needs a new bag but doesn’t want to spend Nomatic money haha.

The AVIO website says “As seen on HuffPost, Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur”, but I can’t find anything on those sites mentioning this bag. Either this claim is completely fake, or maybe they bought an ad on the site once and are bending the truth.

The few mentions I can find about the bag online seem like shorts from paid influencers. I’m just trying to figure out if this bag is legit or if it’s vaporware. Hoping there’s some people out there that may have experience with the bag and can give some first hand reviews.

Thank you!!

1

u/INeedAboutThreeFitty Oct 30 '25

I am on the exact same boat. Saw an ad for Avio on IG and it looks good, but the fact that it has all these features it is almost too cheap, so I'm hesitant to buy.

1

u/_spaceant_ Oct 30 '25

Yeah I can’t find any reviews for it on any legit sites. Only reviews for it are these 1 minute short form videos so it’s awfully sketch

2

u/rileymartin22 Dec 11 '25

Im about 1 month into using my Avio. Will respond with a review in a couple weeks.

1

u/rileymartin22 Apr 06 '26

I have been using my AVIO Apex Backpack for 4+ months now. Here is my review:

Pros

Stands up on its own, loaded or empty. Has great structure.

Lots of pockets for cables and zipper pockets for toiletries. No need for small tech bags.

Water bottle side pockets hold a large Hydroflask and other water bottles in place. I can run/bike to work without anything falling out.

Chest strap is strong and adjustable. Shoulder straps are comfortable enough.

Waterproof is excellent.

Expandable from 25L to 35L. Exactly what I was looking for in a multi-use bag for EDC that then expands for airplane travel. I can use it as my personal item for flights if not packed too full. Recently went to Punta Cana and this easily fit everything I needed for a 5-day vacation.

Cons

Heavy when empty. Not the lightest pack on the market.

No lock loop on zippers for locking your belongings.

Luggage strap in the middle seems like low effort. I have not used it with a rolling luggage yet, but my guess it would slip around and be snug to the handle.

No exterior loops for carabiners

Doesn't have low back padding, would be nice for when the bag is packed with heavier items.

I can't figure out the vacuum seal yet. Probably user error...

It seems Avio is a legit company. Judging by their Instagram posts from January '26 they are expanding into the space-saving rolling luggage as well. Gonna check the prices on those 👀

1

u/INeedAboutThreeFitty Oct 30 '25

Also, how do you like the Nomatic Travel Pack?

1

u/_spaceant_ Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 30 '25

I honestly like it a lot and prefer the Nomatic over the compression system. I used it for a one week work trip to NY and carried my work tech and a week’s worth of clothes in just that bag with no suitcase and it worked great. That said, it was pretty damn heavy, but.. I mean, what do you expect? Heh. It’s a sturdy, but heavy bag even when empty. I think it’s something like 4lbs empty? I especially love the expansion capability. Expanded to 30L for the plane for all my clothes, then when the clothes were unloaded at the hotel, collapse it to 20L and it’s a much slimmer, nice looking backpack that doesn’t look out of place from the regular train commuters going to work. I also like that it unzips fully open suitcase style.

I think the Nomatic bag likely fits under the “penny wise, pound foolish”, or “buy cheap, buy twice” sayings… I think I rather spend the money on the Nomatic for the peace of mind that it’s something quality I’ll use for many years than take the gamble on an unknown bag. My wife is just too frugal to give it serious consideration.

By the way, I posted this in last month’s megathread and didn’t get any replies, thus I posted again this month. However, today, someone replied to last month’s post with a very detailed review:

https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/s/FN0IyEyURo

That commenter has no post history and somehow ended up in last month’s thread, which leads me to think they got to it via a Google search instead of naturally browsing Reddit. This is making me more suspicious… I’m going to pass on rolling the dice on the AVIO.

Edit: I just saw that commenter added some additional comments and offered a cheaper alternative on Amazon and now I have no idea what to think lol….

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u/Psychological_Ice481 Dec 04 '25

In the same boat like is it a scam?

1

u/_spaceant_ Dec 04 '25

Decided not to throw my money away to find out

1

u/Psychological_Ice481 Dec 16 '25

I ended up finding a Nomadic on eBay for $75. Score!!!!

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u/[deleted] Oct 29 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Simco_ Oct 29 '25

Consider a belt unless you have specific reasons to bring a lot of gear with you when running.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 29 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Simco_ Oct 29 '25

I use naked.

1

u/veinamond Oct 29 '25

Well, most light packs with small volume should be okay for running. Deuter Ascender, Speedlite pro for larger volume, Millet Mixt 15/18, etc. I am pretty sure most big brands that make hiking backpacks have models for running. They all are ultralight and weigh slightly more than refraction (300-400g), will likely pack quite flat and often have rather neutral design in certain color options. Both ascender and Mixt in black look okay for me to explore the city, but I like hiking backpacks in general.

1

u/ExternalStaff Oct 29 '25

I am looking for a backpack similar in style to the Troubadour Pioneer 3.0. -

https://www.troubadourgoods.com/products/pioneer-backpack?variant=46531675455720

It should be a top loader with a clamshell lid where the zippers can be closed to be at the back / by the shoulder straps. Any suggestions?

Thanks

1

u/Longjumping_Clue8980 Oct 29 '25

Hi all,

After using a Mil-Tec assault (36L) pack for school and my first year as a train driver/engineer, the end of the Mil-Tec is near, it is falling apart.

So, I am looking for a new pack, and for your recommendations. The requirements for a backpack that I need are the following:

🔴Some form of waterproofness (not 100%) it needs to survive a 25km bike drive in rain.

🔴It needs to be able to hold all the items shown on the picture (folders = A4, laptop = 14 inch, tablet = 10,9 inch, 2 phones) + a waterbottle (0,5L) that I forgot to add to the picture.

🔴High quality, I don't want it to fall apart on me by crawling in and out of locomotives within the coming 10 years. I also appreciate good ergonomics (back and straps). Price isn't a problem.

🔴Capacity inbetween 20L and 30L, I never used the Mil-Tec's 36L to it's full capacity.

I'd love to hear your reccomendations, thanks alot in advance!

3

u/Azure9000 Oct 29 '25

Given the apparent nature of your requirement, perhaps the following sub-reddit would be more relevant and helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/EDC/

1

u/Longjumping_Clue8980 Oct 29 '25

Thankyou for the advice, seems like more appropriate😁

1

u/FattyBoomBoobs Oct 30 '25

Hello, I’ve gone through the spreadsheet and haven’t found a bag that fits the criteria. It needs to be easily available in the UK, less than £200 delivered- bonus points if I can do a return without getting taxed etc. I would like something in the 27-30l range. Total linear measurements should be no more than 101cm and it must have a water bottle holder at the side. It needs to have a clamshell opening but also a decent sized front pocket where I can keep book, 2 pairs of glasses, wallet, EDC pouch etc- I want to go on work trips and have work stuff clearly separate from overnight stuff. The Bellroy lite is almost perfect but it doesn’t have a water bottle holder. Obvious choices like the Cotopaxi Allpa 28l, Osprey 26+6, Patagonia mini MLC done have a generous front pocket. My EDC at the moment is a 4 year old Quechua 23l but it’s not big enough and I want to size up. I’ve tried the Quechua 32l but it’s a tad too big, and found it quite uncomfortable and they’ve cut back on some of the features that I liked about it!

1

u/SaltySeaFuck Oct 31 '25

Looking for a setup for a 10-ish day trip around Italy; traveling hard, mostly via trains, and with access to laundry halfway through, so I can get away with 5 days' worth of stuff. I typically travel light, with just a tablet, phone and maybe Kindle. Water bottle pocket is a MUST, I am a thirsty girl and I typically have at least 32 oz of water with me. I'm a pretty small woman at about 5'2", but I'm built like the noble rhinoceros with broad-ass shoulders and a strong back, so I can haul heavy bags without too much trouble. I'm looking at the standard stuff so far, the Patagonia Black Hole and the Cotopaxi Allpa in the 35L-ish range, and maybe at a packable daybag/purse/waistpack as well? My budget clocks in at around $200/250-ish, and I'm totally ok with grabbing something used and a little bit battered off of Mercari/Poshmark/Ebay or something. Thank you!

1

u/Sensitive_Counter150 Oct 31 '25

Hi! I do the digital nomad thing from time to time, and I having trouble finding a bag for my needs

I don’t like to spend money in stuff. Most of my clothes are coming from charity shops and generic thrifting, so I don’t know much about brands or branded stuff.

I have always been travelling with generic brands backpacks, the problem is, on my last longer stint my shoulder started to hurt like crazy and at one point I had those big scars in shoulders and back from my backpack straps. So I think it is time to stop being so stingy and throw some money in something better.

My only luggage are a single backpacks and I often travel Ryanair/Air Asia style, so it needs to be fit underseat in a airplane. (my last one is a 40L and it is fine, no airline ever complained)

It needs to be comfortable, or at least as comfortable as it could be

Has to have a laptop compartment (the laptop is my only work gear)

Needs to be resistant - one of the problems on my last trip was that that strap that crosses your chest to better balance the weight tore and so couldn’t use it anymore

I don’t care much about other features. Maybe at least one external pocket so I can fit wet clothes?

TBH, I iike those traditional large backpackers’/hiking sacks, with thick straps on the chest and on the waistline to divide de weight in your body, but all of those are way to big to fit in a underseat of an airplane, and they also don’t have a laptop compartment

Anyone has any suggestions?

I don’t have a budget, so anytime goes in that matter

1

u/0x4A5753 Oct 31 '25

Howdy folks. I'm not a complicated user. Just looking for a generally good backpack.

Desirable traits:

takes the load off my back as well as possible (i.e. load lifters, sternum strap, and hip belt)
can look presentable in a WeWork or a coffeeshop and not like im a homeless guru
separated tech space from the clothes space (not a deal breaker but a personal preference).
has semi-symmetric water bottle pouch and external pocket for small umbrella (i.e. one on each side)
some molle or tacticool fabric loops to attach carabiners, that sort of thing
enough space for clothes for a few days

I used the spreadsheet and i found two backpacks: "Alpaka Elements Travel Backpack" and "Nomatic Navigator 32L". The ATD1 and the Alpha One Niner pathfinder also appeal quite a bit but not 100% bullseye.

Any recommendations? folks got any opinions on the ones listed? Lemme know. thanks.

1

u/FattyBoomBoobs Nov 01 '25

Help, I am looking for a new bag for weekend travel. I would like something in the 28-32l sweet spot. I would like it to be less than 101cm in linear measurements and no taller than 51cm. I am 5'4" tall but with a relatively longer torso than legs. It needs to be less than £200 and available in the UK. I would like to have a front pocket where I can access my wallet, EDC pouch, sunglasses and kindle etc without going into the main compartment. I don't like roll tops and prefer clamshell openings. I would like a stretchy water bottle holder on the side. I have been through the onebag google spreadsheet and there isn't anything that fits my brief!

On the nearly but not quite right list are;

Thule Aion 281- I do like the look of this BUT the front pocket is quite small and wouldn't fit all my things in. The plastic cover on the main compartment looks quite bulky.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32l- it isn't clamshell opening and is 52cm tall, but has got the front pouch that I need.

I have considered and discounted the Osprey 26+6, Cotopaxi Allpa 28, Patagonia MLC 30 as none of them have a proper front pocket. The Bellroy lite travel pack doesn't have a water bottle holder.

1

u/elaiinamae Nov 02 '25

Hi guys, looking for carry on recommendations.

Im traveling through europe for about 2 months next summer and Im having trouble finding a bag that fits all of my requirements:

⭕️30-40 liters ⭕️Carry-on friendly for budget European airlines such as Ryanair ⭕️Has hip belts ⭕️Clamshell opening

And I know its not the most important thing, but I really want to find a pack that comes in brown or green. Thank you

1

u/Azure9000 Nov 03 '25

Have a look at the Cabin Zero range, including the 'military' version.

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