My cheap no-name Chinese backpack is finally falling apart, after over 20 years of absolutely solid service.
I want something that will last at least another 20 years, will hold a modern 16" laptop (e.g. Macbook), and will also let me toss a pair of jeans and light jacket in, when I ride home from work in the spring and fall afternoons.
I’d like to avoid American brands if possible.
Looked online at the SwissGear 5698 and Endure, but don’t know how well they’re built, or if they’ll hold my junk.
Any recommendations?
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I think this bag might be what you’re looking for. Solid bag.
Saw the bag for two seconds, horrible thing by the way, and then got this, which is pretty incredible.Oh that makes the joke even better.
Is that a parody site? It can’t be real, can it?
Funny
Pretty sure that humor isn’t gonna land here. But I tried.
I have a Hedgren backpack and it’s lasted through the toughest of outdoor drinking trips and daily use for more than 30 years.
I’d suggest them, but I have no idea whether the company has the same values anymore and if the new backpacks are even comparable.
Hedgren looks great - the “Trip” might be the perfect backpack!
…except that they apparently aren’t sold in Canada. :-(
Cactus outdoor.
I had one for around 9 years. It got stolen, not sure how long they last, but there are ones in the wild that are over 30.
The Wenger Swiss Gear backpacks are tanks. I’ve had 3 over the past 20-ish years. If you buy them from the company website, or Amazon I think, they come with a 10-year warranty. I can’t remember the model I have, but I don’t think they make it anymore. I see someone else with one every time I fly somewhere for work. Very popular among road warriors.
I also buy swissgear, but my use is light enough that my latest one is basically mint condition going on 7 or 8 years I think. It holds my laptop/overnight stuff, so just holidays and the odd camp trip
Mine is basically my office. I think the heaviest I’ve had it was close to 40 lbs! It’s usually around 30 lbs when I’m traveling for work.
I’ve been using an Ortlieb Commuter for over a decade. No issues whatsoever.
I’ve got a millican backpack that seems like it’s going to last to the end of time. I’m pretty sure it’ll hold all your stuff and then some. I’ve been using it daily for maybe 10 years and it has no signs of wear beyond looking dirty.
https://homeofmillican.com/products/smith-the-original-roll-pack-25l
Another pack I have for bike commuting is a ortlieb commuter. It’s waterproof, light, and probably an even better bag but for me it’s drawback is no outside water bottle pocket. It’s also tough as nails. I accidentally ran it over with my wife’s car once and it didn’t hurt it at all.
https://us.ortlieb.com/products/commuter-daypack?variant=45082296287410
Millican is heavier and has smaller dedicated padded laptop pocket but more organization overall. Ortlieb for lighter potentially wet situations and has organizational insert with laptop pocket. Both comfy to wear.
If you’re going to be riding a bicycle, then I highly recommend using a pannier - being able to carry stuff on the bike as opposed to on the body is fantastic.
I need it for general commuting - on the train, walking, and also biking. I just mentioned the bike because of the need for clothing space. In Spring, it might be +5 in the morning (need something on my arms and legs) and +25 in the afternoon (shorts and short sleeves baby!).
You could look to pannier/backpack hybrids, these may be appropriate for your use-case. Personally, I solve this issue by having two different bags - a pannier for cycling and a backpack for other times.
Panniers can come in pretty large sizes, I’m usually able to accommodate a laptop + accessories + a change of clothes. Pannier racks fit two of them, so you can always double the carrying capacity when it’s warranted.
@VibeSurgeon @swordgeek absolutely confirmed with decades of experience to back this up.
Definitely attach your luggage to your bike instead of yourself.
https://freitag.ch/en_CH/products/bags/backpacks
I am using a Freitag backpack (they don’t sell the one I own anymore). It is now 10 years old and it basically looks like new. They are made from old car/truck parts and very durable in my experience. Bit pricey though.
I’ve been using a Miltec for the past five or six years. Not pretty by commin standards but sturdy as fuck. The only thing broken on it is a clasp that I broke with a car door on accident. Bonus points for the molle system on it, so you can customize what compartments to attach
Can’t beat a Fjallraven Kanken Laptop 15. Additionally, I would suggest investing in a generic backpack organizer insert. My Kanken carries around my full “tech bugout” kit with lots of room to spare, which includes but is not limited to:
- Thick-ass Dell Rugged 5430 + power brick
- Hiby R4 DAP
- Koss Porta Pros
- Shokz OpenComm2
- Garmin GLO2 GPS
- NESTOUT 15000mAh bank
- Field notebook + Majohn A2 Retractable + Uni Kuru Toga Roulette
- An assortment of other goodies, such as screen wipes, a few sets of nitrile gloves, disposable masks, etc.
Kanken backpacks are 10/10 on the style front and SUPER lightweight, but those straps are a joke IMO.
Got one as a lightweight camera bag with similar insert, it’s perfect for short trips, would be a great commuter bag as long as your backpack is off for most of your commute.
Can easily toss it in the car and wear it from the parking lot to my desk. Would have died in college wearing it with a laptop and textbook walking for miles around campus every day.
For longer wearing those straps will drag you down.
Just got a Fjallraven Skule 28 for exactly this. I like it so far.
+1 for the Skule.
Fits everything I need, water bottle pockets are actually large enough to be useful (surpassingly difficult to find), and doubles as a hiking pack thanks to it’s built-in bladder suspension loop and hole for a tube at the top.
I have it in black and my wife got jealous and got it in green.
Looks great full or empty. I take it everywhere - work, travel, hiking, you name it.
