Choosing a travel backpack is really hard, and I still haven't found one I love, so mostly for my own reference I wrote a long post with thoughts on pretty much every travel backpack out there https://christianselig.com/2024/04/choosing-a-backpack-is-hard/
@christianselig You have excellent taste and requirements. Especially appreciating useable water bottle pockets! Mine are nearly the same except having to fit underneath the seat in front on me and not overhead (long story involving regional jets) is a must.
I’ve settled on 2:
Osprey Comet 30L (previous version, although new version appears to be fine): a little flimsy, not a clamshell, so packing cubes, it’s pretty awesome. (1/2)
Topo Designs Core Pack 25L (discontinued): I got it cheap and it’s fantastic for laptop+clothes+water bottle and not much else. The fabric is a little rough.
I hope you keep us updated on what you find next. (2/2)
@christianselig Oh my, that Dragonfly is an interesting bag.
One bit about the Core Pack: I really think Topo screwed up not making a slightly bigger version of it with some different orientation for the pockets, and some better back mesh kind of thing.
@christianselig i’ve got a Wandrd Prvke (well two; 21L for weekend trips, 11L for daily use) and am a fan. not sure about the 41L you referenced though
my notes: roll top vs zipping the sides down works super well for me to store stuff vs to get laptop out without opening completely. lots of small pockets to store things, and velcroable material on the side well, and the side zip pocket into main pouch makes it easy to store bulky or oddly shaped whatevers that i need along the way.
@christianselig Fair point - I guess most backpacks have this problem, although the Synik has it a bit worse.
An attachment to one of the straps on the front would be preferable
@christianselig Kinda interesting that you use packing cubes/tech pouch for most things but also want a built in laptop/ipad holder. Why not go full modular and get a laptop sleeve like the Tom Bihn cache? Seems like most bag makers either lean towards black hole or modular. Finding one in the middle seems tricky.
@joshwayne It's mostly just easy access, I like to be able to grab the laptop quickly at the airport to watch something or get some work done, but I'm not often grabbing t-shirts or something
@christianselig I get that. Though I use the cache and I just unzip the top to get my laptop in and out on the plane. It functions like a laptop compartment but with the added benefit of removing it when I don't bring my laptop.
@joshwayne Ah fair, I find in most of the bucket style bags if I just put my laptop on top of the pile of clothes and cubes it feels weirdly aggressive on the laptop (especially when trying to close a really stuffed bag), and if I put it on the bottom it's a pain to access. I'm really hoping Tom Bihn makes a Technonaut 40 with a good water bottle holder
@christianselig That would be a good improvement. I'm a huge fan of my pilot messenger bag. The separate water bottle compartment in the middle of the bag is everything I didn't know I needed
@christianselig I used a couple of the Peak Design bags and as mentioned already very hight quality but on the hefty side indeed. I discovered not long ago the Haize Project back packs - have a peak, you may like it 😀
Can also have a welcome -15% with code “LOKAN15” (wink wink @lokan )
@NotGoret@lokan I wish there were more videos of this! Looks like a spiffy bag, just scant on details. Not a super big fan of how it opens though, wish it opened all the way like a true clamshell
@NotGoret@lokan They're super cool looking bags but I just wish they did a normal opening haha. Seems you're stuck between either a roll top or a half clamshell
@christianselig do you think you could add images next to each backpack? Functionality is important, but I feel like pure aesthetic also matters a lot when it comes to bags.
Also great article! Love these sorts of "I spent too many hours researching this topic and now I want to write about it"
@christianselig I've heard the Camino is their bigger Dragonfly, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Plus it's got a big ol' logo on it. I like little to no branding personally.
@christianselig I’m a big Nomatic fan. Have 2 of their bags: and EDC and a Weekend Trip version (rocking right now). Holds my MBP and iPad + plenty of other tech accessories.
I did some cursory research on Reddit ManyBaggers and OneBag forums. I assume you work from home. It's just not convenient to combine an everyday bag with a travel bag. Two entirely different use cases. I got the Tom Bihn Synik and returned it for the same reason you mentioned - no external water bottle holder. Eventually got an Alpaka Elements for my everyday bag and decided to just carry the samsonite carry-on luggage if I travel. Keeps things simple for me.
@sankara If you do the every day bag right it works pretty well. I can shove a super minimal Aer Go Pack 2 in my Osprey and it takes up next to no room, but is a nice go bag at the destination with some padding for a laptop
@christianselig I should have mentioned…. With my 15” MBP, iPad, office supplies (main bag) and 1 night worth of stuff in the overnight bag, it fits under ~50-75% of airplane seats (little boxes, and other crap blocks the others) 🍻
@christianselig I have quite a few of those. And I really can’t justify why but I always seem to be coming back to the peak design 45L. It’s hefty, but it does collapse down pretty well and the side access, for me at least, is just so nice
@christianselig this is excellent, thanks for sharing. I’m a huge fan of my Goruck for most travel, but there’s room in my life for something slightly lighter/smaller/sleeker that’s still in the “travel bag” realm. I’ll be studying your list hard before my next trip.
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