Backpack Recommendations

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Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,545
242
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I'm looking for sort of an all-rounder backpack. I ordered the Osprey Nebula which is perfect except for one thing - the straps cut into my shoulder muscles/neck rendering it very uncomfortable, so it's going back.

Looking for
- preferably all matte black, or nearly all matte black; not shiny black
- water bottle holder, 2 preferred
- small pocket at top, small organization pocket for things like pens, big main compartment, separate padded laptop compartment big enough for thinkpad x1 carbon
- large enough to be used as a weekend bag; ~30l capacity
- ventilation for back would be nice
- comfortable!
- do not want a million straps so it's a plus if any extra straps are removable without using a pair of scissors

After the Osprey Nebula failure, I'm eyeing the Swissgear 2700. Unfortunately, they don't have free returns so I want to explore other options.

Any suggestions?
 
Dr. Detroit

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,385
821
126
Try Thule - I was surprised how comfortable their backpacks are. Not sure if you want a hiking backpack or city pack.

For hiking, my must haves in daypacks are chest & waist straps + ultra lightweight. My Mountain Hardwear pack is a 28L but feels much larger as it only has one giant pocket so great for hiking but terrible for laptops. My Gregory day pack at 23L feels smaller and is much heavier but its floating suspenion makes it ultra comfortable.

Not a fan of Ogio - their backpacks are really heavy.
 
H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,545
242
106
Dr. Detroit said:
Try Thule - I was surprised how comfortable their backpacks are. Not sure if you want a hiking backpack or city pack.

For hiking, my must haves in daypacks are chest & waist straps + ultra lightweight. My Mountain Hardwear pack is a 28L but feels much larger as it only has one giant pocket so great for hiking but terrible for laptops. My Gregory day pack at 23L feels smaller and is much heavier but its floating suspenion makes it ultra comfortable.

Not a fan of Ogio - their backpacks are really heavy.
Click to expand...

looking for an everyday/work/travel backpack.

I have an osprey stratus 32 and osprey talon 22 for hiking.

I didn’t see anything at Thule the struck my fancy.
 
GrumpyMan

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,780
265
136
What a coincidence, looking for one for a volley ball pro 12 year old daughter who is not gentle on most things she owns these days, so it's gotta hold up to some giddy up and go. Any suggestions? The ones shown so far look good.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,071
9,484
126
GrumpyMan said:
What a coincidence, looking for one for a volley ball pro 12 year old daughter who is not gentle on most things she owns these days, so it's gotta hold up to some giddy up and go. Any suggestions? The ones shown so far look good.
Click to expand...

Amazon.com : Military Outdoor Clothing Molle Assault Previously Issued ACU G.I. Molle Assault Pack, Camouflage : Gateway

Amazon.com : Military Outdoor Clothing Molle Assault Previously Issued ACU G.I. Molle Assault Pack, Camouflage : Gateway
www.amazon.com
 
H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,545
242
106
I stopped by Office Depot and took a look at the Thule Narrator 31l. It seems very small for 31l, but it checked all the boxes and was on sale for only $52 so I snagged it. After loading it up at home with about 10 lbs of stuff, I feel it digs into me the same way the osprey does, but maybe not quite as bad. I’ll give it a few days but I think it’s going back.
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Herr Kutz said:
I stopped by Office Depot and took a look at the Thule Narrator 31l. It seems very small for 31l, but it checked all the boxes and was on sale for only $52 so I snagged it. After loading it up at home with about 10 lbs of stuff, I feel it digs into me the same way the osprey does, but maybe not quite as bad. I’ll give it a few days but I think it’s going back.
Click to expand...
I didn't see this thread until now. I picked up a Burton bag a few years ago for like $40...I liked the looks of it and it was cool because it was Burton. I use it as my commuter bag now and even take 3-4 day plane trips with just that bag...but it's likely 25L. It appears to be similar to this:


They have larger packs up to 31L, but the design has a flap over the top. I'm not a fan of that style. I really dig the style/look of what I linked in Black. I'm 6'4", 225 and like how my pack feels. I can't say how it compares to the ones they make now.

This one runs 40L:

Amazon.com : Burton Booter Pack, True Black New, One Size : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Burton Booter Pack, True Black New, One Size : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
Might wanna check out Kelty. I have one for hiking though I haven't used it yet, it's just sitting in my closest filled with camping stuff. I fail. I got the recommendation from nutnfancy on YouTube who has done a lot of hiking/camping.

I also have a Maxpedition backpack, the Entity 23, for just casual stuff; I take it when traveling and carry it on the plane. It's not very big but fits my Surface Pro and books and stuff when I'm traveling. It was a little pricey (Maxpedition stuff ain't cheap but it's really well made) but I may have gotten it on a deal/sale, don't remember.
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
clamum said:
Might wanna check out Kelty. I have one for hiking though I haven't used it yet, it's just sitting in my closest filled with camping stuff. I fail. I got the recommendation from nutnfancy on YouTube who has done a lot of hiking/camping.

I also have a Maxpedition backpack, the Entity 23, for just casual stuff; I take it when traveling and carry it on the plane. It's not very big but fits my Surface Pro and books and stuff when I'm traveling. It was a little pricey (Maxpedition stuff ain't cheap but it's really well made) but I may have gotten it on a deal/sale, don't remember.
Click to expand...
I used to have a Kelty pack that had a camelbak built-in. I got it from Nissan for test-driving a XTerra back in the day... It was a little thin compared to the heavy North Face packs I used to take on hikes, but was a decent pack. Kelty got pretty popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. I think I threw it out because I had maybe 10 packs at one time that I didn't ever use.
 
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JM Aggie08

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,303
913
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Ebags ftw. I currently have this model -- highly recommend it. It's super low profile, high quality, and has a ton of space/utility. The water bottle pouch is on the side, and remains zipped up unless in use.
 
NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
7,860
352
126
I have a Gregory Baltoro, and it is super comfortable. Granted, it is 75l, but I'm sure they make smaller models.
 
NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
7,860
352
126
Scarpozzi said:
I used to have a Kelty pack that had a camelbak built-in. I got it from Nissan for test-driving a XTerra back in the day... It was a little thin compared to the heavy North Face packs I used to take on hikes, but was a decent pack. Kelty got pretty popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. I think I threw it out because I had maybe 10 packs at one time that I didn't ever use.
Click to expand...

ha, I bet I have the same Kelty pack. I can't remember the model name, but it's a little red/black daypack I got around 1999-2000 for test driving something or other. It's held up real well over the past 20 years.
 
brainhulk

brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
9,376
454
126
Guard dog pro shield

Bulletproof Backpacks | GUARD DOG SECURITY

Order the first multimedia bulletproof backpacks, the Proshield II series. Tested and certified against .44 magnum and .9 millimeters bullets. 888-800-8440.
guarddog-security.com guarddog-security.com

I have owned it for prob 2 years, using it everyday. Still looks brand new with no wear
 
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,242
2,703
126
anyone here among you backpack aficionados know of a backpack (not rucksack i.e hiking pack, but rather school backpack) that latches in the front ? kinda like a belt or a 4-point seatbelt?
I need it for bike riding, can't have that stuff slipping.
 
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