Backpack for daily use - Commuting/School

[DabsAlot]

Interested in getting a backpack I can use for commuting to school via motorcycle or bicycle. This would be for daily use packing school essentials: laptop, books, calculator etc. Performance and comfort off the bike, while walking around campus, will be as important as while on the bike. Practicality in carrying books and a laptop over 'soft gear' is important. Easy access to the contents will be important also, so I don't think the roll top bags are what I want.

I have been looking at the Kriega backpacks, but I don't know how practical they would be for books and a laptop, or practicality wise while not on the bike.

What do you recommend??

Or should I be looking for a messenger bag??

Steve

[tedder]

I dislike having any backpack on while motorcycling, except perhaps a CamelBak while riding offroad. A topcase works much better, and gives somewhere for you to store some of your riding gear while stopped.

That doesn't help much with your bicycle, unless you want to fit a Givi to the tail of it :-)

[kumori]

I have a North Face Base Camp Hot Shot backpack. It's the same material as the duffel, so it's pretty tough, and water resistant. Has laptop section, plus waist and sternum straps. You can put a hydration bladder in the laptop pocket instead of the laptop if you want. I put in a padded insert for my dslr and a lens. Can be found for $89 online, or at REI for $109ish.

[Snarky]

I really love my QuikSilver Ignite '12. I posted about it in another thread. I think it's great. Water resistant with tarp lined pockets. Fleece lined areas for delicate stuff. A laptop pocket that can also be a hydration pocket. And a dry bag for the main compartment, in case you need to ford a river. It's also comfortable. At slightly less than 100$, it's better than many 200-300$ bags I've bought in the past.

At school in the ignite I carry books and papers in the main compartment. External hard drive, laptop ac adapter, power inverter (for bike charging), and projector cables, in the side pockets. Graphing calc in the large back compartment. Pens, pencils, and highlighter in the smaller compartment. Sunglasses and ear buds in the Fleece pocket. Netbook and tablet in the laptop compartment.


http://www.zappos.com/product/790969...4?zfcTest=fw:1

I just found this one the other day, which is basically a dry bag the other day. I was thinking about ordering one to test it out.


http://www.zappos.com/quiksilver-sea...k?zfcTest=fw:1


If you are looking for giant and cheap yet -tough- nothing beats military style packs, like my multicam 3 day assault pack. It's certainly a bag of holding.

[DabsAlot]

I just checked out Zappos.com ....... holy cow there a ton of backpacks to chose from!

The last time I was in school I had an Eastland? backpack that was nylon with a leather bottom, it had one main compartment one external pocket...I used it every day packing my books to class whether I rode my bike or drove to class. I see things have improved since then!

Steve

[necrid]

I rode for a few years with my Kriega backpack, http://www.kriega.us/motorcycle-backpacks/. It is fantastic. You forget it is on; even on a 45 minute commute. Nothing beats a top case and sidebags, but the Kriega was the best I found after going through a ton of them.

[Floridalawdog]

Check out steepandcheap.com. They have a new deal every 30 minutes, and they are always putting up backpacks. Every type. Also messenger bags, etc. Everything is always at least 50 percent off.

[Chi-Ha]

I'm not big on using a back pack while riding either, but sometimes its necessary....
I have a North Face Heckler. Its on the big side, but has a pocket for a lap top, an mp3 player pocket with hole for earbud access.

What makes it good for the bike is the easy adjustability of the shoulder straps for On/Off over a bulky motorcycle jacket. Really is the high point for me.

http://images.productwiki.com/upload...ce_heckler.jpg

[RichBeBe]

IMO these are the best, fully water-proof and bullet-proof. I used one of their messenger bags for 8 years and it is perfect. Changed to a backpack a few months back and flawless and waterproof.
http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/packs.html

[cherrywaves]

Arcteryx. Flawless packs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[muga]

+ Kriega - great product

[tucsondude]

carrying a heavy as shit bag all day blows....
backpack on a bike blows...

go for a tank bag with shoulder straps. i used to use http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-Tank-Bag.aspx

could get a netbook, textbook, note pad, ti-83, thumb drive, and a 16oz, in there... if you need more buy a purse.

sorry cant help you with the bulky laptop. i used to rock a 17" laptop and a fancy backpack for it until it broke, then i went cheap light disposable and powerful enough netbooks. I could never compose on campus ever anyways unless i was in a computer lab, so didnt need the bigger screen.

otherwise any old back pack will do the job. supposedly lots of *motorcycle* back packs, fit more up on the shoulders and not on the lower back.

also nice to have a research/student aid job, and store your stuff in your cubicle, this also depends on what department/position.

this post probably does not help at all.

[Maxyb]

I use a no named brand waterproof backpack i bought from a cheap auto store.
a word of advice, get something that is 100% waterproof, i used a camping backpack with a rain cover and it was a royal PITA. this one i have now is so much better, it's made from the plastic that they use for dry bags.

to those who don't like backpacks, why not? (i have no issue carrying one, to the point if i use it for a few weeks on end and then ride without it it feels like i haven't got my seatbelt on or something)

[hrolf]

What are those packs that have rigid plastic or metal cases? They look vaguely like jetpacks.

[Snapper]

Originally Posted by Maxyb

to those who don't like backpacks, why not? (i have no issue carrying one, to the point if i use it for a few weeks on end and then ride without it it feels like i haven't got my seatbelt on or something)

It's a safety thing. A heavy, bulky thing attached to your body in that close proximity to your spine, I imagine, would not be a good thing in the unfortunate event of a get-off. Load your pack and try doing a forward/backward/sideward roll on a carpeted floor, ATGATT and all, and see how it feels.

I saw a YouTube Video of one guy that went down with a heavy pack (filmed by a following bike).... his body was practically *rotating around the pack* as he tumbled down the road. You could see his tumbling instinct trying to take hold, but his balance was completely thrown off by the weight of the pack and he more or less turned into a rag doll with his body seemingly protecting the pack from damage.

I'm also not a fan of strapping things to the rear seat or rack... too many stories of gear coming loose and jamming into the rear wheel, locking it up, or falling clean off without the rider knowing where.

I vote a tank bag with backpack straps.... but then again, I'm one who takes notice to which pocket he places his cellphone in.