BBP Industries Backpack or Level 8 Atlas backpack?

[ah6tyfour]

Hi everyone,

I am starting medical school in the fall and am starting to look into supplies. I am buying my first notebook and need a good sturdy backpack for it. I need something that looks professional, is very functional, and does not scream out "I have a laptop in here".

I am not buying a Mac, but my research into laptop backpacks have brought me to two bags that were made for Mac Books, so I thought I'd come to this forum to ask.

I've heard very good things about the BBP Industries bag and the Level 8 Atlas bag. Of the two, I've seen the Level 8 bag at the Apple Store. It seemed like a very well-built backpack. I have not seen the BBP bag, but trust all the people who say it's great. The Level 8 bag seems a lot heftier than the BBP.

The Level 8 bag ends up being $108 after tax while the BBP bag is $82 shipped.

Which is the better bag? The Level 8 bag is TSA-friendly, but I only travel 2-4 times a year so it's not a big deal. Neither bag has a bright inside lining (which I tend to like since my cords/cables are always black). The BBP bag seems to do a good job pretending it's not a laptop backpack.

They're both great bags so it probably just comes down to personal preference. I need to fit a 13.3" notebook, two textbooks, two spiral-bound notebooks, and plenty of pens/pencils.

I was also looking at the Brenthaven MetroLite backpack, but I've realized it won't fit all I need it to fit.

 

[SuperMatt]

I'm also looking for a new laptop bag. I am leaning towards one of the Slappa bags right now, but the BBP has me intrigued. It looks very generic, and appears to be less bulky than the level8 bag. Did you buy a bag yet? If so, what did you get?

 

[ah6tyfour]

I'm also looking for a new laptop bag. I am leaning towards one of the Slappa bags right now, but the BBP has me intrigued. It looks very generic, and appears to be less bulky than the level8 bag. Did you buy a bag yet? If so, what did you get?

I bought the BBP bag based on the good reviews. I'm not quite sure what to make of it yet, but I'm not in love with it. It really does a good job hiding the fact that a laptop is carried in there and it also does a great job carrying a ton of stuff without making the bag look bulky. I might not have adjusted it well, but I didn't feel like the backpack and i were "one". It's a great bag, but when I use it, I get the "what was all the fuss about?" feeling. It's a boring bag, but that's the reason I bought it. But it's a bit TOO boring. I'm thinking about having a patch sewn on where normal backpacks have their logos. But I've only used the bag for three days. I need a little more time to figure out if it can be my new bag. It might also be an excellent backpack that just isn't what I'm looking for.

I really want to give the Level 8 a try. It seems a lot more like what I need. I need basically a North Face backpack that looks classier than a North Face backpack. It has a lot more pockets and features that the BBP bag does not. It has organizer pockets for pens/iPod/etc. that I like.

I can't fault the BBP bag for any of the problems I listed (they're all "problems" personal to my situation), but the one real flaw is the lack of a smaller front compartment that can be opened up to reveal compartments for chargers, keys, pens, etc. Every backpack should have this feature and I'm quickly realizing I can't do without it.

 

[karatekidk]

I, too, was looking at BBP Industries pack and Level 8 Atlas last summer. Then I finally pulled the trigger and bought Atlas online. It's a really well made pack, for sure, though I ended up on returning it. The reason; it doesn't hold big water bottles and seemed like there wasn't enough space for books and stuff. I think that's the same for BBP.

After that, I went for the North Face On Sight (black color) and couldn't be happier. It has plenty of space for my books, has enough pockets and compartments, and holds my sigg and nalgene bottle.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/11/bag-week-reviews-the-north-face-on-sight-backpack/

 

[lamenramen]

The Level 8 Atlas is a blatant ripoff of the swiss gear lines of backpacks. I mean, it is virtually identical except for the styling. The straps, the bottom of the pack, the location of the pockets, the padding, the carrying handle, etc are completely identical but twice the price.

I should rephrase ripoff; it's possible that whoever the OEM is has allowed these components to be copied. But I take issue with the high price.