Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What’s the BEST Backpack you’ve ever owned?

HappyDude20

HappyDude20

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
3,688
1,479
Los Angeles, Ca
I’ve been using a backpack I hate for the past 6 months. It has 2 compartments, one for a MacBook and another for a notepad and both barely fit in it for the sake of thinness. The bag looks good but from a functional standpoint it is annoying. I abhor having to take anything inside or out.

I was considering purchasing the Hex skate pack, but only because it’s on sale and I have a gift card. Regular price is $100.

I then saw on eBay an Adidas backpack for sale for $30 and just by the pictures am confident I would enjoy it more than the current backpack I have.

I work a job that doesn’t require me to have a backpack or bag nor briefcase, but as a young 20-something I do like to have my MacBook Pro, iPad, Kindle and legal pad with me everywhere I go. And am open to suggestions. All suggestions.
 
I was given I assume, an inexpensive black Samsonite backpack that I infrequently use, but it’s good for brief local excursions. Then I have a smaller iPad bag with a shoulder strap which I mostly use for local outings. Usually on a trip I have a larger Travelpro bag with handles with double compartments and then the iPad bag goes in one side of that and by the larger bag’s straps, it gets slung over my carry on roller bag For aircraft travel.
 
I have a The North Face Access Pack that I like a lot that I'm currently using. I bought a Peak Designs Everyday Backpack that I thought I would like better, but I didn't. So, back to the Access Pack. If I were purchasing today, the Cote and Ciel Isar might the one I'd go with. The look of the backpack is very important to me, and is so subjective, so it's really hard for me to recommend any of these to anyone.
 
I use a leather backpack that is handmade, which I bought in central Stockholm a decade ago from the wife - who ran the leather goods business - of the person who had made it.
 
tobefirst said:
I have a The North Face Access Pack that I like a lot that I'm currently using. I bought a Peak Designs Everyday Backpack that I thought I would like better, but I didn't. So, back to the Access Pack. If I were purchasing today, the Cote and Ciel Isar might the one I'd go with. The look of the backpack is very important to me, and is so subjective, so it's really hard for me to recommend any of these to anyone.
Click to expand...

The north face access pack you mentioned looks sweet. As does the Cote and Ciel Isar one.
 
My green, run of the mill, cloth backpack that had pockets and zippers where I needed them. Great backpack, I used it right up to the point where some ****** got into my car with a screwdriver and took it.

The leather backpack I replaced that with, I still have, although I have never been totally happy with that one.
 
We have a few, our most recent was an Oakley Enduro 22, wanted something not super bulky, but still useful, it's built solid, lots of padded pockets for glasses, devices, interior isolation for a notebook and tablet, not super expensive.

I have an old school Oakley computer bag, hasn't been made for years, had people offer to buy off me when I used to use it for travel :D It's built like a tank, has this huge removable padded computer sleeve, massive buckles, I haven't used it for years, but won't ever get rid of it either :)
 
When I was in my 20s, I used to sport a bunch of Timbuk2 backpacks. Now that I'm a bit older, I find the design to be tacky for work. I then bought a leather backpack from Killspencer and never looked back. I have this one which has been incredibly useful daily (prior to the pandemic of course) and for travel.

killspencer.com

UTILITY SPECIAL OPS BACKPACK | KILLSPENCER®

MADE IN USA: Handmade in our Los Angeles HQ, our Utility Special Ops Backpack features the same streamlined silhouette as the popular Special Ops Backpack 3.0, now with additional zippered compartments for ultimate function as the best work backpack for men.
killspencer.com killspencer.com
 
For my every day pack to go to work (by car), I have a Targus CityGear 15 (or is it 16?) that is named for the size computer that will fit in the main compartment. I can fit both my personal 16" MBP (or my previous 15" when I used it) and my work-issued Dell Latitude 5490, my tablet and whatever other "stuff" I want to bring.

For lighter weight, such as when I went on a cruise last year or on a 5-day trip where I didn't want to bring my MBP, I grabbed a SwissGear 3598 that worked AWESOME for light carry. I could fit my camera bag in the bottom, two quart-size bottles of water, my tablet, headphones and various charging devices. I believe it would fit a 13" MBP in it as well but the 15" or 16" might be a squeeze.
 
I have a Nike backpack, somehow part of the Nike golf line, that was way ahead of its time. I got it with my “Nike credit” at my friend’s member-guest tournament in either 2006 or 2007. It has a big, lightly padded compartment for an iPad Pro or a small laptop. It also has several smaller compartments, including two with a hard frame around them for protecting fragile devices. Nike air padded straps provide nice cushion, as well.
 
I must be too old. Spending more than $100 on a stupid backpack is just so obnoxious to me. I realize that everyone has different priorities in life, different responsibilities, etc. But I've never gone into a Staples or OfficeMax store and not found at least 5 backpacks that would work for multiple devices for under $100. I've had great luck with SwissGear, but there are plenty out there. At the end of the day, it's a bag to carry s**t in.
 
MacGizmo said:
I must be too old. Spending more than $100 on a stupid backpack is just so obnoxious to me. I realize that everyone has different priorities in life, different responsibilities, etc. But I've never gone into a Staples or OfficeMax store and not found at least 5 backpacks that would work for multiple devices for under $100. I've had great luck with SwissGear, but there are plenty out there. At the end of the day, it's a bag to carry s**t in.
Click to expand...
Personally I’d rather spend what I need to and get a bag that lasts, than buying cheap. My work bag was listed at over £100 in the shop I saw it in. But I paid a lot less after an online search.
But I use it daily and it looks like the day I bought it despite being many years of service.
Buying cheap can often mean buying twice or even three times which isn’t a saving at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: compwiz1202, Scepticalscribe, MSastre and 1 other person
MacGizmo said:
I must be too old. Spending more than $100 on a stupid backpack is just so obnoxious to me. I realize that everyone has different priorities in life, different responsibilities, etc. But I've never gone into a Staples or OfficeMax store and not found at least 5 backpacks that would work for multiple devices for under $100. I've had great luck with SwissGear, but there are plenty out there. At the end of the day, it's a bag to carry s**t in.
Click to expand...

When I asked how long I could expect my leather (reindeer hide) backpack to last from the woman who sold it to me in Stockholm ten years ago - she owned the shop, her husband had made it - she replied coolly, "longer than you will".

I'll not deny that it was expensive - handmade leather, after all; however, it has already lasted me ten years, and Swedish friends - some of whom had inherited similar bags from their parents, who themselves had had them at university - told me that I could easily expect to get at least 30 years wear out of it.

Thus, worth every penny, or cent.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Apple fanboy
Scepticalscribe said:
When I asked how long I could expect my leather (reindeer hide) backpack to last from the woman who sold it to me in Stockholm ten years ago - she owned the shop, her husband had made it - she replied coolly, "longer than you will".

I'll not deny that it was expensive - handmade leather, after all; however, it has already lasted me ten years, and Swedish friends - some of whom had inherited similar bags from their parents, who themselves had had them at university - told me that I could easily expect to get at least 30 years wear out of it.

Thus, worth every penny, or cent.
Click to expand...
I would love to have a leather bag. But I go back to "it's just a bag." I've had my current SwissMade for over 10 years, it looks almost new, and I spent $49 on it—so it's hard for me to justify spending more just to satisfy my own vanity.

Life is tough when you're vain AND cheap! :confused: ;)
 
My all time favorite backpack :p

Has the chm mod, so my chems/stimpacks weigh 90% less
1598272329676.png
 
I used to be a messenger bag guy and the Waterfield Maverick is a fantastic messenger bag I've been very happy with. However, since I don't get younger I've started to develop back/neck pain when it's fully loaded, especially with a heavy water bottle in summer. Replaced it with a Briggs & Riley Medium Backpack. Love it, except, in heavy rain it's getting a little wet on the inside (and I mean HEAVY rain). Not an issue for the MBP, it looks like it's the zippers which are not 100% water proof. Happened twice since I bought it. Considering the price, I think it shouldn't happen. Otherwise it's a fantastic backpack, but if I'd have to buy again, I'd compare it to the Waterfield Pro Executive Laptop Backpack which wasn't available at the time and then make a decision.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back