Goruck GR-1.
Benefits:
- Padded laptop compartment helps keep laptop safe and easy access
- Built like a tank, will last forever (made in USA!)
- Outer and Inner organization pockets
- Panel loading, can be fully opened by a side zip and easy to pack/unpack
- Big enough for multi-day travel. I have used it as a carry on pack for upto 7 days (did laundry on the road).
- Discreet enough (black) and fits into a corporate env without looking too tactical
Have no affiliation with GoRuck, am a happy customer
Haha exactly what I thought. I might be overly frugal, but I'm currently using a $50 backpack that I bought at REI in 2009 (!!) and it still works perfectly, just barely showing signs of wear. I use it every single day for my daily commute to carry food/books/laptop/etc, and on weekends for trips and hikes, to carry water and food.
Maybe I also have a habit of treating my belongings too nicely: most of my acquaintances break a phone on average every year, and they also replace screens so many times.
My iPhone 6S, bought in 2015, it's basically brand new cosmetically, and I literally live on my phone, averaging probably at least a couple hours a day of usage while on public transportation.
Ditto. I've been using a GR1 for seven years now. It's been through multiple GORUCK events as well as countless flights and road trips. When it gets dirty or starts to show sweat stains if I've been training with it a quick trip to the car wash and it's clean again. Without question one of the most versatile and resilient items that I own.
I too have no affiliation with the maker.
Edit: I literally have a closet full of mission-specific packs. Ice climbing, backcountry skiing, multiday hiking, rock climbing, speed ascents, etc. The GR1 isn't suited to any of those things. But it's ideal as a multi-purpose EDC that will literally not wear out in a human's lifetime.
i bought a GR2 a few years ago and it's the best backpack i've ever owned. it's a pleasure to use. i promise i'm not a shill, it really is an exceptional product.
it looks attractive, bears weight far more comfortably than any other pack i've ever owned, it's easy to clean, it's waterproof, and the ability to open flat means that it's easy to pack very densely. i was able to live out of my 26L pack for nearly a week, and it goes with me wherever i travel.
the MOLLE straps are functional, and i strap my water bottle to them all the time. gotta be careful to avoid that overly tacticool look though!
i'm a total fanboy since my purchase -- the high price point was definitely worthwhile.
I love that there's no wasted space to "organization". I found all my backpacks wasted so much space with padded pockets I didn't need. The benefits of being able to customize with packing cubes or molle attachements allow this bag to carry more than bags larger than it.
I always recommend Deuter. Lovely back systems and true life-time service. My 20year old cross-air cycling pack looks like new, despite its abuse. All the fittings are super tough and they well replace under warranty I'm told.
I had one of those, and I ended up selling it because it was too big, and one of my personal failings is that I will fill bags. So with a big bag, it's always full and heavy.
I went to a smaller Osprey model, I got on sale, but holy hell I have nothing but nice things to say about the TB build quality.
Plus, unlike GoRuck, no troublesome tactical aesthetic.
It's great for commuting: fits large laptops in sleeve, has space for 2 mugs on each side (coffee and water), and has 2 support straps (chest and waist). It's also good for hiking and travelling. I've had mine for 4.5 years and it still going strong.
Whoa, so I do like the Wirecutter link just because first you have to identify your needs. Then you have to identify your budget and what else is important to you. I have a lovely Swiss Guard laptop (and more) backpack I use every day, but I also have a $10 Best Buy thin and light backpack that is perfect for my ultrabook when I'm heading to Dungeons and Dragons. I see these $400 recommendations, and I think - OK if money is no object and you have some sort of really high end needs that fit the bill, that might make sense. But is that you?
I used a Booq backpack (not the one they currently sell) for the better part of a decade before the internal wood pieces broke. I used it for days in a wide variety of environments and it was excellent. Internal space was a bit limited at times, but it was professional looking and fairly water resistant.
The $10 Amazon Basics backpack. Laptop sleeve, big hole that has straps for my back for everything else. Small pocket in front with zipper. So far lasted 4 years in the rain and weather with its thin cordura. Why complicate things?
For regular laptops my Togo Designs daypack works really well. It's been my daily backpack as well as through rainy bus stops and out hiking with no show of wear.
Been using Incase Halo Courier Backpack every day for about a year. Super handy and always seems to fit what I need. However I ended up buying a couple of small bags to keep things organized as it's just one large compartment.
Thule Covert
- Laptop Sleeve
- Remove-able DSLR Camera Insert
- Ability to separate top and bottom components
- Water resistant
The bag is a bit on the heavy side (5lb), and a bit on the pricy side ($180), but I absolutely love it. Use if every day for almost 2 years. Laptop, Work, Photo Gigs, Groceries, Bike Commuting, etc.
5.11 Rush24. I bought it for travel, it doesn't even have a laptop compartment. But all my laptop backbacks, some fancier than others, fell apart and I've just defaulted to using this instead as it will not die. The compartment design also turns out to be perfect, even though I've owned a lot of other bags that are more "clever". I've used the accessory loops to add a drink holder for a 1 liter bottle which otherwise is a rare option on a bag.
Pretty open-ended question! I bought an Osprey Flapjack Pack [0] in a rare impulse buy while I was at an event that happened to be selling them. I didn't know anything about them, except it seemed pretty sturdy, comfortable and I was in the market for a new backpack. That was in 2015, and it still looks new. I like that it has an orange lining inside, which makes it really easy to find things.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 169 ms ] threadHave no affiliation with GoRuck, am a happy customer
I used to go through a bag every 2-3 years so it speaks to the build quality of the the GR-1 that it still looks this good.
Maybe I also have a habit of treating my belongings too nicely: most of my acquaintances break a phone on average every year, and they also replace screens so many times.
My iPhone 6S, bought in 2015, it's basically brand new cosmetically, and I literally live on my phone, averaging probably at least a couple hours a day of usage while on public transportation.
I too have no affiliation with the maker.
Edit: I literally have a closet full of mission-specific packs. Ice climbing, backcountry skiing, multiday hiking, rock climbing, speed ascents, etc. The GR1 isn't suited to any of those things. But it's ideal as a multi-purpose EDC that will literally not wear out in a human's lifetime.
it looks attractive, bears weight far more comfortably than any other pack i've ever owned, it's easy to clean, it's waterproof, and the ability to open flat means that it's easy to pack very densely. i was able to live out of my 26L pack for nearly a week, and it goes with me wherever i travel.
the MOLLE straps are functional, and i strap my water bottle to them all the time. gotta be careful to avoid that overly tacticool look though!
i'm a total fanboy since my purchase -- the high price point was definitely worthwhile.
I think it looks great. It's well built, and should last me my lifetime (if looked after)
Prior to that, Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L.
Personally, I have the Wandrd Prvke 31 but who knows if that fits your requirements
I use it every day and it goes pretty much everywhere with me, and doubles as a good sized carry on when I fly.
I went to a smaller Osprey model, I got on sale, but holy hell I have nothing but nice things to say about the TB build quality.
Plus, unlike GoRuck, no troublesome tactical aesthetic.
It's great for commuting: fits large laptops in sleeve, has space for 2 mugs on each side (coffee and water), and has 2 support straps (chest and waist). It's also good for hiking and travelling. I've had mine for 4.5 years and it still going strong.
If you want some backpack recommendations you should go to /r/onebag
https://topodesigns.com/collections/backpacks/products/daypa...
Waterproof, well made, roll-top (you can cram things in if you need to without worrying about stretching zippers), holds a laptop well, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VJA0RWQ/ref=oh_aui_sear...
The bag is a bit on the heavy side (5lb), and a bit on the pricy side ($180), but I absolutely love it. Use if every day for almost 2 years. Laptop, Work, Photo Gigs, Groceries, Bike Commuting, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Thule-Covert-DSLR-Rolltop-Daypack/dp/...
[0] https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/flapjack-pack-FLPJKPACK...
https://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=18&Sub=75&PID=8446