Commuting - Best Commuting Backpack?

Looking for a ~30liter (that's 1800 cu) pack for commuting; ideally holds U lock, flashing bike light permanently attached and has good padded web belt. Any ideas? And yes, I have tried panniers, but I prefer the pack. I am pretty skeptical of the mes bags.

Thanks in advance.

arkel bug

Pearl Izumi Velocipak is definitely worth a look. I have been using one going on three commuting seasons and it is holding up extremely well. It is designed with specific cycling features in mind, and the actually work. Just google it or find it at the PI website and see what you think.

I have my eye on this one. http://www.chromebags.com/ivan.php A bit spendy but waterproof and supposedly indestructable. It's just short of the size you need, but the Sultan is significantly bigger than what you need. Here it is. http://www.chromebags.com/sultan.php Everything I've read says these are very comfortable, too.

I've also read some good things about the Ortlieb Messenger. It is also very durable and waterproof and doesn't cost quite as much.http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=4810296&parent_category_rn=4500844&vcat=REI_SEARCH

I have a Gap bag with a single strap. It's a little small but the convenience of the single strap and ability to just rotate around to front for access is great. Strap has a d buckle for ease in putting on and off. If I could find a slightly larger one with a bungee net for lid would be cool.

There was just a long thread on this very subject. It should answer your questions and can be found here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=216486&highlight=deuter

I'm also looking for a backpack right now that's around 25-30L. I want the style that keeps your back dry by suspending the load slightly above your back. So I guess messenger style backpacks are out. Here's the ones that I'm considering.


Osprey Stratos 24 (1500cu.in / medium) and (1700cu.in / large)
http://www.ospreypacks.com/packs/24/Stratos24/

Deuter Futura 28 AC (1700cu.in)
http://www.deuterusa.com/futura28.html

Ortlieb Flight 27 (1648cu.in)
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=135&cid=2

Vaude Bike Alpin Air 25 + 5
http://www.vaude.de/hps/client/vaude/public/vdshop/katalog_production_bag.hbs/WCKjjeDRdtTFrqaaJsSArzPrTc@@NP2qDh1QyIedRDCefh?hxmain_object_id=VDSHOP::CMI24::1858&hxmain_category=vaude_article_cms_endkunde::vdcms::vaude::/produkte/1/1658/1852/1853/1858


I'm leaning toward getting the Osprey Stratos 24 since it comes in a size large and I'm 6'4". The Deuter Futura 28 AC didn't have a lot of features and seemed to short for my torso. The Ortlieb Flight 27 seems like a good choice if your doing a lot of riding in the rain, but it's pricey. The Vaude Bike Alpin Air 25 + 5 is a cycling specific backpack, but may not be available in the USA. I emailed Vaude and they said www.libertymtn.com was there distributor here, but none of the cycling backpacks are shown on there website. If anyone has experience with any of the above backpacks please let me know.

Timbuk2 Pro Series Backpack

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/messengerbags/timbuk2-probackpack/index.html

I'd check out http://www.campmor.com for there selection of Mountain Smith bags. I just got the Cairn II and it has 1L camelpak, raincover, waterproof zippers, great waist pad, and the amazing mountain smith lifetime guarantee. Campmor has most bags cheaper than bidding on ebay too.

please see my response in this thread for the best commuter back pack

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=232210


edit: zppelingk

Check out this summary of messenger bags

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/messengerbags/

LL Bean Super Deluxe

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=38084&sc1=Search&feat=sr

been using it for about a year now and it's great... lots of pockets to hold everything you need, a back panel to keep sweat off your back, and even a reflective strip on the front for nighttime visibility

Pearl Izumi Velocipak is definitely worth a look. I have been using one going on three commuting seasons and it is holding up extremely well. It is designed with specific cycling features in mind, and the actually work. Just google it or find it at the PI website and see what you think.
I haven't found any descriptions or pictures of the mounting system. Does the Velocipak have a waistbelt? Is it designed to help keep your back from getting too sweaty?

Osprey Focus http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/DaytoolPacks/Focus/

1800 cu in in med/large size. It's designed as a combo hiking/urban pack. I have found it to be extremely comfortable for hiking and bike commuting. It does not have a padded waistbelt, however it has a plastic framesheet + contoured shoulder straps, and for the loads I carry it's fine. Has padded laptop/hydration sleeve, clip-in patches for blinkies, cell phone pocket, pocket for 1 quart water bottle.

I like my Banjo Brothers Commuter backpack.

Holds a change of clothes, a towel, and my lunch with room to spare. Waist and sternum straps so it stays in place.

I just got the Banjo Brothers Commuter Backpack in the mail yesterday and it looks awesome. It is a little smaller than you are lookng for, 1500 cubic inches, but seems to still have a lot of room. I will be putting a review of it up on my site on May 15th.

My "Adventure" pack from Wingnut (http://www.wingnutgear.com/), IIRC, is about 1600 (almost 1800, close enough?) and is awesome. I've sung its praises here many a-time, even a week or two ago (hint: search, dang it!).

I have an REI Traverse pack that works pretty well.

I don't use a backpack, but I have a Banjo Bros rack trunk that's really nice. I'd check out their backpacks if I was going to go that route (which I won't because I'd rather let the bike carry the gear. Just my preference. No flames, please.)

I haven't found any descriptions or pictures of the mounting system. Does the Velocipak have a waistbelt? Is it designed to help keep your back from getting too sweaty?
I recently bought a Velocipak. To answer my own questions, yes it has a good waistbelt, with thin padding over the hips. The buckle is off to one side which is more comfortable when bent over in riding position.

The back has a strip of padding in the middle, which provides enough contact area for stability but also allows some room for airflow. My back still gets sweaty, but over less area than other backpacks I've used. The shoulder straps are wide and thinly padded, very comfortable. The size (~1600 cu. in.) is just about right for me, and the pack is pretty light weight. The large side pockets allow for more capacity, and have compression straps to secure the contents.

A few complaints though. The rain cover does not appear to be at all waterproof. I haven't used it in the rain yet, but I did a quick test this morning by holding a water bottle upside down against the rain cover fabric and water seeped right through. The seams of the rain cover seem cheaply done (not flatlock), though ample seam sealer will probably make them more or less water tight. I'll have to try some spray-on coating to make the rain cover workable. This is a big disappointment.

Also the bungy system for holding a bike helmet doesn't work very well - my helmet either pops out the top or works its way through the gaps in the bungy.

My "Adventure" pack from Wingnut (http://www.wingnutgear.com/), IIRC, is about 1600 (almost 1800, close enough?) and is awesome. I've sung its praises here many a-time, even a week or two ago (hint: search, dang it!).


+1

Not only does it hold a lot. It has plenty of extra places to lash stuff you might not want to jam inside the bag. And it rides nice and low on your back for comfort cycling. Not the best designed pack for hiking, but the best design I have tried for cycling.

-D

I love my Banjo Brother's Commuting Backpack. I can't say enough good things about it. Here's a review I wrote on my blog (http://fanster.net/2007/06/08/banjo-brothers-commuter-backpack/).

This bag has only gotten more comfortable the longer I use it. I like that it has a side pocket made just for a bike lock. It's not as easy to get into like my messenger bag, but for commuting, it's better and much more comfortable.

arkel bug

+1