itschrisb

Im lookin to get a nice backpack. I would get a messenger bag but i dont need anywhere near that amount of space. Im mostly going to be using this when i ride to work to carry my clothes, lock, tools/spare parts, a drink or two, and thats about it. Maybe a pair of shoes. I want something that is going to make my back all sweaty bc thats the problem i have with my bag now. I was looking at the Banjo Brothers bc of the price but not sure if its what im looking for. I dont want to spend a ton of money. I really want to get the sealine urban backpack but im not sure if its too big. Anyone have that one? If you dont want to name bags can someone atleast name some brands. I know Chrome, Freigght(cant find a website), Banjo Bros, Ortlieb, Sealine, REI, Chicago Wig. Any others? Thanks

00soul

i have a chrome roll-top (ivan). i like it. good sized, the main pocket is supposed to be pretty water-resistant. nicely made.

itschrisb

Alright thanks, did you order it online?

00soul

no, i got it at kings bicycles in seal beach. but yeah, its really nice. padded well. it may get your back sweaty though

shapelike

I recently picked up a Crumpler Mahoubar pack ... I can fit about 3 bags of groceries in it if I really try, so that's about perfect for my needs. I's a pretty simple looking pack on the outside, which I like ... oh, and the waist strap is removable. I think there's four or five big pockets.

ZiP0082

itschrisb

I was looking at them, they are kind of pricey though. Thanks for the info bc i was wondering how big it was.

I found the Sealine Urban Backpack for 47.70 in light blue for the large one and i found the medium?? im guessing they mean small for 60 in orange. I think the large is going to be huge its 2,270 cu. in. The small one is 1037cu. in.

pax139

I use a camel pack and it is great. Rests nice and high on the shoulders and adjustable size. I take out the water bladder when I'm riding with it and then put it back in when I'm snowboarding.

Daft Monk

+

= Less back sweat

solbrothers

im using my old timberland backpack. from highschool. its small, yet holds a few tools, pump, and spare tubes and such.

i have a messenger bag, but it always sseems to slide in front of me while riding. i dont like it.

chris wielk

the chrome backpacks are pretty nice, you can fit a lot in them if need be (like a 30 pack in a medium) but they are really slim and low profile with only a few things. i think i may be picking up the new reload mid pack when it comes out. just don't get something thats too small, i bought a medium timbuk2 mess bag awhile ago and thought it was perfect for what i needed. then when winter came around and i had to throw in a few extra layers, plus school things, plus pump tubes tires etc it got a little tight. anything with compression straps is good because you can expand if need be but otherwise have a smallish bag.

lymbzero

the pink one.. YES!

miloC

banjo brothers. i'm ordering one. they aren't huge and they don't break the bank.

peabodypride

girl.bike.dog

kergin

The big problem with backpacks will be finding one which is water-proof or water-resistant. Most backpacks are designed to be carried by peds and peds carry umbrellas... Look into backpacks made my messenger bag companies like Chome or Ortlieb.

itschrisb

Yea i went a bike shop in NYC yesterday and they had the Ortleib Velocity and i liked it and from what ive heard its a great bag. Only downfall is there is only one compartment. Let me know how that banjo bros one is.

schnee

I second Crumpler's 'famous wine bar'. Awesome bag, lays flat when it's empty, extremely sensible pockets, super comfy even with full load. Like most backpacks, it doesn't help with back sweat much.

The best way to get rid of back sweat is with a 'suspended' backpack, i.e. an open mesh stretched over a metal frame like a trampoline. Those usually come from hiking manufacturers, and they aren't cheap. I have an Ortlieb Flight (which I absolutely love). A buddy has a Deuter, which he swears by also.

rhino18

Where in the world did you find the seal line for that price? I keep seeing them for 119.95

waveon

i have a mid chrome and really dig on it. I can fill it with my change of clothes, food, reading, etc and when i'm just out with, lets say a t shirt change or whatever, it isn't to big to where it is a circus. it is a bit on the heavy side though, but comfortable. i wouldn't have gone smaller and the size up is huge, mine is just right.

cmogi10

How much stuff can you fit in this bag? I'm trying to decide if this is going to be big enough for me.

windup capybara

i have an ortlieb (don't know the model) and a freight backpack. I wouldn't recommend the freight to you. it's an amazing bag, so amazing that you probably won't use half of it (nor will I, although I'm trying). But, it's expensive, and huge, and really cushions around your back (to prevent it from moving around) which leads to a sweaty, sweaty back.

the ortlieb, on the other hand, has a foam "spine" on the back: two rows of cushions that suspend the bag about a half inch off your back, providing nice ventilation. true, the ortlieb is a one-pocket design, but mine came with a removable pouch to organize some smaller things, keys and pens and the like. other than that, it's a pretty narrow tube that rolls down at the top. i was put off by its uber-simple design at first, but its simplicity is the best part about it. if you need to, you can organze your stuff with smaller bag inserts (you can find see-through mesh bags used to organize camping gear). the best part about ortlieb, however, is that they are completely waterproof. not a drop of rain is going to get in your bag, and the bag itself is going to last years and years. well worth the hundred bucks i spent on it.

remember: you get what you pay for. err on the larger side and look for compression straps to reduce bulk when you're not using it.

jpdesjar

i want one too...good price

Surferbruce

Black Diamond Bullet pack. best smallish riding pack i've found.

chris wielk

if youre in new york city you should go to DQM, i was in there recently and they had a really nice SAG backpack.

Ride Among Us

I use the biggest orlieb bag. I like that you can put decals on it and they stay there. I abuse it, drop it, throw it, etc. and no rips or tears. It does have the spacers to keep it off your back, but your back will still get sweaty. If I want to go out with very few things i usea big fanny pack turned around backwards like a backpack and i have no sweat. I dont like the asymetrical-ness of messenger bags.