BanjoBros all the way.

TOTALLY waterproof, solid design, and the BIGGEST reflective strips on the back you'll ever see. Also looks cool with any clothing.

I've been rockin' this on my 18 mile commute and it's been awesome.

Those are pretty sleek bags (the booqs). But more seems geared for an office professional with laptops, folders, etc that wants a very classy bag. Like those guys that get on the train and turn the opposite seat into an office. That is a good bag for them. I turn the opposite seat into a foot rest and go to sleep

Never realized how big of a business bags are. Something for everyone out there.

So this bag has 6 loops on the outside of it. Built in Ulock and umbrella holder Trying to figure out what else I can do with those loops. Umbrella is pointless since I would never use it. I guess with carabiners you could attach pretty much anything. Too bad there wasn't some across the top of the bag running horizontal also. Then could attach something long.

Was *very* close to getting a banjo brother. But this review is what killed it for me.

https://pedalmaniac.blogspot.com/2007...ck-review.html

Uncomfortable. With not being able to try them out 1st. You have to rely on the internet I guess. My lbs sells some banjo brothers items. I asked about the commuter packs and they said they would order a couple of each to see how they sell.

I have that one. except it's red and grey. You do not know how good the suspended mesh back is until you try it!
I can also stick in a hydration bladder when required.

I ride this and my commute is 50+KM (one way). I had an Obus Form backpack before and the deuter destroys it in comfort, durability, space and venting. I got it in the winter and the really felt the airstripes compared to my old backpack, I got the chills and had to add another layer under my Sugoi coat. In the summer, of course I get a sweaty back, I get that without a backpack, but it's still much better than other packs I've tried.

I don't use water bladders, that's what Camelback water bottles are for!

I still haven't seen any packs in this thread that have ALL of the nice features as the Dakine......even something as simple as a blinky light clip. I guess they expect you to poke a hole in your waterproof bag to run a ziptie through.

My grubstake has a blinky light loop. 6 of them in fact.

The banjo brothers have them (angled so when leaning forward on a road bike it actually points out). And so do the mission workshop bags.

The mission workshop backpacks are the most advanced bags out right now I think.

what kind of bag is this? looks great for me....

I disagree with the straps being too thin. I ride an hour commute each way, pretty hard, and I've never had any problems whatsoever with the straps. I forget the backpack is even there.

The weight issue can be an issue of you load it up though - it's a VERY roomy bag, and I can imagine it getting heavy quick if you load it up.

The one caveat that I think is legit is that if you're a skinny/narrow framed person (like a slender female rider), the straps may be too wide for you to wear comfortably. I'm not a big guy (I'm actually small), but I'm probably at the lowest limit of the bags - any smaller and the straps would be too wide for me.

Are you freakin kidding me??? $219 for the CHEAPER of the 2 backpacks? And an extra $25 for a hipbelt? Man they must be smoking some good stuff down in San Francisco. What's with the little elastic strap that's being used to hold a u-lock for a studio photo shoot? Will that hold out on the street? Can you access it without taking off the pack? I don't see an external water bottle pocket at all, much less one that can be used while on the bike.
No reflective strips. Skimpy shoulder strap padding. The back panel doesn't look like it vents very well either.
These are little details, but they add up quick, and show how "attentive to detail" a company really is. Putting together a halfa** pack, throwing some digital camo on it, and selling it for almost $250 is ridiculous. Their store must be next door to a shop that sells $400 penny loafers. I suppose if you want to be urban cool, and have your boutique bag to go along with your boutique $800 track rims, you'll gladly pay for it. For the rest of us who actually ride places for purpose and/or necessity, and need good quality gear at a good value, (um...recession?) we'll spend our money elsewhere. I'm going to take the $179 I saved by not buying this bag and go find me another vintage steel frame to build up. Thanks Mission Workshop!!

um....what?
i was asking diff what backpack was in the picture. i like it alot.

The mission workshop bags have 100% waterproof compartments. Your dakine claims to have "rain resistant construction" For example you have soaked dirty clothes, you can put them in a compartment and it won't effect the rest of the bag. And rain is not getting in as the compatments are all zippered. The vandal has 3 waterpr oof compartments.

Your dakine is 1600 cu in. The vandal is 1800 cu in and expands out to 4000 cu in. Over twice as large and normally carrying a bag no bigger than yours. It also has independent load adjustment straps. These bags are for carrying serious stuff. That elastic strap can be used to secure things to the outside of the bag. There is a video on youtube of a guy carrying a full bike in one of these bags.

Not sure why you would need a waterbottle holder in your bag. Put it on your bike or in your bag or attach it to the outside.

They also look nice. Nice stuff costs money. There is no comparison between a $40 bag and a $250 bag.

If it's enough for you, that is all that matters.

A 15 year old toyota camry is enough to get from point A to point B, doesn't mean "OMG my car has seats, 4 wheels, and a battery too, why would you pay 30k for a 2010 r32? I paid $2500 and my car does everything your car does"

I don't own a mission workshop bag. The bag I own costs $60. Its fine for me, but doesn't mean I think its better than a mission workshop bag.

The review was for the 2007 model. If you look at the comments in the bottom you'll see one of the Banjo Bros people replied saying they made the straps shorter and other comfort improvements in the 2008 model. I have a 2010 and I can't imagine the straps falling off your shoulders no matter how skinny you are. It is a big bag though, maybe too big for folks with small torsos. Anyway, the review was positive for the most part. I had read it before purchasing the bag and it didn't discourage me in the least. I did have the luxury of being able to try one on at a shop first. Being able to try them in person is what steered me away from the Ortlieb.

I do agree that it's not light. That waterproof liner adds a bit of weight. It's been the most comfortable thing I've used on my commute so far though.

I realized pat sometimes sells her bags (new) on ebay. If you look at the history, some people have gotten some amazing deals on bags. One got a brand new street bag for $40. That is nuts. Some have gotten new ultimate bags for well under $200 also.

Today there was few bags up there, one was a black ultimate with xstrap for $199 starting. I bid, but always with ebay the interested people come in the last 10-15 minutes and the price grew a bit. I think the guy got it for $240. Still $100 cheaper than if he bought it from the site.

Someone else got a brand new pro slim with xstrap for $169. Which is almost 55% of the normal price.

Kinda glad I didn't win when I think about it, probably wouldn't have used it so much. I use my messenger bag once in a while when I only have a few things to carry, and it's so light that it isn't uncomfortable, but all those straps get annoying. You have to put it on an adjust the strap, then adjust the cross strap, then fine tune it a bit, adjust your shirt since it's probably all scrunched up in a few spots. With a backpack just throw it on and go.

Still nice bags though. Maybe another cheap street bag will come up.

Anyone can carry a bike with their backpack, i've done it with my Dakine several times. If you are actually carrying the WHOLE bike INSIDE the bag cause you're afraid of getting it wet, then you probably shouldn't be riding in the first place, or at the very least, leave it at home till the sun comes out. I also said the Dakine was smaller. If all you care about is sheer volume, there are cheaper quality bags out there. And waterbottles....most anyone who uses backpacks don't have doodads like bottle holders and whatnot hanging off their bike, its just extra crap that looks ugly anyway. An external pocket makes life alot easier than having to take the bag off everytime you want a drink. It's the little things.....and this bag just doesn't have enough going for it to justify the insane price.
What i'm saying here is that not every bag is for everyone, but there are definitely options out there. I think most of us want to stretch our dollars these days, and it's possible to get quality stuff without taking a loan out to get it. Your gear may not have the coveted logo from some shop that some magazine somewhere said was cool, but you'll still have something that'll do you right.

Topeak Tour pak

What are you talking about? Don't think anyone is going to try to fit a bike inside a bag to keep it dry. No idea where you came up with this. Please do attach a bike to your bag and take a picture of you riding around with it. Would love to see it.

I got a second chance on ebay. Ended up getting a black pac designs ultimate wtih xstrap for $214. 2010 brand new. Amazing deal. Couldn't pass it up. Big bag, but the dimensions aren't that big in height and width. Just a deep bag. 15 x 13 x 12 deep. Which is 2340 cu in ^3. If you make the depth 8 or 9 like most bags, in 1550 to 1750 range which is like M or L for bailey, citizen size for reload and chrome. Has compression straps so will squeeze up to a nice shape when not carrying much. Pretty sure it will be perfect size for me.

Like my bag, but the lag of organization was killing me. And being so deep you have to pretty much dump it to get anything that made it's way to the bottom. So many times I thought I lost my phone or wallet or keys. Definitely comfortable and can hold a lot. Will probably sell it and get a smaller backpack for when off the bike. Unless this pac is just flat out unbelievably comfortable. Can't wait to get it.

When I started community I used one of my smaller day packs but it didn't set just right for me. Then I grabbed my sons 6 year old version of this:https://https://www.rei.com/product/778463

Mine has 1 large compartment and 3 smaller outside and 1 smaller inside compartment AND holds a Camelbak 100 oz bladder with no problem. The large compartment also has 4 tie down spots so I can put my clothes and tie them down flat. No shift at all.

Also, check out handlebar bags. There's some stuff out there that quickly velcro's to the handle bars...keeps stuff off of your back while riding... but it has a shoulder strap, so you can conveniently carry it away when you park.

Have had my PAC bag for a few days now. Very cool bag, and pretty sure my bag search is over now. Perfect size. Has all kinds of neat pockets and places to put stuff. Nice keyring and small zippered pocket on the outside for a phone and wallet. Inside mesh pockets along the wall, divider on the back wall with more pockets. Various straps and loops.

The strap is sick. 3/4" of padding across shoulder and chest. And also padding that wraps around the rib cage. The back panel has removable padding. Haven't used the xstrap yet in a real situation. But did a simulation and it does take some of the weight off your left shoulder, doesn't seem to split it equally, although haven't really spent much time adjusting it, probably only something I would use on rare occasions.

Stuff does feel lighter when its in the backpack though, not because of 2 shoulders. Just the way the weight pulls against you. Straight down vs on an angle. At least that is how it feels. But the thing about the backpack, at least with a long one is you have weight on your lower back, compared to a shoulder bag the weight is against your upper back.

This bag gets a 10/10 for coolness, and construction. Just a sweet bag. I will rate back on comfortableness and overall how good it is as a bag in a couple months. Need to break it in.

There are some great suggestions here. I switched to panniers this year, but I was using the REI Novara Commuter Backpack for a while. I still use it as a gym bag. It worked quite well as a commuter backpack. https://www.rei.com/product/780465

Sorry to bump the thread but I just got into communting myself and bought a Novara Commuter backpack. Been really happy with it.

https://www.rei.com/product/780465

I posted up earlier in the thread about a bag I was looking at. I purchased it soon after to give it a shot and have it say for how much it cost it was well worth it. Now mind you I've never had a really good pack so compared to my old plain jane Camelbak it's everything I wanted with money leftover for my bikes. But for $29 plus a few bucks for shipping I'm happy. I ride twenty miles round trip so clean shirt, lunch and some reading material fit fine with room to spare and doesn't flop around with a chest and waist straight and padded pretty good. Plus my back isn't sweaty either which is a bonus. All in all, two thumbs up and a 100 oz of water holding goodness.
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/142...stem-100oz.htm