Best cycling/commuting bag
 

I have a great dakine backpack that holds everything I need: it has two water bottle holders, an insulated pocket for food, a laptop sleeve, and it is very stylish. However, my back is drenched after just a few miles. Among fellow fixed gear riders, chrome bags are very popular because of their durability and protection against rain, but I'm wondering if a hiking backpack with a raised mesh part in the back would be best. My friend thought they might put stress on my back and cause me to have bad posture while riding, anyone have suggestions? I don't want to spend an arm and a leg either (by the way, backpacks are on sale at REI right now)

I use a Topeak MTX truck bag all the time. I rarely use the drop down panniers but I do use the pannier compartments. Most of the time I just carry my net-book computer in the top compartment but I also have a Caradise Bike beuro if I need to carry my 17" laptop or if I go touring.

That's what I use. It's great. But, I don't carry much. U-lock, cable, pump, tube, tool, clean clothes - em tasol..

+1 on the MTX trunk bag. It does it all for me!

You can buy a rack and strap your backpack on top. If you are worried about rain you can use garbage bags to cover it or you can purchase rain covers for backpacks.

Chrome. I commute every day with my bright orange Chrome Metropolis bag, and never have issues. It's comfy. It holds everything I need, and always has extra room when I find something cool that I need to take home (read someone left the toilet paper cabinet at work unlocked). It's also incredibly durable. I wear it over my rain cape on a stormy day with my laptop, and the inside never gets wet.

Chrome makes a number of backpacks as well, so if you want a backpack style over a messenger style they've got something for you. I can't sing the praises of Chrome any longer or they'll need to start paying me to be their spokesman. Love Chrome. LOVE IT!

i almost don't want to praise my metropolis here, but I have to. it's definitely not for everyone, but I have it, or it's tiny cousin on my back on my bike, when i fly, hell, even when I drive because it lugs a 17" laptop better than anything i've owned so far

Chrome bags seem to be amazing, but again, my issue was that I wanted a waterproof bag but I wanted to at least greatly reduce back sweat. A chrome bag doesn't seem like it would help that at all. And a rack WOULD work, but I prefer a backpack because I want to use it for school as well

I love my Chrome bag, but in being honest, you're right.

If I had to go backpack I'd bite the bullet and buy this one: http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/bc1

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

I've had this bag for over a year now. Great bag, nice ergonomics and you can tell some real thought went into the bag. Rain cover is attached and hides away in a pocket at the bottom of the bag.

Highly recommended!!

CHROME BAG OWNERS: Read my question a little better: My MAIN Concern is back sweat... how do the chrome bags do with this? They don't look ventilating at all

If you are concerned with back sweat then you need to skip the bag altogether. I used a Chrome Metropolis for years and currently use a Bailey Works Super Pro and every so often will use my RELoad Deluxe bag. They all will cause you to sweat where they contact you. I have also tried the mesh-backed backpacks like the Osprey Stratos 24, Deuter Race-X (best venting), Deuter Cross-Bike, etc. I have even attempted to use a Mountainsmith Lumbar pack to avoid the sweaty back syndrome but anything on your back no matter how much everybody advertises their superior air mesh, cooling stripes, off-the-back designs will cause your back to sweat more than if it had nothing on it. That being said, I prefer a messenger bag in the summer over a backpack just so one shoulder and a little bit more of my back is exposed. If it is really hot though, I try to put everything in a saddlebag. Panniers/trunk-bags/saddlebag work best for sweaty backs.

i've tested WAY too many bags for commuting. I recommend the ortlieb velocity to you seeing how ventilation is a concern. it has a series of foam rectangles running down a flexible plastic back lifting the bag from your back keeping you from that big sweaty I-wore-a-backpack square on your back. it's a rolltop so it's waterproof(i live in Oregon, waterproof is always an issue) and can hold quite a load. REI does in fact have this bag if that's where you're looking.

Thanks for the responses

I second the rack suggestion. I ride with a backpack strapped to my rack every day. This keeps my back sweat free, but also allow me to grab the backpack & go, once I park the bike. It'll also allow you to keep the bag that you currently have (& apparently like)

OP- I have (or had, actually) a Dakine Lg Campus backpack. Loved it for the organizational features, but it was uncomfortable to ride with. Then went for a Banjo Brothers Large pack because I didn't want to mess with any rain covers. Waterproof and comfortable while riding, but is lacking in the organizational area.

I tried the milk crate solution, but my packs when full just won't fit. My Banjo is a little too large to comfortably strap straight to the rear rack... so I got inventive. I put a flat beverage rack on my rack to widen the surface area for the backpack to sit on.

Attempting to post pix here:
1. Bike before.
2. With the beverage rack ziptied in place (tails have been cut since pic was taken).
3. Backpack strapped down.

Attachment 175440Attachment 175442Attachment 175441

Note that I am now unable to use panniers. Since I was having heel strike issues, it doesn't really bother me. In the last pic with the bag- that was only half full, so I basically folded it half. Fully loaded, the pack has to sit inline with the rack.