I have finally decided to ride to work rather than come home, spend another two hours on a ride that passes right by my lab anyway. There is too little daylight currently to separate commuting from riding on a daily basis.

The specs I'm looking for:

• Waterproof - from sweat and rain
• Laptop protection (15")
• Be able to carry change of clothes, shoes, and a book or two in addition to the laptop
• Preferably a breathable mesh on the back to prevent sweating
• Durable - at least three years of life
• Sleek design

After some extensive searching on these forums, I have come up with several candidates and wanted to get some opinions here if anyone has used these packs or additional info about packs I have missed:


https://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recre...-Blowfish.aspx


https://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/...ckpack/1734574 (Nice thread)


https://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/...---medium.html


https://www.deuter.com/en_US/backpack...ce%20EXP%20Air


https://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/mens_1_1/viper_10


https://missionworkshop.com/products/...um_rambler.php (expensive)


https://www.banjobrothers.com/product...uter-backpack/


https://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-234.htm

Any insight would be appreciated.

Can't help you much, but I've been interested in this pack - it might be too small for your requirements though. Otherwise I'd be telling you to buy it in a heartbeat.

love my ortlieb panniers, and i recommend their products. The last bag on your list is a good choice

You're not going to be happy with most of the camelbak options -- they're meant for water and snacks on a ride, not a laptop and change of clothes. I'd guess the timbuk2 backpack would be good (I like my messenger bag, but would want it on both shoulders if I was carrying real weight more than 20 minutes).

Don't forget some decent lights.

I love my Chrome Pawn.

While I don't have one, I checked out the ortlieb bags a while ago and the seemed to be of really good quality. If I could still commute by bike, I would probably choose one of their bags.

I've recently gotten a Seal Line Urban Backpack (in the large size), which I really like. It's a simple design with a ton of storage space. For laptop protection, you'd need an additional sleeve, but there's plenty of room in the pack for that and a change of clothes, other items, etc. It's completely waterproof, the closure is a lot like an Ortlieb backroller pannier, which are the standard in waterproof panniers. I've been using the Seal Line for a couple of months now, and couldn't be happier with it. A co-worker had gotten one, and when I saw it, I decided to get one for myself.

https://www.rei.com/product/790385/se...backpack-large

I use the REI Novara Cyclist backpack.

https://www.rei.com/product/780465/no...muter-backpack

As much as I hate using a backpack, the BanjoBros pack is nice - a medium works well for me.

I don't know about the others, but that Chrome backpack definitely fits the bill. I have a medium and it will fit everything you mention and then a ton more. I actually wish that I had got the small size instead... it's a rather wide backpack and can make looking over your shoulder difficult to do.

I use a Deuters with the AirContact back -- its basically a mesh suspension back, the backpack itself never touches my back -- excellent system. The Race EXP Air would be much too small for me.

I have an AC Lite 18, it fits my 17" macbook pro, and a pair of flip flops, and a change of clothes. It has fit a pair of shoes too. I've had it for a year and a half now, and used it 5 days a week to commute in, and it has virtually no wear and tear, everytime I pack it up I'm amazed at how well designed it is.

May not be THE most functional but definitely THE best looking.

https://www.rapha.cc/rapha-backpack-1

Kelty Peregrine 1800. Best pack for commuting, hiking, and war.

I love my chrome bags. many of thier bags will fit your requirements.

That looks pretty good. So does the Chrome Yalta:


The reason it's hard to decide is that I can't see any of these backpacks in a store to decide for myself. I live in SoCal, and even the REI stores have pretty limited selections. One of the reviews for Yalta says that the opening is too narrow and it's not very easy to load and unload it. How is the opening on that SealLine Urban? Is it waterproof?

Forgot to mention that having the bag in black, grey, or silver is pretty much a must. I really dislike colorful bags, or colorful anything.

It looks nice, but I wouldn't say it's the best looking. Chrome Yalta has a much sleeker design, with all the functionality. The white stripe though is a pretty nice touch and would match my white bike pretty well.

I personally like products made by TIMBUK 2. The bike messenger bags especially so. That said - I recently rented a bike with a lightweight rack on the back and bungee'd my TIMBUK 2 to the rear. It wasn't bad & I didn't have to worry about the sweat. A piece of cardboard on the rack acts as a nice fender.

At UC Davis the rack was my default mode of carrying stuff when it was a bit heavy. I used a backpack when I had to get from class to class in a hurry and didn't have the time tying off stuff. Additionally, I think heavy backpacks are a nuisance and I remember kids on campus wobbling when they had really LOADED backpacks.

I love my Race EXP Air but it's too small for a laptop and clothing, I keep shoes and extra clothes at work. The mesh back is awesome compared to the sweaty back/wet backpack I used to deal with.

Good suggestions here. If you can leave trousers and shoes at work and just take a shirt in daily, you can open up your range of choice and have a must more pleasant ride in.

Personally, I use one of these combined with one of these and have no complaints at all.

It's super easy to load and unload the Seal Line. It's basically a giant waterproof bag, very much like an Ortlieb Backroller Classic pannier, but on your back. I have a set of the Ortlieb panniers I've used for commuting as well, and that was one reason I like Seal Line backpack, it's very similar. Completely waterproof, too.

I tried about a half dozen bags and backpacks. This one totally rocks. Ortlieb Velocity:



Link to Wired review: https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/04/hands-on-with-t/

I hate riding with a backpack. Bothered my back, no matter which bag.

Went with a rack on my commuter. I like it much better, especially now that my commute is longer (about a half hour).

So do you have it? It looks quite nice, but the specs don't say anything about carrying a laptop: https://www.ortlieb.com/_pdf_en/velocity.pdf. This might mean that it does not have a padded laptop compartment. Using a sleeve for a laptop is inconvenient, even if it were to protect it sufficiently.

stash a pair of shoes at work, no need to haul something bulky like that back and forth. I got a cheapo hiking backpack from walmart (looks like the deuter) for 15$ that fits your needs.

My Deuter Futura 28 is the best backpack I ever owned. I love the 2 compartments you can have in it : one is for my lunch the other one is for the random stuff I bring along. 28 Liters is just the right size for me. and you get the ventilated thing at the back that keep about an inch between your back and the bag. A little expensive ($100) but the last backpack I'll ever purchase.
https://www.backcountry.com/images/it...TR0123/BLA.jpg

Yep, I have it an use it almost daily for a couple of years. I have ridden through some really foul weather with it - it's about the most water proof bag I've ever seen. Someone told me it can even be submerged in shallow water and not leak. Very durable and very well built.

I cut off the waist strap as I didn't think it was necessary and haven't once regretted it. The shoulder straps hold the bag in place very well and it does not slip around at all.

The raised pads on the back are pure genius as they allow airflow across your back while wearing it (important on those 110 degree Tx days). The outer material is very water and dirt resistant and cleans up super easy. No, there is no laptop pouch built in but I shove laptops in it all the time. Its really no big deal. You can get a slip cover if you want a little additional protection.