Ask HN: Do you carry a backpack? Which one?

I second the removable waist straps. This would change the character of the backpack entirely.

I've been using it for about 5 years now, and it's a great backpack, but the straps drive me nuts. They are great when on a bike, but they get in the way a lot in other situations.

The other thing is that the vent on the back makes the main compartment a bit difficult to store things in. The back isn't flat, so the main compartment is kind of curved. The back panel is basically a really flat peak, like the roof of a house. I like to keep things in the top pockets, but they make it really hard to get stuff out of the main pocket once they get a bit of stuff in them.

Also, the side pockets don't work particularly well with water bottles. They are tilted a bit toward the wearer, and I've found that this tends to cause them to eject water bottles if you are leaning forward at all while running/jogging/riding a bike.

It looks like bag has been substantially redesigned in the past 5 years though, so they may have fixed these issues.

On the plus side, the bag is very durable, and it is very comfortable when using the straps. The integrated rain cover is nice if you are using it as a commuting bag, since I'd never consciously pack my own rain cover.

The venting on the back does help keep a bit cool, but it's not enough to prevent my back from getting all sweaty if I wear it on a hotter day. It's nice if you want a frame in a small backpack, but I'd avoid it myself next time because it makes the backpack pretty large for a given amount of storage, adds weight, and makes the main compartment harder to use.

It's simple. No overt branding (that can't be seam-ripped out quite easily). Lots of pockets and chambers and expandability. And perhaps most significantly, only $30.

I've considered buying a backup backpack since they're so cheap and also since backpacks aren't likely to be a mainstay product category for Ikea.

I have the Western Flyer travel bag (the lightweight Halcyon variant, not ballistic nylon) rather than a backpack: https://www.tombihn.com/collections/travel-bags/products/wes...

A present for myself when I scored my first big internship in college. It was amazingly handy when I was in school, and after school when I was traveling a lot for work. Now that I'm not traveling as much and only really take my laptop and a notepad on my daily commute, it's a bit oversized for my needs. But I still love it and use it every day (even with the empty space in it).

The ability to switch between backpack format and messenger bag format is my single most favorite feature. It seems like a gimmick, but there are certain situations or environments where one format is superior or more appropriate than the other, and being able to switch in 30 seconds is really useful in those cases.

I'm harsh on my daily drivers like bags and shoes, and am used to them wearing out quickly because of that. But this bag is still as good as new after 5+ years of being mishandled. Will definitely splurge for another Tom Bihn when I decide to get a more appropriate bag for my current work style/needs.

https://hakshop.com/products/tactical-edc-bag-for-wifi-pinea...

Fits what I need into it.