Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

news.ycombinator.com

1–10 of 50 posts

Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

#1
I've been looking for the perfect backpack for a few weeks now and really I am going nowhere. So many options, so fewer reviews, and no answer.

I am currently carrying a cheap backpack every day for the past years and now I want to buy one of a better quality.

What I (think I) need is:

- A small backpack. To fit a 13'' laptop. I would be happy if it could fit a bigger one too but I want the backpack to be slim, light and relatively small. 15'' backpacks tend to be big. I want a small backpack.

- Usually, I carry a 13'' MBP laptop, a shirt and a few gadgets like a powerbank, cables, etc. And ofc IDs, business cards, and smaller stuff.

- Good quality, to handle the sweat on the back and not be easily scratched, get dirt etc. I will use it every day going to and coming back from the office and after work, I may still do a walk before going back home. I do have another bigger backpack for traveling but this one I want for everyday use.

- Nice to have an easily accessible pocket without getting the backpack off my shoulders to put a key, a wallet, a phone etc.

Regarding budget, I would say between 80$-120$.

Have you used a backpack that fits that description? Some other recommendation/advice?

Re: Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

#2
there are entire web communities dedicated to this question. look at carryology.com, edc.com, thewirecutter.com, /r/onebag.

some good brands i like are: timbuk2, mission workshop, topo, chrome, minaal, and tom bihn.

if i had to recommend one bag to start with it would be the tom bihn synapse

Re: Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

#5
I would highly recommend Crumpler. A little expensive BUT they will last forever and have a lifetime warranty to back taht up. Might be easier to claim if you lived in Australia though. I took a 10 year old bag in to have the very robust (but sadly defeated) zipper repaired.

Currently I have their Dry Red No 5 in blue https://www.crumpler.com/au/dry-red-no-5/

Re: Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

#9
My wife has a Fjallraven Kanken backpack she uses for daily use to work that she likes a lot. They have a specifically sized 13" backpack:

https://www.fjallraven.us/products/kanken-13-laptop-backpack

MSRP is $110, which is within your budget, and it looks like Amazon has it for $89.

Re: Ask HN: Best backpack for everyday use?

#10

there are entire web communities dedicated to this question. look at carryology.com, edc.com, thewirecutter.com, /r/onebag. some good brands i like are: timbuk2, mission workshop, topo, chrome, minaal, and tom bihn. if i had to recommend one bag to start with it would be the tom bihn synapse

I'll second Chrome. They're a fantastic bag. I had a Herschel that got tears in high traffic areas, and Chrome has had no such issue for me.
Post reply on HN