Smallish versatile backpack suggestions for a daily carry?
I'm looking for a small (but not tiny) backpack that would look nice with a lot of outfits as a daily carry (laptop, water bottle, notebook and a pen with some room some bits and bobs).
I really like the idea of having the backpack complement the outfit as I spend a lot of time commuting to and from my nearest city and end up having to walk into parties/meetings/social settings with my backpack & want to retire my ragged looking free backpack I got at a conference fair.
What do y'all use as your backpack / do you have any recommendations?
10 Replies
Bit of a meme but Timbuk2 for a minimalist design that last forever. Most of their stuff is fairly mute (blacks and greys with some color splash in). You can usually find some solid used ones on eBay
Fjallraven Kanken?
I have a carhartt sling bag that I absolutely love. But my laptop is small so ymmv
Depends on what you like in terms of aesthetics, such as leather workwear, dark techwear, or classic Americana. For more conventional day packs, Bellroy is a solid company, good materials and great organization.
Aer is one of my personal favorite because of their darker aesthetic. Great company if you like technical fabrics.
Cote et Ciel is also a favorite of mine, designs are more fashion forward and the downside for this company is their internal organization is lacking compared to the other two companies I listed.
All companies I listed use YKK zippers. YKK zippers are the industry standard.
Right now I'm using the cote et Ciel saru backpack. I like it for the minimal aesthetic,but it has enough easy access pockets and internal organization. The laptop compartment also is suspended which is a huge plus.
I really like Ortlieb commuter packs for a more modern (kinda techy) and utilitarian look
Lucas Winzenburg
BIKEPACKING.com
Ortlieb Commuter-Daypack Urban Review
The Ortlieb Commuter-Daypack Urban is a fully waterproof, technical backpack with a ton of clever features, all packed into a casual, understated design. Lucas has been using one almost daily over the past year for this comprehensive review. Find his thoughts below...
How much are you looking to spend?
Is water resistance important?
3 Way 18 Expandable Briefcase | MYSTERY RANCH Backpacks
This briefcase lives at the intersection of your commuting needs, doubling as a shoulder bag, transforming into a backpack, and doing it all with environmentally conscious organizational wizardry.
sadly I actually think the Kanken is lowkey ugly lol
Probably below £300/$400? Water Resistance yes, but it doesn't need to be Water Proof
Also - has anyone heard of this brand? It looks great for my needs but I discovered it via a google ad so a bit skeptical
Stubble & Co
The Roll Top Mini
Lightweight and ultra-comfortable Mini Roll Top Backpack. Compact and versatile. Elevate your adventures with our small roll-top bag.