Hey guys! I've had Herschel Little America for years but I kinda hate it. It's this one large compartment and then one small completely unusable safe for maybe paper towels or something. I have to throw everything together and unless the Steam Deck is the only thing in the entire backpack it's incredibly annoying to pull it out and put it back in because something else will just block it. Like I get frustrated pretty much every day so I figured it's time to get myself a new backpack with better organization.

My use case: I usually carry a laptop, so I prefer bags that have a place for it. Then I carry the Steam Deck in its case (roughly 35cm long, 8-9 centimeters tall/deep), then usually a plastic lunch box. On my way home from work I'll often shop for some groceries, nothing too extreme, but lets say a bottle of some soda, bread, couple other items. Currently, when I'm carrying both Steam Deck and lunch box I can't fit almost anything else in my Herschel so I end up taking the Steam Deck out and carrying it in hands which is annoying.

My dream bag: This would be a bag that has a special compartment just for the steam deck so it never has to touch the lunch box or the groceries, this compartment should ideally be roomy enough to fit even another small electronics if necessary. The main compartment should be still large enough to hold the lunchbox AND the groceries even with the Steam Deck present in the other compartment. This bag shouldn't be too bulky. I live in a city so not only I want something that looks decent but also that isn't a total pain in the ass in public transport.

I'm currently looking at Fjallraven Raven 28 and The North Face Surge. With Raven I'm not sure if the second compartment is large enough to hold the Steam Deck, and watching some reviews of the Surge it looks like when you put something in one compartment it directly steals space from others, so even though it looks very spacey it seems kinda small. I'd like a bag that gets bigger the more you put it in if that makes sense, I've heard the Raven is kinda like that. Small profile when empty and gets boxy when full.

Any thoughts or other ideas? Preferably in a similar price range, not more than $120-150.

Hi! Can you please recommend a 20L black backpack with a verical luggage strap and a minimalist design? Most importantly - no mesh.

I currently have an old Xiaomi Classic Business Backpack. Overall, I’m satisfied with it, but its biggest flaw is the mesh back. Since I mostly wear it on one strap, the mesh ruins my clothes (and if I wear it on both straps, my back gets sweaty).

Another key point: it should be from a European or US brand and cost under $100.

I googled recommendations from this subreddit, but most backpacks that meet my requirements seem to be $150+ (for example, Timbuk2 Division – almost perfect, but pricey). Another example is Herschel Tech Daypack - great, but has mesh. I have doubts about this one because the mesh is around the lower back area, while my clothes usually get worn out lower and to the side (where I carry the backpack). Not sure if this one would cause the same issue. Can anyone tell?

Any suggestions?

Hello, all, I come in search of your recommendations, please.

I need to carry around a 14" Asus Zephyrus, a 16" MBP and a 12.9" iPad Pro with their chargers. I would like a slim, stylish backpack recommendation, please. I was looking at Nordace Siena, but it seems too thick even when empty. Thank you in advance.

I currently own the Tom Bihn Paradigm and love it. I think my next job may require me to take my laptop to work daily and unfortunately can’t fit the laptop in my Paradigm. If anyone has any suggestions for a Small EDC backpack like the Paradigm but big enough to fit a laptop, I’d be grateful. Thank you.

So I built a small form factor pc (12 by 12 by 3.6) and I have been scrolling around looking at potential bags to carry my dream lan build. I have a portable monitor, compact keyboard, mouse, controller, and a bunch of cables. I would very much appreciate suggestions for a backpack that is decently padded that could hold all of this well. Thank you!

Hi, I'm looking foward to buying the backpack on the title but i'm not sure if it can fit a 36oz / 1L water bootle in one of the side pocket and a 1.4L thermos in the other.
If anyone has a similar setup or any other backpack recomendations i'm open to suggestions.

The others are really robust and this one seems to be softer, how does it compare?

I am looking for a backpack that I can use for a variety of activities that I normally do that requires constant access to the bag. I travel a lot for both work and personal and would like a bag I can use to adapt to these occasions. The main 2 things I’m looking for is something that qualifies as a personal item when flying on planes and has to have somewhat good organization. Ideally the bigger the bag the better, I currently use a 21 L carhart bag that has no organization/protection let alone room for everything. Most I’m willing to spend is $200-250 as long as it’s something will last me a long time. Below I listed some use cases of from when I travel for a better idea:

Plane: headphones, 2-3 reading books (a lot of layovers and travel time), iPad, switch, travel pillow, blanket, and sometimes a sweatshirt

Train: usually for work so this mainly has my laptop, tablet, varies cables, headphones, books, notebooks, along with hydroflask and miscellaneous meds (Tylenol and Dramamine)

Car/weekend trip: not to important but would like to potentially take in on weekend trips so something I could use as a day bag or just to pack a day or 2 worth of clothes

Thanks again for any and all suggestions.

Hello everyone!

My name is Daniel and I am an industrial design student in the US whose assignment is to design a lightweight backpack (a daypack with a volume of 15-25 liters) for the European market*. I am using this survey to learn a little bit more about my target audience and gain insight into what design decisions I am going to make throughout the design process.

*European market was the starting prompt for the assignment, but I am planning on narrowing my region of focus down to Western Europe - after survey results are in of course.

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/11wqXb7u7scojZzr9

If anyone has other input that did not have a spot in the survey, please let me know in the comments! In addition, if anyone has any tips for designing backpacks or information that I should know in regards to European trends or knowledge, feel free to drop it in the comments.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and fill out the survey!

I'm looking for a smaller bag to put inside my gym duffel so I can load that up with the bits I need for using in the actual gym. The Aer Sling Bag 3 looks ideal but just curious if there's anything else similar out there?

I bought a carhartt 35l backpack and I love it. I know it’s a big back pack but I’m trying to keep the weight down. I use it for edc and work. Right now I feel like I don’t have much in it but it weight 15lbs but I have other stuff that I wanted to keep in it but don’t want to have a 30lb backpack.

My boyfriend if obsessed with backpacks. We made a bet that he will not buy another backpacks in the year of 2025. I placed 200eur on him that he will break. He said he will not-it is all one big joke but he can be quite stubborn when he dicides. Now i have to come up with a master plan, which backpack he could not refuse. He already has about 15, just in January he bought 2... So please help me win the bet! He likes the backpack to take his lunch in office. It needs to be wide enough for his glass tupperware. He has one Kapten and son backpack, well he has 2 or 3 models. One he likes a lot since the lower part in a zipper and fits his lunch in perfectly. He also has a few sports kinds... I would be grateful for your suggestions

Hey everyone, I’m looking for a submersible backpack that’s suitable for one-bag travel. I’ll be heading to the Cook Islands in September and will likely be spending a lot of time on the water, so I need a bag that’s fully waterproof while still being practical for air travel.

I’ve looked around, but most of what I’ve found is either:

• Too expensive (I’m open to spending, but want to weigh my options first)
• Ugly” (I’d prefer something that's not a giant waterproof balloon)
• Unsuitable for carry-on travel

What I Want in a Bag:

• Fully submersible (not just water-resistant)
• Zippered opening (preferably clamshell or panel-loading) – I don’t mind roll-top closures, but they’re not ideal for in-flight access
• Carry-on compliant
• Some internal organization (not just a giant waterproof sack)
• Comfortable for walking around when I’m not on the water

Does anyone know of a solid submersible backpack that fits these requirements? I’d love to hear about any hidden gems or underrated options before making a final decision!

Thanks in advance!

Hi I'm a physics student in Italy, the climate here is pretty humid. My last (victorinox) backpack, which lasted me 4 years, broke and got all wet due to the rain, so I'm thinking of buying another one. I'm also an MMA fighter so I am looking for something that can carry a laptop/calculator, one book+notebook a few pens and boxing and MMA gloves, shin guards, shorts and a t-shirt. So something capacious and waterproof with a padded laptop sleeve and suitable for urban use.

Any suggestions? I was thinking about the north face base camp fuse box

Thank you very much in advance

Looking for nike rpm 2.0 or nike utility power 2.0

Looking for a new EDC bag:

Would be carrying*: 16" Laptop, field journal, Pens, bulky hoodie, cables+ chargers + want some extra space in case.*

I want something water resistant, self stands, organizational pockets and comfy straps/back panel.

Thanks in advance

Hi, about a quarter year ago i had a severe shoulder injury due to a bicycle crash. I like hiking a lot but due to pain when wearing a backpack I can‘t really enjoy it anymore. Does anyone have found a solution for a similar problem? Are there backpack straps by a specific brand that take punctual pressure off the shoulder due to wider straps or am I forever meant to take pain medication when wearing a backpack? My deuter really hurts when wearing for more than 1 hour. Appreciate advice.

Hi!

I am choosing a backpack (for boys) for high school. I usually bring my 13 inch computer, a 500ml water bottle, a pencil case, 5cm to 7cm thick of notes and copies (A4 size), my maths set, a journal (A5 size), a novel, and some toiletries and small skincare products (which fit inside any small toiletry bag). I have shortlisted the following and if anyone owns/owned any of them and has advice or recommendations, I'd be grateful.

1. Béis Commuter Backpack - this seems to be a solid option but I don't know if the 10.3L volume would meet my needs?

2. Lo and Sons Hannover 2 - this is more expensive so does anyone have any reviews on it? It seems a bit thick as well.

3. Antler Essential Backpack - this seems to be a pretty good one but does anyone have any review on it? Also because the interior lining is of a lighter shade, would it get dirty easily (I play tennis and basketball a lot so sometimes my books might be a teeny bit dirty)?

4. Samsonite Coatify Biz 15.6" (no rolltop) - is there any internal compartments to separate out things? Also is the bag made from more sturdy and hard materials?

5. Nortvi Backpack - is this bag waterproof and does it have any compartments to sort out my things?

If anyone has any reviews on these bags, or knows any other ones similar to these bags' aesthetics (should be under $180 and have international shipping to Europe), I would be grateful for some help! Thank you! 😃😃😃

Hey guys, do you have a recommendation for a durable, wellmade daypack thats suitable for hiking and artistic endeavors?

I won't be needing too many layers, just an additional rain coat or sweater. Its neither super hot nor cold where I live, but we do have occasional showers. Functional compartments and pockets (to put notebooks, paper etc) would be appreciated, and definitely a hip belt because I want to be comfortable even when I slightly overpack or on longer hikes. I will usually carry some extra gear for my dog (water, perhaps an extra leash or coat, treats/food), some art supplies like notebooks, brush roll, and i might carry small pochade boxes or extra water for watercolor painting - in addition to lunch, water, usual hiking supplies for not super adventurous daytrips. It would be awesome to be able to attach things to the backpack (like a small roll up blanket to sit on, or a tripod), and pockets and loops on the hip belt would be appreciated (poop bags, snacks, treats, phone etc).

Thanks in advance!

Hello All, I wanted to ask if i should get the timbuk2 Prospect with all rain resist material. I am looking to buy a backup for my 15.6inch laptop as a uni bag, but it rains frequently in my area. Any other suggestions are appreciated. Budget 100-120$ and i know prospect is expensive but thats the highest i can go if its that good. My primary concerns are weight and rain protection. Enough to be able keep all my gadgets and laptop safe for about 30mins in light rain.

Hey everyone,

For those of you with bulkier gaming PCs, have you run into any issues choosing backpacks based on the size specs listed online?

I’ve seen a lot of bags that say they fit up to a 15.6” or 16” laptop, but since my gaming PC is a bit thicker, I’m not sure if it’ll actually fit. I keep having the issue where the edges are sticking out or the laptop sleeve is too tight. I have been considering some Thule or North face laptop backpacks, which mention often fitting a 15 or 16-inch laptop but since they don’t actually detail the measures on the laptop sleeves I’m hesitant to go that route. I could go safe and try to get a bag for a 17”, but that really limits my options. I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions.

What’s been your experience? Have you had any problems fitting your laptop in bags that claim to fit those sizes? Are there any brands that have been unreliable for you?

For reference, I have an Asus TUF 15.6” (dimensions: 14.1 x 10.1 x 1” / 358.14 x 256.54 x 25.4 mm). Any advice would be really appreciated!

I've been searching for the ideal airplane-under-seat bag to use for things like my tablet+ereader+powerbank and some small miscellaneous things, maybe a small waterbottle.

The Topo Designs Global Briefcase seems to be a very very good option, but it's a tad big, it's also not rated as being waterproof. Does anybody have any experience with this bag or any similar bags to look at?

Things that are important to me are that it can't be too big, has to have both a comfortable top handle and a side handle, having a dedicated tablet pocket would be ideal. And ofcourse stowable backpack straps. Price around or under the cost of the Topo, which is $120.

The tablet that I use is the Samsung Tab S8 plus, Which is considered a 12.4 inch tablet wich measures 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm.

I'll mainly use the bag as an extra bag when traveling with my 40L osprey backpack, that's why it needs to be comfortable to hold in the hand when wearing the backpack, and also comfortable to wear when my backpack is at the hotel and I have some hours to kill before checkin.

https://preview.redd.it/m10426akkrge1.png?width=2358&format=png&auto=webp&s=f8300a0b335bad791e1f7a3817853d3d13a33c7d

Hey there,

The backpack that I currently have just broke. So I'm hoping you guys could maybe help me find something that I'm looking for. I'm from the Netherlands so for me it's important that it is highly water resistant/waterproof. Other than that I want it to be durable. It will need to fit a 16 inch laptop, but thats about all I'm looking for. Hope you can help me out :)

I hate clamshell openings. Absolutely hate them. I have one backpack that would be lovely if it just didn't have them. I have a TB synapse instead of synik because of it. But I was looking for a solution to my floppy backed synapse and came across the panel from CTactical and I looked at their packs and I really like the look of them and inside I love the interior bottle pockets and the laptop compartment looks fabulous. But the clamshell.

So... Sell me. Are the zippers on that (or the GR bullet which is what I kept looking at which is how I came across the CT to begin with) good enough to hold their own if I zip halfway? Or will I find myself wishing for a gusset? FTR the bag I hate will unzip itself very easily and that adds to my annoyance of the feature.

This is my lucky Eastsport pink camo backpack that I went on many adventures with throughout the years. Ever since I had this, I was oftentimes curious about these front straps.

Hey everyone,

I’m in serious need of a new backpack, and I’m hoping you guys can help me out with some recommendations.

The Situation:

I currently use a Targus X SteelSeries Sniper 17.3" backpack (around 26 L) that I bought back when I started uni for my 17″ gaming laptop.

It’s large enough, but it’s seen some better days: the main compartment uses flimsy, thin plastic pockets that have ripped over the years, the outside plastic zipper pulls are broken, etc.

When I add the extra external pouches (which I use for packing clothes on weekend trips), it ends up being way too bulky to use normally.

The only reason I bought this bag was because of my big ass gaming laptop, which I don't use anymore, so I want to invest into a better one.

Daily Commute & Gear:

I just got my first job in tech (starting tomorrow :D) and have a daily roundtrip commute of roughly 3–4 hours (1.5–2 hours each way on bus, metro, and foot around Lisbon).

On a typical day, I carry:

- A company laptop (still don't know which one, but probably up to 16")

- My personal 12.9″ iPad Pro

- Chargers/adapters (at least one set)

- Sometimes an Anker powerbank

- My medication case (with pills)

- Occasionally my travel tea set and tea

- Ideally, a moderate water bottle (I plan on leaving my giant one at work)

What I Need in a New Backpack:

- Capacity & Organization: I’d like something around the same capacity (according to the manufacturer, ~26 L, but I don't know if that number takes into account the outside pockets, which are too cumbersome) or slightly larger or smaller if that’s necessary—but with a serious upgrade in organization. I'm willing to try out some other capacities, though.

A padded compartment that can ideally separate my laptop and iPad (or at least a better‑divided main compartment) plus additional pockets for cables, adapters, etc.

- Comfort & Durability: My current bag isn’t light and, when loaded with all my gear, it really shows its flaws (e.g., broken zipper pulls).

I’m after a robust, well‑constructed bag with excellent weight distribution and padded, adjustable straps.

I don’t mind a slightly heavier bag if it means it’ll last a few years.

- Weather Resistance: I need a bag that’s either fully waterproof or very water‑resistant—something that protects my expensive tech without relying on a clunky rain cover, if possible.

- Style & Materials: I lean toward a utilitarian, no‑nonsense design with materials like canvas or coarse cloth (or a mix) rather than those overly “plastic,” minimalist bags (like some I saw from "Rains", which I dislike).

I’m not chasing fashion trends, just quality and a bit of personality.

Additional Info:

- I’m open to recommendations from European brands or retailers (to ease shipping/returns). I'm buying from Portugal, so many American brands are limited, I think. I tried to look at backpacks from Timbuk2, but their offering here is limited, so I wanted to get some opinions first.

- My budget is roughly up to 250 €, though I’m willing to consider a splurge if it truly stands out as a long‑term, game‑changing investment.

- I'll share some photos of my current bag and setup, but I can add more if that helps provide context.

So, what are your top picks for a commuter backpack that can handle a 3–4‑hour daily transit, protect my tech, and still be practical for occasional weekend trips?

I wanted to get some help and feedback from actual people before spending quite a lot.

Ideally I'd like to see the bags in person and choose myself, but I don't really know of any specific retailers around where I live (Lisbon), so I think buying online is the best option.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Photos:

Backpack standing up, with cat and snorlax as company

Broken plastic zipper pulls (it's like this with mostly all of them)

Interior with ripped pocket, mess of cables and adapters and mostly unused divions since they're meant for carrying gaming gear.