The Best Backpack for What?
I am looking for a backpack that I can take with me everywhere – business, travel, commutes, biking, hiking, etc. I want it to fit all aspects of my life rather than just accommodating one particular area. I think such a backpack should have the following qualities:
- Lightweight, durable, weather resistant, and comfortable to wear
- Organizable pockets for notebooks, electronics, pens, pencils, etc.
- Padding and safety for all of my electronics – preferably with a separate compartment for my tablet
- Discrete profile with limited zippers for security reasons
- Sleek design so that it doesn’t look like your stereotypical student backpack
- Expandable so that when it is fully packed, I don’t look like a giant turtle
The requirements are extensive, but it simply makes sense to have all those features in a quality backpack. I know the standards are high, but so are life’s expectations. They are a matched set.
We tend to treat a backpack as a disposal item because we don’t really expect it to last more than 2-3 years. When I was in school, I would typically spend around $20-$40 on a backpack every one to two years – first world problems, I know. We live in a replacement culture where it is simply more convenient to buy a new item rather than fix the current one and the majority of products reflect that ideal.
I am looking to step out of the replacement culture mindset and try to find crafted workmanship that I would use on a regular basis – a product that I would be proud of having five or even ten years down the road. The results are as follow:
The Almost But Not Quite What I Am Looking For
I am an Amazon Prime member, which by the way I love, so I started my search on Amazon. After spending hours combing through specs and reviews, my search ended in failure. However, I am listing some candidates that came close but didn’t quite go the last mile to meet all of my requirements.
The V7 is one of the lowest price backpack that I found while still retaining a variety of good features. The slim design and the organizational features are pretty decent. However, I ultimately disgarded it due to quality concerns, lack of capacity, and general aesthetics.
- Pros
- Price
- Good form factor and slim design
- Good organization for miscellaneous and gadgets
- Cons
- Poor material quality and construction
- Poor padding in the laptop compartment
- Limited space and capacity
- Unprofessional aesthetics – in my opinion it looks like it was made for a child.
Similary to the V7, I dismissed the Everki due to quality concerns. Numerous reviews had the stitching falling apart within the first few months of using the product.
- Pros
- Good form factor and design
- Good organization for miscellaneous and gadgets
- Rugged bottom
- Cons
- Poor stiching and durability
- Thin interior fabric
Ultimately where the Swiss Gear shines is where it also fails for me. While it is no doubt a good backpack, it is still only a backpack. It doesn’t impress me or meet the unique standards that I am looking for.
Additionally, the design stands out which would normally be a plus, but I am looking for a discrete backpack. You will probably get a decent amount of compliments on this backpack, but you will also likely be targetted by every tout and pickpocket while travelling too.
- Pros
- Good foam padding protection
- Good quality fabric
- Contoured shoulder straps and airflow system
- Bottle holder, sunglasses holder, and audio interface for your headphones
- Cons
- Form Factor
- Flashy Design.
The Belkin backpack is very popular, and it is one of my top favorites. If you are looking for a sleek quality backpack under $40, it is going to be pretty hard to beat this one. However, the space limitation was the non-deciding factor for me. I could see myself using it for work, school, and casual usage but not for extended travel or rugged activities.
- Pros
- Amazingly sleek design
- Price
- Comfortable fit
- Good Organization with plenty of pockets
- Removable bag for additional storage and organization
- Cons
- Limited space and capacity
I wanted to love the Brenthaven because it includes a lot of the features that I am looking for. If I was in the market for a professional backpack, I would most likely go with the Brenthaven for the sleek design alone. However, the backpack simply did not have enough capacity for all of my needs.
- Pros
- Sophisticated design and style
- High quality fabric for both exterior and interior
- Good security due to limited zippers
- Side-zipped pocket for easy access to laptop and high density foam padding for the laptop compartment
- Convenient pockets and secret compartment
- Water resistant material with stowable rain cover
- Comfortable shoulder straps and back-padding
- Chest strap for additional stability
- Cons
- Limited space and capacity
The NOX has some amazing features and design points going for it. It combines sophisticated style with durability and excellent function. However, I passed on it due to limited availability, pricing, and personal preference.
- Pros
- Buckle design instead of zipper for main compartment
- High quality fabric for both the exterior and interior
- Designated dual compartment for laptop and tablet
- Convenient pockets, secret compartment, and very good organization
- Expandable capacity simliar to carry-on luggage
- Velcro strap management systems for tyding loose end straps
- Security strap on the back act as carry-on luggage attachment
- Cons
- Price and limited availability
Enter Tom Bihn
Every now and then, you encounter a product so amazing that it needs almost no marketing because it speaks for itself – like say the iPhone. Of course it doesn’t really speak for itself, it spreads through word of mouth because it is a product you want to talk about. (Tangent – Actually, it dawned on me that starting with the iPhone 4S and Siri, the iPhone did speak for itself which is just a bit disturbing.) Anyways, after numerous hours spent searching the web, I ended up stumbling onto Tom Bihn’s website and the way he designs his backpacks are simply amazing, but don’t take my word for it watch the video below.
Additionally, I just wanted to point out that I really like their FAQ section because it is straightforward, honest, and answered all of my questions. It is rare to find a business that seems to show so much integrity and sincerity in its products and practices.
Hallelujah – I Can Finally Stop Researching
The particular backpack that I want is the Smart Alec. Actually, I really want them all.
- Pros
- Lightweight, durable, weather resistant, and comfortable to wear
- Organizable pockets for notebooks, electronics, pens, pencils, etc.
- Padding and safety for all of my electronics – preferably with a separate compartment for my tablet
- Discrete profile with limited zippers for security reasons
- Sleek design so that it doesn’t look like your stereotypical student backpack
- Expandable so that when it is fully packed, I don’t look like a giant turtle
- Additional Pros
- Modular design for additional attachments to increase storage capacity and organization
- Laptop accessory is properly sized to laptop dimensions
- Removable sternum and waist straps
- Durability because it bears repeating. The backpack is made out of 1050d Ballistic Nylon on the front, 1000d Cordura® on the side, and Dyneema®/200d nylon ripstop so basically military grade tear and abrasion resistance.
- Cons – I am just nitpicking for fun at this point
- Price – I actually think the backpack is worth the price and then some considering the quality and craftsmanship. I am just giving myself a few days to mull it over.
- Lack of conductive charging via solar power – I want my electronics to charge condutively while they are in this bag and the power source will come from the reflective panel absorbing solar rays.
- Strap management system similar to the Case Logic NOX, but I am just going to get some velcro straps and do it myself.