Backpack/bookbag

65535

65535

Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
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I need a quality backpack for urban terrain, Eg high school, looking for some good pack that will last more than 6 months, they get a lot of abuse on the bottom where most fail creating huge holes. Anyone know of a pack that has excellent support and reenforcement on the bottom? Someday I would hope I need a slot for a nice 17"+ laptop, I like a pencil ben area, a water bottle holder or two, and a place to drop my Cowon A2.

Suggestions necessary, thanks for shopping.
 
i had a North Face Wasatch that i carried for several years. oversized rugged zippers, reinforced bottom, and convenient pockets. unfortunately i dont think they make that model any longer, but based on my experience, I strongly recommend that brand.

my new bag is a Gregory Shakra. probably not suited for your needs, but it does have a leather bottom. Another good brand to check out.

in college i usually had a Jansport. Reinforced bottoms were great, but the zippers always failed.

-bob
 
I looked at northface, and liked the Surge, anyone have personal experience with it? I was thinking about going to REI and seeing what they had there, is that a good place to go try stuff out?
 
65535 said:
I looked at northface, and liked the Surge, anyone have personal experience with it? I was thinking about going to REI and seeing what they had there, is that a good place to go try stuff out?
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Yes!! I highly recommend REI, and becoming a member. They have a super return policy, and members get a percentage (dividend) back of what they spend there every year. As far as the TNF Surge is concerned- it's a very highly rated pack (we bought my son one this year) with tons of pockets. REI would be a great place for you to go and talk to the sales staff about what you're looking for. Now I'm not saying I personally highly recommend the Surge, because packs tend to be quite personal in fit, as well as in (especially my case) personal in style. But REI is a good place to go and look, and try.
 
Jedi, thanks for the support, I talked to my dad and we will be making a trip to our local REI providing everything goes normally.
 
If you dont mind a shoulder/messenger type bag I have seen chrome bags that have held up to 2+ years of carrying about 30-45 pounds of books/magazines/binders and such. They also sell a removable laptop sleeve the only thing it might not have is the water bottle holder.
 
Well I checked out the Surge, and bought it. Thanks for all the help, now I owe my dad ~$170 we split the backpack and I have to pay him for my 710.
 
hope it works for you. the surge appears to be similar to the old Wasatch model I recommended above. I also see that the Surge is currently on sale at Campmor for $90.

best wishes,
-bob
 
While it doesn't have the laptop sleeve, I used and abused an LL Bean Continetal Rucksack through highschool, college, and some time futzing about in between, along with a lot of one night camping trips. And it still is holding up great- it aging better than my ALICE pack! For under $60, it hard to beat.

As for something that can handle a 17" laptop.. *whistles* Good luck, I haven't seen anything out there that didn't feel like it would fall apart in the first good rain. You might be better off buying/making a foam sleeve, and using that as a drop in a pack.
 
what about a messenger bag?

messengers.org has a great list of legit messenger bag companies and their sites. most can be expensive though
 
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