Jansport backpacks?

reconseed

reconseed

Joined
Sep 23, 2006
Messages
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Has anyone used one of these packs or carried one? I know they are popular but I was wondering if they are all they are cracked up to be.

I know there are better packs out there but for around town, school, etc, are they pretty decent?
 
My school district required that we use the mesh backpacks for a while and i absolutely hate them, they always find a way to self-destruct and the zippers arent the best quality and the material is cheap in general, i used not only the mesh ones but the solid ones and the vest type. just save yourself the trouble and get a black hawk or a maxpedition. i just got this one about 3 weeks ago on clearance and it came with a hydration bladder i love it. http://www.lapolicegear.com/hyma.html i also have a blackhawk 3 day pack but the matrix is a more manageable size.... hope it helps
 
I've used a number of Jansport packs and found them well designed and tough enough. The military style packs are tougher. But I find them too heavy for their capacity and uncomfortable compared to civilian gear.
 
I ride my dualsport bike to work regulary and find that the "school type" backpacks work very well for throwing my lunch, and some clothes in. The Jansport packs are just OK.
I really like the Timberline packs. The Timberline packs are much stronger where the the straps are sewn to the pack itself in comparison to a Jansport. Both packs cost about the same. The TL packs have way better zippers, and are slightly more water resistant.
For about twice the price you can buy an Ogio pack that imo is the best pack of its type for the money. An Ogio will easily outlast several Jansports.
 
Depends which line of packs from the different makers. I have a Jansport Odyssey 38 which has been very robust and well designed. I have a canvas Ogio with cruddy zippers and stitching. Ogio makes some excellent gear. So does Jansport. My kids have some inexpensive Jansport school bags from Costco that have taken extreme abuse. They clean right up and keep on going.

Phil
 
I used Jansport bags years ago and the zippers crapped out every time. Maybe they've improved, I dunno, but I think there are better daypacks out there.

Buying Jansport to save money, check out Sierra Trading Post. They usually have high-end packs at super prices. Buyer beware, they might be in last year's color. :D
 
I've never tried Jansport, but I have a Swiss Army backpack by Wenger, and I like it a lot. I had to have something to carry my laptop around, and the Wenger is just the thing. It's tough as nails too.
 
I guess I'm in the minority, but I've always used and loved Jansport packs. I've had two that I've used as backpacking packs (both non and external framed) and a few that I've used as school/town/daypacks. Several have lasted many, many years and are not that worse for the wear. I've not had seams or zippers fail.

I'd certainly recommend them, assuming they fit you well!
 
i have an old 'beater' one with teardrop shape and two linear side pockets 2100cc in size or so, with leather bottom, and accents. They don't make them any more but it is still going after 15 years, albeit not much use in the past 5 or so. The zippers (3) are fine and while it doesn't have padding on the back, and I prefer other options, I still cannot see a reason to get rid of it, etc. For the 40 i paid, it was worth it. I would go for other options in todays market though.
 
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I have a jansport thats about 10 years old. It was (and still is) a quality bag. I just began reusing it again, I use it for hunting mostly now.



The design is a bit outdated, a quality pack with a front connector for the straps and padding might be more effective now, but for something to simply carry around in the bush with a few lightweight items I think its not bad.


I usually keep a small firstaid kit, a fixed blade knife, a flint/steal, a poncho on possibly rainy days, and a few extra bullets/shells in it.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I guess I'm in the minority, but I've always used and loved Jansport packs. I've had two that I've used as backpacking packs (both non and external framed) and a few that I've used as school/town/daypacks. Several have lasted many, many years and are not that worse for the wear. I've not had seams or zippers fail.

I'd certainly recommend them, assuming they fit you well!
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See, I carried them in grammar school but I figured the quality would have improved to some degree... The ones I carried always seemed to do alright but I am glad to know that some ahve had less than positive experiences with them. I have one Jansport pack, but my Osprey and Mountain Hardware packs are the ones I take when I am going camping. :)

The straps where they are sewn into the pack seem to be coming undone on the pack I have... :(
 
reconseed said:
I know there are better packs out there but for around town, school, etc, are they pretty decent?
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You get what you pay for in most cases. A cheap pack is a cheap pack is a cheap pack. :)

Volume and density (or weight per volume) are important considerations. Almost any pack will carry an extra sweater, loaf of bread, etc. When you carry books, glass bottles (water in Europe, pickles, peppers, etc.), canned goods, the quality of the material used, stitching (and thread type), and zippers (size and brand - YKK large teeth :thumbup:) become much more important. As total weight goes up you need to pay more attention to the shoulder straps and hip belt (suspension) so you don't put all the weight on your back. "Barrel backpacks" (sack with the zipper at the top) seem to be a little more durable as well and won't dump your stuff IF the zipper fails. A good central carry handle or hook loop is important too when you are lifting it to or from an overhead train or airplain storage rack.

At 58% of my body weight, my knees start to give out with descending long staircases and steep hills being the worst (yes it's easier on the knees to go uphill :confused: ). I like internal frame packs. Lowe Alpine used to be my favorite brand. They seem to have gone down in quality for a more mainstream price-point today. Osprey and Gregory get my attention today but, my older Lowe Alpine packs are still serving me well (one is almost 20 years old and I lived out of it for 6 months in one stretch).

For a smaller lighter duty pack, I picked up a Deuter (German brand) that while made from lightweight materials has a good suspension system in it, has really good padded shoulder straps and a hip belt, a built in rain fly, and the aluminum frame keeps it off my back so I get some air cooling and I don't have a sweat soaked shirt when I get to my destination. The pack works out really well until I start putting canned goods or glass bottles in it. The weight and hard edges dig into my body a little too much.
 
My current pack is a Jansport that I got when I went back to college 5 years ago. It made through college well enough, and I still use it daily to carry a change of clothes to work.
 
I have carried a Jansport off and on for probably 15 years or so. I don't know the model, it has one large main pocket with 2 small ones on either side that hold a 1 liter Nalgene nicely. It has a leather bottom and heavy canvas and stitching.

The first one I had blew out the zipper, but they have upgraded, no problems with the larger zipper. It's an ok pack, I use it sometimes for day hikes. I used it a lot for grad school way back when. It's small enough that the hip belt is only good when riding a bike, keeping the pack from going over your head. It doesn't take the weight off of your shoulders. It's pretty good given the price, pretty sturdy.
 
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I helped a high school kid pick a backpack a while back. Not as creepy as it sounds, he had two backpacks bust apart within his first semester of high school and he showed up with one held together with duct tape. First one he had was a generic that the zipper blew apart on, the other was a Wenger bag that tore along the side the first day he used it. He stapled it back together, used it for a month, picked it up one day and the entire bottom of the bag tore out. I always used Jansport bags, and this was before I gave in to my mall ninja instincts, I suggested the brand and he's never had a problem with the bag he got. As crazy as those first two bags sound, you ever seen the text books these kids are carrying nowadays? These grade school kids look like turtles out there, high school kids set up networks of shared lockers throughout their day to avoid carrying extra books. I've never seen a busted Jansport, and I still swear by the brand for casual use when you don't want to look too tactical with MOLLE webbing all over.
 
I commute each day with a Jansport Agave. It is fantastic. I keep 'just in case' items in the secondary compartment, and shuttle food stuff, a jacket if need be, and other misc stuff int he main compartment. It is solid and it rides nicely. It would be a problem at all if I had to walk 12 miles home from work. I recommend it or other similar Jansport packs. I've looked at several others since picking up this one, and they all seem decent.
 
I've used Jansport as a daypack daily for probably 30 years. Through college, light camping, and now as my truck stash for billfold, water, personal protection etc. I think I have had 3 or maybe 4 models in that time. At least once I upgraded just because I found a cooler version at a sale price. They are top notch on their warranty, too. I'm sure there are other options, but for average usage they make a good bag at a decent price.

Jack
 
I have a daypack and an old rucksack made by Jansport. Both have held up well. The rucksack is almost 10 years old. Like everyone they make cheap stuff and good stuff. You just need to make sure that you are getting whichever you want. Some want cheap and disposable others want durability. Your call.
In short they are generally good packs but there are a lot of good packs out there made by others as well.
 
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