Travel Backpacks - options?

panzertroop

panzertroop

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Aug 8, 2008
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I am looking for a backpack to carry a few changes of clothing plus laptop, water bottle and other odds and ends. I hate duffel bags! I don't fly much but primarily drive.

Thinking about the 5.11 Rush 72
 
Hands down the Camelbak linchpin. But what size laptop? If it's a big laptop then a BFM.

The reason I lean towards CB for laptop carry is the hydration pocket is almost purpose built for carrying flat electronics. The other is the no hassle lifetime warranty. Need a part? Call em and you'll have it.

Color Preference?
Ideal weight carry?
special needs?
 
If $$ is no hindrance, My personal favorite backpack of all time for any travel activity is the TAD fast pack. It's extremely well thought out, plenty of pockets(but not TOO many), durable, expandable, and Comfortable... I've taken mine all over the USA and out of the country :)

Another, simpler option would be the Goruck 1. Comfortable and tough, it's just as well made but isnt as expandable and has fewer pockets.
 
for the price you are gonna pay for the 5.11 or camelback, (:cool::rolleyes:go bag packs). you can get a nice old style bag like Duluth makes, canvas and leather, and another plus, it doesn't make you look like some contractor walking through the airport(draws much less attention at security on check in).
if that's not a concern, the 5.11 bags and gear ain't as nice as it used to be, cheaper materials and zippers seem to fail a lot more in the last few years. look at TAD or Mayflower or tactical taylor.
 
If the "Grey Man" concept is the point of the bag then I would strongly lean towards the posters suggestion above me.

If you like Camelbak the BFM would be a good choice. Organization is setup well for travel, especially if you have lot's of electronics chargers, small parts, etc. I would find another option besides 5.11 either way. The Rush is nearly the same as the BFM. The 3 main differences that sway me towards the CB are the neck piece above the straps rubs on my kneck, the workmanship is not on par with CB, CB's lifetime warranty is killer reminds me of kershaw,ZT,CRKt warranties.

I carried one about for about a year strait while couch surfing before I started college. I carried at all times comfortably a full size laptop (15.6 not sure if the pro is the 17) in the hydration compartment, a large shower kit in the main bag mesh upper compartment, an small first aid/BOK in the lower main mesh compartment, I carried clothes for about 4-5 days in the main compartment, I kept all of my cords in the lower out side pocket. In the organization compartment I kept a ridicules amount of stuff and in the two out side pockets I usually kept a water bottle and shaving kit. It weighed out around the 40 ish mark generally. After living out of that bag I will always recommend it. I bought it second hand from a photographer that had spent the previous two years going up and down africa... I sold it about a year ago in perfect shape when I swapped over to futura only harnesses.

If you think you might want a good suspension as well the Trizip is a nice option with the MR Futura suspension... Bit pricey but shop around I bought my 6500 for 450 by piecing it and my Linch for 90 secondhand with tags.

(I am biased to CB and MR... I currently use a MR NICE 6500 and a CB Linchpin)
 
I love my Tactical Tailor M5 Medic bag but maybe not wide enough for your laptop. The other two bags I use are Kelty MAP 3500(ocean grey) and Mystery Ranch Sweat Pea- grey and orange.

Bill
 
I recommend avoiding tactical style bags for traveling. Frankly I think they are overpriced and look cheezy. A regular carry-on with wheels and a pull- out handle is so popular for a reason, it works!

If your not into that then I suggest the North Face "Small Base Camp Duffle". Specifically the SMALL size. I use one for flying on planes that have smaller overhead compartments. It opens wide sort of like a suitcase so don't think of it as the typical duffle bag. It's waterproof and it also comes with removeable shoulder straps to use as a backpack. This sometimes comes in handly for when you need both hands free.
http://theworldbyroad.com/2012/03/gear-review-base-camp-duffel-by-the-north-face/
 
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I use a Pelican case with handle and wheels as my carry on. I also have a small backpack with my essentials and computer.
 
I use RUSH 72 for school, travel and work for about 2 years already. Never had any problems in airports. The number of compartments and bag volume are great for my needs. Laptop fits nicely in the hydration pocket (plastic plate in the back protects the laptop from external impacts and my back from the laptop angles). I like it. The only issue I had was the rubber 5.11 patch fell off...
 
Take a look at GoRuck packs. They are USA made, tough as nails, and specifically made for the traveler who also wants to use them "off road"
 
If you want to got the traditional route a la Duluth, I'd highly recommend looking at Frost River, too. They 'broke off' from Duluth Packs a few years ago and equal or exceed Duluth's quality at a slightly lower price point. Not cheap, but a little less pricey. (You can find lots of photos on their Facebook page, too.) They are extremely durable with old-school made-in-USA craftsmanship, and have a timelessness to them that will still be in style when you pass it down to one of your kids. The Frost River Geologist might fit your bill; it's a roomy day pack or snug two-day pack. If that's too small, you can go up to something like the Isle Royale Jr., although that might be too big. (But, come on now, wouldn't it be cool to have a pack with an axe sleeve?) :) The Duluth Wanderer is also classic; I can pack for a weekend with that thing.

No, these packs don't have the convenience of modern tactical-type packs, but they are just as tough or tougher. If you get one, you won't grow 'tired' of it in a few years; and if you do, one of your kids will happily take it off your hands. Some Duluth packs out there are 2+ generations old. (On 'the Bay,' there's a vintage 1882 Duluth pack with a ridiculous $70K buy-it-now price!)
 
Kelty MAP3500 is great ! I'm on my 3rd one, but not because of them wearing out. I sold my first one to my Dad while I was still in the Corps for some fast cash, so it's still around. The second was stolen earlier this year. My 3rd just came in the mail last week. I've also carried the 5.11 MOAB10, awesome organization, but couldn't get used to the single strap. I have a Mystery Ranch tri-zip for a bit more space. The MAP3500 is fairly cheap and if you get the right color it can appear as a standard bookbag.
 
I love my Rush 12. Maybe a Rush 24 will do you. Seems the 72 would have a bunch of extra space if that is what you need.
 
I have to chime in......... I bought a small backpack 8 years ago for $12.95 and it has served my every need when it comes to travel, laptop, tactical, everything I've needed. I did the comparisons between the high end name brands and the no-name inexpensive brands and there seems to be no justification for the price differences. I just don't get buying a pack just for the sake of the name brand. There are tons of great packs that don't have a cool name associated with them that work great. It's a matter of shopping around.
 
I love my kelty redwing also. I took some dental floss and sewed the ski-pole pass through pocket velcro shut and find that those pockets hold a water bottle very well as well as my papers folded lengthwise when traveling through the airport check-in process.
 
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