Submitted by Due_Vegetable_2023 t3_119km0g in BuyItForLife
Hi, I have an ll bean backpack that I have used for a bit, but the zippers have broken and I need a new one. The backpack should have a laptop sleeve. ~$200 budget. Thanks for any help and let me know if you need more information.
Check out timbuk2 brand
Leather-bottom Jansport we’re all anybody needed when I was in school, back in the day. It’s probably enough now.
yeah, I have seen stuff from them and I have been considering them
I've got a 9 year old bag from them that I used daily for 7 years and it's held up amazingly
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I have that same Jansport and within a month the zippers started to fail they're not the same anymore
Sounds like you should swap it.
had a north face backpack all thru cc and UG about to take it with me to law school lol
If you can find a Northface recon made before the redesign in 2021, you’ll be golden. I have had mine for many yeara
I was going to say Chrome, but they don't seem to make my bag anymore. On the other hand the important part is, when the material along the zipper wore out after five years, they replaced the bag no questions asked, because it was normal wear. It's a lifetime warranty, plus a one year guarantee. The replacement had a better zipper design with a bit more flexibility, so I expect it to last longer.
Of their existing bags, the Hondo seems closest to what I have.
That being said, I have something from Deuter and that's the most comfortable, but I can't speak to its longevity. Though they do have a lifetime warranty where they will attempt repairs.
Osprey nebula. Super comfortable.
Check out Mystery ranch, the Rip Ruck and Urban Assult look nice. I've seen them in a few REI's near me. I have the Coulee daypack for hiking and its great. Seems very durable and looks almost brand new after owning it for 3 years.
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/w lifetime warranty!
Are you not planning to have LL Bean replace the bag you already own?
And I’ll throw my vote towards Osprey brand bags.
Red Oxx. Lifetime warranty (actual lifetime, not 'lifetime of the product BS'). Made in USA, veteran operated. Bit more expensive, but BIFL is expensive (initially).
Osprey quasar or north face borealis. Find an older model if you can, new old stock is preferable. My borealis lasted me over 10 years and it looked new with daily use. I recently bought a brand new old stock replacement and I noticed the only thing that deteriorated was the fabric faded with the sun. My osprey quasar is in amazing shape and these things fit so so so so so so much and they all have a dedicated laptop sleeve. Sometimes I’ll empty out my backpack and not realize absolutely how much I had in there then when I lift the backpack on its own it baffles me how damn light it is on its own but also how light it feels on my back when it’s full. My girlfriend has never had a real backpack, she likes her fjallraven backpacks but let’s be honest, they’re not comfortable. When she tried mine on she was AMAZED. If you don’t believe me, take a quality north face or osprey backpack and fill it up with just weight. You’ll be amazed at how comfortable and equally the weight is distributed that it doesn’t even bother you. The newer north face recon and borealis don’t feel the same. Try Patagonia as well. Their black hole bags are workhorses. But in regards to the north face and osprey backpacks, their zippers are what sold me. They feel so damn good to zip and unzip. I own dozens of bags and luggage and I’ve never had anything with zippers as reliable as these. I’m sure they both use YKK, but these backpack companies invest so much R&D into the companies they partner with to make sure the materials and hardware is reliable in regards to backpacks.
The recent redesigns are hideous. The older north face backpacks are things of beauty.
Timbuk2 makes great messenger bags. They tout an Amazing warranty but when I’ve needed them because the lining inside my bags started to tear apart because of the summer heat they wanted the price of a new bag to repair my bag which just felt super stupid to me. I have a couple of their bags and messenger bags including their laptop bags, but personally I’ve outgrown them.
has the quality of osprey decreased after the recent acquisition?
Oh I have no idea!?
After doing some research, I went for the Blitz 35 for my needs. In fact it just arrived today! I haven’t used it yet so I can’t give my own review though.
Second the Mystery Ranch packs. Most have removable hipbelts, so if you hike or travel their packs are very versatile and can serve many functions.
Avoid backpacks with the laptop sleeve directly on your back. I’ve had two laptops die that way until I switched to a photography bag.
Apecase has been the perfect bag since 2012. All are under $200!
Depending on your laptop size, ACPRO1800, ACPRO1900, or ACPRO2000. I carry around a gaming laptop and it all fits almost perfectly snug.
The lens/camera interior is removable and adjustable. Really cool system. To do a quick swap. Haven’t even used it for photography in years because it’s perfect for travel.
Fits in airplanes perfectly.
If there’s rain, it has a water proof cover in a pocket at the bottom.
Plus they have a lifetime warranty on the site. Never called it in to check but my bags never had an issue and I’ve literally used it every day. Maybe I’ll make a post for the sun.
Osprey Nebula. Just bought one for work with laptop sleeve. It's friggen awesome.
https://www.rei.com/product/153244/osprey-nebula-daypack-mens
I really liked my Columbia backpack
how did the laptops die? and do you mean a separate compartment or the sleeve rests on your back and isn't on the other side of the bag? Thanks for the insightful reply.
It was a dakine backpack with the laptop sleeve right between the back and bag. I didn't think it provided enough cushion. Walking to and from places. Lots of bouncing against my back.
I put my laptop in a laptop sleeve and put it inside my bag. I just love how much padding the apecase has since it was made for camera glass.
edit: that was also back before solid state drives. SO maybe you wont have my problems.
Yeah, IDK. I have had a sleeve against my back for a while without issue. I can see how that would be an issue, just has never happened to me. A lot of sleeves now have a buckle on top to further secure the backpack. But do what works. A working computer is better than hundreds down the drain.
No, I have additional issues with the bag, including ergonomics and size. Also some of the damage was user modification to allow the zipper to work
my partner has had a north face recon backpack for as long as i’ve known him, so about 6 years. it’s held up through high school and college with very heavy daily use.
ak47ismyaddress t1_j9mmx0n wrote
Dayowl is a really good brand