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Backpack Recommendations


paulmcmanus

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I am looking for something that I'm not sure exists. I want a backpack that is suitable for carrying my paper (loose correspondence paper and Rhodia A4+ pads), pens - up to half a dozen - as well as different full-sized ink bottles and, as a nod towards the modern age, a 13" macbook air and its charger.

 

I would like separate, fairly rigid compartments. The drawstring-topped backpacks that are made out of soft nylon or canvas are no good because the movement crushes the corners of my pads. And I don't want too look like a pre-1935 Everest climber or like I've just come out of the Canadian northwoods with that heavy chestnut leather and multiple brass buckles - I live and work in an urban environment and I'd like my bag to mirror that.

 

I have approached Alfred Dunhill in London to ask about a custom-made bag but I can't quite imagine what astronomical price they'll come back with.

 

Do any of you have any thoughts? I half believe that with their enthusiasm for fountain pens and inks and their interest in design, Japan would be the most likely source for something like this but so far I haven't been able to find anything. And I would prefer a backpack over a briefcase because I travel around town on a bicycle and two straps are a lot more comfortable and convenient than the one a messenger-style bag has.

 

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

 

 

 

 

Wouldn't it be great if Nakaya used TWSBI piston fillers instead of Platinum cartridge converters?

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Met a chap at the pubbe the other night who had a lovely Brooks rucscac. Might be worth investigating. Don't think Carradice makes anything suitable (I have their messenger bag that I use mainly for my music and stand. Like Brooks gear, and my fountain pens, it will out-last me).

 

edit: I think it was this one.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

Edited by twdpens

The Writing Desk

Fountain Pen Specialists since 2000

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If you are considering Dunhill I am not sure you will like these but most of the organization is modular. They are all made in the USA out of high quality American and Japanese fabrics. They come in different colors and materials but they make them in small batches so you will likely have to wait for your first choice to come in.

 

http://www.tombihn.com/CTGY/backpacks.html

 

I have the Brain Bag and Synapse 25. The Brain Bag can be purchased with hard sided "brain cells" which might work for you. They also have these things things called "Freudian Slips" which will give you storage for you notebooks paper and pens.

Edited by Keyless Works
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Jetpens sells bags with plenty of compartments. My solution has been an inconspicuous backpack with a Muji zippered sleeve for pens and notebooks. I like the concept of the Lihit Lab Teffa Bag in Bag.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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i have a Redrock Rambler sling bag which I have carried all over. It will hold everything you have mentioned, and the back padded section will safely hold a full size laptop. The quality of Redrock bags is excellent. Don't be put off with all the molle attachments as you can buy a lot of different things for easy add ons.

 

http://redrockoutdoorgear.com/packs

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" Patrick Henry

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Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your recommendations. Martin, I have seen several of the Brooks offerings in the flesh and I'm afraid that in spite of the hipster external styling they amount to little more than leather buckets with straps that would probably be very uncomfortable for anything other than a very short run.

The Redrock sling wouldn't work for me because I do want two straps to secure it while I'm riding my bike and their backpack looks a little too soft and collapsible (strong and robust as I'm sure it is) to keep my paper and pads un-dinged.

The Tom Binh ones are sort of interesting but I wonder, ultimately, if they aren't too fussy, having all the extra bits. As are the those internal organising pouches on Jetpens. Both of those are tempting but I think so far the Axio hardshell bags are more what I'm looking for. Something with a bit of rigidity but not too much fuss.

But, sadly for my ultimate happiness, I'm a maximiser, so I won't be buying anything just yet, not until I'm absolutely sure that I've found the very best solution. So please, if anyone else has any suggestions I would be very interested to hear them.

And thank you very much again guys for your thoughts and for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

 

Paul

Wouldn't it be great if Nakaya used TWSBI piston fillers instead of Platinum cartridge converters?

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I don't think they are too fussy most of the add one connect via annex clips or rail loops so you don't have stuff floating around in your bag. The downside with Tom Bihn is that the add one will turn a $200 bag into $400 pretty quickly.

 

What is your price range?

 

You can check Filson:

http://www.filson.com/luggage/rucksacks-and-backpacks/-1019/

 

I have one of their bags and it's good quality.

 

Another one that might be interesting is GoRuck...they have too much of a serious look for my taste but they use very tough materials like ballistic Cordura.

 

Anothe brand called Killspencer makes good quality backpacks that are more stylish than the others I have suggested.

Edited by Keyless Works
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Thank you, Keyless. OK, maybe Tom Bihn deserves another look. I don't have a budget and as my collection of pens and Iroshizuku ink testifies, I am well able to justify the more rationally hard to justify purchases...

Wouldn't it be great if Nakaya used TWSBI piston fillers instead of Platinum cartridge converters?

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+1 for the Tom Bihn recommendation. Like Keyless Works, I also have a Brain Bag (now getting on 8 years old) and a (new) Synapse 25. The Brain Bag is huge--I used it as a daily bag until this summer when I got the smaller Synapse, but chose the size mostly for travel--and sounds like it would be more than you want. But the various options for laptop protection are great, the bags are incredibly durable, and the addons do make them very flexible. And the company is great to deal with. (I also have a Tom Bihn briefcase for more "formal" use, or as formal as I get.)

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You might consider a bag made for camera equipment, They tend to have lots of little padded compartments and dividers to keep breakable lenses and stuff from banging together. Lowepro, etc.

 

Booq. I have an older Boa M I used for a couple years until it started coming apart at the seams around where the zipper curved around the top. Didn't trust it much after that. Still have it for use in a pinch, but that's it.

 

My current bag is a Timbuk2 laptop messenger. I like it very much, but it's far from perfect. It tends to be shapeless, so unless it's full, it tends to sag and bulge in odd ways. I would also like more pockets/compartments to hold bulkier items. Right now, my pen case, glasses, glucose meter, Habana, etc all bounce around in the main compartment (other smaller pockets are full). It has nice slots for pens, small stuff, papers/file folders, separate padded laptop and iPad compartments aside from the roomy main compartment, as well as some flat outside pockets. The outside ones don't hold much though, the pockets are sewn flat to the surrounding material so if you put something not flat into them, they pull a great deal on the bag itself. It's very well made, it's put up with daily use back and forth to the office carrying some heavy loads (two laptops, iPad, thick computer books). for several years now and no signs of trouble or wear for that matter, which is impressive. The strap is incredible, and very adjustable. Timbuk2 also makes backpacks, but I have never used one myself, but considering the quality of my messenger (and I've owned two, different sizes), they would merit a look to see if they have something that fits your needs.

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I have an IKEA backpack that holds a laptop, has a mesh section in front of the harder laptop divider that is capable of keeping notepads in place so the corners don't bend, a large section for books and other items, a front pocket large enough for several bottles of ink, and side pockets perfect for keeping FPs nib up.

 

I teach, so a backpack is fine -- I don't need a snazzy briefcase or anything. Mine is blue and white. If you don't need the bag to look particularly professional, this one might suit your needs. The padded straps and section that hits your back are among the most comfortable I have ever used, so they may be nice for your bike rides.

 

I'm not sure what the price is as mine was a gift, but it's held up to heavy abuse for a few years now, so I suspect it was worth the price.

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I know you dont want to look like a pre 1935 explorer, but I have a custom pack from alder stream canvas that I take out to the woods and I love it and it will last a life time, and was more affordable than many makers, just had to throw that out there.

 

When I'm on pavement however, I had sort of the same needs as you and decided on a patagonia messeger bag. It holds a couple of notebooks, my laptop and the other essentials. It has a flat long pocket in the back that is perfect for a folder filled with loose leaf papers. Im happy with it and I'm sure that they make nice backpacks also. Worth checking out

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I used Timbuk2 messenger bags for years, and they held up to everything I could throw at them and they both still look almost new. I have no doubt their backpack line is fantastic as well.

 

I'm presently using a North Face Surge. While it's a somewhat larger bag, it has cinch straps on the sides to pull it close to my back when not full. It's survived daily use to and from work, flown over 150K miles with me to three continents and been in countless dirty environments and still looks really good. I am surprised as I got it on a whim for traversing airports (messenger back was murdering my neck for long hauls) and never switched back to the messenger bag. It also provides much better organizational opportunities than my messenger bags. I really like that there is a zipper near the bottom to put the power brick of a laptop so it's out of the main compartment and carries low toward my back (thus minimizing weight). They come in a plain black color as well as my gray and black variety.

 

My main recommendation is to get a backpack that actually is designed to carry loads. Something with semi-regid straps, a padded back and straps to pull the load close to your back. The best looking bags may be completely uncomfortable if loaded up with anything over the most basic loads. Also realize that you want the pack to hold the weight close to your back, so any of those bags which are huge and stick out a mile aren't good. Something taller is much better as it enables you to carry just as much, but with less bulk.

 

As always, just my $0.02

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers ~ Voltaire

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Mine was purchased in late 2012 (which probably makes it about exactly 2 years old). Can't say it's as high quality as Timbuk2 perhaps, but it's survived better than I imagined. The zippers on the main compartment are quite large and the zippers on the other pockets are all normal sized. All zippers YKK and coil, so they seem to stand up well to the abuse.

 

I've carried my huge work laptop (pushing 10 lbs with charger) and my 15" MacBook Pro (with charger), plus a folio, iPad mini in case, sunglasses, pens, pencils, mouse, cables and chargers for phone. Total weight, about 35 lbs. I don't recommend it, but it handled fine.

 

I picked it up on a whim, and while I expected some quality, I didn't expect it to hold up as well as it has. I really thought more like a year. But it keeps on going, so I'm a satisfied customer! Not to mention the elastic side pockets are still springy and the bottom of the bag shows some scuffing, but no wear though. These are the two areas besides zippers where I generally blow out bags.

 

You have to realize that for those of us who travel a lot, getting anything more than 1 year out of a bag is a pretty big accomplishment!

 

Edited to add: further details

Edited by Elyptic

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers ~ Voltaire

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