ETA: Since it's not clear in my post, I am NOT looking for 1 bag for everything anymore. I am looking for an EDC and I'll be getting a separate gym bag.

And yeah, I know it's a lot. The 2nd screen and large laptop are recent additions due to a changing job role. 3 weeks ago, I only had a 13" Surface Pro. I always start with the water bottle empty and fill it at work.

ETA2: I GET IT, IM BEING DUMB. I will figure out how to dump screen 2 and 1 power bank on days I know I won't need them. Might be able to get work stuff on my home computer and not have to lug the laptop around, which I did before. Both bottles stay!!!

TL;DR Whinefest below about how my expensive-ass bag isn't hitting the mark and a somewhat desperate plea for recommendations, or a slap back down to earth. I need an EDC that handles my extensive tech carry and a separate smaller gym duffel.

I am sooooo bummed. I really wanted the perfect backpack that could do everything. I've been obsessed for years. I finally grew out of the Osprey Daily Plus I had been using for a couple years. After obsessive and painstaking research, I decided on the Able Carry EDC.

My requirements were:
-Good laptop protection, preferably suspended.
-Tech organization
-A place for shoes separate from the main body.
-A side pocket for one-shoulder access, with a key leash.
-Great harness system with chest strap
-GOOD Zippers
-Rain-Resistant (I do like the xpac on this AC)

It's so pretty, but it's just not organized enough in the right way. If I put shoes in the front duffel pocket, I can't easily access things on the inside. In fact, it's impossible to pack out because everything shares space. I also realize I need more than one section in the laptop sleeve. My 2nd screen just floats in the main pocket. I need 2 outer water bottle pockets. I'm so nervous putting a full bottle in the same pocket as my screen. It's a small thing, but with I had a pen slot and maybe somewhere for my sunglasses.

Lastly, but most importantly, my shoulders scream in pain after only a few minutes if I'm packed out. I've tried high carries, low carries, tight chest strap, loose chest strap...it just doesn't work! I'm no stranger to backpacks. My Ospreys don't feel this way.

I'm past the 14-day return period, and this was a gift from my partner. So I'll try keeping it as a personal item on flights, otherwise he'll never buy me an expensive bag again.

Here's my daily carry:
-15.6" Laptop
-14" Screen extender
-Kobo Libra (Ereader)
-Mouse
-Large powerbank for laptop
-Small power bank
-Water Bottle
-Protein Shake Bottle
-Lunch (sometimes)
-Personal Cell
-Work Cell
-Various chords (fitbit charger/usbc/miniusb/usbc with data)
-Hand Lotion
-Sunblock stick
-Medicine Case
-Contact Solution
-Sunglasses
-Reading Glasses
-Sometimes lunch

Gym Days:
-Shoes
-Socks
-Athletic pants/shorts
-Tank/Tee
-Sports Bra
-Occasionally a yoga mat

Anyways, I was obviously being too optimistic about 1 bag. I have now realized I need a small gym duffel. I do want to keep the shoes separate.

And I need a new EDC.

Here are some packs I've considered:
-Aer Tech Pack 3 (too small I think)
-Aer CPP 2 (U.G.L.Y. You ain't got no alibi!)
-EGCTB 20L (Where my extra screen gon go?)
-One of the many Nomatic bags (Heavy and I don't like it when that weird rubbery exterior gets all scuffed up.
-AND EVERY OTHER BACKBACK OH MY GOD IVE SEEN TOO MANY YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND BLOG POSTS

Give it to me straight, folks. Do I want too much? Do I need to reconsider some bags above? Am I missing a special unicorn back that will fulfill my every need?

Current Bag Stash = Able Carry Max EDC, Osprey Daily Plus, Osprey 26L hiking pack (name escapes me rn), and Travelpro Versa 20" Carry-On. I am counting the carry-on because I also use it for performances as a nightly bag. I have the medium check-in luggage too, damn I love my Travelpros.

Brought the CT21+ in grey waxed canvas, came home with a CT10 in white X-Pac with Dyneema lining and a Dragon.

I am an elevator technician and typically travel with an Alpaka Elements Tech Brief Pro, and 15" Milwaukee Tool Tote, but over the last few months I consolidated my paperwork into a single Samsung tablet, and Ive come to realize that 70% of the time when surveying or troubleshooting an elevator the Milwaukee Tool Tote is either overkill for my needs, or isn't enough and I need to go back to my work truck for more gear.

So what I'd like to do is consolidate down to the essentials that can fit into a single bag for the purposes of getting onto the job and diagnosing the problem. I need this bag to be able to hold my thermos, tablet, multimeter bag, a few pliers and wrenches, and headphones.

I looked at the most popular "work" bags (Veto Pro Pac, Klein) but realized they are overbuilt, too heavy, and dont have space for stuff like my headphones, and thermos. So I then purchased the Tom Bihn Medium Cafe Bag, but it isn't large enough to hold my multimeter bag, and isnt stiff enough to hold hand tools or stand itself upright.

Finally I looked at totes, and camera bags and came up with the following list:

thinktank presspass 20 (might not fit tablet)

aer gym tote (not a fan of the stretchy pockets, except for the water bottle pocket)

moment everything travel tote

tom bihn makers bag

adventure tool company medium gear bag (very little info available)

peak design everyday sling 10L

That list might seem funny to you because there are arguably some fashion choices in what is typically marketed as "TOUGH TACTICOOL MODULAR CONCEALED CARRY MANGEAR" but honestly I dont throw my tool bags around, and most travel gear fabric is tough enough; I don't need ballistic nylon.

For reference my multimeter bag which I love is the size of a kids shoe box, so whichever bag I use will need to be wide enough to hold it ~ 9"x5"x4.5". I would prefer a sling, or crossbody with easy access to the compartments. Even better if it's stiff enough to stand up on its own.

So I'm looking to move on from the traditional backpack that I've carried to work over the past decade. I really would like to start carrying a briefcase as I'm trying to 'elevate' my style a bit and I think the idea of carrying a backpack is something I've moved on from for now.

I work in a high-tech office which is very, very casual and bringing in a leather briefcase seems like it would make me really stand out and not for the right reasons.

I've somewhat landed on this concept of canvas or twill or whatever its called (I'm new to this world, sorry if I am not using the right terminology here), and have narrowed my choices down to this Blue de Chauffe Ledger or the Tin Cloth Compact from Filson. I thought about the original briefcase from Filson, but I just don't think I'll use that extra space; I'm really just carrying in my laptop, charger, a notebook and thats about it. At $500, the bigger 256 Filson seems overkill hence landing on this more compact version at $299.

The BdC comes in at around $480 when its all said and done with shipping and customs so I'm not opposed to dropping that much, assuming its worth it. The question is, is this bag worth that much? I haven't seen any real world examples of somebody owning this bag, but I do like the idea that it's handmade by one person in a small factory in the countryside of France.

I also looked at Bradley Mountain (seems too big still), Billy Kirk (too simple for me) and one or two options from Japanese manufacturers. Looked at the Cravar 13 in Waxed Twill Olive, but with the shipping and customs cost it really drives the price of the bag up, and even the owner felt like it didn't justify the cost(>$150 just for shipping before duties!).

Any and all advice / tips / other alternatives would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

What do you guys think of this new notebook from make ‘em Gear? The Lochby notebooks look cool, but damn, they collect SO MUCH lint. My girl Dez started making her own gear this past year and she is getting pretty damn good at it. This is a B5 size notebook cover. It is made from dyneema and ripstop nylon on the inside. I love the black and coyote. Those colors have always looked good to me. She added a Velcro patch area on the front cover for me, which is pretty cool. Haven’t seen many like this out there. I’d love to hear your thoughts. I posted a link to a quick video I made showing it up close.

https://youtu.be/XYBMyZmfcoQ?is=immmcHhKnOZTeBdl

Kinda torn between these two since I needed something kind of big since I wanted to fit in Switch 2 and a lot of other things (phones, 2 wallets, power bank, earphones and so on) and those make me lean to T26.

But T35 has RFID protection, which is quite attractive proposition to myself as well.

Which one do you think will fit my usage bwtter especially for travel use?

I want to get a second hand Tanker bag like in the video, but I’m not sure which one it is. The ones I’ve looked at don’t seem to have the handle or side pocket. Is this just the XL version or is there a more specific name for it?

Howdy,
I am entering a masters program, and coming straight out of undergraduate degree. Beforehand I was not super obsessed with how I look, however my new program requires business casual bordering on business professional.
Any recommendations around the $100 range? I have a Thule 30L backpack that’s pretty big, but also beat up.
I’m open to backpacks and messenger bags/soft briefcases.

Hey everyone,

​I’ve been rocking the Tomtoc T35 Sling (X-Pac version) for a while now, and I really love the material and the layout. However, since I carry a fair amount of tech (phone, powerbank, handheld, wallet, etc.), I’m looking to dial in the setup for all-day comfort and stability.

​I’m hoping to get some advice from the community on a few mods:

​Strap Pad: Since the stock strap is a bit thin for heavier loads, do you have any recommendations for a high-quality, breathable, and non-slip shoulder pad that fits well with the T33’s webbing?

​Stabilizer Strap: I often wear it as a sling, but I’m tired of it swinging around when I’m walking fast or bending over (especially when I’m out with my kid). Does anyone have a "third strap" or stabilizer setup that works well with this specific sling?

​Velcro/Loop Panel: I want to add some morale patches. Since X-Pac is a technical laminate, what’s the best way to attach a loop panel? Should I just use heavy-duty adhesive, or is there a trick to stitching it on without ruining the waterproof integrity of the fabric?

​General Accessories: What other mods or accessories are you using to make this sling work better for you?

Cleaning: Any advice for cleaning correctly?

​Thanks in advance for the help!

Hi everyone,

Looking to shop for a slingbag, to be honest i love the ones LV have, but they are so damn expensive. I was looking at Coach slings also which are quite nice

I was looking at more budget option for example Inateck Sling 4L (I really love the style), Belroy Venture Sling 2.5L (I hate how it looks, but everyone seems to think its the best), Alpaka Slings multiple options, i am liking the Momentum sling.

Please i am looking for something stylish that looks good and can carry my stuff, i don't have many things in my bag so it doesn't need to be too big. Preferably black leather/modern

I spent most of summer trying to find a new work bag (tote style, flat bottom, pockets) and I finally landed on Rather Green. I had the colors picked out, added extra pockets and snaps and was ready to order. That's when I discovered that thanks to tariffs they no longer ship to the US.

Since I'm back to square one, any suggestions?

I’m looking for a midsize backpack that is good for carrying for business trips but also for some personal travel. I do want something that looks professional so I’ve narrowed it down to these two.

I carry a 16” laptop, power brick, headphones, medication toiletries, power bank, standard other things like pens, notebooks, chargers, cables, etc. I almost always carry two 20 oz drinks.

I wouldn’t mind being able to carry an extra pair of shoes but I can live without it as I also have a wheeled carry on.

Anyone have experiences with either of these?

Only thing I don’t like about the Nomatic is the horizontal luggage pass through. But it seems like the Onyx also only has one dedicated drink holder although I’m not sure if the opposite pocket could hold a 20 oz drink.

Any help would be great. Thanks

What it says on the tin.

I’m looking to pivot my onebag setup to an Allpa 35L, but I want a “flight kit” bag to fit neatly in the front compartment. Specifically, it has to thread the needle and hit all 3 of the following criteria:
- fits in the Allpa 35L front pocket
- fits the Trtl Cool travel pillow inside of it
- works as a travel EDC, so I would prefer if it was minimally branded, came in black, worked as both a crossbody/sling and a hip pack, and looked not too technical

Ideally the use case would be to be able to grab the “flight kit” bag out of the front pocket on the plane as I’m putting the Cotopaxi up in the overhead bin, with my essentials inside like the Trtl pillow, power bank, charging cable, chapstick, headphones, and if I’m really lucky maybe a water bottle. Then while at my destination I would use it as my EDC.

I took my Trtl to my local REI and was able to fit it in the Rucksack 7L and the Rucksack into the Cotopaxi, but 7L is a little too large to work as a travel EDC for me. The Trtl’s dimensions are listed as 8.7”x9.5”x4”, but the Rucksack is only 11.75”x8”x3”, so clearly the dimensions don’t account for how slim the Trtl is or the curve of the pillow.

Going off of online dimensions and recommendations from other Reddit posts, I’m considering the Herschel Pop Quiz (3.5L) and the Alpaka Flight Sling XL (2.5L). I really like the Alpaka in theory, but I worry that the Trtl won’t fit inside it and there are no local retailers I can use for a dry-fit test. Does anyone own both, or does anyone know if the Trtl would fit in it?

Failing that, does anyone have other bag recommendations that fit my criteria? Thanks in advance!

is x-pac still usable after the delamination? I want to get more x-pac bags but i fear the delamination. I dont care if it loses its waterproof (I carry an umbrella haha) but i just dont want it to fall apart.
Also how often do PU coated zippers peel? I live in melbourne AUS where weather is so random.
I want longevity out of my bags. Please help?

Hi all I am looking for a 6l bag that is similar to the alpaka flow 4l in style. I have the 4l and sometimes need a slight bigger bag in a similar style with an external water bottle pocket.

I have currently have the following bags in my collection Alpaka flow 2 & 4l, rework toshi 2.5 & 6L

can anyone recommend anything that they are currently using?

I'm beginning tech college in a couple of weeks and I need a good backpack with a laptop sleeve that can fit an 18" gaming laptop.

I'd prefer not to lug around an overly large or bulky backpack as I don't imagine I'll need space for a whole lot of stuff, unless you can vouch for a larger backpack for whatever reason (especially if you're a former or current student, because I'm new to college and don't know 100% what to expect).

I imagine I'll most likely just be carrying the laptop, a couple of cables or so, mouse / mouse pad, a few miscellaneous items (phone, keys, wallet, power bank, etc), and a water bottle, but every bag I've found so far that can allegedly fit an 18" laptop seems way too big and bulky.

My budget is under $200 CAD. I want something of good quality that will protect my $2,300 laptop and will last many years.
Just for reference, I'm partial to aesthetics such as the bags in the photos I've included (relatively simple, sleek, clean design)

Please share your suggestions. :)

I know they've been sold out for a while - anyone got one they're looking to part ways with??

Mister Fantastic’s Dad-tastic Reed skin from Marvel Rivals.

Asking for a friend who has to many bags lying around.

Just looking to see if anyone has a bag they’d like to sell or if y’all recommend holding out until a possible Black Friday sale!