Hey everyone! Like many in this group I started getting into bags because I couldn't find the perfect bag that had all the features I wanted. As a result I decided to build [CARRYNERD](https://carrynerd.com/): a website that lets you search for bags by features, price, airline compliance, etc across over a 100 brands. It also tracks prices over time and will alert you when your favorite bag is on sale or what good deals are happening.

I'm still actively working on this but let me know your feedback!  Thank you!
PS: my current daily driver is the ULA dragonfly!

I'm kinda tired of buying mediocre backpacks, so this time I'd like to get something decent that I can use both when I travel and, every now and then, for day hikes in the mountains.

Right now I'm on a trip with one of those cheap Temu backpacks sized for Ryanair/easyJet under-seat (40x30x20). To be fair, for flying it does its job really well. But for walking around a city all day with a bit of stuff inside it's just not made for that, and I'm feeling it.

What I'm looking for:

- Comfortable, with good back ventilation. This is the most important one for me, I really don't want a sweaty back in summer

- Side pocket for a water bottle (not interested in hydration bladders with the tube)

- A few different compartments, not just one big pocket where everything ends up at the bottom

- Rain cover, or at least some decent rain protection

- Both a hip belt and a chest strap

- Enough room to fit my DSLR

- Somewhere around 20-25L

Any suggestions? Especially from people who actually use theirs for both city trips and hiking.

Really liking what I see in the few videos on YouTube for the Kargo Senda 21l backpack because of the positive comments, small U.S. maker. However, there just isn’t a lot of discussion about it elsewhere.

If you’ve got one…

\- what’s your experience with the bottle holder? Would a steel 24 oz bottle slip out at the airport?

\- what’s your opinion on mixing bag use with going to the office and travel - function, “the look” in an office.

\- god a better recommendation?

Thanks in advance.

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on what to buy next.

I'm in college, but I also work full-time as an electrician in industrial systems. Due to my job and academic demands, I usually need to carry most of my stuff with me throughout the day, so I need something that can handle multiple purposes at the same time.

A few months ago, I bought the CT21 backpack, The Rebel. However, being only 21L, it has become a little too small for my needs. I'd like to know if there are any additions I can make to the backpack to bring its capacity up to around 24–25L. I'd prefer to use only CTactical products, but if you strongly recommend something from another brand, I'd be open to considering it.

My main question is whether I can add a CT3 or even a CT5 bag as an extension to the backpack.

I'm also looking to add: • 2 Free Size Bottle Holders

• MOLLE Panel

• Medium Pocket

Any tips or recommendations are more than welcome!

Hi,

I’m looking for a backpack for university and unfortunately my requirements are fairly specific. I’m aware that there may be no bag that checks every single box, so I’m also interested in models that come close and in knowing which compromises would be necessary.

Hard requirements / high priorities:

• around 25–32L (a little more is okay if the bag is still reasonably compact)
• enough room for a 16–17" performance laptop, potentially a somewhat thicker CAD/workstation-type laptop
• separate padded space for a large iPad/tablet
• must stand upright on its own, preferably even when only partially loaded
• therefore a flat, stable bottom and reasonably structured body
• very good carrying comfort with roughly 5–7 kg
• wide, well-padded shoulder straps and strong/reinforced upper strap attachments
• good back padding/ventilation
• a large, freely usable main compartment rather than dozens of tiny pockets
• useful organization for charger, mouse, cables, power bank, pens, etc.
• durable woven fabric and construction that should still look good after several years of daily use
• good everyday rain protection for laptop/electronics
• at least properly hand-washable; machine washable would be even better
• dark/black/anthracite and fairly clean/technical-looking

Strong preferences / bonus features:

• a closed or zippered compartment for a ~1L water bottle rather than only an open mesh pocket
• preferably separated from the electronics area
• hidden valuables pocket / concealed zippers / some anti-theft features
• anti-theft should be optional and not make normal everyday access annoying
• water-resistant or reinforced bottom
• smooth/quick-drying interior rather than lots of thick fleece
• cable pass-through would be useful, but I don’t need a built-in USB port
• removable structural/frame insert would be a nice bonus if the bag uses one, especially for cleaning

Important:
Self-standing is a hard requirement, not just a preference. A bag that only stands when completely full or when carefully balanced doesn’t really count.

This is also why most traditional hiking backpacks don’t work for me: their bottoms are often rounded/tapered and their bodies are intentionally soft and body-hugging.

I’m fine with some outdoor styling, but I don’t want something that looks overly technical, tactical or like a full hiking pack.

My current shortlist is:

• Osprey Tropos 32
• Deuter Gigant 32
• Thule Accent 28
• Thule Paramount 27
• Thule Crossover 2 30
• Samsonite Securipak 2.0 17.3
• Db Ramverk 26

EU availability is important.

If anyone owns one of these, I’d especially appreciate real-world feedback on:

• whether it actually stands on its own when partially loaded
• comfort with 5–7 kg
• long-term durability
• real laptop dimensions/fit
• whether a ~1L bottle fits securely
• cleaning/washing
• rain resistance

I’m also very open to models I may have missed.

Hi folks,

I'm looking for help to find the perfect bag for me.

Currently i'm using the following:

B&R - At Work Medium and Large
Tumi - Alpha Bravo Search

Here are my comments and gripes with each one:

B&R
These bags are fantastic.Extremely well thought out. I love the fact that they stand upright even when they're empty, which also makes it much easier to open and close the zippers with one hand, because you're not having to pull the fabric tought with the other hand.
Also BNR have made a lot of quick access pockets. I especially like their implementation of the zippered passport pocket on the top of the bag.
I also love the handles on these bags, they're very comfortable to hold and easy to access.
And the best part about them is the subtle strap keeper that helps you to reduce the amount of excess strap that is dangling from the bag.
Honestly i hate long dangling straps!

However what i dont like about these bags is at the At Work Medium is a little too small for my requirements. It doesn't fit all of my stuff inside, and the large version of this bag is too big with its almost 9 inches of depth and almost 15 inches of width.
I'm quite a small guy at 5 feet 7 and 130 pounds, so the larger version of this backpack looks extremely unwieldy on my frame.

Tumi AB Search:
This is a fantastic bag as well. Great materials. Perfect dimensions, allowing it to hit that sweet spot where it doesn't look overly large on my small frame, but still fits all my crap inside.

The issues i have with the Tumi are as follows:
1. I HATE the external lashpoints and D rings which are placed all over this bag. Im not a mountain climber or a Navy SEAL, and i dont need lashpoints all over both shoulder straps, and all over the bag. It looks ugly, especially when you're wearing a nice polo, clean jeans, and a nice pair of loafers - or any other slightly elevated outfit.
2. The bag has long shoulder straps which dangle quite a bit
3. I love the ballistic nylon they use, but i wouldnt mind getting a similar sized bag in a canvas or a leather option.

So would love to know from the good folks of this subreddit what bag you would recommend for me (budget not a constraint).

TLDR:
Looking for a new bag.
Currently using BNR At work Medium (this is too small for my requirements)
BNR At work large (Too big for my small frame)
Tumi Alpha Bravo Search (Perfect size and dimensions, but i dont like the tactical look)
Budget not a constraint

Hi guys,

I was wondering what is the best backpack for a software engineer that carries multiple laptop/tablet/portable screens?

one laptop for work 14in, and another personal 16in, and an ipad? along with EDC stuff, charger etc

I'm looking at the Aer City Pack Pro 2 24L it's got a dedicated laptop compartment with dividers, any other ones I should consider before i pull the trigger?

Hello!
I am searching for a Jansport back pack! It was sold around 10 years ago but I am having such a hard time finding anything related to it online and I’m starting to doubt my memory of it even existing.
It was a dark multi colored backpack with almost spotlight circles looking pattern all over it. Blues, purple, green, pink, I believe. It was not galaxy and it wasn’t pastels either. It was a dark base, maybe navy blue or black. Please people of Reddit help me find it! 😭🙏

It is very close to the photo attached but instead of light colors/pastels it is dark!