Commuting back packs?

Can also recommend Osprey Archeon 25. Great for a laptop and a full set of clothes. I leave my shoes and everything needed for a shower at work, all else goes in the backpack. It’s a roll top, so it great for expanding if needed.

One option no one’s mentioned yet is Vaude. I commuted with one of these for a decade and they’re awesome.

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Another obvious company to check out is Deuter. I love Deuter backpacks and have been using them pretty much on a daily basis. Despite doing everything from going grocery shopping (on my bike and on foot) to bike trips and international travel, these are amazing. I usually keep them until the zipper wears out. Since I am in Japan, replacing the zipper costs me about half of what a new backpack costs and I pay for a new one. I have two or three with faulty zippers, because I still hope to get them replaced.

My weapon of choice is the Transalp 28/30, but I also have a Compact Exp 12 for bike trips or road bike races.

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I’m on my 3rd Ortlieb Velocity (in about 20 years). Can’t really fault it - simple, waterproof, robust and holds everything I need it to.

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Ortlieb is another quality maker for sure. :+1:

Deuter (and many other backpack manufacturers) also have backpacks more focussed on commuting and others made for mountain biking (as well as hiking, backpacking, etc.). I bought my Deuters initially for mountain biking, and the name is a homage to something mountain bikers in the south of Germany dream of: crossing the Alps from the south of Bavaria to Lake Garda by mountain bike.

I use an Osprey Radial (I believe the smaller 26L size). It looks pretty bulky, but a lot of that is the suspension and frame of the pack. Not to sound like the brochure, but it’s explicitly designed to be super comfortable on the bike, so when riding it really does feel super light and secure on your back. I was running late one day and was able to do a loop of our CX practice course with the bag on with no issues. It also sits a bit lower, and doesn’t have a lot of bulk at the top of the bag so your helmet doesn’t hit it. The trade off is it’s not a great general daypack because it’s so bike specific. It can be a bit uncomfortable to walk around with for a while, and the frame can make it a bit unwieldy. If you’re carrying just a laptop and lunch it’s pretty light; but I can also get a pair of size 11 running shoes, 2 sets of clothes, and a 1 qt takeout container of lunch in it if needed. If your commute is multimodal, or you need the bag as a daypack off the bike I wouldn’t recommend it, but as a bike commuting specific bag it’s awesome.

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I have been using the Inside Line Equipment Radius bag for almost exactly what you’re describing and I love it. All their other bags look great too. They even make a “race day” bag but it looks enormous.

So I really like my Camelbak 2016 SKYLINE 10 LR - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HJW888W found on one of the sites - https://wildproofgear.com/best-mtb-backpack/ . The weight distribution is good for a pack of this size, and there are a number of effective pockets that are easily accessible for things like tools or your phone. The main pouch is big enough for a day trip.

I’m a bit annoyed that Ortleib dont do them any more Ive an early sports packer plus pannier (the new ones don’t have the external mesh pocket) and use their back pack adapter and find it the perfect size and comfort for me. The mesh pocket is also handy for putting things in that you need immediate access too whilst the laptop stays nice and secure and dry.

I found I got too hot whilst wearing a backpack for commuting, so fitted a front rack to the commuter and just put my stuff in a dry bag on there!

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You aren’t wrong with your calculations. If it works, it works and sweaty back is definitely a backpack complaint.----->

My calculation for daily commute includes a shower/locker at work (so, so fortunate there) AND numerous bikes to switch between, AND a commute distance (6.5-6.67miles/10.3-ish K) that leads me into the kit vs workwear debate… Shower/locker makes that kit v workwear distance a simpler calculation. In sum, I don’t mind sweating on the way in, or the way home, because I’ve got a shower and clean clothes on both ends…

The backpack not requiring rack on the 4/5ths of my bikes (which don’t have racks) isn’t a huge deal, but carrying a backpack around after locking the bike up is still easier than dealing with detaching a pannier or combo unit. I do have an Arkel Bug convertible, and a couple of Seattle Sports dry-bag panniers , but those usually come out when I want get a lot of extra gear (footwear especially) to or from the office.

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