Important Question: What type of backpack to buy for Med School

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TarHokie_08

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I'm starting med school in a few weeks at UNC and am trying to decide on what type of backpack to buy.
We are required to have laptops. So, a bag built for laptops is a must.
But, for how much capacity should I plan? Are med students toting books and equipment around all the time in addition to the laptop?

I will probably bike to campus as much as possible. So, something that works for biking would be helpful.

Any thoughts on style, brand, model number, number of cubic inches of capacity???

thanks for any inputs. This decision is crucial to my success!!! 😀
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Great question.
I dont want to risk giving any bad advice so I am gonna suggest that you call/email the dean of your medical school and ask his/her opinion.
good luck
 
asianpride said:
Great question.
I dont want to risk giving any bad advice so I am gonna suggest that you call/email the dean of your medical school and ask his/her opinion.
good luck
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:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That's a great idea!! What a way to distinguish myself right out of the gates.!! Great response...
 
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TarHokie, I love your name (UNC c/o 2001, but lived close to Blacksburg for 14 years 😀).

I bought a North Face Firewall bookbag at the start of last year, and I absolutely love it. It's got a compartment for my laptop, and side pockets for water bottles, but it's not the biggest bag in the world. This is good b/c it forces me to only bring what I will need for the day (so I don't break my back), and b/c it forces me to study and focus on 1 or 2 things at a time.

Good luck! Enjoy UNC!
 
Sweet Tea said:
TarHokie, I love your name (UNC c/o 2001, but lived close to Blacksburg for 14 years 😀).

I bought a North Face Firewall bookbag at the start of last year, and I absolutely love it.
Click to expand...

North Face Firewall. Got it!
Thanks for the advice
 
TarHokie_08 said:
I'm starting med school in a few weeks at UNC and am trying to decide on what type of backpack to buy.
We are required to have laptops. So, a bag built for laptops is a must.
But, how for much capacity should I plan? Are med students toting books and equipment around all the time in addition to the laptop?

I will probably bike to campus as much as possible. So, something that works for biking would be helpful.

Any thoughts on style, brand, model number, number of cubic inches of capacity???

thanks for any inputs. This decision is crucial to my success!!! 😀
Click to expand...
Oooh, this is an important question....

I have a Brenthaven right now, but I got it as a gift (normal price = $199!). It's unbelievable protection - I could probably leave throw it out of a moving car and nothing would happen to my laptop inside. It's fairly roomy too, but a little bulky and heavy.

In any event, I would fully suggest getting a backpack over a messenger bag. Your back and shoulders will thank you. 🙂
 
I have a very very very nice samonite backback for $29.99 from the samsonite store.I really like the backpack, its very sturdy and comfy with just enough space. 👍
 
I use a Jansport backpack with outside compartment for water and other stuff. I have a separate leather bag for my laptop. I use a 4 inch binder for all my classes and purge it after each exam, so I don't have much room for a laptop in my bag. My laptop has a 17 inch screen so it wouldn't fit in my current bag anyways.
 
never once carried a bag to school for so far (3rd year)...studied at the library and they had all the books i needed, or at home where kept my books. Ket my binder with notes in a locker in school and picked it up b4 lecture (on the rare occason that I went) or before heading off to the library.
 
I bought a cute pink backpack.
 
Marianne11 said:
I bought a cute pink backpack.
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I'm not so sure that pink is my color. Though I've been told that it brings out some sort of natural hue in my face color.
No, I'm personally going to buy a more "masculine" color. Probably navy blue (not Carolina blue like you might expect) or black. Orange (reminding me of my Virginia Tech days) is also probably good. Of course, my next backpack will be cute!!!
 
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I got an Eastpak unplugged w/ a laptop sleeve, which was the perfect pick because my girlfriend paid for it and had it shipped right to my door.
 
Chemguync said:
I got an Eastpak unplugged w/ a laptop sleeve, which was the perfect pick because my girlfriend paid for it and had it shipped right to my door.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Chemguync. I knew a future classmate wouldn't let me down. I had not considered Eastpak yet.

Looking at the Eastpak website leads me to another question. Do other people think less of those with "rolling" bookbags? I am currently in a non-medical profession and have a collegue who rolls his backpack and computer case around. I'll be honest. I think the guy's a wimp for not carrying it on his back like the rest of us. Am I alone in this? How is this viewed by the rest of the public?
 
Hey...I was sort of wondering the same thing....
I have looked a little bit and have found that the "best" (online opinions) for the price are Jansport (they have nice shoulder straps) and Sampsonite (just because I guess)...
I have a sampsonite outlet nearby and checked them out and found:
hisize (2000 cu in)
bones (2000)
newjack (2100)
ripple (2100)
g-ride (2300)
rafter (?)
they were all between 29.99 and 49.99 (on sale) and they all had laptop compartments which seemed to fit up to 15" or more
I am not sure about the jansport ones, but they were around the same size and the straps are a lot more comfortable....
But I will be starting as you are and I am not sure how many books I will really need to carry back and forth.
ebags.com had some good deals and will let you know what is popular
 
Wow good thread. I haven't even thought about this one.
 
TarHokie_08 said:
Looking at the Eastpak website leads me to another question. Do other people think less of those with "rolling" bookbags? I am currently in a non-medical profession and have a collegue who rolls his backpack and computer case around. I'll be honest. I think the guy's a wimp for not carrying it on his back like the rest of us. Am I alone in this? How is this viewed by the rest of the public?
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The unfortunate proliferation of rollerbags here spawned the Rollerbag Interest Group... 😉
 
I fished a plastic grocery bag out of a dumpster and threw all my notes in there.

When traveling with a lap top just "double bag" by doing another dumpster fishing journey.

Best of luck!
 
so what do you guys think: Traditional two strap backpacks or over the shoulder satchel type bags?
 
exmike said:
so what do you guys think: Traditional two strap backpacks or over the shoulder satchel type bags?
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I started out with a satchel so that I would be soo much cooler, but medical books are huge as are note packets. My lower back would be killing me halfway through the day. I had to switch to a regular back pack.
 
KyGrlDr2B said:
I started out with a satchel so that I would be soo much cooler, but medical books are huge as are note packets. My lower back would be killing me halfway through the day. I had to switch to a regular back pack.
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Ditto.
 
I use a North Face: Torrent.
For my laptop i use a 14'' Booq Bag (www.booqbags).
When I need more than just my computer, i can fit my laptop in the booqbag which then fits in the northface backpack so the computer gets more padded protection. i like the setup.
 
KyGrlDr2B said:
I started out with a satchel so that I would be soo much cooler, but medical books are huge as are note packets. My lower back would be killing me halfway through the day. I had to switch to a regular back pack.
Click to expand...

Double ditto.

I just bought this today. Too bad Sony doesn't pay me for all the advertising I do for them. ^^
 
Sometimes one feels like a utilitarian backpack...sometimes a tote...sometimes an oversized purse...sometimes one might just want to carry a notebook and a pencil only (thereby opening up one's purse options)...the question is not what type of backpack to buy for medschool...it is how MANY bags to buy for medschool. 😉
 
I would like the rolling backpacks cuz they're great for lazy people like me, but I figured I could use the exercise of carrying my stuff, plus it's not worth the nerd factor.
 
I'd go for the 2 strap backpacks. I've got friends who ended up with weird quasimodo shoulders from carrying their pack on one shoulder all the time.
 
NotADocYet said:
I'd go for the 2 strap backpacks. I've got friends who ended up with weird quasimodo shoulders from carrying their pack on one shoulder all the time.
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Seriously?
 
i have a rolling backpack.. b/c i dont wanna break my bak if i bring too many books.. though i might look nerdy, who cares, i don't want to get backache when i am sit in the libary whole day and my back hurts all day and bothering me.., a lot of ppl in our school are using those rolling backpack.. that is just my input..
 
Swiss Army makes a series of bags with a specific labtop component...they are the best I found because they pad the laptop really well and they lift it off the floor of the backpack so when you put your bag down you aren't slamming your laptop down on the floor. It also has lots of great pockets and a fair amount of room. There are two that I know of...one is more sporty and would probably be better for biking....the other is more professional looking. You can get them at Office Max or Office Depot for under 100$. Would highly recommend.
 
i found a nice sturdy stick and tied a handkercheif to it. it gives me that trendy runaway look without screaming homeless.

there's no good place for my laptop though. any suggestions?
 
i'm sucking it up and going for the rolly backpack. i've been carrying a laptop in a trad satchel case and i feel the pain. both my shoulders are seriously jacked up. geek is chic.
 
hahaha yeah dude - those rollers have a huge nerd factor. i'd have to point and laugh.
 
I got a really nice JanSport bag for a good price for my boyfriend. However, when I realized my laptop fit in it (15.4"), I was ready to selflishly keep it for myself. I didn't but I might just buy one for myself. 😛
 
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