Need a new bag (messenger or backpack) for school

[22031 Alum]

---

Members don't see this ad.

load the spine equally with backpack ( assuming weight is distributed evenly) vs a messenger bag that basically twists the spine in one direction.

probably not a concern for people that carry 5 lbs in their bag, but throw robbins and a couple other books, a laptop and other misc crap and I think it could matter.

I've never been a textbook person. I didn't even have my own Netter- donated mine to be my group's in-lab copy. So I may not be the best to dispense advice about heavy bags. Still love my Timbuk2's, though!!

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Mind sharing which packs you got?

Going with the osprey flapjack courier (would probably never pay 90$ for it but again I got it for $36 on eBay). And then my family is all going together for a birthday present to get me the osprey comet daypack. So be it pre-clinical, clinical, residency, regular stuff, hiking, pretty much anything, I am covered for a good many years now. I will just pick whatever suits my needs for the day or just whatever I am feeling.

So thanks for the help all. I realized I would probably be best off getting both. Started to seem like a small investment now for some good quality stuff for the future. I figure I have my sneakers and then my boots and then my dress shoes all for different occasions - I suppose I am getting to the age that bags are somewhat the same.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

I've had a couple Swiss Gear backpacks from high school up until a couple weeks ago. They're great backpacks, but the material kept fraying near the top, which is a hazard in inclement weather. I decided to try out a Samsonite Tectonic PFT 17. It's cheaper (with the current discount) than the Swiss Gears I've had, but it feels great and is made of quality material with no apparent weak points that may spell trouble down the road. I'll see how it goes. The laptop compartment in the back has adjustable straps to create a fit that accommodates different size laptops. I've never had a backpack that allows you to feed it through the handle on a suitcase, so that's pretty cool too. The only downside I see with this backpack at the moment is with the liquid container pockets on the sides. They look like they could fit a waterbottle and nothing more. This may or may not be important to you, and I think you can get around that by attaching a carabiner to the handle at the top. Overall, I would recommend it.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I've had a couple Swiss Gear backpacks from high school up until a couple weeks ago. They're great backpacks, but the material kept fraying near the top, which is a hazard in inclement weather. I decided to try out a Samsonite Tectonic PFT 17. It's cheaper (with the current discount) than the Swiss Gears I've had, but it feels great and is made of quality material with no apparent weak points that may spell trouble down the road. I'll see how it goes. The laptop compartment in the back has adjustable straps to create a fit that accommodates different size laptops. I've never had a backpack that allows you to feed it through the handle on a suitcase, so that's pretty cool too. The only downside I see with this backpack at the moment is with the liquid container pockets on the sides. They look like they could fit a waterbottle and nothing more. This may or may not be important to you, and I think you can get around that by attaching a carabiner to the handle at the top. Overall, I would recommend it.

Yea that's part of what was going on with my swiss gear. I had fraying and then both of my water bottle side pocket things have a tear down them and then I had a tear in the fabric near the bottom which I have continued to attempt to sew back together for about 18 months. But all things considered I definitely felt like I got my money's worth.

Random fact about samsonite stuff is I know you can get lucky and find their stuff at tj max and Burlington coat factory sometimes - you can end up saving like 60% off.