Warning, dorky thread - I want backpack suggestions.

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twelvetigers

twelvetigers

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Okay, so I would like to get a new backpack. It has to:

  • be sturdy enough for the crap a vet student carries, obviously
  • have a padded separate section for a laptop
  • have quite a few pockets for other things
  • be at least fairly waterproof
  • be at least remotely attractive looking - cookie points for things that aren't all BLACK
  • be a backpack, not a messenger bag
  • be something other than the standard Swiss brand bag because like 500 people have that one and I want to recognize my bag from the rest

So let's have it! 🙂
 
My mom got me a backpack from LandsEnd in highschool, it has lasted me through then, all of college and is still going strong. Has a padded pocket for a laptop and everything. I love it.

Just looked on their website and it doesn't look like they carry it anymore... shame.
 
I love my Dakine backpack. If you go to the websit you can pick the size/criteria you want and then select a color. Seen other people on campus with Dakine backpacks, but never my color 🙂.
 
shortnsweet said:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/62115?feat=816-CL1

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63246?feat=506219-GN2[/QUOTE]

Love this bag! I had one from LL Bean that I loved for years... until I left my lunch in it over the summer in my garage. Blech.

I have a great one from REI, but the waist strap is awkward for everyday use.

Everyone and their brother has the North Face bag here. Wicked expensive but lasts for a while. I like the ones that are designed like these to hold the books close to your back, lessening the strain.
Click to expand...
 
So am I going to want to switch back to a backpack for vet school? I stopped using one last year except for when I needed to bring my laptop with me and was going to be gone all day. I started using a Vera Bradley shoulder bag thing for the most part. Helped keep me from getting super sweaty when I walked around campus.
 
orca2011 said:
So am I going to want to switch back to a backpack for vet school? I stopped using one last year except for when I needed to bring my laptop with me and was going to be gone all day. I started using a Vera Bradley shoulder bag thing for the most part. Helped keep me from getting super sweaty when I walked around campus.
Click to expand...

I switch between that, my vera bradley for light days, and my longchamps bag 🙂

Messenger bags are pretty popular here too?
 
shortnsweet said:
I switch between that, my vera bradley for light days, and my longchamps bag 🙂

Messenger bags are pretty popular here too?
Click to expand...

Haha. I felt like I was the only one who use a backpack while I was in England. Or wore jeans. I felt like girls never really wore them, especially when going out. Now I'm in the habit of never wearing them out to clubs/bars. Well, bars are still okay.
 
orca2011 said:
Haha. I felt like I was the only one who use a backpack while I was in England. Or wore jeans. I felt like girls never really wore them, especially when going out. Now I'm in the habit of never wearing them out to clubs/bars. Well, bars are still okay.
Click to expand...

Yuuup. Still the same.

Tights and skirts in the dead of winter. Crazies.
 
Check out Timbuk2. I had one of their backpacks throughout undergrad. I still have it actually, and I kind of regret not dragging it across the Atlantic to use in vet school. I believe a lot of their stuff is waterproof and almost everything is customizable color wise... they have so many choices! 🙂 They are pretty pricey, but it could be a decent investment.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/shop/category/backpack/function/laptop
 
I also highly recommend LL Bean.
I would show you the backpack I have but it looks like they no longer make it.
My backpack has room for my 15 inch laptop, it is waterproof and the straps/back are really comfortable. The only downside to the style I have is that it is a little smaller than the packs I have had in the past. I take it everywhere with me: school, work, groceries, camping, hiking and as an overnight bag.

I got mine on sale for $39. Lifetime warranty. I have had it for one year and it still looks brand new.
 
Stupid question: do we regularly brings lots of textbooks each day to school or is it mostly for at home use? I like my backpack right now but it does not have near the level of extra padding/reinforcement for those large vetmed textbooks. I have heard that some schools have lockers.
 
I have a North Face Recon that's lime green and grey with a subtle (really really subtle) print on the green part. I think they've changed slightly since I got mine since the pictures all look a bit different and I can't find my color, but I love it. Two pockets, plus a small one in front and a mesh front part. The pocket closest to your back has a padded space for a laptop with an extra bottom and a strap to hold it in. The outer full pocket has an organizer type thing with some smaller pockets built in.
I've lugged in all over Switzerland and many, many weekend trips and it still looks great and functions exactly like when I got it. Can hold a lot or be cinched tight on the sides and bottom to hold less more tightly (which I love, since books don't tilt away from your back that way).
It's not exactly cheap, but I feel it's worth the price (though I did get mine much cheaper with a coupon + member dividends from REI).
 
I have L.L. Bean, timbuk2 and Keen messenger bags at the moment. The timbuk2 one put me through the last two years of high school and first of university before I decided that I wanted one with a padded laptop sleeve, Keen one dealt with the next two years, and I bought the LL Bean one on sale for like $15 and replaced the Keen because it was starting to tear a bit and I was going to a foreign country with it for four months. I'd suggest any of the brands of messenger bags, and I'm sure their backpacks are similar quality.

Of the three, my timbuk2 bag is definitely the most beastly, it's going on 6 years old now and looks pretty much brand new. They're pricey, but if you have time to wait, you can definitely keep an eye out for a decent sale on them.
 
I have an UnderArmour backpack that meats all of your requirements. I love it!
It has a separate padded compartment, lots of pockets inside. And it was only about $30. I just tried to look it up online and it seems like they don't make the one I have anymore, but maybe check out their website and see if there's something you like. 😕
 
My in-laws bought me the computer ll bean back pack. It has been awesome. When a zipper had issues they replaced the entire bag with no issue. Will get a link if it isn't already here when I get home

Nvm, already posted. I have the red quad pack with my initials
 
I have a Kelty backpack that is kind of similar to this one:
http://www.kelty.com/p-559-deora.aspx?category=backpacks

It has lasted 5 years so far, including intermittent use for hiking. The only sign of wear and tear is a small hole in the mesh pocket from jamming too many pens/pencils into it. The only downside is that the one I have is a little small--but usually I only take my laptop and one notebook to class.
 
Osprey, hands down. I own two different models from them, one of which is the momentum. They implement a built-in rain guard in commuter models. With other manufacturers you need to buy a separate rain guard for extra dough. They're durable and like most companies nowadays, they offer a no-questions-asked lifetime repair policy. Mountain hardware, and patagonia are also top backpacks. I've also owned bags from them, but osprey eventually won out. I know finding the bag you want is tough, and so with that I say, good luck!
 
jtom said:
Stupid question: do we regularly brings lots of textbooks each day to school or is it mostly for at home use? I like my backpack right now but it does not have near the level of extra padding/reinforcement for those large vetmed textbooks. I have heard that some schools have lockers.
Click to expand...
Where are you going?

I'm pretty sure the Penn 2015ers said hardly anyone lugs books around. You bring "Dissection of the Dog" and laptop, and that's about it. You can keep textbooks in your locker or at home, depending on where you want to study.

I refused to ever lug my textbooks around in undergrad so I'm not the best person to ask. I did all of my textbook reading in my room, and I will probably do the same thing during vet school. Textbooks are too boring to be uncomfortable while browsing.
 
(Penn14 here) I didn't use any textbooks besides the dissection guide, much less bring them to school! The only thing I carry around is my laptop.

With the dissection guide, it's not a bad idea to keep one clean one at home, and then have a gnarly one for school that stays at school. People often have their mentor's old copy or the anatomy group chips in to buy the gnarly copy 🙂
 
Mine's LL Bean and I love it. Actually on my second one - dog chewed a hole in the first one and I had a new, free, replacement pretty quickly with no hassle at all. Beyond the dog eating, no problems with it holding up, it's roomy but not heavy when empty, comfy to wear even when full, has lots of pockets and space, and a computer sleeve inside. It's called the Quad Pack I think.

And their website is always free shipping 😉
 
I got an LL Bean backpack for my birthday and they're certainly hardy, but my dog chewed a hole in it when he was teething. At least they're pretty good about replacement, or so I hear. I need to get on that! XD

They come in good colors, too. =D
 
Someone recommended the Chrome bags last year, and I bought one.

Big fan. Not a two-strap backpack, but the way they designed it is actually more comfortable than a normal bag. And it has a crap-ton more space. And fancy pockets. And a laptop sleeve.

c_buran_11_m.jpg
 
Dsmoody23 said:
Someone recommended the Chrome bags last year, and I bought one.

Big fan. Not a two-strap backpack, but the way they designed it is actually more comfortable than a normal bag. And it has a crap-ton more space. And fancy pockets. And a laptop sleeve.

c_buran_11_m.jpg
Click to expand...

Probably me, I love the Chrome bags. 😍
 
sunshinevet said:
http://www.crumpler.com/AU/Laptop-Bags.html?LanguageCode=EN

Amazing tough bags, and you can find one to suit almost any purpose.

I messed up my shoulder pretty bad using a messenger bag come 4th year so I'm back to backpack 😎 Crumplers were recommended to me by a physical therapy friend and they have a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

What's the AUD -> USD conversion like these days? Lol. I dunno if shipping would be worth it either...

It took me a minute, though - I was like, "What?!? A $250 backpack??"
 
nyanko said:
Probably me, I love the Chrome bags. 😍
Click to expand...

I was wondering when you would chip in. I just don't want something I have to put over my head, because I know I'd just carry it on one shoulder anyway. That, and I do carry a purse, and it's hard to have two over-the-shoulder things at once.
 
I have one of these: http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Bags-Backpacks/COVRT/COVRT-18-Backpack.html#

Very durable. $129 is MSRP - hunt around and you'll find it for $89. Has a separate pouch for a laptop, 2 side mesh pouches for water bottle or whatever - spare anatomy gloves - has a specially lined pocket for sunglasses, has a pocket for pens, pencils, etc, and there's 3 more pockets plus a somewhat hidden pocket for anything else.
 
I just ordered a new Dakine Large Campus bag on Amazon for $1 plus $9 shipping and handling 😀. It is regularly $60. There are a bunch of other ones on there that have just 1 or 2 left and are going for a couple bucks if anyone is interested. The one I got has a laptop sleeve (not sure I'm gonna be taking a laptop) plus lots of compartments. I usually like to get one with two compartments (one for books one for binders) and have an awesome Starter backpack that I love and have had since I was a freshman in college and it just started coming apart. Saving if for a bag to pack my stuff in for trips home for the weekend.
 
http://www.rei.com/category/1/q/Laptop+Bags

I have had an amazing messenger bag by Osprey for the last couple years that I got from REI - they have TONS of bag options out there - see above link.

My husband also had a Timbuktu bag and he LOVES it - we have both been very happy with our bags. I love REI - great quality - great guarantee - and gives you that outdoor durability that handles all weather but fits comfortably even if you have a ton of weight in the bag.
 
twelvetigers said:
What's the AUD -> USD conversion like these days? Lol. I dunno if shipping would be worth it either...

It took me a minute, though - I was like, "What?!? A $250 backpack??"
Click to expand...

Ah yes... its been around a year since I bought mine and I had forgotten about the massive hole in my bank account in caused...

There are stores in the US so I don't know if RRP if different over there, but yeah, exchange rate is NOT helping you out atm!
 
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