Decent Laptop backpack

[MarkRSi]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this...

Short version - can anyone recommend a good laptop bag for under £50?




Longer version...

When on my travels I take one of these with me

http://www.amazon.de/Vivanco-Notebook-Rucksack-CAS...

I bought it for £12 in Aldi eons ago and it's AWESOME.
It weighs nothing and doesn't seem big, but seems to swallow everything like Mary Poppins handbag.
I like the way the straps at the top go over the main zip, rather than putting all the load on the zip when I'm carrying it.
It's got foam stuff on the back so my back doesn't get too hot or stabbed.
It doesn't have a load of little pockets in the back which are prime for pick pockets - you can't be too careful at Dyce Airport in Aberdeen

In fact it's so awesome they don't make it anymore And unfortunately after a million air miles (and thousands of miles as my motorbike backpack) my one is dying - looks like an oily rag, the netting has disintegrated, one of the zips has gone.

Been looking ages for a replacement. Got one for my birthday which will probably protect my laptop better, but is very heavy (pushing 2kgs unloaded) which isn't good for the tight hand luggage restrictions.

And it doesn't seem make a difference if I go for something expensive - I've felt backpacks the wrong side of £50 that look & feel like £10 backpacks, which in turn seem more like an upgrade to a Tesco carrier bag with some shoulder straps on them...

Any recommendations?

Edited by MarkRSi on Thursday 5th April 20:55

[Ej74]

Northface Surge

No issues after over a years use
So many pockets and storage !

[Steffan]

Ej74 said:

Northface Surge

No issues after over a years use
So many pockets and storage !

Northface are good. They are not cheap.

[Bree]

I have a Lowepro camera backpack, and am sure they do laptop bags too - probably worth a google

[cjs]

Take a look at Swissgear , I've had mine for 5 years now and it's been all over the world with me and is still as good as new. They're not the cheapest, although deals are around. Got mine from Costco for about £30 IIRC.

http://www.swissgear.eu/notebook-backpacks

[MarkRSi]

cjs said:

Take a look at Swissgear , I've had mine for 5 years now and it's been all over the world with me and is still as good as new. They're not the cheapest, although deals are around. Got mine from Costco for about £30 IIRC.

http://www.swissgear.eu/notebook-backpacks

Argh! I spotted those in our Costco (Westhill) a year ago, kicked myself wished I'd bought one

[sawman]

MarkRSi said:

cjs said:

Take a look at Swissgear , I've had mine for 5 years now and it's been all over the world with me and is still as good as new. They're not the cheapest, although deals are around. Got mine from Costco for about £30 IIRC.

http://www.swissgear.eu/notebook-backpacks

Argh! I spotted those in our Costco (Westhill) a year ago, kicked myself wished I'd bought one

usually available in staples also, I have just retired one after 4 years walking and cycling everyday to the office and many transatlantic flights. It would have lasted longer but I slightly tore one of the shoulder straps when I got knocked off my bike 2 years ago, and its gradually weakened (fortunately laptop not in bag that day!)

[anonymous-user]

sawman said:

MarkRSi said:

cjs said:

Take a look at Swissgear , I've had mine for 5 years now and it's been all over the world with me and is still as good as new. They're not the cheapest, although deals are around. Got mine from Costco for about £30 IIRC.

http://www.swissgear.eu/notebook-backpacks

Argh! I spotted those in our Costco (Westhill) a year ago, kicked myself wished I'd bought one

usually available in staples also, I have just retired one after 4 years walking and cycling everyday to the office and many transatlantic flights. It would have lasted longer but I slightly tore one of the shoulder straps when I got knocked off my bike 2 years ago, and its gradually weakened (fortunately laptop not in bag that day!)

Another vote for swissgear. Bought their cobalt for £25 on amazon a coupe of weeks ago (http://www.swissgear.eu/the-cobalt) and its great.

[dapprman]

cjs said:

Take a look at Swissgear , I've had mine for 5 years now and it's been all over the world with me and is still as good as new. They're not the cheapest, although deals are around. Got mine from Costco for about £30 IIRC.

http://www.swissgear.eu/notebook-backpacks

I use a Swissgear (who are actually Wenger - the original manufacturers of Swiss Army Knives) as well. The previous time I changed my commuting bag I almost got one and changed my mind - regretted it, so this time I splashed out on this one

Note if you do get one and it has metal ringed breathing holes in it (like mine) and you are nervous about water ingress, then get a couple of packs of 9mm blanking grommets from halfrauds - these fit perfectly (though can be a bit of a faff to fit).

[MarkRSi]

Good advice so far. Cheers

As I'm not going to take as much crap as I normally do I thought I'd take the new/heavy backpack I got for my birthday, then I checked this;

http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/prepare_for_travel...

I've already got one hold-all for hand luggage (I'd rather take all my stuff with me so I know it's safe), while my backpack would have to fall under this;

"1 of the following: handbag, briefcase, camera, small laptop, or 1 other item of similar or smaller size"

Which I think rules out my new (big) bag And possibly the Swissgear stuff too, pity since some of it looks good (And they've got some at the local Costco, but no backpacks).



As for the Lowepro stuff - I was seriously tempted by one of these a few months ago, might have been a bit overkill for my entry level Pentax K-R + kits lenses tho

[MarkRSi]

Well after many months I've just bought one of these, again from Aldi

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3...

Plenty of pockets, big enough but not too big, good padding on the back and for the laptop, weighs nothing yet seems as sturdy as the £30/40/50+ branded efforts.

Not quite the quality of the Caseman I reckon, but time will tell Next stop, Saudi...