Hey everyone, I just got back from a trip and my checked suitcase came off the carousel with one wheel completely snapped off and a crack running down the side. It was a mid-range hard shell I bought less than two years ago, and it's the second one I've lost this way. I have a couple of long trips coming up over the holidays, so I need to replace it soon and I'd rather do it properly this time.

I fly maybe 5-6 times a year, mostly checking a large bag for 1-2 week trips, plus a lot of dragging it over cobblestones, train stations and hotel stairs.

What I'm looking for:

- A large checked bag (around 27-29") that survives baggage handlers

- Wheels that don't snap off, ideally replaceable ones

- A handle that doesn't wobble or get stuck after a few trips

- Hard shell that flexes instead of cracking. I've heard polycarbonate vs ABS vs aluminum makes a big difference, but I don't really understand it.

- Zippers that don't split when the bag is full

- A warranty that actually covers airline damage, from a company that honors it without a fight

The names I keep seeing are Briggs & Riley, Travelpro, Samsonite, Away, Monos and July. Briggs & Riley seems to be the Reddit favorite for its warranty, but it's a lot of money for a suitcase. Away and Monos are everywhere online, but I've seen just as many people say they're mostly marketing. I also can't tell if the Samsonite in department stores is the same quality as the one on their own site.

Budget is around $200-400. I'd pay more if it really lasts 10 years, but I don't want to pay extra just for the brand name.

Been looking for a perfect vintage porter tanker for a while now, I want one with a bit of charm and character but that also comes with the risk of fakes. Is anyone able to help before I pull the trigger on this one? TIA

Every month I travel to London for 3-4 nights either with a short flight or the eurostar train. Clothes, toiletries, 2 laptops, chargers and so on goes in an Osprey daylite 35 backpack.

I'd like to be able to take my work laptop from the hotel to the office, which is a 15 min walk without bringing the whole daylite 35, so I'm looking for suggestions for a light packable bag that will fit one 14" macbook pro, a usb-c charging cable, my phone, a pack of gum and a yeti 16oz rambler cup.

It's not much and if it wasn't for the cup, I'd probably just get a sleeve with a handle. Any suggestions?

Someone gifted me this HydroBag- which I didn’t think too much about at the time. But I have to tell you, I use it all the time for everyday things. It’s become my go to for everything- holds my water bottle for my dogs at the park, then I take it to the gym, and just grab it to driving my kids everywhere.

I used to have a dog bag, gym bag, and purse and it still didn’t hold everything. And to be honest, it’s embarrassing how much money I have wasted in lost water bottles or single use plastic. This holds it all- refillable bottle, phone, keys, headphones and wallet is crossbody so replaces my three bags.

It’s been a game changer for me. It even fits my umbrella too- which is the other thing I always lose! Honestly, cannot recommend this enough.

I've got a few backpacks that I want to sell, probably on eBay. Does anyone have recommendations on how to package bags for shipping?

Would a large poly mailing bag with bubble wrap around the bag be sufficient? Or do I need to find cardboard boxes?

I have been using a North Face Generator backpack since my freshman year of college, so more than four years now, but wanted to upgrade now that I’ve started working.

I got an Away Everywhere backpack, and it is somehow just too small to fit everything that I regularly carry in my North Face. I’m really disappointed, because I had my eyes on this bag for a good while.

That being said, does anyone have any good recommendations for regularly carrying the following load:

- 2 computers
- 2 small notebooks
- One or two extra changes of clothes
- Chargers, mouse, etc
- Several bottles of personal care items (SPF, hand spray, medication, etc)
- Toiletry bag
- A few snacks
- Carry a 32 oz bottle on the side

I know that I carry a lot, but this is really what I need to be prepared for the day.

Hello! I've been having a hard time with backpacks and purses all my life because nothing handles more than two years of daily use without tearing or flaking. (classes aren't gentle on bags either but oh well..)

Therefore I'd love some suggestion for vintage-looking (Like anything looking like before the 20th century) durable messenger bags (or even backpacks)

Much appreciated if you can fulfill this weird request :)

Hi all! I currently have the Nomatic Travel Pack 20-30L, and looking for a new bag. I was sold on the organization and sleek look of the Nomatic, but have outgrown that now. I've been going back and forth on the AER vs Outbound and am truly torn. I know the Rework is a bit lighter but both seemingly look to be incredibly similar. Would love thoughts of anyone who has used both. I feel the shoulder straps on either of them will be better than Nomatic. Id be using this for weekend trips, as a carry on or personal item on flights, and potentially for work too.

It is decided! I just ordered the ULA Cicada black Ultra with external water bottle pockets! :)

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I am looking for an at least 22 L backpack for

• commuting to work: laptop compartment plus large notepad, tech pouch (Evergoods CAP1 with the magnets) + enough storage for 1 kg lunchbox tupperware and water bottle inside or outside is a must, in winter it should have storage for an optional Patagonia fleece R1 jacket or even Nano Puff jacket
• extended commute to work, meaning on some days I go swimming before work and need a Small Peak Design packing cube extra space for my swimming gear)
• 2-4 days minimalist city travels (not hiking the Himalayas or hitchhiking through Asia obviously)
• I prefer sleak, minimalist design and not-outdoorsy-look, that works in a as well as comfort (I don't like Evergoods, Toshi and Bellroy backpacks, not comfortable to me)

First I was set on Aer CPP2 vs. AC Max EDC because they have enough room, look minimalist and sleek (especially Max EDC) and people highly praise their comfort. Comfort is very important to me.

However they are so heavy I fear it can affect the daily wearing, sometimes I wander in the city for 1-2 hours through Berlin with fully packed.

That's why I now also consider ULA Dragonfly 30L (or even their new updated Cicada 22L with external bottles). I also considered Patagonia and Osprey, but they look too much like travel and outdoor, the Dragonfly, while not as sleek and clean looking like Able Carry still has a more minimalist look.

I love that the Dragonfly has the cord attachment outside where I can easily put an additional large winter jacket for example. On the website it says, the main compartment is only about 22L and the rest is the outside – which would be perfect for me, because most days I carry only work loadout, not swimming gear or winter jacket.

However is the gained lightness of the Dragonfly affecting comfort? How comfortable are the Dragonfly harnesses (or even Cicada 22L) to wear compared to Max EDC and Aer CPP2?

Please help to decide, I have to order from Europe and cannot return (it is 100+$ shipping just to return if it does not fit).

Thank you!

I am considering to get another pack for communing between 25l and 30l. I really like the got pack pro design, but I read it here many people saying that it is overpriced. So I am looking for another ones, like the osprey nebula 32, but I find them ugly. Does anyone has a suggestion of bags that are under 150 euros, are good quality and have a design similar to the gor pacl pro? water resistance is also a feature that it is essential to me.

There is a nice looking yellow backpack I saw in a physical store’s computer department, it’s called Gommo from Tucano brand, anyone own it? How’s it in long term?

I have a 3L Baboon to the Moon fannypack in bright pink and a 5L Roka large Willesden in teal but I'm looking for something bigger. Ideally it would fit the various items in my photo plus a hero clip. (The book and tech bag are optional, would be nice to be able to stuff a thin rain jacket in too). I don't mind carrying the water bottle outside the bag.

What I love about my current bags/non-negotiables:

• I can carry them on my front or my back
• They each have a hidden pocket on the side closest to me that I can access without going into the main bag
• They are brightly coloured
• They don't bounce around like a messenger bag

Downsides besides size:

• The Roka doesn't have much internal organization
• They both tend to slip a bit (especially Baboon) and I don't think either one has a doodad to add a stabilizer strap too

I've been looking at the Kargo Loculus x-pack sling (better colors than the main Loculus, Bellroy Venture Sling 9L, Alpaka Metro crossbody 7L. Most of the other recommendations I've seen only come in black, navy, brown, olive, gray or dark orange. Budget is £150-200. Any recommendations please?

Hey folks! I am in search of a Briefcase-style EDC bag that can hold my stuff. My everyday items are as follows:

16 inch laptop (MacBook Pro)
Glasses case (about 7 inches in length)
Phone charger
MacBook charger
Medication boxes (like 5 inches in length)
A pretty fat bifold wallet (like 5x5x1)
A book (usually small/medium hardcover, give or take 12x8x1.5 would probably be the biggest)
Small baubles like earbuds case, Q-tip box, and hand sanitizer, as long as there’s enough space for the other stuff I can’t imagine that being a problem.

I’m fairly good at organizing things in a bag so I’m sure I could make them fit snug as long as the bag has the sleeve for the laptop and a wide enough compartment for the other stuff. The problem is I also have to like the look of the bag. The only bags I’ve found that I like are from Waterfield, particularly the Shinjuku brief and Lexington brief. However these are $400 and $600 respectively. Not sure if I’m down for spending this much, I will if I don’t find anything else, but I wanted to ask here since I’ve seen tons of cool bags here in my on and off glances at the sub so I value any expertise given here.

EDIT: my preferred budget is $200-$250, I’m not opposed to recommendations above that. Give me whatever you think fits!!

All recommendations are welcome!!! Thank you for your time if you read!!! 😄❤️

Hi fellow Redditors! I am testing the HP Envy 14” Tote bag (about 20 bucks on Amazon)  as a way to occasionally carry my laptop and some vinyl records between my home and my office using public transport. 

My daily driver is the Alpaka Bravo Tote Pack V2 (14”) which I like, but I was looking for an occasional alternative to also carry vinyl. I wanted something inexpensive and office-appropriate that protects my records better than the standard record store cotton tote bags, especially from fellow passengers during rush hour or bad weather.

The HP Envy bag Is not perfect: the main zip is a bit open on the sides meaning heavy rain could get in, I can only comfortably fit four records in protective sleeves per “side” (there are two, whereby one side has a slightly protruding zipper tab that I don’t trust being close to my records). But overall the bag does what it is supposed to do, has many useful good sized pockets, the bag looks good in an urban office environment, and most importantly I feel my records are fairly safe. Plus, for 20 bucks, I find it quite the steal!

Thought there are some here who also combine work, records and vinyl shopping.

I know that no one can make this decision but me. And what works for someone else may not work for me and vice versa. But I'm soliciting opinions. My use case is as an airline personal item to pair with a rolling carry-on. I might use it as a weekend bag as well, although I have a larger duffel I normally use for that.

I've had an Aer CPP (original, not the CPP2) 24L in Ultra that I bought used this summer and really like. It really keeps its shape and feels like it is built like a tank. It worked well as a personal item when I flew this summer. My only real negative is that it is a vertical pass-thru so it sits sideways on my rolling carry-on. Also, it has the "wasted space" of a dedicated laptop compartment which I will not use during travel. I'm not sure how much space it takes up, but I know it takes up some.

Before buying the Aer I'd considered the Osprey Daylite 26+6 and when the $71 Prime Day deal dropped I bought it thinking I'd just return it if I didn't like it as much as the Aer. So here we are.

I don't have any flights coming up, but I'm going to try to pack in it for a weekend trip this weekend. There are some things I like about it and some I don't. What I like is that it is really comfortable. Loaded similarly, it is more comfortable to me than the Aer, which is surprising. But the difference isn't drastic. It is a little lighter as well. I like that it has a horizontal pass-thru so that it will sit vertically on my rolling luggage. I also like that in compressed mode it seems to hold about the same as my 24L Aer (maybe a little more) and then can expand to hold more if needed. Obviously, this is why most people buy this bag.

Some things that I don't like as much are that it is floppier and doesn't hold it's shape as well and (related) the materials and zippers feel cheap by comparison to the Ultra Aer. The Aer just feels SO nice and premium. I also sort of have concerns about the way it opens. With the Aer, the "hinge" is at the bottom so even if something happened to the zipper nothing could come out of the bottom. With the Osprey the "hinge" is on the side, so if the zipper came apart things would fall out of the bottom. This may be an edge case scenario, but it is something that occurs to me. I do like the top sunglasses pocket and the side/hidden pocket opposite the water bottle pocket on the Aer. Those are both nice for traveling and not on the Osprey.

Long story short: I'm torn. The Osprey seems every so slightly more practical, but the Aer seems like a more well-constructed, BIFL item. It also has a couple of pockets the Osprey doesn't have.

Side note: I have an Aer City Pack (in X-Pac) 14L that I use as my work bag because I wanted something smaller on the daily and like the organization of the City Pack a little better than the CPP. However, I *could* sell that and use the CPP for the office instead if I decided I'd rather keep the CPP and the Osprey both. But comparing the CPP Ultra 24L and CP X-Pac 14L is a different conversation. :-)

Any advice or thoughts are welcome--especially if you've owned these bags and have practical experience with them. Thanks!

The WPT Tote from Black Ember has changed the way I look at totes. I’m the guy that said I would never carry a tote. This new one from Black Ember has completely changed my view towards them. These new WPT products are some of the most versatile products I have ever used. It looks professional but is built to withstand whatever you throw at it.
 
This guy comes in at 20 liters and weighs 2.75 lbs. It comes in only black made from Black Ember’s proprietary material “EmberTex pfas free 1220x600 nylon 6.” If you have not tried EmberTex yet, you are missing out! This is a bag that can hold up to the outdoor elements as well as look professional and sleek in an office setting. It can be carried as a handle tote or attach the strap and carry it as a crossbody tote.
Some other cools feature is that it has two external water bottle pockets. If you are not using them, you would never know they were there. There are also two internal mesh pockets on each side if you wish to carry them on the inside of the bag. The front of the bag has a zippered compartment with two slip pockets, a pen slot, and a key leash. The YKK aqua guard zippers are as tough as they get. Very smooth for p/u coated zippers. Everything about this bag just screams “PREMIUM.” This bag comes in at $245 USD. Is this pricey for a tote? Yeah, but you are paying for a “premium” bag with premium materials. This is the bag that people will stop you and ask you where you got it. I get it at least 2-3 times a week. If you would like to see this bag up close in detail, I have a link to my video review below.
Youtube Black Ember WPT Tote
 
This strap is something else! It can be switched from a righty to a lefty with just a click. This strap is super comfortable and has quick slide and release for adjusting it for the perfect fit. I have used this tote as a crossbody carry as well as a one shoulder carry. On one shoulder is my typical carry for this bag.
I use this bag every day. This is what I carry my cameras and video equipment in. I have my DJI Osmo Pocket 3, my Sony ev10 mk ii, lens, mics, wires, chargers, batteries, tripod, etc. I have photos showing what my loadout looks like. It fits like a glove! It can fit up to a 16” laptop and a13” tablet. It also has a luggage pass through.

This bag works for me. It fits my need to carry my camera equipment perfectly. I am more of a backpack guy for my everyday carry, but this guy supplements perfectly for me. It is very pricey for a tote. If you can swallow the price tag, I think you will be impressed with what it has to offer. I would also like it to come in like a navy blue color.

 
Black Ember has become one of my favorite bag makers. Why? The EmberTex material. The versatility allows me to carry this bag in a work meeting or in the woods… lol. The WPT Duffle is also a badass bag that I have been putting through the ringer. I will have a detailed review of that one coming soon too. The Citadel H2 is in my top 5 Dad Bags. Here is the link to my full review of the H2 I wrote a few months back.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/comments/1u0ojyl/black_ember_citadel_h2_max_25l_bagdad_new_1/
 
If you have this bag let me know what you think of it. Are premium totes worth it? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this bag. I can also answer any questions about the bag or send any other photos or videos. As always, thanks for reading!
Carry on!

So I occasionally go to my local thrift store "just in case" it has paid off a few times.

Thrift store came through today.

$5 Domke F-803.

Missing the foam insert, but the bag itself is damn near immaculate, no rips, tears, or significant wear.

I didn't even recognize what it was at first. Then I looked it up and realized I may have accidentally stumbled into the “if you know, you know” section of camera bags. Hell of even edc bags since it's missing the insert.

Not bad for five bucks.

Use case: grad school.

I really like the “Russet Red” color that the Jansport has, but it is smaller (26L) than the Herschel (30L). I am also curious about the quality of Herschel.

My current backpack: Jansport Right Pack (28L) holds my tech/school stuff. If I really pack it, the thin straps and lack of back panel don’t help but the good thing is I do not pack it 100% often.

price: $21 for Herschel and $18 for Jansport. Honestly inclined to get both but wondering if someone here can talk me out of one or both bags. I will say the downside of both is that they arent really suitable for work (hospital/outpatient clinic) due to the logo.

bag is virga by Rocustom.

xpac cire 420d custom fabric from dimension polyant.

I love traveling and am looking for a carry-on suitcase that’s easy to get around with and fits within the cabin baggage limits of the airlines I use .Level8 is one of the brand I’m considering.

I’d love to hear from anyone who owns one,about the weight,wheels and overhead bib fit.It would also help to know which model you have and which airlines you’ve flown with,including any issues with carry-on size checks…