Best backpack?

I'm going to purchase the 17" Sager 5790 when the 8700GT becomes available, so soon, and I'm currently looking for a good laptop-oriented backpack that will last me through college. Any recommendations?

 

As far as brands go, check out Booq, Mobile Edge, Timbuk2, Crumple, and Oakley.

 

I have a Heys ePac17 for my 17" Sager and I really recommend it.

 

Who sellst these backpacks retail? BB only seems to carry bags that support 15.4" laptops...

 

Hey Thibault, I'm considering the Heys Epac17. Do you think you could post some pictures of the main compartment (hopefully stuffed with books/binders), and/or give the approximate inner dimensions of the main compartment? I'm worried that it won't fit all the books/binders I require for school.

 

I'll take some pictures a little later on today for you.

As for the dimensions, are you talking about the notebook compartment or that big one in front for books? Because the notebook compartments are on the website (42cm x 31cm x 6cm (16.5" x 12" x 2")).
And the Packing Capacity is also listed on the website: 37 Litres ( 2258 cubic inches).

I'll still take some pictures of it later on to give you an idea.

 

I'm more interested in the compartment for books. I'm always suspicious of the packing capacity, because I never know which compartments are included in that measurement (i.e., is the notebook compartment included? How about the front part, where no books can be loaded?)

 

I'd also appreciate pics.

 

It's a little hard to take pictures to show how much it can hold. It would probably be better if you told me how much you'd like to put in it and I'll see if I can fit it in.

Keep in mind that you'll have a 17" notebook in there with all those books, so if you fill it up with books it's going to be very heavy.

Click on the following pictures to enlarge them.

I usually just bring my binder and a textbook or two depending on what I need.

This is the last thing that I had in it and it all fit in there easily.

Here's a look at it with nothing in it:


Now I took some of my big books and put it in my bookbag:




There's still room in there. You can put small things in the smaller compartments (the front ones). I usually put my mouse, calculator and everything else in there.
Well I hope that gives you an idea. I can take more pictures if you'd like to see something else.
I hope this helped.

 

I plan on getting this bag

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3631&review=Wenger+SwissGear


I looked at it in person at a local best buy and was happy about it. What im scared of is that it holds 15.4 inches and i have a 14.1. Hope it doesnt make a big affect on anything.

 

Thanks for the pictures! I see you're a fellow engineering student It doesn't seem that your last two pictures are loading for me, so is it correct to assume that I can load that stack of three textbooks, a novel, and a binder into the book compartment without stacking? I usually take 3-4 (1 or 1.5" binders, depending the subject), plus a textbook and a 1L Nalgene bottle. Do you think that'll fit in there (with a laptop)?

Also, I'm really only interested in this bag because of its capacity. I looked at the Heys 15.4" bags at The Bay, but I don't think it'll work due to the size of the book compartment. I'll be using a 13.3" laptop -- will I have problems with it rattling around?

 

tombihn's a good retailer too

 

I'm guessing you're in Canada...I would suggest trying Coast Mountain Sports, they carry Dakine backpacks and will be having a back to school sale soon. I am looking at getting the Dakine Campus, it has pretty good ratings.
check out this link: http://www.ebags.com/dakine/campus/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=72080

 

the north face recon bag is a nice light weight and durable bag. offers light to medium protection

 

They are not simply a retailer. Rather they are the actual manufacturer and designers of their product. Pretty much all of their products are 100% Made in the USA. Everything from the fabric to the zippers and in between is made in the USA.

Persoanlly I have several small Tom Bihn bags with one of the best having been usurped by my better half. She loves the Buzz.

I use a Super Ego, Brain Cell and the Aeronaut all the time. Mostly I use the Brain Cell/Super Ego combo. Spent over $3k on the laptop and decided a couple hundred for a bag is good insurance.

http://www.tombihn.com

 

Actually, YKK zippers are designed in Japan aren't they?
Anyway, I agree - I have the Brain Bag and Brain Cell, and absolutely love them. The Brain Cell isn't stylish like most cells designed to be used alone, but the protection is great, and I still have plenty of room in the Brain Bag for other stuff.

 

are they? I thought the source was US based for them. Maybe not, time to check again. Things can change. Thanks!

 

I just looked and my zippers are not marked beyond YKK. I think you are correct. Also, Bihn is now seems to be using some Japanese made rip-stop on some bags. I always have wondered how they could do everything via Made in USA parts because nothing seems to acutally be made here anymore.

 

The novel was put on top of the other books.

Here are some more pictures.
One 1.5" binder, three 1" binders, one textbook, my 17" notebook and a 500 mL bottle.






It all fits in there but it's pretty full now. You wouldn't be able to fit another text book unless you stacked it on top of the others. You still have room for smaller things (calculator, pencils, etc) in the front. You also can put another bottle on the other side (there's a holder on each side).
So that's pretty much the maximum it can hold.

You really bring that many things with you each day? I only bring one binder to school with me. I take all my notes in that one and I separate everything once I get home. I almost never need my books in class either (unless I plan to study).
Well anyway, that should give you an idea of what to expect.

Since you have a 13.3" notebook, things shouldn't be as heavy as mine (cause it does get heavy). I don't think that the fact that it's a 13.3" would be much of a problem. It would be in a fully padded compartment and it would only really move from side to side a little.
Another option you could consider is buying a regular bookbag and a sleeve for your notebook.

Hope this helped.


Edit:
Also note that I don't think there's a big difference between the capacity of the ePac15 and the ePac17. The ePac17 is taller and can probably hold a little more (mostly if you stack), but I don't think there's a very big difference. So if you saw the ePac15 and don't think that's enough, then I'm not sure you'll think the ePac17 is enough.
Just from reading their website:
Capacity of the ePac17 : Packing Capacity: 37 Litres ( 2258 cubic inches )
Capacity of the ePac15 : Packing Capacity: 35 Litres ( 2136 cubic inches )
I'd bet most of the extra capacity of the ePac17 is due to its height.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'd rep you again, but it says I have to rep someone else first

I normally just bring the binders; I don't bring a textbook unless I plan to study either. I tried the one binder approach, but I find it makes me a bit more unorganized than I'd like, so I bring multiple binders as a way to force myself to keep organized.

I am currently using a MEC Adventurer, which is already pretty large at 32L in one single compartment, but sometimes is just enough for my books, which makes me worried about fitting the laptop in. Maybe the solution is to stop bring so much stuff.

 

Well I also have dividers in my binder to keep everything organized. Keep in mind that the notebook compartment is separate from the rest, so unless you load it more than what I showed above your laptop will still fit (with those 4 binders and the textbook my 17" still fit in the compartment). But it would be a good habit to bring less things to school.
If the MEC Adventurer Daypack is okay for you then the ePac should be fine as well (either the 15 or 17)... I think.

 

Looks nice. I checked out the site and these backpacks don't look half bad. I might just get one.

 

I am a real backpack lover.. I have had many... My current one is the Sumdex Impulse... a piece of art.. love it all around...

A friend of mine, who is also a pro photographer, he has the Tenba Pro Digital great stuff... but too expensive for me...

 

Anyone have any experience with the North Face Surge backpack? Thinking about picking it up.

If not, I'll post my thoughts on it soon.

 

I tend to favor North Face backpacks. I've had the North Face Sweeper backpack for about a year; its very durable, stylish, and holds my laptop+case and books with room to spare.

 

Noooooooo I can't buy one of those Epac15's =[ They don't ship in the U.S. FTL!

 

i got a swiss gear one and it's great.

 

Where can I get an epac backpack in the US?

 

HI ! What specific SwissGear model you have ? I was tempted once to get one, but needed some feedback.. can you specify ?

 

Did you look at their U.S. Dealers? You should be able to order an ePac from one of those dealers.

Edit: Searching through their U.S. dealers I can't find the ePac. Looks like they don't sell their ePacs to the U.S. That's odd and bad news.
I find it very odd that they don't ship to the U.S.

 

Yeah oh well. Gonna get the Burton white collection instead.