Good backpack for small people?

Can anyone recommend a good backpack (small and lightweight, hopefully not too expensive) for the small people of this world? I've checked out major retailers and the backpacks tend to be huge and generally look awkward when I wear them. This will be for a 15.4" widescreen notebook, and want the maximum protection for it because the laptop has to last through 4 years of grad school. Thanks for any advice!

 

The North Face Surge is what me and my girlfriend have. It fits me perfectly (I'm 6' 1") and it fits well on my girlfriend too (she's 5' 5"). I have a 15.4" Gateway and it fits perfectly and it's a snug fit. It's usually $109 but there's a store that sells it for $80, but they ship kind of slow. So if you're in no hurry take a look at the Surge.

I've had this since my freshman year in college and I'm in my second year of med school and it's lasted for the longest time.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=262193 Forgot the site, sorry!


Take a look at this one too:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157487

 

This backpack looks pretty nice. Based on your experience, how flexible is it? I may need to cram this thing (without the laptop inside, of course) into a locker for storage from time to time. I haven't seen this available at any office/electronic stores in my area, so I may try sporting good stores as mentioned in the review.

 

It's height is about 20" and when it's compressed all the way (with nothing inside) it's about 5-6" so it should it fit in a locker. I wouldn't bend the backpack, as in fold it length-wise or width-wise because that ruins the protection of your laptop, but it can compress down a lot.

As to where to get it, check REI under the Laptop Backpack section. I recommend going to the store and looking at the backpack and see if the size is good and see if your laptop fits. After that, if you want you could buy it there ($108.95 + sales tax) or you could buy it via O2GearShop where it's ($79.99, no shipping costs, no sales tax).

Let me know if you have any more questions!

 

You want to put small people into a backpack?

Seriously, the REI suggestion is good. Also, camera stores. It is always good to try on backpacks!

 

http://www.yesstyle.com/en/Product.aspx?pid=1011035188&section=bags&

how about this?

 

Alphine, that's pretty expensive for a laptop bag.

IMO, if you get a backpack, like the North Face Surge, it doesn't scream out "there's a laptop inside", which is definitely good because it won't get stolen.

Didn't realize camera stores sold laptop backpacks.

 

How small are you exactly?

 

I am 5' 5" (that does not seem to be very tall in my area). The North Face Surge looks great when I looked at it today...it fits me very well. I'll probably end up ordering from that site if I go for the Surge since it's quite a bit less expensive than other retailers. I still am deciding between this and another North Face backpack.

Their Recon backpack was also available at the store where I looked. It has a lighter and smaller general feel than the Surge, but I did not like the fact that the notebook did not have its own compartment (whereas the Surge does). The Recon, however, does have a clip to secure the notebook in place while the Surge does not. Which do most people go for? This will be for a 15.4" Widescreen Thinkpad, which I imagine will fit into both.

 

A 15.4" notebook is a perfect fit for the Surge. It won't shake at all when it's on your back and it's a snug fit in the compartment. I've seen Recons more because they are about $30 cheaper, but if you're going to get that I recommend buying another sleeve and then putting it in the Recon.

Also, if you're buying it from O2GearShop.com, use the Coupon Code: "North Face", to save about $8. Also, don't forget they ship slow. They order it from North Face when you order it, so it's an additional 5-7 days. I thought the wait was worth it.

The Recon is cheaper/lighter, but it doesn't provide enough protection for the laptop. That clip shouldn't matter much, so I recommend the Surge.

Also, with the Surge you have 4 compartments. One padded, dedicated laptop compartment; one large pocket for textbooks; and one medium sized pocket for notebooks and folders; and one in the front for pens/pencils/phone/iPod/etc.

With the Recon, you only have 3. One large pocket (with a pocket for the laptop);one medium pocket, and one pen/pencil pocket.

Not sure what colors you saw at the store but they only carry Black and Green online for the Surge.