Laptop backpack with hip belt and chest straps?

Hello, I used to have a Targus backpack with a hip belt but it has started to disintegrate.

For travel reasons I really want one with a hip belt AND a chest strap (and notebook + possible camera compartment), but not many manufacturers offer such that have both... I've looked at Targus and Wenger Swissgear and none were promising. Lowepro actually offered some good options.

I'm not located in the US which obv makes selection more difficult, but any ideas on which other manufacturers to look at would be appreciated.

 

How about visiting a sport and camping store? Like Globetrotters per example?

cheers ...

 

Yea, I would agree with qhn that your best bet is checking outdoor gear places.

north face probably has day packs that fit your needs
try REI.com as well (their outlet often has discontinued models for good discounts)

What you're looking for is probably considered a day pack (for hiking and such)

 

The Targus XL has both.

 

check lowepro and axio

 

Thanks for your recommendations.

I'm not in the US and not near any major cities so the choice of shops is kind of weak here.

I like some of the Lowepro bags but they might be very heavy with all the padding...

 

I second this. I own one but dont use for regular use as it fits way more than i need, but it has the hip belt and lots of storage.

 

I must admit I don't see the chest belt for the Targus XL, only the hip belt.

I looked at the Lowepro Fastpack 350 and it:
a) only stairs a camera and a laptop... no space for anything else
b) is quite heavy due to all the padding

 

www.Tombihn.com has nice stuff. They make all their bags in their inhouse factory in Seattle. Northface also makes great bags.

I use this backpack. It has a hip belt (not padded), and a chest strap. You can also fit a 1Liter clear plastic water bottle in two of the rear pockets.
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/100/TB0104

I got this notebook sleeve. It has alot more padding than a regular sleeve and fits very well in the backpack mentioned above.
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0390

 

The Targus actually looks quite nice.

While I've heard people call it a hip belt, I've never heard anyone call it a chest strap.

Here in the States, we call it a sternum strap.

 

That's because it's not.That's something totally different which the Targus doesn't have. Also keep in mind that the Targus is a backpack and as such has limited use. In fact, as the carrier for my HDX 18 and a few other essentials, I wouldn't go too far, or too long with it on. Granted, it has lots of picket and copious storage space, but that large size works against it:

For one, it temps you to fill it. to the limit Once that happens it become a hand full. That being very heavy and unbalanced. And two, it take up a lot of space. So stowing it in all but the largest locker is all but out of the question.

Just keep in mind, it's not designed for all day use. Even if you're hearty in spirit, you might get an hours wear max. After that, the pressure pints will get the best of you.

 

i have the high sierra access backpack. has a waist and chest strap; very comfortable =D

 

Haha, I wasn't refering to the hip best being the sternum strap.

I don't see an sternum strap on the backpack, now that I look at the pictures.

 

The Targus XL (at least the UK issue) does NOT have the chest strap.

Axio semi-and-hardpacks http://www.axio-usa.com/hardpacks.html have chest straps - they don't store as much as the bigger soft packs like the XL, but in some transport cases can be more useful.

 

you could look at a normal camping bag and then get a notebook sleeve to go in with it.

 

I bought this for my daily cycle commute; Lowe Alpine Argon 20, has a padded laptop sleeve inside, a chest strap and hip straps.



Its a very well made bag and is very comfortable on the bike. Not to mention it has enough room for my 13" MBP (in an incase sleeve), couple of books, towel, change of clothes and lunch. Oh and yes it comes in colours other than green

 

I bought The North Face Surge backpack and it has both the hip and chest straps and I really love the style. Check the youtube video below for an in-depth review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMyH6Deu6SU

 

Do you have to plug this one in at night?

No, it's not designed to be that long worn. In fact, is already beginning to show signs of wear. I guess that's what I get for actually filling it with as much gear as it can hold In my case, that would be 31lbs!

NOTE: Sorry, rest of the world we backwards Americans still use the British system

 

The Axio? Not 'long worn'? My Urban / Swift still looks OK - the older (and more frequently used) Urban has to be at least three years old. However I wouldn't dispute that cheaper bags wouldn't be any less durable - the Axio's fabric parts aren't built out of anything different.

I'm not a big fan of chest straps on account of my middle aged man-boobs. Which is probably why I like the Targus XL for the very rare occasions on which I wheeze to work on a bicycle (for even bigger comedy factor, on a professional XC team replica bike) in a token gesture of fitness.

 

Just remember, when I went to Taiwan a couple of months ago (business trip) and I was quite surprise that electronic gadgets there are very cheap (and I'm talking about branded ones Sony, HP, Canon, Nikon).
I also happened to see some cheap targus bags there, and they were quite cheap compare here. Their good quality bags.

Also, you can try samsonite and globetrotters... they are also good laptop bags.

 

Nice one...made me laugh aloud..lol

at least you are honest lol (I cycle to work now as I am approaching middle age and want to be young enough (under 40) to still do something about it!!

...and no...my bag does not need to be plugged in

 

Thanks again for all your comments. I researched all your suggestions for the third time and then found a North Face Big Shot backpack on sale for 50% off and ordered that.

http://uk.thenorthface.com/tnf-uk-e...acks/big-shot.html?colour=592#item=big_shot_2

I hope it fits my needs, but we'll see.