Everyday Backpack. What do you have or use?
- Thread starter ddoubleep
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Not when you can buy a reputable brand that knows what they're doing for much much less.
Soldato
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A mini-necro from me as a heads-up.
The ‘full size’ ($249) and ‘commuter’ ($149) backpacks put out by the Linus Tech Tips store seem to be, from what I can tell, exceptionally well designed and robust… decent buyer reviews etc.
They are pretty darn expensive to buy in the UK as it’s $80 shipping plus tax per bag on top of the high asking prices.
However, on the promotion they are currently running they have free international shipping… which brings the price down significantly.
Just popped an order in for both. Pricey but hoping they will be a good long term investment.
These are quite fun to watch… despite being about bags
lol £250 for a rucksack.
Soldato
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Aside from my own thoughts based on just the product videos, this was the impression I got from the long list of reviews on their own website, complaining about design flaws, manufacturing defects and longer term issues... but mostly about the (undisclosed) costs, long delivery times, and even lost/missing items, all of which CS seems to give absolutely no Fs.Wasn’t the impression I’ve had but I’ll report in when they arrive… if they do
That would be the expectation, but since I haven't actually seen one in person to verify this, nor have the cash to buy one, I've no choice but to give benefit of doubt and continue slumming it with my 5.11 kit.
I think even GoRuck stuff costs less than this... not that they're recommended for daily carry.
The average review rating on their website is 4.66/5 based on over 3,000 reviews. What review ratio normally makes something a worthwhile gamble in your view?
Delving a little deeper, the vast majority of negative reviews seem to be items not arriving (as you mention) or irks that were defects resolved through subsequent product revisions. Items not arriving is unquestionably crap.
Yes it was expensive and it could be total pants. Hopefully no issues… but I really like the designs and worth a punt. Far cheaper than it normally is hence the heads-up. I’ll report back either way!
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Caporegime
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If LTT's franchise was the only place that sold this kind of product in all of the world I would still prefer to carry my things in a plastic bag I got free from Tescos*
Why are you paying extortionate shipping on top of extortionate pricing when there are specialist brands who sell this things locally, cheaper, and most likely at a better quality?
Bad nitelfy
* I don't know if they're still free or not but you get my point.
Why are you paying extortionate shipping on top of extortionate pricing when there are specialist brands who sell this things locally, cheaper, and most likely at a better quality?
Bad nitelfy
* I don't know if they're still free or not but you get my point.
Soldato
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I don't generally go by statistics alone - Statistically I'm very unlikely to be in a traffic accident, yet I still wear a seatbelt.The average review rating on their website is 4.66/5 based on over 3,000 reviews. What review ratio normally makes something a worthwhile gamble in your view?
I do sort by rating and scroll through best, worst and a few middles to get a feel for common complaints or compliments, then look through a few pages of the most recent to see what people say about the current state of things.
End of the day it's a pretty generic design of rucksack, that brings nothing to the table that I've not seen plenty of times before, yet it still costs more than double what a hard-wearing military grade (private purchase, not the issued crap made by the lowest bidder) or EMT one would cost. I've gone through so many similar bags, even just commuting, that I have very low expectations for most of this design-type.
I'm more concerned by how many stated that LTT's CS didn't want to know...!
If you like it and it works for you, then great. I'm not knocking your personal tastes... I'm just questioning LTT's product range and pricing. So far it sounds like you're just paying for an expensive name on a pretty generic product. It's also why I don't buy designer brands.
Soldato
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Caporegime
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These so called everyday backpacks hold enough stuff for a short weekend break abroad. What do you guys carry?!
Laptop, sandwich, bottle of water. Fits in a 10L sling.
I have too many backpacks, mostly camera backs, actually all of them are camera bags or from camera bag companies. So they are built to hold a lot of weight with much stronger straps than most regular bags with more padding and reinforced corners and base. All of them are weather resistant too as a result.
Since my earlier post in 2023 I have bought 3 bags.
A Peak Design 10L Sling....looks good but has questionable design choices, like lack of body side pockets on the outside. £110
Wotancraft sling - Love this thing, got it direct from Taiwan online, only cost like £10 shipping. It is a much larger bag than it looks. I also put a tote bag in the compartment where an umbrella would go. This is my daily bag. Wallet, small portable battery, a set of wired IEM (in case I forgot my wireless ones), coin pouch, a small torch and a TrimUI Brick. (this isn't a camera bag as such, just more a small sling for normal everyday stuff, fits my Fuji X100 and everything else mentioned)
Tenba 14l - its my new travel carryon. Fits 13" laptop, 1 camera with a couple of lenses, pockets for water bottle on the sides, the camera compartment only opens from body side for security, the top can be expanded. £80
Laptop, sandwich, bottle of water. Fits in a 10L sling.
I have too many backpacks, mostly camera backs, actually all of them are camera bags or from camera bag companies. So they are built to hold a lot of weight with much stronger straps than most regular bags with more padding and reinforced corners and base. All of them are weather resistant too as a result.
Since my earlier post in 2023 I have bought 3 bags.
A Peak Design 10L Sling....looks good but has questionable design choices, like lack of body side pockets on the outside. £110
Wotancraft sling - Love this thing, got it direct from Taiwan online, only cost like £10 shipping. It is a much larger bag than it looks. I also put a tote bag in the compartment where an umbrella would go. This is my daily bag. Wallet, small portable battery, a set of wired IEM (in case I forgot my wireless ones), coin pouch, a small torch and a TrimUI Brick. (this isn't a camera bag as such, just more a small sling for normal everyday stuff, fits my Fuji X100 and everything else mentioned)
Tenba 14l - its my new travel carryon. Fits 13" laptop, 1 camera with a couple of lenses, pockets for water bottle on the sides, the camera compartment only opens from body side for security, the top can be expanded. £80
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Soldato
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15" laptop
Power brick & mains lead
Network cable
Mouse
Headset
Food
Water bottle & mug
Stove
Brew kit
First Aid Kit (trauma level)
Softshell, jacket or hoodie
Hi-Viz 2-piece
Waterproof jacket
Toolkit
Compass
Maps and case
Modelling kit
A4 pad and pens
Headtorch and spare batteries
That's just work kit.
The load varies, which is why it has cinch-straps... and I do consequently have the option to expand the space, in case I want to grab a few bits from the shop on the way home.
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If I’m using a rucksack then I’ll likely also have an overnight stay (or two) - office is in London but I mostly work from home.
Other typical use cases are going to a theme park, where things like umbrellas come in handy, or longer trips involving a flight. Not really ‘everyday commuter’ use cases, I suppose.
Meanwhile, the wife takes her huge chunker work laptop in a bag most days, which doubles up for carrying groceries and other things.