What’s the best backpack a geek can buy?

By on October 28, 2009 in Opinion

Who makes the world’s best backpacks (or rucksack as we call them in the UK) for (mobile) geeks? I’m looking for a recommendation.

You know, something that’ll carry a laptop, maybe even charge it via a solar panel, lots of pockets for phones and iPhones… integrated headphone loop or something like that?

What’s the absolute pinnacle?

Any ideas?

About Ewan

Ewan is Founder and Editor of Mobile Industry Review. He writes about a wide variety of industry issues and is usually active on Twitter most days. You can read more about him or reach him with these details.
View all posts by Ewan →

  • jai

    Hard to beat Crumpler bags. They are made for geeks, and just never fall apart.

  • http://www.intomobile.com/ Constantine

    i LOVE my OGIO Metro, absolutely love it.

    http://www.ogio.com/product.php?product=126

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    The Northface Surge: Mine got me around the world with Lucozade and it rocks.

    It has a dedicated padded laptop section and a gazillion pockets. I swear by it, as does Christian Payne – aka @documentally – who recommended it to me.

  • Pingback: Ewan

  • http://2ksyllo.net/ ollysk2

    I'l second the Northface recommendation – as a daily driver, I carry a Crumpler messenger bag, but my travel backpack is a Northface something or other that I bought a few years ago, and it's been through a ton of shit and still keeps going.

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    PS. If you want to know more – http://video.ebags.com/v/1865/one-minute-run-do…

    (mine's in black)

  • Pingback: Ewan

  • http://renaissancechambara.jp/ Ged Carroll

    I really like Mystery Ranch's 3 Day Assault Pack (http://www.mysteryranch.com). The MOLLE structure on the iinside and outside, easy to access zips and pockets make it ideal. It is also built really well and very good to set up for your back

  • http://www.targus.com/uk Targus

    Have you seen the new Targus range? See http://www.targus.com/uk Special call-out of the Eco Smart range, made from recycled plastic bottles. You get to be a eco-conscious geek :)

    Charging via solar panel would be an interesting thought :)

    Cheers
    Team Targus

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com Ewan

    Hi Team Targus thanks for taking the time to contribute! I'll take a look — very cool!

  • http://invalid.name DanLane

    I carry an Oakley Kitchen Sink but it was quite hard to get hold of and I don't recommend anyone else gets one because I've never seen another one at any events and I don't want to ;)

    Seriously though, I can put every portable gadget I own in there, along with a couple of laptops and chargers and it still looks empty!. Nifty padded section with sneaky side-zip for laptops, top-loading section for glasses, mp3 players etc and a back section for smaller gubbins. It also has a reversible inner section that's accessible from the bottom that's great for traveling as it lets you keep clothes separate from gadgets while still sharing the same space… also good for separating clean and dirty clothes.

    But you should just buy a crumpler ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Basti Bastian Lehmann

    There are only two backpacks that you really want! The Head Porter Greysuave is the first one:

    http://hypebeast.com/2009/06/head-porter-greysu…

    It is amazing but also very expensive.

    The second one is less expensive and made by Kelty a Boulder based outdoor company:

    http://www.kelty.com/kelty/products.php?type=4&…

    Have fun.

    Bastian

  • http://twitter.com/razoreye Neil Wooding

    I tried multiple different bags and finally chose the SwissGear range sold in the Apple shops – http://store.apple.com/uk/product/TN223LL/A?fno…

    The backpack has lots of space for a mac or PC, room for chargers, iPhone/iPod and other kit as well as plenty of space for work releated stuff. Love it!!

  • http://www.sevendotzero.com sevendotzero

    Tumi makes great laptop carry gear – you could check out their backpacks.

  • http://twitter.com/Philhellene Phil Ferris

    For a standard bag, no solar panels, any of the Swissgear or Vitorinox bags have loads of space and the ubiquitous headphone cable access point. Personally I am looking for a great mono strap backpack for carrying my netbook. I currently use a very basic one bought from a Tesco superstore.

    This one from 2007 had a good write up http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/04/10/ruckus-…

  • lmbrisset
  • nahiaali

    Thanks for good info.

    Best regards.
    http://www.mobile-phone.pk

  • nahiaali

    you can find daily view new mobile reviews, Videos and pictures.

    Best regards.
    http://www.mobile-phone.pk

  • http://www.smallbackpacks.net/ Small Backpacks

    I think Crumpler.

  • http://www.smallbackpacks.net/ Small Backpacks

    Crumpler for sure! Give Crumpler 10 points!

Switch to our mobile site