Backpack thread

I am currently in the possession of a xiaomi mi backpack, it served me well for 3 long years and now it is completely obliterated. This thread is dedicated to her, sayonara. ITT we talk about useful and/or cool backpacks that we can find, can be any purpose: edc, hiking, sports, school, business, carrying tools... I personally loved this backpack and i'm thinking either finding a new backpack with more space or getting it back as it is currently at 38$. Hoarders are welcome. Walkby's post your current backpack.

While you're getting something new you might as well get something with MOLLE. This is the 5-11 Tactical Rush 12 [as in 12-hour] v1. Version 2 has a padded laptop pouch and a sneaky concealed carry slot. They have 24, 72, and 100 variants and a little one-strap sling pack and who knows what else. There are probably other brands that are just as good for half the price, but I bought this like seven years ago when I had a good infosec support job and money to waste.

https://www.crumpler.com/au/mantra-black-marle-red/ Maybe not the style people are looking for here, and it's expensive - but I got one of these as a gift 5 years ago, I use it almost everyday, and only today for the first time did I notice that the padding in one of the straps was getting a bit flat. I haven't had any need to replace it and don't see buying a new day-to-day backpack for at least the next few years.

So the /g/ consumer wage slave threads have arrived on Lainchan at last. Good job, OP! To everyone else: Don't buy soykaf because (supposedly real) people online told you it's good. Companies know that traditional advertising doesn't work anymore, and now that even 'normal people' are getting a little concerned about targeted advertising, the focus is now on influencer marketing and the more cost-effective guerilla marketing. Trust no-one except yourself. Do not buy backpacks online. Professional photos do not accurately convey the build quality or appearance, so you WILL get ripped off. Do not buy tacticool soykaf. It's uncomfortable, poorly made, impractical for civilian use, and has a strong stigma attached to it, turning every wearer into an autistic manchild with an inferiority complex. Doubly so if you're overweight. Always go into a physical shop so that you can actually see what's being sold to you. First thing you will notice is the material composition. If the material is light, feels abrasive to the touch, and the tag says '100% polyester', it's going to fall apart within two months at best. Look for ones made of canvas, waxed cotton, or nylon. The latter in particular is excellent due to its strength, abrasion resistance, and ability to shrug off light rain. I wouldn't recommend cotton/polycotton since neither handles abrasion very well. But even polyester backpacks can hold together for a while if they're stitched well. Take a backpack off the rack, pinch the fabric on the sides of the seam that would be under stress under normal use (such as that lining pockets or the main compartment), and pull. If the threads become visible, then the backpack is soykaf, and will come apart at the seams in short order. If only the holes are visible, or the seams are not visible at all, then the backpack may have something going for it. Do the same procedure for the handle and the straps, since the seams on these parts will receive the most stress, and are therefore most likely to tear. Everything after that is up to personal preference, but since this is techy board (or used to be one, anyway), I would recommend picking a backpack with numerous pockets and compartments varied in diameter and depth, like a wide but thin compartment for documents or a deep rectangular compartment for a laptop charger. Lastly, if there are little flaps of cloth over the zipper, they WILL get stuck eventually, and you'll either have to periodically spend forty minutes on getting the zipper out, or pay extra to a tailor to fold or remove the flaps so that it won't be such a pain to open. It's a small, but very important detail.

Bumping that thread to get some more recommendations. I'm inches away from buying the rush12 but it looks a little too tacticool. Would enjoy something similar.

>>9547 This post is pretty on-point (even if the attitude is a tad unwarranted). It's more useful to know the qualities that make a good backpack good so you can determine yourself what you want to purchase. As for my own recommendations... I was the fool that bought a MOLLE backpack. Although it was useful (because it was large, durable, and had buckle straps everywhere - not for the MOLLE), I ended up buying a less conspicuous backpack later. Now I only use the old one when I'm moving between apartments. In general, if you're looking for a versatile backpack, prefer hiking-style features over military-style ones. (As much as there *is* significant overlap.) Waist-strap and chest-strap for heavy loads, external buckle-straps on the underside for the one time I needed to carry a tent, and just enough compartments to suit your needs. These are the features that actually came in handy for me. Unless you happen to be agnostic/deaf to societal scrutiny and already have compatible tooling, (which kind of applied to me at the outset of college) avoid MOLLE. Buckle straps are easier to strap things to anyways. My current backpack is just something I grabbed from a local department store, sewn up from the tears it's gathered over the years. It has one too few compartments for my taste, but has a laptop sleeve and some reflective patches, so at least my laptop will survive and the car will see me before I get hit. Rather lightweight and it's without any additional straps, but maybe having *two* backpacks isn't such a bad thing...

>>9547 Hemp probably would make a good material for backpacks. It's multiple times stronger than cotton. Linen is second best natural fibre behind hemp outside of silk which would be too pricey till we get biosynthesized silk more. In theory id assume hemp could be waxed like cotton can. I couldn't guarantee this though and not sure if it can hold a candle to nylon in durability and would be greatly overpriced unless you sew it together and wax it yourself.

As much as I like buying soykaf, isn't this diy? Anybody got any free sewing patterns for backpacks?

>>9786 Found a free pattern that looks promising. Website I got it from here: https://www.hawthornethreadsblog.com/2015/04/coyote-blog-hop-wanderlust-rucksack.html

>>9787 Some more fuarrrking patterns. Site source: http://www.trashtocouture.com/p/diy.html Specific Pages: http://www.trashtocouture.com/2018/08/diy-backpack.html http://www.trashtocouture.com/2012/10/diy-backpack.html Bonus pattern I can't be arsed to make pdf out of: http://www.trashtocouture.com/2017/11/diy-bucket-back-pack.html

>>9786 who the fuarrrk needs a pattern for sewing a backpack. just draw one up yourself. Ive not done this for BACKPACKS because I dont LIKE backpacks but for other styles of bag it is FAST and EASY. This is not a NICE, TAILORED SHIRT. It is not a KNITTED SWEATER. Its just a fuarrrkING BAG. not hard.

>>9789 You could also just tie-up a piece of cloth and carry it with some rope

>>9786 I came across a fairly detailed set of instructions with a pattern https://www.instructables.com/How-to-make-a-backpack/

I really like this eddie bauer backpack. I took my own picture so hopefully you don't think im promoting brand awareness on an obscure imageboard with like 20 posts per month. It shows random soykaf I carry plus some clothes and has tons of room left. Nice features like straps to hold bottles on either side instead of relying only on elastic pouch. Tons of pockets that don't really interfere with eachother even when stuffed. It doesn't look cyberpunk or tacticool but I got it BECAUSE of that. Unironically larping as a weird blackhat mercenary is dumb. https://www.eddiebauer.ca/p/82305004/bygone-30-backpack

>>9827 >>9826 Or maybe you just invest in a sewing machine. The cost for a good quality used one plus the fabric shouldn`t cost more than a good new bagpack and also you can create even more usable things with that sewing machine. I especially like the real old ones with a foot pedal. Pro: Can use it without electricity, they look fancy as hell. Con: Can be a little tricky to get used to the foot pedal, also a well preserved one should be more expensive..

>>9861 My parents had one of those, admittedly running the pedal is very fun, but the biggest downside is how much space they take up compared to not needing to use it very often (it ended up covered in items unrelated to sewing and eventually gotten rid of after years of disuse). I think this is probably a common outcome and has a lot to do with the realities of sewing. Fabric tends to be expensive, and used items of clothing have a true market value of around zero due to massive supply saturation and are easily acquired. I hand mend my clothes, blankets and backpack because it's relaxing and I want to keep them, but practically and financially sewing seems like a niche hobby that won't be useful or sustainable to most people. Might be better to start with a cheap and compact sewing machine if you really want to try things that need its capability, or start with hand sewing which is more time consuming and difficult but if you want to sew for the experience of it, might as well lengthen that experience.

>>9865 mostly solid commentary but neglecting a few points. Treadledesks aren't integral parts of the machines, you can get ones that are perfectly fine and run without motors at about the size of a desktop computer, usually come with a handy carrying case. Motors are nice but you can drive them with your arm spinning the shiny large wheel on the right of the machine in 9861's photo, definitly a little slower/more awkward but way faster than hand sewing. they're also easy af to motorize. Ive also seen some treadledesks where the machine can be hidden, you could use it as a general table when you're not sewing. As far as the economy of making clothes, no big complains. cheap mass produced clothes are impossible to compete with on price, more so when used. >>9861 >tricky to work with pedal ime you get used to it after five minutes trouble can be working with very thick/heavy materials, light machines aren't always up to the task. Depends what you're making, but most backpacks shouldn't be a problem. Havent personally worked with this 1k denier stuff so idk, but sailcloth can get thick and stiff and will break many needles if you're not careful and using a tool made for shirts and dresses.

>>9734 >>9547 In agreement with those lainons (even if I am not convinced we are falling that much in consumerism in this thread) Trying on the backpack and checking the fabric is paramount. From what I have seen, hiking style backpacks do benefit of comfyer design with more stuffed/padded parts compared to "tactical" counterparts. As written in the tech>EDC thread, my Deuter Giga Bike gives me full satisfaction since 3 years (literal everyday use, usually in a urban setting, occasional outdoor/travel). It has typical features of hiking backpacks (pockets and straps of) + builtin rain-cover + a foldable external net which come handy for protection or additional carrying (helmet, shoes) respectively. 28L seems a good compromise, I would not have chose less. https://www.deuter.com/int-en/shop/backpacks/p226977-lifestyle-daypack-giga-bike If of any interest : I noticed Deuter design some of their backpacks according to man/woman morphology. Otherwise, replaced the travel suitcase by a NorthFace Base Camp, but I may rather have gone for a big hiking backpack... though volume > 90L is not the most frequent and cheapest... Beyond basic features, backpacks should also satisfy special needs: If cycling, hanging system and full waterproofing should be considered too. For photograph enthusiast, I know there exists special backpacks for protection and easy access Messenger bag/Handbag should be dismissed IMO because impractical and enjoy backbone problems

>>9959 Messenger bags are impractical but look cool and are easy to sew. I don't know about the backbone problem, i don't have any but i can say it kinda forces me to fix my posture because it gets uncomfortable if i am not straight as arrow.

>messenger bags are impractical, dangerous, dismissable out of hand overshoulderbags like messengers, and belt bags like possibles are not for i.e. backpacking or carrying heavy loads long ways like backpacks are, their advantages though are obvious and its not about manufacturing; they provide much easier access to full contents quickly and without even breaking stride. >>9959 >photography, there exists special backpacks for protection and easy access if you actually want easy access to a camera, you wear it on a harness or a strap, out and ready to shoot in seconds or less. Backpacks for cameras are specialized by simply being able to provide volumes for objects of roughly known size and shape and delicacy, as many backpacks provide spaces for laptops of fairly normal dimensions. A protected camera is never a ready to use camera, and camera bags are largely concerned with safe, convenient transport.

>>10100 bro, this is DIY. we DO it OUR SELVES here. MY bags are the FRUIT of my own hands, and DONT let anyone tell YOU that YOU can't MAKE a bag if you PUT your mind to iT. I have MANY bags (homemade).

>>10103 how much is your time worth that you're spending it here and not scouring the streets for dropped cash.

>>10106 just pointing out the obvious absurdity of your comment that NO ONE IS SEWING THEIR OWN BAG. False! Absurd! Ridiculous! Waste of time ? debateably, possibly, sure I might even conceed it. But how many things going on around here are wastes of time ? I see people doing silly rices, working on gardens when they could just go to the store, writing programs that are just different versions of existing software, compiling their fuarrrking kernels and whats worse, configuring them. And you think that lainchan, fuarrrking lainchan is going to draw the line at sewing bags? You're a silly guy. Got a lot to learn about this place. That or you wildly overestimate the work that goes into a nice bag.

>>10108 >Not sure why you're like this. I have a strong suspicion that you are like this because you are a fagg0t. I am like this because I appreciate truth and laugh at obviously false statements. Also I have bags which I have made.

>>10099 Are you comfortable sharing pics of the bags or backpacks you've sewn? Or any resources for beginners? I've been considering taking up sewing and a bag or pack seems like a fun starting project. >>10100 >people on a do-it-yourself board don't want to do things themselves

>>10111 Lain it's the /diy/ board

>>10110 I fuarrrked up at the flap part but anything other than that is good enough. I simply made one outer box that had the flap, one inner box then sewed those two. I am not a good tailor and i made this pattern soo it isn't good. If i wanted to make something complicated, i would just follow any tutoriol made by a 40 year old blonde white women as they seem to be the best in sewing.

>>10133 Lain ate my files but sayin "Lain ate mu files" isn't long enough of a post soo i will write gibbeerish and pray Lain accepts the images.

>I am currently in the possession of a xiaomi mi backpack, it served me well for 3 long years and now it is completely obliterated Sounds like absolute garbage. A good backpack should last years without issues. In general, as time goes on, I'm hating low quality soykaf that breaks with normal use more and more. It's generally better to just pay more if it gets you durability and high quality. Buy cheap, buy twice. Or even thrice.

>>10149 >Sounds like absolute garbage. A good backpack should last years without issues. This I have had the same backpack since the first year of highschool It has endured the rain countless times

The real DIY/cyb option would be to just go to a thrift store and find something there that's cheap and in good shape. That said, I do use a JanSport Superbreak Plus and a Solo New York travel backpack I got from Walmart

>>10649 >diy option is to buy the cheap thing glitterboy the diy option is to diy the fuarrrking thing

>>9527 >There are probably other brands that are just as good for half the price, but I bought this like seven years ago when I had a good infosec support job and money to waste. yep! nothing wrong with buying expensive when you can but backpacks like this are generally ok quality (or at least rugged) even when you get them off aliexpress etc. , even if they lack nicer stuff like the cc pouch or waterproofing/drain holes etc. you can always add that though i dunno if MOLLE is really that handy day to day though, but ig its fun and good for camping or whatever. >>10150 >>10149 yeah i dunno if this is even a price thing though, my $20 backpack has lasted deployments and stuff and is like a decade old while friends like $80 backpacks have fallen apart in years. you just need to be vigilant about what ur buying does anyone have a link to a cool goth/grunge/punk messenger bag on aliexpress? im strapped for cash and i need one for uni but im strugglling to find a nice one for cheap irl or secondhand online >>10650 youre rarted for this take, upcycling and converting old stuff is well within the diy umbrella and nobody is sewing their own backpack from scratch as an "option", it would have to be a hobby you are really into for that to even be considered

Can anyone recommend a quality cyb looking messenger bag? How can I tell what's good quality prior to making a purchase? I need it to fit an 11 inch tanto knife and 14inch laptop pretty snugly and be waterpoof but I don't know soykaf about buying this stuff or how to tell a good quality bag from a soykaf sack.

>>11959 I like my Arc Granville a lot, I got it after reading the review on shellzine. The ripstop looks cyb, it's waterproof and it's not so expensive.

I currently don't have any backpack for daily usage since I don't need one, although I've considered getting a 50L Falko Tactical backpack, or something similar to it. I would use it as a bugout bag in the rare event something would arise where it would be justified, but if I did not use it for that, then I would just have a general purpose backpack which can store a lot if necessary. The lighter the weight, the better. Every ounce counts when it comes to something like this, so saving every bit would be very useful. Even for day-to-day usage, I could see an occasional use to a larger bag, such as if I realized I had to carry tons of stuff around that day. If I ever went outside of the country, I could also pack whatever I would need for a few days, or potentially even weeks, then survive mostly off that bag depending on how careful I was. As long as it doesn't get too heavy for me to move, I don't care about it supporting a lot of weight. In fact, I would benefit heavily from more weight in several cases even at my size/weight.

>>9525 for EDC I prefer a messenger bag as it's more than big enough to fit everything I need. I got a really nice leather one in a local thrift shop - stylish and sovlful. I do have a few backpacks though, all of them are from a company called wisport and they held up really well. They are tacticool with molle and all that soykaf which may be a turnoff for some people but personally I don't mind. I have 3 in total, one is 16L which I mainly use for 1 day cycling trips, another is 35L and I use it for short vacations or as carry on, last one is a 45L with 2 additional pouches attatched to the sides 5L each and I use that one for through hikes.

>>9547 just want you to know you are cool but you already knew that

it was kind of expensive but i bought this Thule backpack for my trip to japan and i had never owned a nicely made bag before. It's so solid and has so many nice features. I've ended up using it constantly every day since I got home, absolutely worth the price.

>>OP I) I have several ideas here! What if your back hurts? You need to distribute the weight then! Alternatively, you could get a chest bag to keep you's personal documents safe. II) as for the content of you primary backpack: UNDIES!!! Make sure your BaK PaK comes with at least 8 spare underpants. also, put a crank usb charger there... a bunch of .22/.354 ammo if you're in 'Murka... two moon clips of .45 ... And a battery powered radio. And a solar charger. And maybe USB battery charger. BOTTOM LINE basically, you need 2 different bags: 1st one - maybe a chest bag - to keep in a safe (docs and wired earphones + spare toothbrush(es) 2nd to keep around as a "hiker's bak pak" that can live in your car's compartment - undies, first aid kit, emergency blanket, CAMO TENT if you feel rich...