I ride my bike to and from work as often as I’m able. That story is another blog post. This post is about choosing the right backpack to replace the messenger style Patagonia bag that I have been using. I like my current bag. I have a decent workflow with it. It’s in great condition still - especially after 5 years. The problem is that it’s a terrible bag to use when I’m riding my bike. It sloshes around on my back and honestly slows me down substantially. I realized by how much the first time I left my bag at work overnight. I improved my time over the 9.3km (5.8miles) from 27min. to 23 minutes!Therefore, I want a backpack. Simply having straps for both shoulders will be amazing. It also needs to carry and protect a computer among some other items. I want it to be as snug as possible. I try to be a minimalist. I want to be prepared; but I never want to carry more than I’ll actually use.For work, that’s a computer (13"MBP), a folder for design (I’ve converted almost entirely to the digital workflow, but nothing’s better than ideating a sketch on plain white paper. At some point I’ll have to blog about this…) my pencil bag, a basic little notebook (I love small moleskines), keys, a light, leatherman, lighting multitool, a knife, gloves, a power supply, a stack of business cards, and my IEM headphones. I also like to carry lip balm, my Kindle (this is a recent addition, I used to carry at least one book and a copy of the Scriptures, and a journal.I always try to be a good steward. I don’t want the most expensive; I want the best quality I can get for a reasonable price.I think I found the bag for this. This Mountain Hardware Crimper s10 bag is pretty nice. I love the 2 Arc’Teryx bags that I played with even more, but the price jump is substantial. It carries all this (though I might get whittle it down even a touch more - do I really need all the tools with my current job?) and has enough room left over for a shirt to change into when I get to work.I bought it. …but I haven’t taken the tags off because that’s all that can really fit. Considering that I’ll be taking at least 3 work trips this fall, I really want something that I can also pack a couple days worth of clothes in. I could do this with my personal backpack. But after 14 years, I think it’s finished. Plus, it doesn’t protect the computer well.So, I’m back to this choice. Pictured is my test packing for my trip to Orlando this weekend. Everything I listed above - minus the tools (TSA) and keys; plus a phone charger, some toiletries, 2 extra days worth of clothes with a swimsuit just in case. It all fit, but it was VERY tight in the less than 15L that this bag has.This is a pretty nice bag for regular use; but is it enough for everything?I’ve seriously been considering a Tom Bihn Synapse (19L) but haven’t chosen that because I’ve been looking at bags in person and I have to make the purchase in order see the Synapse - and while the web photos are good, I just don’t know.Anyway, with what I can justifiably spend, I think it’s either this MH bag or the Synapse.Thoughts?
P.S. This was supposed to be sent along with the photo this morning. I don’t understand why the text didn’t publish…
P.P.S. Apparently, Tumblr doesn’t like the "less than" symbol. It considers that the end of the intended text stream. I solved the problem…I think.