After a long wait, I’ve finally gotten my hands on my first Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro! Super excited about it. Just curious—has anyone here with an Alpaka bag ever added a patch to theirs?

Any tips on the best way to attach a patch? I’m wondering if gluing or sewing it directly onto the bag might mess with its water resistance. Thoughts and tips?

Any ideas?

I have been using this Chrome Hondo backpack every day at work since 2018 and it’s been great but I am ready to upgrade to something that may be more useful. I do estimates for home remodeling projects, so I need to be able to carry a 15” laptop, big flashlight, tape measure, a couple of hand tools, and a manila folder. Ideally quick and easy access for all of the above. The outside needs to be tough because I have to drag it through attics and job sites. I would like the replacement to overall be a similar size but with better compartments and easier access to the interior. The top of my budget is $300. Thanks in advance!

Hey guys,

Im in the process of designing my own backpack and I was hoping to ask you guys a few questions in order to refine my design.

It’s a travel backpack designed for carry on use (One bagging). The Backpack will have an Admin Compartment, Main Compartment and a Laptop Compartment.

There will be a small 28L version and a larger 34L version.

As of right now the small version of my sample is at 5.5” Deep for the Main Compartment. The goal is an overall 7.5” for the 28L and 8.5” for the 34L. However due to some design choices in regards to the Admin Compartment, the 28L ended up being 8.5” Overall with the Main still being at 5.5”

I wanted to gauge what sacrifices and changes I can make.

Google Forms Link

Thanks

I need to replace my duffel/backpack hybrid and have shortlisted 3 backpacks at different price points based on various reviews, and I want to hear your collective experiences with them in flights with stricter non-American airlines (I'm in Australia, flying mostly with Singapore/Qantas/Cathay/Emirates).

Have you ever been forced to check them in because they look borderline too big for carry-on? How are their build quality? What's your favourite feature and your most disliked feature? What about feature you wish each has?

Most expensive - Aer Travel Pack 3 35L Mid range - Osprey Farpoint 40L Budget - Tomtoc Navigator T-66

I'm leaning more towards the midrange Osprey Farpoint for the features to price ratio.

Thanks.

I need a Roka backpack very fast before I leave. Anyone know a retailer in Portland Oregon.

I am currently using the built for athletes medium backpack, I don't always pack to its full capacity and find the side cinch down straps do not compress it enough to be less bulky. Has anyone else had the same troubles? Love the bag just find it very bulky!

Been looking around but a lot of the given recommendations are well out of my budget.

So here's my situation: When I travel for work, I regularly travel with two or more laptops (15.6" Dell Latitude for work, 14.5" Asus Zephyrus G14 personal) as well as a 15" portable monitor. Each device has its own neoprene sleeve. I also have a small tech bag that carries a handful of items - mostly cables and a couple of power banks. I will also occasionally travel with one other 14" laptop that I don't have a sleeve for.

My current bag - a SwissGear 1900 - has a pretty big tear on the inside, so I'm in need of a replacement soon. I do like the amount of organization this bag offers, even if it gets heavy on my back when it's fully packed. Being fully packed does mean it just barely fits in the overhead bins of the smaller regional jets I fly on, but it does tend to fit in under the seat, so I'm usually OK.

Requirements:

• 30Lminimum, 35L preferred.
• Must fit under airplane seats. Bonus if it can fit in a regional jet overhead bin when full.
• Separate laptop compartment.
• Main compartment to fit portable monitor, additional laptops, and tech bag
• Additional compartment(s) to hold rest of main gear (earbuds, mouse, laptop charger/cable, pens, notebook)
• Two external water bottle pockets. One for an umbrella, one for a 24oz water bottle.
• Hard budget of $150 USD

TIA

Hey fellow travelers,

I‘m currently looking for a new backpack to travel, but I‘m kind of lost in the market.

Maybe you guys have some good recommendations. Here is a list of must haves that are essential for me: - 65L - adjustable back paddings - removable pouch for day travelling would be nice

Thank you for reading!

Hi guys im looking for a backpack for a while and decided to buy a thule subterra 2 21l. But i have some questions for people who use it before. 1 is it good for daily using like school and some walkings 2 is it really waterproof 3 do you have another advice for backpack Ps: sorry for poor english still try to learn Ty

Meet "T.H.E. Pack, E.D.C. ODT.H.E. Pack, E.D.C. OD" made by specops. It's a bit smaller than a Jansport regular backpack, but it carries all of your essential stuff. You can add or remove stuff you see fit. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Hi, It just boggle me about the The NorthFace Store on Amazon. The description says being sold by Shocca Authorized, Continental Ventures, Ozuta. Are these Fake backpacks? The Prices are the same with Original. I'm looking for the The NorthFace Recon Backpack.

First time buying a NorthFace Backpack on Amazon. The Official Store doesn't seem authentic. Can someone enlighten me on this?

I only bought my iPad on Amazon since it's a special deal from the Apple Store on Amazon officially and verified it by the Apple Website.

The Bellroy Transit Workpack Pro 22L has quickly become my go-to everyday carry. Its aesthetically pleasing design is sleek and minimal, striking that perfect balance between professional and casual. The build quality is excellent, with durable materials and thoughtful craftsmanship. It definitely has a premium look and feel. It’s also super comfortable to wear (which is huge with a bellroy product), even when fully loaded, thanks to the well-padded straps and back panel. Though initially, the padding on the straps is quite firm, I have found it broke in and loosened up over a few days.

One of the standout features for me is the internal organization—everything has its place, making it easy to keep my daily gear tidy and accessible. The only downside is the lack of a vertical luggage passthrough, which would have been helpful for travel. Also, I would have preferred the zippers being regular instead of aquaguard. They are pretty smooth for an aquaguard zipper, but I have read that they generally peel and crack over time. That said, as an EDC bag, this one checks nearly every box. Highly recommend it if you’re after a smart, functional, and stylish pack.

I’m not here to claim I’m an expert. I’m just someone with a dream—to create my own backpack and share the journey with anyone who loves bags, stories, and starting from zero.

My background isn’t in fashion or design. I started as a finance journalist, interviewing companies and visiting factories to write news stories. Later, I moved into the jewelry industry as a business development manager, working closely with factories and supply chains.

It taught me a lot—but jewelry and backpacks are two completely different worlds.

Jewelry is solid. Backpacks are soft.
In jewelry, drawing a CAD file is essential. But in backpacks, that’s only part of the equation. What you draw is not always what the final product looks or feels like. It's another universe entirely.

So, I went back to what I knew best: investigation.

Starting at the Source: Material City

I traveled to Guangzhou North, known as the “City of Bags.” It’s a massive, overwhelming place where you can find every kind of material imaginable. But trust me—no one can walk through every store in the city.

So I started small. I bought samples. I tested them. I pulled, scratched, and tried to break them.

Why? Because fake materials are everywhere. What looks good might not hold up. You can’t rely on appearances—or sales talk. You’ve got to test and trust your own hands.

The Next Challenge: Finding the Right Factory

There are thousands of factories—each with their own specialty: leather processing, molding, zippers, sewing…

I visited many, just like I used to when chasing stories as a journalist.
And honestly? It’s as hard as finding a good girlfriend. (Don’t laugh—I’m serious!) In fast, factories break up like girlfriends, like me.

From the production line, you can tell a lot:
The scale, the workers’ attitude, the quality, and how they manage time. Everything matters. I prefer to sit and wait a while to monitor how they are working.

But most factories gave me a familiar pitch: “Just use one of our existing designs and put your logo on it.”

That’s not what I want.

I’m not here to put a logo on someone else’s work.
I want to build something from scratch—thoughtful, functional, and original.

Why This Matters to Me

I lived with ankylosing spondylitis, an immune condition that causes inflammation in the joints. It makes daily life a challenge. And carrying a laptop every day? Even more so. Even Now I am fully recovered miraculously, I need extra care about loading.

I need a backpack that can support me properly—not just look good. That’s why I care so much about the details. The weight distribution. The back padding. The material choice.

The Industry Reality

Interestingly, I discovered that many OEM factories design the bags themselves—pitching them to big-name merchandisers. That opened my eyes to how this industry really works behind the scenes. It’s not always the brand doing the designing.

And while I may not have millions in funding or investors behind me, I’m lucky in one very important way—

My wife supports me.
Even if we lose everything (hopefully not! 😅), she’s still behind me. That gives me the strength to keep going.

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/mazefathom/

My Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mazefathom/urbano-travel-backpack-by-maze-fathom

If anyone’s interested in my journey, I’ll keep sharing the details of how a backpack is made. I’m not an expert—just a dreamer turning an idea into reality.

I wear this backpack on my motorcycle daily and it's starting to show wear. I can't find anything to replace it with for the life ofme. Velomacchi went out of business. The straps with the hinges above the logo and the magnetic sternum clasp is a LIFE SAVER for putting my backpack over my gear, being comfortable, and taking off my backpack without having to take off my gloves. The waterproofness is nice, but not a requirement.

Hello,

I am a bit confused how this backpack can be 32 L and fit a 10+ year old: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/129660

Dimensions are: 18.5"H x 13"W x 11.4"D

The model appears to be a UTX Flex Side Squeeze M-SS-1. Thanks!

Hi everyone, i need some help choosing a pack for my 2 month europe backpacking trip! I’m looking for a good travel/hiking hybrid pack as I will be starting my trip doing the camino de santiago- so i will be walking with my pack on for 2 weeks and then continuing to backpack for 6weeks afterwards. I like the idea of the osprey fairview trek 50L as it opens like a suitcase but then has features of a hiking backpack aswell for comfort during the long days of walking, I am also looking to get a smaller daypack to attach to the pack for when i go on smaller daypack hikes! Only downside to this bag i can see is the price point, I found the mountain design x country looks like a good cheaper option however Im unsure if you can attach a day pack to this bag and just wanting to know if anyone has any opinions on these two bag options! Thanks

Does anyone know of anyone that will make a custom backpack? (Preferably in the US, not sure how this tariffs thing will workout. But, not opposed to outside the US)

I’m looking for something 20-22 inches tall, 15 inches wide and 10 inches deep. 30-40ish liters. And have exterior pockets that add to the capacity.

Needs to be tough and carry a heavy load at times. A bag More for work than hiking (office to field). Doesn’t need a lot of extra pockets.

I have tried:

RUSH® 24 2.0 BACKPACK 37L

Savotta Kahakka 25L

US Army ALICE pack medium (Liters?)

It’s doesn’t have to be “tactical” just tough. Canvas and leather are ok.

Was thinking of purchasing this backpack, unable to find any information online regarding it. Has anyone had experience with this? Is it worth it?

I’m looking to purchase either or, but I cannot decide if I want to replace my carry-on or do I want to replace my personal item bag? Looking for something that’s comfortable and can handle abuse of travel.

My main purpose for purchasing a personal item bag is to be able to put all my gadgets plus some clothes in there while I’m traveling so I don’t have to take a carry-on.

Seeking recommendations for 20-22 liter backpacks with a luggage pass through and at least 1, preferably 2, water bottle pockets. Thank you!

I just received my City Pack Pro 2 Xpac and immediately noticed some loose threads sticking out.

Additionally, when the back is packed out to its max, I can see the orange stitching at the seam where the loose threads are but not on the other side of the bag in the same place.

Would you be concerned enough to exchange it? Or is it not that big of a deal? Thanks guys 🤙🏼

https://www.blessthisstuff.com/stuff/wear/bags-luggage/dsptch-x-3sixteen-daypack/

This bag is really old, but I love the collaboration for this backpack. I have the black one currently, but I want a second one to rotate in from a wear standpoint. Anyone know where I could track one of these down?

I went as far as reaching out to both companies asking if they were going to re-release due to the popularity and they gave me a snotty response like they were too good to do this again. Mean while DSPTCH went from a promising bag company to this weird producer in post-apocalyptic go-bags. There no way people buy this stuff and their SOHO store went under. Just don’t get why they don’t focus on what sells well.