Best Backpack

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I'm going to start college next month and was wondering what kind of backpack you people that have already been there recommend.
Does it need to be super to accomodate a laptop and books?
The school I'm going to is very urban (the campus is 84 city blocks) and I dont have a car so I'll be walking everywhere. However, I don't know how far away my classs are from each other or my dorm, yet.
On Mondays I have two classes in a row and Wednesdays I have three classes in a row.
From your experience do I need a giant expensive back pack or medium sized one? A backpack, sling backpack, messenger bag, or something else?
In addition to whatever notebooks, textbooks, and (maybe) laptop I may need I will probably also have my calculator, a pencil bag and I have a little clutch that I keep my wallet and an umbrella in.
Will I need a purse too?
Also, Money is an object and links are your friend. =]
THANKS SO MUCH.
=D</p>

2

<p>I use a rolling laptop bag… Its been my lifesaver. I spent about… errr $30 on it? and its lasted me 2 full years. I tried to find a link for it :< but it seems they no longer carry it.</p>

3

<p>I’m not one to promote brands, but I have a North Face Jester backpack and I love it. It’s really durable and has enough room for a laptop and a textbook or two. You can also get the Jester bag on sale and for much cheaper than a lot of other North Face bags (mine was ~$30-$35 including shipping from some outdoors gear website, which is what you’d pay for lots of other bags).</p>

4

<p>I got this Targus bag for pretty cheap. Fits my big 17’ laptop and with plenty of space to boot! Has comfortable straps, even though I can still feel the weight of my laptop after awhile. Also has a nice, simple design that isn’t bulky in the slightest.</p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Targus Groove Backpack Case Designed for 17 Inch Laptops CVR617 (Black): Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Targus-Backpack-Designed-Laptops-CVR617/dp/B0029L9YHI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311571881&sr=8-2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Targus-Backpack-Designed-Laptops-CVR617/dp/B0029L9YHI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311571881&sr=8-2)</p>

5

<p>Backpack if you’re walking, messenger bag if you’re biking. Northface Recon has served me well as a backpack, it can hold a laptop and around five notebooks, as well as two bottle holders, a second section for pens and calculators, and an external mesh for umbrellas and U locks.</p>

6

<p>You said purse, so I am going to assume you are a girl.</p>

<p>What is the rule of purse? The bigger it is, the more you carry. It is the same for a backpack, so be sure to pick a backpack only for the amount you are willing and able to carry. That means 10-20% of your body weight. Since you will be walking, I would suggest the lower end of the scale. Never carry more than you need. Seriously. NEVER. Whatever bag you pick, make sure you weigh the general average between all your supplies that way you are never carrying more than you can.</p>

<p>That said, do not have a messenger bag or a purse as your primary pack unless you have a major with few or small books. Since this is your first year, this means gen-ed classes and book sizes will vary from small to large. A backpack is the best option. Not always fashionable, but the most functional. You need functional. That is your primary concern.</p>

<p>Generally you will only have two-three classes a day. You probably won’t need a huge binder for each class, and you can lessen the load by having a good portfolio binder without rings, but has prongs. This allows you to put in blank paper and notes, and it usually has pockets too. The ones by mead are perfect. Can usually get them for under two dollars each, and are reusable. They look like this: <a href=“http://www.keenzo.com/pimg/Image/Products/300/SDS-64862.gif[/url]”>http://www.keenzo.com/pimg/Image/Products/300/SDS-64862.gif&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This means you can completely skip notebooks and just use as much filler paper as required. You will save paper in the long run, and can throw out things you no longer need. Seriously, these type of folders are probably the best for your buck, so you should really consider them.</p>

<p>In addition to that, a simple pencil case to carry your supplies will handle most everything else. I would suggest a small stapler (at home or in your dorm at least), but carrying a small one might save you at times. A few paperclips too.</p>

<p>Your clutch should handle all your girly supplies, with maybe a small makeup bag for the rest. Your umbrella and all else should fit inside a regular backpack with no problem, and you should even have room for a book or something to entertain yourself with.</p>

<p>But your laptop? This is where things get heavy and nerve racking. A lot of teachers won’t allow you to use a computer in class, and for those that do it does not mean you really need it. Unless you are going to be stuck on campus for a long time and computer time is restricted to a certain limit, you are best leaving it at home. You can better keep track of all your notes if they are in your actual books, and you can print out things as well.</p>

<p>A good way to mediate this is simply to bring your laptop only on days where you are stuck there for a long time and want to get work done, but many libraries allow you to check out laptops for free anyway to get work done. But if you do bring it, it’s extra weight you have to carry, so make sure you actually NEED it.</p>

<p>That said, what about backpacks? Functionality is great, but if it looks good… even better! [eBags</a> - Largest Selection Of Handbags, Backpacks, Luggage & More - eBags](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/]eBags”>http://www.ebags.com/) has a great selection and a very neat tool that lets you narrow down choices by if it fits your bag or not, including price, color, and material. You can find backpacks under $30 there. If you can imagine yourself on continuing buying merchandise there, then you get rewards and can eventually get a bag for free, so that’s a good thing to keep in mind.</p>

<p>But what about BEAUTY and PRICE? You can have both! [Backpack</a> - Shop for Backpack at Polyvore](<a href=“Luxury fashion & independent designers | SSENSE”>Luxury fashion & independent designers | SSENSE) has some pretty gorgeous bags, and you can narrow them down by price too. I’ve noticed that yesstyle has some great choices, but they are overseas and cost $9 in shipping. Keep in mind that they list a lot of overseas stuff, so be mindful if you want to buy in country for shipping concerns, or lower your budget to accommodate.</p>

7

<p>jesus christ^^</p>

<p>I’ve been using a North Face Recon since 2007. It works great, I guess, I mean it holds my stuff without breaking which I suppose is the point of a backpack. Separate compartment in the main compartment that fits a 15" laptop well. Gotta be diligent about zipping it up tightly and covering the zipper with the little fenders (I can’t think of a better word) when it rains though.</p>

8

<p>I got a North Face Big Shot a couple of weeks back. . .</p>

<p>I back nearly 30 lbs of **** in my bag (17" laptop, couple of books, power cord, lunch, grapefruit, four water bottles, etc.), yet the weight is somehow distributed well, to a point where the back pack feels more like ~13 lbs. </p>

<p>I dunno, that’s just me. 30 lbs is alot to carry.</p>

9

<p>Just go to a surplus store and get a military backpack…I’ve used the same one since 6th grade and it hasn’t quit, is big enough to hold all my stuff and its waterproof. May not look great but I’ve never been huge on getting a nice looking backpack just to abuse it to death and waste money.</p>

10

<p>I just got an Under armour backpack. It’s pretty small, and it has a laptop sleeve for my Dell–although it just barely fits. I had an Adidas last year but I thought it was way too big because I always jammed all kinds of unnecessary stuff in it. Now, I have plenty of room for a laptop, power cord, snack, and a couple of notebooks or books.</p>

11

<p>84 city blocks? My god. Which school do you go to</p>

<p>Sent from my HTC HD2 using CC App</p>

12

<p>I go to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It’s really medically oriented. There are lots of Hospital which are connected to the school in addition to buildings for other subjects. It’s also in the middle of Downtown Bimingham, it doesn’t really have a ‘campus’ it’s really intergrated throughout the city.</p>

13

<p>I’ve owned three backpacks my entire life. All have been LL Bean, and they’ve only been upgraded because I needed more space. I now have the quad pack. Whatever you get, just make sure it’s comfortable with enough padding. Built-in laptop sleeves are really handy.</p>

14

<p>I would get a swissgear. They last forever and have more than enough space for anything you would need to carry</p>

15

<p>You should defiantly check out the LL Bean backpacks! They have hiking and other backpacks that seem to fit your situation. I would love to do that one day. LL Bean backpacks are strong and durable and hold up to anything. Good luck!</p>

16

<p>I picked up a couple vintage “made in USA” Jansport backpacks from back when they were made here. There’s probably 30 lbs of books in each of them. I use one for my Mon/Weds classes and the other for my Tues/Thurs classes so I don’t have to unpack and repack them. </p>

<p>A good backpack should last for years of use. Those $30 ones at Walmart and similar department stores usually fall apart by the end of the school year. </p>

<p>If I had to buy a new backpack, I would probably shop for one at a camping supply store or military surplus store and pick out a nice heavy duty canvas one.</p>

17

<p>That sucks. I have a lot of friends that go to UAB. I’m at Auburn. I use an underarmour backpack because they’re durable and can hold a lot.</p>

18

<p>There are all kinds of good backpack options and a number of good backpack brands. There are helpful articles and a couple of good reviews here: [Choosing</a> the Best Backpacks for College | Backpacks for College](<a href=“http://www.backpacksforcollegehq.com%5DChoosing”>http://www.backpacksforcollegehq.com)</p>

19

<p>I am not a brand person. I just look for one that can hold my laptop, tablet, notebooks, and maybe one textbook at a time. The choices are endless.</p>

20

<p>I didn’t pay attention to brand when I got my backpacks, but looking at it it’s a Ful backpack. It’s served me well thus far. In addition to that, I just looked at my old high school backpack (passed down to my sister) and it’s also a Ful. That one served me well for the latter half of high school and thus far has been working well for my sister.</p>

<p>Edit: Looking around the website, this is the one I have currently: <a href=“http://ful.com/details.cfm?name=Beale_Street[/url]”>http://ful.com/details.cfm?name=Beale_Street&lt;/a&gt;
And this is the one I used in high school: <a href=“http://ful.com/details.cfm?name=Gibson[/url]”>http://ful.com/details.cfm?name=Gibson&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;