Backpack advice

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Hey all,

So I’m going travelling by train and bus around E. Asia next month for 5 weeks, and I could use a piece of advice…

I intend to travel light, so I was thinking something like a 35-40 litre backpack would do me fine. One complication is that I have to take my laptop with me (a macbook), and this is nonnegotiable.

So I was thinking of getting a backpack with an integrated laptop compartment (like this) but they are sort of pricey. Is there any advantage to doing this over getting a normal backpack, and a padded laptop case to put in there?

The only advantage I can think of is that the integrated laptop holder guarantees good/comfortable placement in the backpack, which is harder to achieve when putting the laptop in there ‘free floating’ within a padded case, as it were.

What do you think?

Thanks!
pdts

2

I use a Victorinox lappy bag for traveling (bike, car, plane, whatever) and it works great. I would highly suggest a laptop backpack if you’ll be fitting several weeks worth of stuff with your electronics. It’s very secure and keeps it out of harms way as it’s up against your back.

3

Thanks! That’s just the sort of advice I was looking for.

I think I’ll get a cheaper version of that – that looks pretty slick but out of my price range. I can pick up a nice patagonia or NF one for $70-$80.

pdts

4

I absolutely love my OGIO Politan. It was about $70 and my 17" MacBook fits perfectly. Plus there are lots of compartments for tons of other things. I’ve used it for about four years and it still looks new.

5

Every single day that you walk around with an uncomfortable backpack that doesn’t do what you need it to do you’ll be willing to donate $5 to past put down the sabre. $85 is nothing.

6

Try it out in a store first. Lots of pockets and doohickie seems fun, but they can add up to a lot of extra weight that you would be better spending on extra undies.

Remember- your backpack is about to become your companion, your enemy, your savior. You will tied to each other. Choose a good one, because you are going to be cursing that thing with every step. Anyway, a good backpack will last for life.