My gym bag ripped, cheap piece of crap. It needs to hold two pairs of shoes, a hooded sweatshirt, toiletries, and possibly a laptop. I plan on taking it with me when I go snowboarding too, or as a day pack when I go on trips and stuff. So, it can’t be too big. The one I had previously was like a Jansport you’d see at school, but bigger. It did everything except hold two pairs of shoes (which I could do, but I would have to get rid of something else). I’d like to spend under $100, too. Any good recommendations for a backpack? Thanks for the help.
Maybw get a bookbag with a padded laptop compartment. I have a Targus one and it keeps my laptop safe and can hold a lot of stuff but itsn’ too big. I actually only use it for when I go away for the weekend. I don’t like bookbags much and I use a messenger bag day-to-day.
I have a Marmot that has a padded laptop compartment. It also has hip straps (lightly padded) and chest strap for heavier loads. It’s not too big, either. I got it at Moosejaw, but it was several years ago. I’ve used it for dayhikes, hauling computer gear and on my bike.
Definitely consider Kelty. They have several daypacks on the website that you could check out. Very high quality and function-emphasizing stuff.
Get thee to the Army/Navy Surplus store!
I have a backpack that I use pretty much like your describing (kind of general all-purpose). It’s an old Army (West German I think) backpack that I got over 12 years ago now and it will not wear out. It’s probably a little bigger than a “normal”-sized JanSport type bag. I’ve used it while traveling, school, going skiing, hikes in the mountains, on day trips, you name it. No sign of it wearing out yet. The things are just built to last. Also, they are dirt cheap, tons of little pockets all around, and look pretty cool, too. As far as carrying a laptop, just pick up a padded sleave for your laptop and toss it in. I also like to believe that someone targeting to steal a laptop would go for a dedicated-looking laptop bag as opposed to an old beat-up army backpack.
I’m very pleased with my EMS “Short Circuit.” It has a large, well-padded laptop pocket, nice big mesh side-pocket things with strong elastic that will hold a travel mug, and a reasonable amount of room interior room. I can carry a spare pair of shoes easily if I shove them down below the bottom of the laptop pocket, and there’d be room for another pair if it weren’t for all the books and stuff I usually have crammed in there. The biggest selling point is that it has been durable. All the zippers and fasteners and elastic are still good after a couple of years, the mesh hasn’t torn anywhere (like it did on my old backpack, cheap piece of crap that it was) and in general it looks as good as it did when I bought it.
I don’t know if EMS still makes that model, but you might check out what they have for laptop bags.
This is pretty similar to the Army backpack I was talking about.