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My old Tiso Airlow 25 is on its last legs and needing something of similar size, assume the 25 means 25 litres?
needs to fit shoes, trousers, shirt, socks, pants, tie & lunch.
Not too fussed if its hi viz as have a HUMP hivis cover, not too fussed about hydration compatible either, but that will probably come as standard nowadays?
So whats good? airflow, unsweaty back features would be good.
Edit: And no I dont want panniers.
You'll probably get a cheap Karrimor effort, that will be more than suitable for a good few years, from Sports Direct. No need to overegg the pudding.
One main criteria you have is airflow, so its hard not to immediately recommend getting the load off your back and onto the bike. 100% airflow, no sweaty back ever, brilliant. Shame about...
Edit: And no I dont want panniers.
...but then panniers are not the only way to carry that sort of luggage on a bike. For carrying a few work clothes there are seatpost mounted bags (with quick release fitting) from Carradice that would do the job perfectly without need for a rack.
I found carrying luggage on the bike was a bit like when I started running proper mudguards. I thought it was totally lame until I learnt how much better daily cycling became after the change.
However, boring common sense aside, where bags for bike use are concerned (I do still occasionally carry a bag when I want to impress pretty ladies by looking cool on my singlespeed and don’t mind having a sweaty back) I much prefer to run a courier style bag with a single, cross body strap (and small stabilising strap) rather than a rucksack, so you can swing it round for access to the contents without removing it.
There are some really nice courier bags that function like this. Some are fashion items, some more functional. Mine is a Timbuk2 one, about 15 years old (so I think from before the point at which they became cool but I’m not sure) and it’s as good as the day I bought it. Think it will survive the apocalypse.
As above. I find a courier bag on a bike is far more comfortable than a rucksack. I find the fashion items near useless. Now way a proper sized laptop and clothes in going in there.
old fashioned, hard core courier bag.
They very sadly don't seem to make the Northwave courier bag that I use any more. It's wonderful. Incredibly comfortable, immortal (mine is about ten years old now and still fine), can take my laptop, full set of clothes, tools, spares and butties, has many pockets and I think cost me about 30 quid. I can see why they stopped selling it to be honest, quality items like that ensure they only get one sale a decade.
I have an almost new camelback Hoss that I have had for far too long ( Check my old threads ).
If that would be any good to you ,drop me a mail .
I was thinking of some panniers for my 10 mile offroad commute (very rocky in places), but following some advice on here I went for the Carradice SQR Tour saddlebag. I can't recommend it enough, I don't even notice it while riding. It's only 16 litres in capacity but I fit the following in mine:
Clothes for the day
Change of shorts and top for the ride back
Waterproof (I have to get on the train and wearing the one that I cycle in might upset my fellow passengers)
iPad
Mini-pump
Spare tube and tools (in side pocket)
Magic shine light (other side pocket)
I couldn't fit shoes in but I just leave some at work and change when I get there. Occasionally I need to bring my laptop home so on those days I use a backpack for just the laptop - much more comfortable than carrying everything in the backpack, and stops the laptop getting rattled around as much.
Why is a courier bag more comfortable? Does it not put a weight bias to one side of your body? Just curious as never used a 'real' one and use a backpack (a deuter) on the bike.
Dakine used to do one with a special pocket that you could put your lock into without taking the pack off your back. It's a brilliant feature and worth looking out for but I can't find a link for the pack I've got any more - sorry
I find a rucksack more comfy than a courier bag for commuting.
Alpkit Gourdon can not be beaten for value, Ortileb courier bag (rucksack) for quality.
The washer of slugs may be along to recommend an overboard type bag thingy.
one with a special pocket that you could put your lock into without taking the pack off your back
You have no idea of the enormous positive benefit my life would have with this feature - please find the link!!
EDIT: As long as it will also do something similar with my keys, come to think of it.
my experience in this area would be much the same as samuri's, except my bag that will seemingly last forever (at least 10 years so far) is a crumpler seedy three.
in excessively wet manchester weather i have an alpkit gourdon 20 that ensures my stuff says perfectly dry but in terms of comfort when carrying the largest loads (clean towel, work trousers, shirt, shoes, clean underwear, butties and possibly shower gel) then the courier bag wins.
I came very close to buying one of [url= http://www.decathlon.co.uk/tilt-5-backpack-id_8243997.html ]these Decathlon bags[/url] at the weekend - seems ideal as a commuting bag for anyone that doesn't want a messenger bag.
I just use my Dakine Nomad, both for the trails on the weekend and the commute in the week.
When I was a city slicker I used to use a courier bag, really loved them until I had to lug around more and more kit (like laptops and books) so I started to use a large rucksack. Ended up getting an Ergon BC3 bag and I've been blown away by how good it is. Barely notice it's on, really stable and plenty of room. Not cheap (I got mine in a sale) but the best bag I've used on a bike. I currently use it for a hilly rural commute and it's been brilliant. Also a great bag for bivvy trips!
Why is a courier bag more comfortable? Does it not put a weight bias to one side of your body?
If you’re regularly carrying a lot of weight, courier bags aren’t as inherently comfortable as rucksacks for the reasons you point out.
On the rare occasions I ever ended up carrying a lot of weight in mine for more than a few miles I tended to swap shoulders every so often. But carrying weight over distance is for panniers, so having an overloaded courier bag was only ever a get–me–home solution, like for instance if you’ve just left work when the Mrs rings asking you to fetch a bag of spuds on your way.
However for a light (and soft) load as per the few clothes of the OP they’re really quite comfortable as they tend to follow the contours of your body better and sit closer, moving around a lot less. You can also pull the straps really quite tight to get the bag to sit nice and high on your back. There’s a reason couriers use them.
IMHO, if the stuff I need to carry is too heavy or bulky for my courier bag to cope with, I’ve crossed over the threshold where a rack and panniers (or a cargobike!) would be the best solution.
Edit: All that said, if I were looking for a rucksack I’d likely be giving a Boblbee a try. They look a bit funny but I think the design is pretty sound.
Well personally, I feel that the weight is distributed better with a courier bag. With a rucksack it feels too high up and moves around when pumping the pedals, the courier bag feels a lot more natural lower down. (This is actually probably because it's closer to my body rather than being at a different height). The bag folds nicely round you too.
As far as the weight being more one side than the other I never notice that. The stabalising strap seems to even things out. But then I rarely ride more than 25 miles so it might be worse on long journeys.