I head into a central office once or twice a week. 20 odd miles on the road each way, and because I’m not there all the time I need to carry kit with me.
Laptop and a change of clothes (I can get away without a suit) primarily, but bike locks etc as well.

Any suggestions as everything I already have is either too small to carry everything I need primarily designed for hiking and rubs badly.

NB – No need for a camelback – I can use a bottle cage.

Thanks

I’d get some panniers – much more comfortable taking the load on the bike than your back.

This guy makes custom bag for that very purpose.

The Breakaway

Panniers or a rack pack. The need to wear shoes makes transporting a full change of clothes and a laptop challenging. I use a Deuter Race EXP, which is an excellent rucksack. But I leave shoes and a pair of trousers at the site I don’t regularly commute to. At my regular site I have a suit and shoes in a locker, so just bring in underwear and shirts.

http://www.ebuyer.com/192046-wenger-swissgear-cobalt-backpack-ga-7343-06?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products&gclid=CP_A1r3-2L8CFQEXwwodKCkA1A

mine is a good 8 years old and still pretty such servicable

I agree that panniers is a better options

Deuter Cross air EXP is recommended if you want a pack but better with a rack shirley?

Get that pack off your back!
Tubus Fly rack
Ortlieb City Front Panniers

Thanks guys. Panniers would probably be ideal but impractical for my bike I think and as it’s relatively occasional a pack is simpler. No lockers or places to store kit as I’m restricted to a hot desk and have no established place to call my own.
I’ll have a look at the pack suggestions made already. Cheers

Osprey Escapist 25, it as an airscape back support that does a great job. I had the swiss gear one above for years which was great but find the osprey distributes the weight much better. I sometimes carry a 17in macbook pro, power cables and change of clothes 15 miles each way.

I use the Decathlon/B-Twin Tilt 5 waterproof backback on my commute, and although it’s not massive it will fit everything you need in. I’ve used it in all weathers most work days for the past 9 months and it’s been great – especially for £35.

Do you have access to a shower at work? I find a rucksack creates a lot more sweat when riding to work than using panniers or a saddlebag.

As others have said, look at some sort of rack pack. This http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=57 should be able to take a laptop (providing it isn’t a huge thing). Yeah it looks naff but it’s for commuting 🙂

I’d get some panniers – much more comfortable taking the load on the bike than your back.

+1

Otherwise of all the bags I’ve used for commuting or load-carrying, Wingnuts are the favourite for carrying load in a stable fashion, followed by Deuter for just being really good – if regular – bags.

I used to leave my laptop at work though to cut down on weight.

I didn’t like panniers – made the bike harder to move around – which can be quite important for urban riding. If I have some volume to carry I use a 35l KIMM sack but most days I have a HAWG. Both are a very stable carry and good at absorbing my sweat

Osprey Momentum 26 works well for me. Lifetime warranty on Osprey packs too.

I use an Osprey Quasar 30 – it has a padded pocket for laptops. Indestructible too but you’d need a separate raincover as it’s not included.

SHowers at work, yes. Just no storage so I can’t leave anything there easily. Those rackpacks look like they might work. Probably more this one though as it’s got a bit more space.http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=33

Just bought a brilliant lightweight Karrimor one from Sports Direct for £14.99 – bought it for long runs really, but it’s turned out to be my perfect commuting bag. 15L called X Lite comes in a good bright yellow.

Just about to stuff it and get out :-d

Just bought a brilliant lightweight Karrimor one from Sports Direct for £14.99 – bought it for long runs really, but it’s turned out to be my perfect commuting bag. 15L called X Lite comes in a good bright yellow.

Just about to stuff it and get out :-d

Surprised no one has mentioned it already but an Alpkit Gourdon, cheap, waterproof, a few sizes 20, 25 & 30L, and can be had in bright colours. Mines great for the days I need to carry in a fair amount of kit. Back can get a bit sweaty but no worse than other rucksacks IMO, straps are webbed so no issues there.

Another Alpkit Gourdon here, nicely waterproof and good value.

Used a Berghaus Freeflow for,um, 10yrs, now. Secure/stable on the back, quite comfortable and airy. A sight easier to manage, off road,than panniers, IMO.

timbuk2 phoenix
Large central pocket, seperate padded laptop storage, surprisingly stable given only shoulder straps, water resistant, side pocket for dlock.