Need a decent overnight/travel bag.

Ideally:

About 30-35l.
Back pack, shoulder and hand carry.
Shouldn’t look too backpack as I need to go to meetings.
Airline carry on size.
High quality willing to spend.
Water proofing nice but not essential.
Flexibility with storage,laptops cameras clothes etc.

So far I’ve found that I like.

http://www.nordepack.com/

Storr Carry-On Backpack

(UK made)

The Tom Bihn stuff looks good too. That’s got to be a US import though.

Willing to pay more for quality, ethics and UK made etc.

Experiences of bags very welcome.

I have dedicated camera equipment cargo so doesn’t need to be based around cameras.

Thanks!

https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/farpoint-40-14

A little bigger than your spec, but otherwise perfect, I’d say.

I’ve been using an Osprey Shuttle as my checked bag for a couple of years now and it’s impeccable. Osprey have excellent warranty support, and a great approach to sourcing and supply chain. Good company, good people, good products.

Not UK made but has ethical leanings https://www.cotopaxi.com/products/allpa-42l-travel-pack?variant=29533285056573
I have one and it’s big enough, but not too big. Will be going out with me to Singapore in 2 week’s time.

Thanks I will check out both of them.

Very familiar with Osprey, so worth a look there.

I have that Osprey one linked earlier and it does pretty much exactly what you are looking for.

Patagonia MLC and MLC mini?

Lowe Alpine does really well-made stuff and has a range of travel luggage including:

https://lowealpine.com/uk/cloud

Other cabin stuff from their site:

https://lowealpine.com/uk/travel/cabin-luggage-and-cabin-backpacks

Or if you want something vaguely British and retro:

The Mavericks | Smith | The Roll Pack 25L (Tarn)

Also, I use an Osprey Radial for carry-on stuff occasionally. It’s notionally a bike commuting pack, but is pretty much useless for that, but it’s an ace general travelling-type pack with loads of compartments plus the ability to stand up on its own rather than slumping over / needing to be leaned against something. Comfortable to use as a pack too.

https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/osprey-radial-34-2019

Millican or Trakke.

Both british made, fantastic quality, sustainable etc.

Both do a 32L.

Might be a bit too rucksacky but I think the quality makes them classy.

Best YouTube channel for travel packs is “chase reeves”. He’s a bag nut. And funny.

I’ve got an Osprey Farpoint 40 and can recommend it. Surprising what can be stuffed into it and never had an issue with any airlines taking it on as hand luggage no matter how stuffed it is.

I’ve got that Osprey Farpoint, and it’s been solidly performing week in week out for 5 years now, and still looks perfect. gets used weekly and tossed into aircraft holds and hand luggage 10-15 times a year.

worth every penny.

Trakke

I remember when Alex was making messenger bags out of truck tarps and selling them in the Barras. A bit different now!

Best YouTube channel for travel packs is “chase reeves”. He’s a bag nut. And funny.

Yes, I discovered him today. Very irreverent!

Learnt a lot.

I nearly opted for the osprey but it’s just too much of a rucksack for me.

The nomatic looks about perfect.

Nomatic

Lowe Alpine are nominally British now, IIRC.

Timbuk2?

I’m looking at the Division, cos I wanted a smaller ‘day’ bag with minimum flappage after using a Deuter Giga Office for years which has so many pockets and sections that go unused it does my head in.

But they do bigger ones, and also have a custom option.

(Also, when the laptop bag is stuffed with overnight clobber, it becomes too big and heavy really. I’ve decided to go separate laptop and overnight stuff route, but I suppose that rules out air travel depending who you fly with.)

I got this one:
https://lowealpine.com/uk/at-lightflite-carry-on-45
I was looking for the biggest backpack that meets carry-on limits, and I think it fills that need, but it’s not a great bag to carry a long way and it’s too big to masquerade as a business pack.

Lowe Alpine are nominally British now, IIRC.

They were American to start with then international, then sort of Italian, but the pack side of the brand was based in Kendal, it’s now Rab’s sister brand – both owned by Equip – with the design team etc based in Alfreton in the same building as Rab. The packs are mostly manufactured in the Far East, mainly Vietnam I think. Very much designed in the UK by British designers and made elsewhere like most other outdoor brands.

Likewise Millican packs are manufactured in Vietnam. As are Osprey.

manufactured in Vietnam. As are Osprey

When he moved manufacturing to Vietnam, the founder of Osprey moved out there, with his family, to persoanlly oversee getting it all set up properly. Factory has childcare, healthcare, education etc.

As before, good company, good people and good produ7.

My mate who travels constantly (lives between London and Amsterdam so lots of time on trains and in airports) swears by Briggs and Riley.

True unconditional lifetime warranty – one of his zips broke and he cut his way into the bag. no problems at all getting them to repair it afterwards.

Good stuff – thanks for the options and further recommendations.

Just ordered a Briggs & Riley. Thanks, Singletrack.

The Briggs and Riley has just arrived, and I very impressed. I think it might be the perfect bag for me – not too big, not too small, and zero flappage.

My favourite detail is one not even mentioned in the blurb: the inclusion of elasticated straps to hold any excess strap so that you can set the straps where you want them, then tuck leftover strap up to create a very clean bag. Nothing to get caught up in doors, gates, escalators etc.

Could be the perfect work bag for me!

(Is this a sad post? Don’t care, getting the right bag has taken YEARS!)

Out of interest – which Briggs & Riley did you get?

Yeah same question.

Maxpedition. End of.

Taxi jnr kills bags for fun. This is his latest one and is still alive so it gets a recommendation.

https://www.samsonite.co.uk/zigo-3-way-shoulder-bag-expandable-l–black/107655-1041.html?cgid=sales_sales#pages=2&start=1&cgid=sales_sales

Lowe alpine tt carry on here, done plenty of flights

Think the AT is the new version

https://arcteryx.com/gb/en/shop/covert-case-c-o

In the end I couldn’t quite get it all but I got a Kickstarter type brand.

https://www.sterkmann.us/products/30l-expandable-backpack

May well visit the UK ones later for a second bag. But this model is incredibly versatile and we’ll put together. Includes a few cubes/laundry bag etc.

Very similar to the Nomatic.

Around £100.

Good enough for 2-3 days and will double as briefcase. Perfect for carry on too.

Laptop compartment is separate too.

Expandable element works a treat.

Out of interest – which Briggs & Riley did you get?

“Kinzie Street” Medium (ZK260)

Grey. Should probably have gone dark blue for the better hiding of grime and dirt, but the grey does look nice.

Not cheap, but look on the web because some luggage specialists have it a chunk cheaper than the Amazon price.

The Rucksack Project, if like me you’re wondering what to do with several old rucksacks that are perfectly good but never get used.