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What rucksack size for commuting

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  • September 10, 2017 at 7:43 pm #27618
    Canyon48

    I’m soon to be starting a 15 mile commute (each way) to uni and I need a rucksack to carry a few things.

    I need to be able to carry a pair of trousers, a top, underwear, pen, paper (plus an a4 sized book), calculator, charger, wallets, keys, phone and lunchbox (big enough for sandwich banana apple and orange).

    10 litres is too small, but I’m thinking 22 (like the Osprey Talon) is too big.

    I think the Deuter Race X could be a good one at 12litres, or would the Deuter Race EXP (12 litres but expandable to add another 3) be better?

    I’m able to leave a towel, toiletries, shoes, lock and a few other things at uni – any opinions on what size bag I might need?

    Cheers!

     

     

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  • September 26, 2017 at 5:47 pm #902015
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    Canyon48

    Got my Osprey Syncro 15

    Got my Osprey Syncro 15 (small size – apparently 13L) yesterday.

    Used it for my first commute today, barely even noticed it was on my back. Having the rucksack essentially suspended away from my back on the mesh meant I barely noticed there was anything on my back, particularly nice not to have a very hot back or any pressure points.

    The rucksack carried everything I needed comfortably and could have taken a bit more.

    • clothes
    • folder
    • pen/calculator
    • keys, wallet, phone, watch, earphones
    • lunch (sandwich apple and banana)
    • tools and inner tube

    I’m going to move my tools into a tool bottle on my bike, which can then be left in my locker (save me carrying the excess weight all the time). If I were being REALLY picky, I’d like a top tube bag to save me taking off my rucksack when I need to access my keys/keycard and phone – but this is a minor niggle (I think I’ll stick with the rucksack over an ugly/unnecessary top tube bag though).

     – I know, I have jersey pockets for those things, but they tend to get covered in sweat, condensation or rain.

    Thanks for all the recommendations 😀

     

    September 23, 2017 at 10:21 am #902013
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    fenix

    Alpkit gourdon for me too.
    Alpkit gourdon for me too. Don’t get a fabric bag that needs a drink bag inside. The outer bag soaks up water and adds to the weight. Alpkit is cheap 100% waterproofing and I’ve had mine years – very durable.

    Used it for a 45 mile walk this summer and it worked for that too. Really impressive.

    September 23, 2017 at 10:21 am #902011
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    fenix

    Alpkit gourdon for me too.
    Alpkit gourdon for me too. Don’t get a fabric bag that needs a drink bag inside. The outer bag soaks up water and adds to the weight. Alpkit is cheap 100% waterproofing and I’ve had mine years – very durable.

    Used it for a 45 mile walk this summer and it worked for that too. Really impressive.

    September 22, 2017 at 2:05 pm #902009
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    mart85

    I’ve got one of these Alpkit

    I’ve got one of these Alpkit Gourdon 20 and can really recommend them –

    Gourdon 20L

    Waterproof and good quality, £32

     

    September 22, 2017 at 11:24 am #902007
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    wycombewheeler

    No backpack carradry sqr 17
    No backpack carradry sqr 17 litres waterproof mounts on seatpost. Can carry lunchbox laptop notebook and clothes.

    September 22, 2017 at 11:00 am #902005
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    arckuk

    I love my Syncro 15, have had

    I love my Syncro 15, have had it for ~5+ years daily commuting, about 30 mile round trip.

    Good things:  

    • holds lunch box, some fruit,  spare tyre, CO2, multi-tool plus 3 or 4 shirts or similar amount of laundry. just wide enough to hold my work laptop. Can take a pair of shoes if not packed with other stuff
    • top pocket holds keys, phone, cash etc for easy access
    • excellent side pockets expand to hold whatever extra bits of clothing I might add or remove during the course of a ride home or during the day – changes with season, but today that means gilet, defeet gloves, overshoes and arm warmers
    • sweaty back not a problem with the pack being held away from my back, even during a daily fast lap of Richmond Park
    • not too heavy
    • pretty water resistant, but the foldout waterproof cover works when there’s proper rain
    • zips are excellent – secure and pretty waterproof, and easy to use with gloves
    • chest strap is height adjustable, waist strap is removable

    Not so good:

    • looking a bit grubby now 
    • could maybe do with just a little more capacity, but I reckon that’ll always be the case 

    I’d get another if I had to replace it, but I’d be tempted by the next size up.

    September 22, 2017 at 9:30 am #902003
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    Canyon48

    I’ve just received my Opsrey

    I’ve just received my Opsrey Syncro 20 (small/medium size – aparently 18L) today. It can carry quite a bit more than I expected, so it’s going back.

    I’m now stuck between the Deuter Race X and the Osprey Syncro 15.

    I’m verging towards the Osprey as I much prefer the mesh contact area of the osprey!

    September 17, 2017 at 7:50 pm #902001
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    Anonymous
    brooksby wrote:
    Are you sure that you want to be able to carry only that specific stuff and nothing else at all, ever?

    Do you ever buy a book or something, or other shopping? Nothing worse than finding you’ve no way to carry something home…

    If you know that everything you really definitely absolutely need as a minimum load will fit in a 12 litre pack, then I’d suggest getting the 22 litre pack you mention (just in case).

    Just my tuppenn’orth   😉

    PS: make sure you buy something properly waterproof!

    i get round this problem by putting my stuff inside a musette or dry bag with a shoulder strap, and putting that in a saddle bag, currently a Carradice Audax, which is quite small. When I pick up some shopping on the way home it goes into the saddlebag, and the musette/dry bag goes over my shoulder for the last bit of the journey. 

    September 17, 2017 at 5:06 pm #901999
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    Canyon48
    fatsmoker wrote:
    I hope you don’t have to fill it to the full 20litres very often. I managed with a 6L backpack from Aldi for 3 years and wouldn’t have wanted to go any bigger just because of the weight. Adding a bottle of wine a couple of times made my back ache over 15 miles.  Recently switched to  6l saddle bag which squashed my work shirts, but stops my back sweating. 

    6L?! Blimey that’s good going.

    Tbh, I don’t intend to stuff it full. But carrying a thin A4 ringbinder, as well a book, plus a lunch box and clothes, most of which are just bulky.

    September 17, 2017 at 4:41 pm #901997
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    fatsmoker

    I hope you don’t have to fill

    I hope you don’t have to fill it to the full 20litres very often. I managed with a 6L backpack from Aldi for 3 years and wouldn’t have wanted to go any bigger just because of the weight. Adding a bottle of wine a couple of times made my back ache over 15 miles.  Recently switched to  6l saddle bag which squashed my work shirts, but stops my back sweating. 

    September 13, 2017 at 8:20 pm #901995
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    Canyon48
    NorthEastJimmy wrote:
    I used to have the Osprey Momemtum 26 and it was perfect.  Used it everyday for 5 years in all weathers.  You could even overload it and it was still comfy to wear!  The backing material failed first and then the zips so replaced it a few months ago.

    Dissapointed with the Momemtum 32, it’s nothing like the old style and could never get it to fit the same as the 26.  After a few weeks I decided that it was also way too big.

    I got the Osprey Syncro 15 a few weeks ago and love it.  I’m suprised how much I can fit in; full uniform, large amount of lunch, snacks and fruit, paramo jacket & windblocker jacket, small dry bag with punture repair kit, inner tube, pump, tool kit ect.  It’s like that bag out of Marry Poppins!

    Still got the 32 for any days I need to carry another set of clothing for trips to the pub/cinema ect.

    Think I’m going for an Opsrey Escapist 18. 15L should be just enough for paper, a change of clothes and food, upping it to 18 should give me a bit of room for when I need to bring a couple more things.

    September 13, 2017 at 12:26 pm #901993
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    NorthEastJimmy

    I used to have the Osprey

    I used to have the Osprey Momemtum 26 and it was perfect.  Used it everyday for 5 years in all weathers.  You could even overload it and it was still comfy to wear!  The backing material failed first and then the zips so replaced it a few months ago.

    Dissapointed with the Momemtum 32, it’s nothing like the old style and could never get it to fit the same as the 26.  After a few weeks I decided that it was also way too big.

    I got the Osprey Syncro 15 a few weeks ago and love it.  I’m suprised how much I can fit in; full uniform, large amount of lunch, snacks and fruit, paramo jacket & windblocker jacket, small dry bag with punture repair kit, inner tube, pump, tool kit ect.  It’s like that bag out of Marry Poppins!

    Still got the 32 for any days I need to carry another set of clothing for trips to the pub/cinema ect.

    September 13, 2017 at 11:25 am #901991
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    Canyon48

    Yep, definitely after a 20L

    Yep, definitely after a 20L now based on the views shared here. 15 sounds like I’d just be able to manage and the 30L is way too much. 20 should be a decent compromise and not leave me wanting more room.

    Just now after a 20L at a decent price!

    September 12, 2017 at 2:52 pm #901989
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    gthornton101

    Deuter Cross Air. 20l with

    Deuter Cross Air. 20l with expandable zip to take it up to 22l (or 24l maybe?) if you anything extra to squash in there.

    I’ve found the air mesh back invalubale in reducing the sweaty back on my commute, and it’s very comfortable.  Fluoro rain cover too.  Had mine 3+ years and still going strong.

    For me it comfortably fits change of clothes for the office (minus shoes which I leave under my desk), lunch, wallet+keys, pump/inner tubes/multi tool etc, plus emergency waterproof jacket/overshoes when weather demands.

    September 12, 2017 at 12:32 pm #901987
    0
    tugglesthegreat
    sergius wrote:
    DHB slice 30L (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-slice-30l-rucksack/)

     

    Best rucksack I’ve ever bought, has all the pockets you will ever need and a built-in high-vis and waterproof cover.

    I was shopping around for a commuting rucksack over a year a go and saw this.  I was a bit worried at the low price tag but the rucksack is going strong.  I commute 4 days a week and it has done probably 4K miles of commuting.  All the Zips are still working and no problems so far.

    I have my waterproof in the main compartment with my work clothes, tools, inner tubes and bits and bobs in the front pocket and my money and keys in the top pocket.  I use the the high viz cover every day, and the pack feels secure in use.

    At less than 30 quid it is a bargain. 

     

     

     

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