Commuter backpacks with bottom-zip compartments

December 5, 2019 12:38 PM

As an adult student and bicycle commuter, I frequently need to carry lots of stuff: rain gear, extra layers, and change of shoes (in addition to my textbooks and lunch). My dream would be to find a large commuter backpack with a dedicated bottom-zip compartment for the clothes/shoes... that also doesn't make me look like a high-schooler.

Current contenders:

- SwissGear ScanSmart (no bottom zip and too bulky-looking, but at least it's big enough)
- North Face Overhaul (has bottom zip BUT if you stuff it full the front pocket becomes useless because the depth is shared with the main compartment, which actually means it fits less than the SwissGear)

The dream:

- large volume, 35L or more
- bottom-zip compartment
- lots of pockets
- comfortable shoulder straps
- at least somewhat professional-looking

There's gotta be something else out there. People who carry a change of clothes around, how do you do it? (No 2-bag solutions, please.)

posted by danceswithlight to Shopping (15 answers total)

Have you seen this list? It seems to have several strong contenders. (Scroll down if you're only interested in laptop/commuter bags - they're listed after the travel bags.)
posted by mosst at 12:52 PM on December 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Synapse?
posted by praemunire at 12:53 PM on December 5, 2019

I've also heard great things from friends about Lululemon's backpacks when it comes to that sort of workout/work hybrid bag - the City Adventurer looks like it might meet your need well.
posted by mosst at 12:55 PM on December 5, 2019

I have one that I'm not using if you want to buy it from me, haha. I don't think it's available from the manufacturer anymore, but it's this one from Herschel in all black (Heritage Plus). The shoe compartment is great, but it also has a ton of other pockets.
posted by pinochiette at 12:58 PM on December 5, 2019

Response by poster: Most of the answers upthread are way too small, unfortunately. 35L means more like travel backpack than daypack. An itty-bitty 25L isn't going to cut it. Thanks for the ideas so far.
posted by danceswithlight at 1:13 PM on December 5, 2019

I've been eyeing this Aer backpack for a while that seems to fit all of your requirements, including shoe compartment and 33L size.
posted by suedehead at 1:35 PM on December 5, 2019

I have a 32L Jack Wolfskin pack that looks smart in an outdoorsy way, and has a bottom-zip compartment.
posted by matthewr at 1:46 PM on December 5, 2019

It's not stylish (but it's not unstylish either), but I have an older 40L Osprey Farpoint and am really happy with it as a travel pack. It doesn't have a shoe compartment per se, but it does have a bottom compartment that's physically separate from the main top part. What I really like about it is that it has several roomy little pockets at the top that are good for pens and pencils, sunglasses, etc -- the kind of things you'd keep in a much smaller school satchel or briefcase. But it also has a huge roomy inside that zips open flat, so you can see and access everything in it easily (unlike a hiking backpack that only opens at the top), and it cinches down when it's only half-full, so that it feels smaller on your body. It's a great travel bag, and probably a pretty solidly good school bag, too.

(That said, now that I'm typing this I realize that at least on mine (4-5yrs old) the separator between the bottom and top compartments isn't structurally reinforced, so it might not be ideal for piling lots of books on top of, if the bottom part isn't similarly full of things taking up volume. I really prefer to keep everything in my "big" bag organized in smaller ones -- though I definitely see the appeal of a dedicated shoe compartment! I wonder if a dedicated shoe bag and spare clothes/etc bag would make things a bit easier for you, though?)
posted by tapir-whorf at 1:49 PM on December 5, 2019

Mission Workshop backpacks are pretty spendy, but are indestructible and nice looking for their aesthetic, which is definitely not high schooler.
posted by rockindata at 7:49 PM on December 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Check out the category of triathlon transition backpacks. They are usually pretty big and some have a zippered compartment on the bottom for a wetsuit.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:24 PM on December 5, 2019

Ikea has a 35L backpack that checks all your boxes.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 2:52 AM on December 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

Tom Bihn's Brain Bag might work, if you can deal with two vertical compartments rather than a bottom zip compartment.

As a bike commuter myself, I much prefer having my bike carry the weight; it's easier on my back and it keeps the center of gravity lower. I currently use a Bihn Synapse as my main backpack; it goes in a Wald folding basket that's attached to my rear rack. Anything else I need goes in a pannier on the other side of the rack.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:12 AM on December 6, 2019

My wife, who has a biology degree, uses the Oakley Kitchen Sink. It's a great bag; it fits in plane overhead compartments (and sometimes under the seat, depending on how full it is), she can pack for 5 days in it, it's Oakley so it will outlive us. 34L.

She says

let them know that I carried around large textbooks in mine (chemistry, biology)
pros: can pack a change of clothes, can pack shoes in the bottom, has pockets
cons: price
posted by joycehealy at 6:45 AM on December 6, 2019

35L and up puts you into /onebag/ or travel bag territory (both link to lists). They're styled more like boxes and not "backpacks" to fit into an airplane bag sizer, so many have the bottom compartment (for shoes) intrude into the main compartment. They aren't structured pockets (fixed volume) since that doesn't allow for shoes of differing sizes, or simply not using it but still having the same total volume.

I like my Gear Hauler and it can carry an excessive amount of stuff but it's more like a suitcase with shoulder straps than a backpack.
posted by meowzilla at 10:59 AM on December 6, 2019

So, personally I strongly prefer to put my pack onto a bike rack when riding. Having a big heavy pack on just one side is barely noticeable once you get going (I mention that because some people seem stuck on the idea that you can't put a bag on just one side. I do it all the time; it's not a problem at all.) And it is vastly preferable to have all that weight off your back when riding.

But, once I get to the destination I prefer backpack style straps so it is easy to lug around.

So there are a lot of rack/backpack models available. But none listed there are large enough.

Just today I ran across these bike specific backpacks that look pretty perfect for your needs, though. Vaude is the brand. Bike backpack list.

Best match for you looks like the Bike Alpin or the ExCycling Pack.

Another option is Ortlieb backpacks.
posted by flug at 1:30 AM on December 9, 2019 [1 favorite]