Semi-stylish rucksack/backpack -- does such a thing exist?

[AlexPKeaton]

Help me, stylish MNers! I don't have a car and do all of my errands on foot or by bus/tube, and if I buy anything I just chuck it under the buggy, along with snacks, mittens, water bottle, wipes, etc. Now my younger DC has outgrown the buggy and I'm looking for a bag that can (to some degree) replace the buggy basket. But I need to have my hands free to help younger DS on his scooter, plus I have back problems so I need to carry things as ergonomically as possible, IYSWIM. The only solution I can think of is some kind of rucksack that distributes the weight evenly across my back. But I'm also really trying to avoid the I've-given-up look, especially bc we've recently moved to a new area where everyone seems very stylish and I want to --trick potential friends into thinking I'm cooler than I am-- make a good impression. Is there any bag that fits all of these criteria? I'm willing to spend more than I should for the right thing. Thanks for any help.

Herschel are ver nice. Think they sell them on ASOS.

I've got Broderie backpack one from fiorelli. It's huge inside - can fit lots more in than you would think.

www.fiorelli.com/shop/handbags/backpacks.html

I've got a Fiorelli one in two colours I love it so much. Got the first in John Lewis then just before Christmas they were selling it cheap in tk maxx. Think it's called the boxy backpack. I use it as a baby bag often and it fits most stuff in it. I have some plastic zip up pouches I put things in and then I can switch between my bags!

I have a Herschel and also a Kanken. Both pretty stylish IMO!

shop.herschelsupply.com/collections/backpacks

www.fjallraven.co.uk/equipment/kanken?gclid=CITv25CmnMoCFWXkwgodf_EH3Q

I've had a dark denim Herschel for a couple of years and love it. I always use it when I travel and it still looks like new.

Second the Kanken. Not too big, has carry handles and you can open the whole thing up to get what you want rather than having to rummage top downwards like rucksacks generally. Only downside is not a lot of extra pockets, just one big one and small on the front.

Also Dakine Garden rucksack comes in lots of different designs and quite practical.

Not a fan of Kipling generally but think they do nice rucksacks, well organised and light, and lots of colours.

Love a rucksack

I bought a silver leather one from clarks just before Christmas but they don't seem to have it anymore but I did lots of looking and loads of places had leather rucksacks. Have a look at John Lewis.

I like SuperDry for everything at the moment and have a couple of their rucksacks.

Slight tangent but I am now wondering if a backpack and a rucksack are two different things or two names for the same thing

I'm interested in hearing the answers to this too!

I thought a rucksack was a subgroup of backpacks?

I love knomo backpacks and get bag envy whenever I see them - they're pricy but really gorgeous

I thought backpack was the American term and rucksack was previously used in the UK, except that backpack is now becoming more commonly used.

usual warning - farty fashion backpacks are a disaster if you have back problems, unless you are only carrying lipstick and hanky. Any real weight needs to be carried on your hips, so you need a hip belt. No fashion item will have that.

also these silly fashion things are heavy in themselves. All those trims, buckles and labels carrying someone else's name add useless weight. You note that the specs don't tell you the weight.

finally, none of them look any better than a real backpack!

go to an outdoor store and find something functional.

I saw a v gorgeous black one in the DM shop today. :)

Depends on your style but on the train I've been admiring some very nice rolltop ones recently, they are a bit preppy and I really like the ones with long contrasting straps. Can't see anything quite the same online but I mean something a bit like this Brooks one or this yellow one

This is so helpful. Lots of good ones to look at. Specialsubject you are probably right, but I live in denial.

Re: backpack/rucksack, I am American and we definitely call it a backpack. Actually my mom calls it a knapsack, but she also calls jeans "dungarees" so I wouldn't put much stock in that. Here in the UK it seems like everyone calls it a rucksack, right?

I call it a backpack and am from the uk. I got Dd a nice Kipling one for school. It is spacious with lots of pockets

Re rucksack/backpack, I thought the word rucksack comes from German, so I expect rucksack is the term traditionally used in Europe and backpack across the pond. It all gets blurred anyway of course.

My backpack is a plain black Quicksilver skater one, about £13 from tk maxx. It's light, comfy to wear, capacious and amazingly strong. I love it. Fashion aside, I'm convinced the carrier bag charge has had an impact on backpack use, I see loads of them in Sainsburys now.

Agree, Maybe. I rarely go out without mine now - bought it in the summer. Mine is just a plain black cheap one from TK Maxx but I want a Kipling one, ideally.

This is the DM one I saw today and liked, but I wasn't overly fond of the pockets sticking out at each side like ears on a Toby jug.

Agree about the weight of some of these things. I'd say go to Decathlon and try some out.

Accessorize have some nice ones uk.accessorize.com/uk/bags/rucksacks#pageSize=12&sort=newIn&category=acc_1.8&filtersClosed=false