Work / commuting rucksack

[mrsfoof]

Please could someone recommend me a new work / commuting rucksack. I am starting a new job and will be travelling by train to and from the office.

I prefer fabric rather than leather (no ethical reasons, just prefer the look of fabric). It needs to have:

Padded laptop compartment (15")
External pocket for 500ml Chillys water bottle
Preferably waterproof or at least shower resistant (it rains a lot here!)
Comfy straps (I have a 1.5 mile walk from the station)
Organiser pocket with key clip would be nice

Looking for similar

Have a look at Roka London, their bags tick most of your boxes. I love my Roka bag.

nordace.com/en/product/nordace-siena-smart-backpack/

these aren’t cheap but definitely worth it. I had a Fjallraven Kanken and straps on it are awful. This is excellent. I work in the City of London and seen quite a few others with these bags lately. Mines lasted well, fits my laptop, gym kit, book for train, large water bottle in pouch etc.

I really like miatui bags & Sydney is my go to laptop backpack - Billie is a newer model with a curvier silhouette but Sydney still wins for me!
miatui.com/products/sydney-backpack-multiple-colours

I love Rains bags. Well designed & smart
Rains

Knomo bags are great - not sure how waterproof they are, though.

How do you find the straps? They don't look too comfy.

Interesting. I've read some very mixed reviews about these bags (shipped from Hong Kong, quality is so-so, difficult to return etc). I got the feeling that they were nothing special (usual Chinese tat that you can get on Alibaba, Amazon or eBay) with a clever marketing team that makes them seem like high-end Scandi products.

Sandqvist rucksacks although not certain about the separate external section for a water bottle.

These bags are good from three peaks gbr. www.threepeaksgbr.com/

Plus you can get accessories bag to go with it for cables, usb sticks etc..

I’ve been weighing up whether to go with the Noah (elasticated water bottle pockets 😍) Noah and the Mini Carter

And they have key clips…

Not sure it's very stylish but I have one of these and love it, holds everything I need and is very comfortable

https://www.eastpak.com/uk-en/backpacks-c120/out-of-office-black-pEK767008+00+999.html

Even less stylish but DS bought one of these for school and it is fabulous, lots of pockets and harness style straps that make it comfortable even when very heavy

www.jdsports.co.uk/product/black-nike-brasilia-xl-backpack/16548677/

Agreed - really like Mia Tui bags, not fabric but very hard wearing and lots of options

Have a look on surfdome, ignore the fact they are an outdoor retailers they are brilliant for rucksacks and often have a great sale on this time of year, its not on yet but I recon if you give it a week or two for schools to go back theyll start discounting bags.
DD has a Little America Herschel bag for school it ticks all of your boxes apart from the waterbottle one, however it does have one internally.

Roka are great

Great suggestions. fab thread.

I've got a Rains backpack and wouldn't use another brand now I don't think. So
comfy and totally waterproof.

I like the bigger fabric ally capellino backpacks. They are not cheap (I always buy in the sale) but they are amazing. I found my Roma backpack pretty rubbish in comparison - shapeless and cheap looking.

Roma = roka!!

I’ve tried every rucksack known to woman and I’ve found the North Face Borealis is the best. I have a Roka and it looks great but hurts if I carry all I need to in it. I got my NF backpack from Next online.

I recently bought the Samsonite Zalia. It was pricey but I love it, the only thing it doesn't have that you asked for is an external pocket for your water bottle, but I keep my 500mL Chilly's bottle inside and its fine, it's in a separate compartment to my laptop anyway

It has a compartment at the back that I can fit my laptop, charger and notebook in, then a middle compartment that I put my keyboard, mouse, snacks and keys in (with a key clip). Then it has a front little zipped compartment where I put things like makeup, paracetamol, etc.

On the very back it has a magnetic pouch that I put my purse in, so it's against my back and safe and secure from pick pocketing.

www.samsonite.co.uk/zalia-2.0-backpack-15.6---black/129440-1041.html?cgid=A770

This has been my favourite bag for years. I am only on my second one. Laptop pocket, key clip, insulated drinks holder inside, shower proof, hard wearing and fit quite a large laptop.

I've got something from lululemon can't remember the name and it's discontinued (3 years old) but everything I've got from them has been super comfortable AND long lasting. Have used the backpack pretty much everyday since I bought it so great value IMHO for the £85 cost.
Might be worth checking them out.

Lekesky Laptop Rucksack 15.6 Inch Computer Backpack School Bag for Travel Business College Women Men, Grey amzn.eu/g2CWtpd

I have to lug ALOT of stuff to and from work and bought this last year. I have a v trendy and expensive rucksack - mentioning no names - but it quickly became apparent that it would not be up to the task. This is brilliant - lots of compartments, pockets etc including a genius zipped pocket with which faces your back and so is completely secure. You can get most of stuff in it.

I bought a chest strap to go with mine to make it a bit more comfy. I had not particularly high expectations of this but I’m SO impressed with it. I walk on average 2-3 miles to and from work and this is holding up.

might not be the most trendy or glam but it’s a great work bag.