this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2026
46 points (94.2% liked)

Buy it for Life

8145 readers
38 users here now

A place to share practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last, with an emphasis on upcycled and sustainable products!

Guidelines:

Things that are well-made and durable (even if they won't last a lifetime) are A-Okay!

Unlike that other BIFL place, Home-made and DIY items are encouraged here, as long as some form of instruction is included in the body of the post.

Videos links are not allowed as post titles, but you may use them in a text post.

A limited amount of self-promotion is accepted, IF the item you are selling aligns with this criteria:

  1. The item must be made with sustainable or recycled materials.
  2. If electronic in some way, the item must be open-source.
  3. The item must be user-serviceable (if applicable).
  4. You cannot be a large corporation.
  5. The post must be clearly marked with a [Self Promotion] tag in your title.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net
SolarMonkey@slrpnk.net
46
Work/commuting backpack, ideally not a US company (lemmy.ca)
submitted 3 days ago by swordgeek@lemmy.ca to c/buyitforlife@slrpnk.net
35 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

My cheap no-name Chinese backpack is finally falling apart, after over 20 years of absolutely solid service.

I want something that will last at least another 20 years, will hold a modern 16" laptop (e.g. Macbook), and will also let me toss a pair of jeans and light jacket in, when I ride home from work in the spring and fall afternoons.

I'd like to avoid American brands if possible.

Looked online at the SwissGear 5698 and Endure, but don't know how well they're built, or if they'll hold my junk.

Any recommendations?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] swordgeek@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I need it for general commuting - on the train, walking, and also biking. I just mentioned the bike because of the need for clothing space. In Spring, it might be +5 in the morning (need something on my arms and legs) and +25 in the afternoon (shorts and short sleeves baby!).

[โ€“] VibeSurgeon@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

You could look to pannier/backpack hybrids, these may be appropriate for your use-case. Personally, I solve this issue by having two different bags - a pannier for cycling and a backpack for other times.

Panniers can come in pretty large sizes, I'm usually able to accommodate a laptop + accessories + a change of clothes. Pannier racks fit two of them, so you can always double the carrying capacity when it's warranted.