Buy it for Life

Can't beat a Fjallraven Kanken Laptop 15. Additionally, I would suggest investing in a generic backpack organizer insert. My Kanken carries around my full "tech bugout" kit with lots of room to spare, which includes but is not limited to:

• Thick-ass Dell Rugged 5430 + power brick
• Hiby R4 DAP
• Koss Porta Pros
• Shokz OpenComm2
• Garmin GLO2 GPS
• NESTOUT 15000mAh bank
• Field notebook + Majohn A2 Retractable + Uni Kuru Toga Roulette
• An assortment of other goodies, such as screen wipes, a few sets of nitrile gloves, disposable masks, etc.

If you're going to be riding a bicycle, then I highly recommend using a pannier - being able to carry stuff on the bike as opposed to on the body is fantastic.

Just got a Fjallraven Skule 28 for exactly this. I like it so far.

I've been using an Ortlieb Commuter for over a decade. No issues whatsoever.

For the laptop, you will want to ensure that the bottom of the laptop compartment is not at the bottom of the bag. A good design puts a few cm air gap between the bottom of the bag and bottom of the laptop compartment so that when you set down the bag, no shock reaches the laptop.

Maybe it’s common.. not sure.

I've never had one myself, but a few of my friends have had Crumpler bags for years and they swear by them.

Crumpler is an Australian company started by some bicycle couriers who couldn't find really sturdy bags that suited them. I believe that the story goes that one of them was trying to carry a slab of beer (24 cans packed in one flat layer) to a friend's party when his bag broke apart, and that was when they started making bags for themselves.

They've been around since 1995, and have quite a range of bags and backpacks now.

The Wenger Swiss Gear backpacks are tanks. I’ve had 3 over the past 20-ish years. If you buy them from the company website, or Amazon I think, they come with a 10-year warranty. I can’t remember the model I have, but I don’t think they make it anymore. I see someone else with one every time I fly somewhere for work. Very popular among road warriors.

I know you said not MiUSA but I have to shout out my favorite brand, Timbuk2. I had a Swiss Gear break on me at a bad time and went with Command laptop backpack. It's been over a decade and it still looks like I've owned it for maybe 2 years, and I'm not easy on my stuff. Taken it all over the country, out of it, and always packed with tech. Almost no issues with the petty despots in the airports, and I keep it pushing.

It doesn't look like they make the same model, but closest might be an Authority or Commuter. I can't suggest them highly enough, and anyone I've know that's bought them has felt the same.

Its going to be pretty pricey but the commuter bag from LTT is probably exactly what you are looking for. Canadian company that's mostly tech centric but they have a consumer goods portion of the company that focuses on making high quality items that are built to last.

https://www.lttstore.com/products/commuter-backpack

Cactus outdoor.

I had one for around 9 years. It got stolen, not sure how long they last, but there are ones in the wild that are over 30.

I think this bag might be what you’re looking for. Solid bag.

I've been using a Miltec for the past five or six years. Not pretty by commin standards but sturdy as fuck. The only thing broken on it is a clasp that I broke with a car door on accident. Bonus points for the molle system on it, so you can customize what compartments to attach

https://freitag.ch/en_CH/products/bags/backpacks

I am using a Freitag backpack (they don't sell the one I own anymore). It is now 10 years old and it basically looks like new. They are made from old car/truck parts and very durable in my experience. Bit pricey though.

I've got a millican backpack that seems like it's going to last to the end of time. I'm pretty sure it'll hold all your stuff and then some. I've been using it daily for maybe 10 years and it has no signs of wear beyond looking dirty.

https://homeofmillican.com/products/smith-the-original-roll-pack-25l

Another pack I have for bike commuting is a ortlieb commuter. It's waterproof, light, and probably an even better bag but for me it's drawback is no outside water bottle pocket. It's also tough as nails. I accidentally ran it over with my wife's car once and it didn't hurt it at all.

https://us.ortlieb.com/products/commuter-daypack?variant=45082296287410

Millican is heavier and has smaller dedicated padded laptop pocket but more organization overall. Ortlieb for lighter potentially wet situations and has organizational insert with laptop pocket. Both comfy to wear.

i got some backpack with "BANGE" branding from aliexpress last year, was very cheap ($20? with coupons) and it seems to be very well made.

Ortlieb is expensive as hell but extremely thick, waterproof (resistant?) fabric. I have just a bike bag Urban Roller Plus I think. It is a nice fabric texture instead of smooth dry-packish and it has a nice insert to organize everything and protect my laptop.

My girlfriend has the Various which you can flip the cover over to switch between backpack and bike bag and it is awesome, but more expensive.

Fjallraven is also good, but the strap padding wears out rather quickly. Every teenage girl in Belgium had a Fjallraven pack back when they were in style and every one has the strap pads completely flattened and useless lol.

Dutch company Newlooxs has a couple bike and backpack switchers. The material is thin though and mine ripped open on a fall during my commute.

Deuter. I've got a 20 years old Deuter Backpack and I still usw it to go to Work.

I have a Hedgren backpack and it's lasted through the toughest of outdoor drinking trips and daily use for more than 30 years.

I'd suggest them, but I have no idea whether the company has the same values anymore and if the new backpacks are even comparable.

I have a Camelbak that I got as I was ETSing from the US Army in 2005. There are a few threads starting to come loose, but it has survived very well out in the field.

I have a 20 years old caselogic shoulder bag which does what you need and still looks fine.

Company belongs to Thule group AB, not american.