Banjo Brothers Commuter Backpack

Yes, the Large commuter backpack has more cubic inches. Yes, the Large pack is 3 inches taller. But does it hold more? Not really. I base my review on having used the Medium commuter backpack for 3+ years. I commute by bike. My commute to/from work is about 20 miles round trip. I often make stops on the ride home to pick up groceries. More than once, I found myself wishing the bag was just a little bigger. Even still, it does hold quite a bit. And when all strapped in, the bag rides quite comfortably; distributing 25 to 30 pounds evenly. Over time, I considered getting the Large bag, but opted out because I didn't want to drop the money on a bag that was slightly larger, but otherwise identical to what I already had. Then, I saw the White version of the Large bag and decided to go for it.

I discovered, the hard way, that this bag was no better than my Medium sized bag for grocery shopping the first night I had it. Excitedly, I loaded the bag; grateful for the extra 3 inches in height. I had gotten quite a bit more in the bag. The problem came when I tried to close it. There are 2 straps involved. One closes over the the roll top. That one barely reached, and not without smashing my bread. Then, there's the strap running from the bottom of the bag that buckles to the flap that goes over the top. This part was NOT EVEN CLOSE. It fell short by at least 4 inches! I couldn't close the bag! After a significantly slower ride home, due to the bag of bread swinging from my drop bars, I was finally able to assess the problem. Side by side, the size difference was obvious. Perplexed, I broke out the tape measure. It wasn't until I measured the straps and flap, that I discovered the problem. They're the SAME SIZE. This is a serious design flaw. The closure of the bag is entirely dependent on the flap and/or straps. If you're going to extend the bag's height by 3 inches, it stands to reason that you would lengthen the flap and/or straps. That's not the case here. Fully loaded, the strap on a Medium bag is fully extended and barely buckles to the flap. On the large, due to the extra height, it fell quite short. I emailed Banjo Brothers customer service about this and have still received NO response for over a month. Essentially, the added height is useless, because this is where the bulk of the added volume comes into play, as the bag is only 1 inch wider. Why make the bag taller if you can't close it? If you're considering buying the Large bag, the only way you can truly get optimal use of the bag is to buy an aftermarket extension strap, which Banjo Brothers doesn't offer. After an exhaustive search, I still haven't found one with compatible buckles for under $20. In other words, if you want to get full use of this bag, you WILL have to spend money afterward to get a strap that enables you to close the bag when full. The only difference in this bag and the Medium is that I can now carry records(LP's) comfortably in the Large bag. And the one improvement is the additional side pocket. With a u-lock in the side pocket, the bag can feel quite unbalanced. Now, I can at least put a water bottle or something in the other side to balance the ride. If you own a Medium and are considering the Large for its carrying capacity, save your money. The bag holds no more than a Medium, unless you want to use it for record shopping. If you're considering buying a commuter backpack and are unsure on what size to get, go for the Medium. Except for the u-lock problem, the bag rides much more comfortably. The Large is a little bulky and doesn't rest on the shoulders quite as snug as the Medium, and it also affects your sight lines when looking back during rides.

I think this is a serious design issue that Banjo Brothers should address. While they should make the flap on the bag larger, the least they could do is offer some type of extension strap. It's very misleading to offer a Large backpack, when the space gained is unusable.

Super durable. I would have liked a few interior pockets but otherwise it awesome. I spilled shampoo inside and because it's waterproof it was easily rinsed out best part of the bag.

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Met all of my expectations, and replaced a 8 yr old laptop backpack.

The main compartment is roomy (and waterproof) and there are plenty of pockets to keep smaller items stashed away.

It sits comfortably on my back and is very secure if you use both the chest and waist straps.

Would recommend

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This is a great backpack! It's rugged, comfortable and good looking! It sits nice and low so it doesn't really interfere with visibility.

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This pack has held up to daily use with almost no wear. I get compliments on this pack from strangers every week. A quality product.