This is going to be another blog post dedicated to documenting my current thoughts on my next Alpaka bag purchase. Feel free to skip if you're not into this sort of thing.
In 2022, my mom gave me a Samsonite Red Maion laptop backpack and a Samsonite Biz2go Crossover pouch for Christmas. This became my main laptop bag and my EDC, respectively, until I started to shift over to Alpaka bags. I've long since replaced the crossover bag with a variety of Alpaka slings - the main ones being my Japan Edition 2L Flight Sling alternating with my 4L Flow Satchel. But I've continued to use the Maion bag until now. However, the handle strap is starting to peel, and I've increasingly been hoping to get a slightly bigger bag to replace it for greater ease of travel.
Since I work from home, I mainly use the bag when I travel. At around 12L of capacity, the Maion has just enough space for my laptop and related tech, but not much else. I do appreciate how slim it is, as it makes stowing it under the seat in front of me (as opposed to the overhead bin) during flights super easy. I mostly travel alone, so speed and efficiency are my main goals every time I fly, and that includes keeping my bag close to me. Plus, I'm short, and reaching for the overhead compartment is annoying.
Alpaka has two backpacks in the 24L capacity range with very different configurations. The newer option is the Metro Backpack Pro, which is a pretty sleek bag with a dedicated laptop pocket (with a matching external zipper). The other consideration is the older Elements Backpack Pro, which has an internal suspended laptop sleeve/pocket and external water bottle slots. The Metro Backpack Pro is a little shorter and a little cheaper, with the same rated capacity as the Elements Backpack Pro. But the Elements has more color options, including a Moonlight Blue shade that matches my Japan Edition Flight Sling.
At the moment, the Elements Backpack Pro seems to be the superior option that feels best-suited for my particular needs. The exterior water bottle pockets feel more functional than the Metro's internal water bottle slot - easier access when at the airport, and it won't eat into internal storage space. The Elements has more innovative space cell foam padding for the shoulder straps, which promises more comfort for longer carry periods. And I generally like the pocket placement and internal organization, as I can already imagine where I'll stow easy-access things like my power bank and maybe even do away with my current cable organizer in favor of the bag's native organization options. I currently travel with the Flight Sling and the laptop bag, then I switch to the Flow Satchel to make up for things I can't easily stow in the backpack. Shifting to the Elements Backpack Pro should eliminate the need for me to pack my Flow Satchel in my check-in luggage during trips, unless I just really want a larger EDC option while away from home.
I always get very excited once I've made a decision like this, but I'm trying to hold off in case Alpaka has a big Black Friday sale that might help me save more when I do buy the bag. Plus, my next trip won't be until the Christmas holidays, so it's not like I'm in urgent need of a bag just yet.
Man, when did I get so nuts about bags?
The other question is what to do with all the bags I'm aging out of. I've stopped using the Samsonite Biz2go Crossover bag and the Alpaka Bravo Sling Mini V2 as they've been replaced by the Flight Sling and the Flow Satchel, respectively. Then I'll have the Samsonite Red Maion also in need of a home once I get an Elements bag. All the older bags remain perfectly serviceable; their only defects at this point are wear-and-tear-related cosmetic issues. I wasn't able to sell my original Flight Sling on Facebook Marketplace (or the Alpaka Collector's group), and ended up making it a gift to a friend instead. I'm not sure if that'll be the case again for these other bags, unless I offer them at significantly reduced prices online instead.
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