Osprey Metron 25-Litre Commuter Pack

This is my 2nd bike-commuting-specific backpack. My first was a Banjo Brothers Backpack which while waterproof was just bulky and awkward and had only a single large pocket.

This pack is far superior to that pack and also to every other general backpack I've owned.

Pros:

Comfortable weight distribution it packs more vertically than it does outwards which distributes the weight much more evenly when you are riding.

Laptop section I work in IT and am a grad student so I haul my laptop everywhere. Having a dedicated padding slot for it just makes things easier for me

Pockets Main pocket holds laptop and lunch etc, but there is also a slightly smaller outer pocket that has slots for pens and a key fob

Light clip pretty standard on a cycling pack but I still love the feature

Rain Cover! So awesome. I think it's much better than having an awkward waterproof pack. Just include the rain fly right in! And you don't even have to remember to bring it since it's built-in. It's been tested in plenty of storms I've ridden through and I've never had any problems.

Cons:

Hip straps are kinda cheap? But they do the job and are removable, so it's not even much of a con

No water/coffee pocket I just use the Ulock pocket, but it's annoying they don't have one

The pouches on the straps annoyed me at first, but now I use them for phone and keys and find it more of a 'pro' now than a 'con' but I also don't care about looking cool so others may consider this more of a serious con.

Conclusion:

If you're looking for a quality pack for your commute, even a regular commute but especially if you're commuting by bicycle, this could be a wonderful pack for you. Unlike the previous reviewer I find it quite compact especially compared to other bike-commuter backpacks on the market. If you're used to a messenger bag or a non-commuting bicycle pack like a Camelback style, though, then it may seem bulkier.

I bought this backpack for a trip to Germany in the summer. The last backpack I took over there was not very good and I vowed to buy a better backpack for next time. First off, you can't go wrong with Osprey brand. I own a messenger bag, a hiking backpack and now this backpack I will use on my travels. I put my bags through a lot and they have never failed. It's a great investment. Now to the bag. Very sturdy material. It has more packets than expected. That means less time spent while searching for that thing you just put in your pack 5 minutes ago. There is lots of space in this bag. The pictures on here and the Osprey site really don't do this bag any justice. One of the main reasons I bought this bag was because it has a rain cover. This is a must if you carry cameras and camera accessories like I do. It folds up nice and out of the way. Another cool feature is the way the bag is designed. The few pockets on the outside of the bag are hard to see and actually look like the design of the bag. This means less chance of someone trying to steal something from your bag. I am very pleased with my purchase and I am excited to try it out in Germany and France. I gave it a few test runs at home and I am confident it will work to my advantage.

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Although I should write more I will just say the following.

Construction and materials are excellent

Some of the features are useful (removable straps)

Great cellphone/music player pouch

Ultimately I didn't find this to be much better than my $50 Burton pack and returned the Osprey. The backpack is inefficient in some respects. It was supposed to be my largest pack but was never big enough to fit many groceries and therefore didn't fit that build. As a smaller commuter pack it was way too bulk for a clean shirt and lunch.

If the size is right for you, you should love this. Again the construction is excellent and materials are exceptional.

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I read a previous review before buying which said good bag but the pockets on the shoulder straps are irritating. Ignored that in favour of other positive reviews.

I have to say, however, that the pockets on the shoulder straps are very irritating. One is supposed to carry keys on a retractable lanyard, the other your mobile phone/ipod. Good idea, but they are mounted so high that when you carry the pack over one shoulder, you have one of these pockets sticking in to the underside of your neck. Only when you mount the bag with all straps, including the chest strap in place do they sit away from your face. Even then they are obtrusive, sticking out from your upper chest.

I am seriously considering cutting them off, preferring a scrappy looking shoulder strap to the current poor function.

Rest of bag is great quality make and thoughtful distribution of pockets and straps etc. Which makes the pocket thing even more irritating.

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Great design and extremely comfortable I hardly know I'm wearing it on long commutes. The attention to detail and finish is excellent. All in all a great backpack that I would recommend to any commuter.