I reviewed this 3 years ago when I first started this blog. But I’d like to revisit it. They had been making this bag for a very long time when I purchased it in 2005 for my commute back in Boulder. In fact I secretly coveted this bag in college, but I only used timbuk2 bags back then. Anyhow fastforward 10 year and I am commuting to my office by bike and needed a bag more comfortable than my old deedog. I liked that the Vaude had pockets on the side for bringing your dress shoes, it arched away from your back to keep your laptop from digging in to your kidneys and had plenty of pockets.
Lets check out the back, thats a mesh panel with an arched wire frame behind it.
Check out the little wire frame.
And here you can see the quality padding used to cushion the corners of the wire frame and mesh backing.
Also I thought I’d point out the big 2″ buckle used on the waist strap.
This bag can hold a lot, but to keep the load from bouncing around while riding it has compression straps on the side.
These are the large side pockets for holding a water bottle or shoes. Those people at Vaude do have attention to detail, there is a little shock cord above the pocket to keep your bottle or shoe from flying out if you are riding over bumpy terrain.
There are two pockets on the front, one on the upper part that can hold a good deal of stuff, for me I keep my wallet, keys, office id in there.
On the lower part there is another pocket. I keep my tools in this one.
And then on the bottom there are two hidden treasures… well maybe treasure is a stretch. But anyhow a built in helmet holder and a bright yellow detachable rain cover. Right on the bottom you can see the holder for a light, which is too low and makes your blinky light just shine on your back tire.
It also has a pocket for a camelback bladder and a port in the top for that.
And here you can see the amazing amount of crap I hand in it today. 
That would be a laptop, clothes, lunch, ethernet card(don’t ask…), a bunch of empty crystal light containers I use for organizing stuff in my lab and reciepts from my last business trip.
I really do like this bag. My only complaint is that it is a bit big. I just leave dress shoes and clothes in my office now so a big bag for commuting is not as necessary as it once was. I believe this is a large, the medium would be nice to check out. I can’t tell from Vaude’s site if they still make this or even use the arched air vent back thing. The arch is nice as it really does keep your back less sweaty and it keeps the laptop or u-lock from jabbing you in the kidneys.
However Deuter does seem to be making bags now that use the arched back thing. I would like to try out a Deuter X Air that looks like a nice pack.
REI carries it. I will have to pick it up. I can always return it if I don’t like it right?