Quote Originally Posted by bikerHen View Post
I really like the Novara bike commuter backpack from REI. There's a chest strap as well as a waist strap to hold it firmly in place. It has three different zippered compartments plus a handy place to stuff your bike lock. You can really pack it, almost too full to carry. It's bright yellow and has lots of reflective bits, a place to clip a blinkie light and good padding against your back. I use it when I ride my road bike to work.
+ 1 on the Novara commuter backpack. The largest compartment opens flat so you can pack alot of stuff in place rather than jam it in. I don't pack a laptop but it holds all the clothes I need, lunch, personal stuff, etc. etc. The padding on the back is great - good airflow between the pack & your back.