I have been a big fan of Los Angeles-based outdoor clothing company, Aether Apparel. I have owned many of their jackets over past few years. They are ideal weight for the somewhat quirky Northern California weather. And since I end up going to Scandinavia quite often, they also make really warm yet lightweight jackets. I have three of their jackets, and hey often come with me when traveling in winter. They are well made, well designed and have a logo-less and minimal aesthetic that I absolutely love.
A few years ago, I had been shocked by the unprofessional behavior of one of their then local salespeople in San Francisco. It turned me off the brand and for a while I had not visited the Hayes Valley location. However, a few days ago I was walking by the location and decided to stop by and take a look at what they have to offer. A lot of things, though I didn’t want any sweatpants or T-shirts: I have enough. What caught my eye were their bags: they have an amazing and well designed backpack that looks different than the usual bags you see in Silicon Valley. They have Aether logos but they don’t scream at you.
The grey fabric has a matte finish and is weather proof. It is pretty discreet and looks way more expensive than its $135 price tag. It is extremely light and has ample storage and pockets, including one for your laptop. It uses the welded technology, which till recently was available only in high end outerwear. There is good padding both on straps and at the back. I would suggest taking a look at this when shopping for your next backpack. I have not really used it so can’t talk about long term quality of the bag, but it looks pretty sturdy and robust. If these bags are anything like their jackets then they are going to last a long time.
I also like their other accessories — triangle wash bag ($55) and the $25 wire bag for toiletries and other goods (cables and chargers for example). The document case ($65) which can double as a sleeve for you MacBook is also worth a look.
Hope you can add these to your list of products to peruse before you buy you next backpack!