EDC backpack for college

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone.  I am going back to college this fall.  My wife is currently in nursing school as well.  I am looking for a quality backpack that I can get new or used for less than $50 that is good value for the money.  When I am not in school I would like to also use the backpack for an overnight stay type of bag.  I may be carrying my old Linux laptop with me to school, I am not sure about that yet.  I know I could just go to Wally's World and get a Jamsport or something, but what else is out there?  I saw some SwissGear @ a local store but those started @ $60 and went up from there.  Now maybe online they are cheaper.  Thanks for the ideas. 

[Zack]

The Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon is a great backpack, doesn't have a laptop sleeve though.  La Police Gear have them at 65.00.  A little over your budget, but it will last forever, and I mean that literally.  You can sometime find some of the Victorinox backpacks on clearance at ebags.com.  I have a discontinued Oxford by Victorinox that is still going strong 7 years later.  Its a laptop/backpack that I used my senior year of highschool, all 5+years of college, and my first job where I had to travel.  Not mention it was a double duty diaper bag til I got my Maxped Typhoon.  You can sometimes find the Maxped Pygmy Falcon used for around 50.00, I think our very own Anthony had one for cheap a while back, I think it was the one I traded him actually.

[yud]

As a college student I would say get a bag with wheels it will save your back alot of strain

I use something like this

[sergemaster]

Amici,
How about the Gearslinger Monsoon by Maxpedition? Stylish yet functional..

Cheers,
Serge

[asupernothing]

i carried a messenger bag all through college but if you are looking for a backpack, check out some camping dealers, if you look for a mid size daypack it should fit the bill. they ussually start out in the $100 range, but around this time of year the new models start coming in and you can pick up last years for real cheap.

you might like this one:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___65595