Max's Miscellaneous Musings

All in all, I'm very happy with the Deuter Cross City backpack.  Good stuff:

• It comfortably carries my laptop, bike lock, bottle of powerade, banana, spray jacket, stationery etc with plenty of room for more.
• I thought the "Air Stripes" air channels were a bit of a gimmick when they were touted as a feature of the pack, but they actually do make a big difference. I could actually feel wind blowing up my back. Though my back was sweatier than without a backpack, it was much drier than with other backpacks I've used.
• All the straps are adjustable, so I was able to make it sit on my back and feel "just right". The pack is very comfortable to wear.
• Whilst is isn't indestructable, the pack feels "tough" and like it could withstand harsh treatment.
• Lots of mesh pockets and zippered pockets. I felt like there was a place for all my stuff without having to be inventive.

Some little things I'm not keen on:

• The pack is actually a touch big for me. But with a bit of tweaking of the straps, I was able to make it sit well without discomfort.
• The pack sits high on my back, so there is a little interaction between it and my helmet. It's not a show-stopper, but is a touch annoying.
• Also, it's a tad wide, so shoulder checks are a little tougher than usual. I got around this by "shrugging" a little to move the pack to my left a little, thereby giving me unobstructed vision of what's behind me.
• There is no loop to attach a blinkie red light. I can't understand this oversight on a pack that is supposedly designed for cyclists.
• Also, with the exception of a single logo, there is no hi-vis piping on this bag. I will have to supplement this with application of hi-vis stickers.
• Also, I'm sure the pack could withstand a light shower, but I doubt it is waterproof in heavy rain (it should be noted that it does not advertise itself as waterproof, so this is not something I'm complaining about so much as an observation).

Whilst there are more "cons" than "pros" in this list, I think it's a great pack, and it suits my purposes well. If you need to carry a 15" laptop and other miscellaneous bits and pieces, it does the job well. I give it a 4/5. More high-vis stuff and a place for a red flasher would've bumped it up to 4.5. Waterproofing would've given it a 5.