Why are you into it?
Worth the hype, but only if you do it right.
About
Tech backpacks divide into two camps: those that get out of your way and those that never stop announcing themselves. The good ones solve actual problems. Cable management that isn't wishful thinking. Laptop compartments that actually protect instead of just contain. Pockets where your charger lands in the same place every time, not wherever gravity decides.
The Peak Design Everyday Backpack earned its reputation by understanding that photographers need access, not storage. Side zips mean you don't unpack your life to grab a lens. The internal dividers move because your gear changes. It costs more because it solves more. The Bellroy Transit Backpack takes a different approach: business travel without looking like you're carrying a filing cabinet. Laptop sleeve that slides out clean. Water bottle pocket that doesn't announce itself. Materials that age instead of deteriorate.
Worth the hype only applies when you match the tool to the job. A Patagonia Black Hole 25L survives what kills other bags, but organization is not its strength. The Aer Tech Pack 2 handles daily carry with surgical precision, then falls apart on a hiking trail. The Tortuga Setout Backpack opens like a suitcase because sometimes that's what travel actually requires.
Doing it right means buying once. The cheap bag costs more because you replace it. The expensive bag that doesn't fit your actual routine costs more because it never gets used. The right bag disappears into your day and makes everything else work better.