Nice and Quick Commuter Pack Solution
347710
The Ibera Pak-Rak is an award winning commuter pack system that delivers a great commuter solution. The aluminum seatpost rack has an ingenious clamping system. The clamp allows the rack to be removed without one having to pull out the seatpost from the bike, yet is very secure- it has a large attached hex bolt. It comes with rubber shims for different seatpost diameters. These rubber shims also serve to absorb any road shocks and vibrations. The rack's part that attaches to the pack can be adjusted fore and aft to suit ones bike too.

The pack itself is just an amazing design. It is constructed of very high quality durable cordura, and the ABS plastic base is sturdy yet lite. Also, there is a zipper in the base of the pack that allows one to access the spring loaded latching mechanism that attaches the pack to the bike rack. Moreover, the entire orange latching mechanism can be removed from the pack. As such, one can drill it to accept a cotter pin for complete secure latching. The Spring latch could have been designed with a stouter spring, but I doubt it will come loose unless one is riding on extremely rough roads.

I have mine mounted on one of my three mountain bikes- SEE MY PHOTOS WITH IT ON MY MONGOOSE XR-450- that I use for both in town and trail riding. With the pack removed the rack does not affect the bike while riding on moderate mountain trails here in Montana. It does not buzz or rattle, and it's so lite that it is unnoticeable. The pack is actually suitable for picnicking on "easy" trails. However, I don't use this bike on extreme trails.

All in all the Ibera Pak-Rak is a great solution because it's so quick and easy to remove and attach the pack. However, it is a little pricey.
2465644
Delivery was super quick.  I haven't used the product quite yet, but I am doing a lot of traveling next month with a lot of day trips so this backpack will be very useful.  I like how it folds onto itself into a small square pouch.  It seems comfortable and roomy with 3 different pockets.  I'm looking forward to having a lightweight backpack to carry stuff while I'm in Japan instead of trying to stuff everything in pockets.
4788636
I needed a multi-tool to carry in a small under seat pack on my commuter bike. This meets my needs.
2636155
I commute to work via bike and this holds rain pants and lunch plus other odds and ends great! Laptop pocket fits my 17" fine. Fits comfortably on my back. Zippers are a little stiff but getting better with use. All in all its a great day pack.
1264249
This backpack has plenty of storage space, along with a spot for a laptop if necessary.  It will accommodate a wide screen laptop (i.e. 15" wide screen).  It is well built/designed, great for commuting to work on a bike.  Many pockets for good organization and easy access.  The shock absorbant padding for your back allows air to travel through avoiding the possibility of having a sweat soaked back after using.  It also makes the pack sit lighter on the back, mine weighs about 20 pounds fully loaded and this is managable.  The strap across the chest reduces the back/shoulder strain while using the backpack.  The price is perfect, basically just the cost of a tank of gas, however no gas needed when commuting by bike!
1573445
Daily service as a commuter bag and transporting workout clothes.  The pack is performing as expected and will be used for outdoor activities as well.
241701
I bought a couple of these panniers for my husband and myself to make a 6 mile 1-way commute to the university where we work. We used to commute with backpacks/messenger bags, but we're sooo glad to have bought these panniers. They seriously take a huge load off our backs and prevent a large sweat stained spot where our backpack used to be. These have a semi-large main compartment and a smaller pocket on each side. Reflectors run all around the bag and on the rear. I have found the reflectors to be very effective and bright. I have a 13 inch macbook pro that I have to wiggle into the pannier's main compartment, and school binders have to be squeezed in, but it fits nonetheless. I throw in books, my laptop, binders, lunch, waterbottles, a pump, patch kit, combination lock, and tire levers in there. It's also perfect for a quick run to the grocery store. The bags can easily be unlooped and un-hooked to be taken into the store with you. I've had no problems with the hooks un-hooking during a ride, although I did have to adjust my feet so my heels wouldn't hit the bag.

Highly recommended.

Edit 5/19/12

After almost a year of having these bags, I'd have to take down my review a couple of stars. I used to not be bothered by having to un-loop and un-hook the bags each time, but then I realized how annoying it got when I had to do it frequently. The top handle is OK but it would be nice to have a longer strap to sling over your shoulder for hands-free shopping. A few months ago the elastic that held the hooks started to tear, and now the hooking mechanism doesn't work. I use binder clips to attach the worn out elastic to my rear rack to prevent the bags from flapping on each side. Now I'm realizing this product isn't the best quality. I purchased an Ortlieb pannier ("Shopper") and absolutely love how easy it is to detach it and carry it around like a tote bag.
1991568
I have been using this bag for just over 3 months - mostly for commuting, but also one canoe/cabin trip.  If you are willing to go with a bag that offers one big space, and use the roll up instead of zipper, this is a very versatile well built bag.

 This bag hit all of the design spots I wanted fairly well:
- Good size for change of clothes, lunch, laptop, misc gear, water/coffee bottles
- simply waterproof instead of having to deal with rain cover
- one big storage area is much more versatile than several smaller areas.
- Does not have the top of pack storage cap that many backpacking bags have.  These tend to flop around when biking and bag is not full.  Also, for biking, the top pack tends to block your rear field of vision with helmet mirror or neck turn.  I'm 6'1", so have a longer back - maybe this helps lower the bag and increase rear visibility.

I was originally looking for a bicycle/commute bag, but was disappointed by all of the offerings.  Common commuting (panel) backpack features I was happy to avoid, plus some marketed as 'cycling' backpacks:
- several compartments that divide the space up too much.  Clearly this is partly user preference.  I wanted to avoid the 3 panel bag with 50+ pockets that, in my experience, just become a black hole making it hard to find the carefully tucked away piece of gear (which pocket was it in??).
- no helmet strap (seems gimmicky), plus I just leave helmet on bike in most situations - so not actually a useful feature. You can always strap the helmet to shoulder/waist strap anytime you need to take it with you.
- no dedicated shoe storage - this is something that just eats into the other storage compartment.  A spare bag can hold dirty shoes.
- no dedicated padded laptop area.  See below. Some of the laptop spaces I have seen on commuting bags just take away from the main compartment (they are sometimes oversized for a laptop)
- no rain cover.  In the past I have found these have drawbacks.  They can fall off, get lost, and you have to stop to put them on.  With this bag, I just keep biking when it starts to rain.

I would not recommend this as a commuting gab, esp. wet season, without a few 'upgrades'.  Recommended upgrades:
- get one or more small bags to carry the little items, pens, cables, earbuds, etc. and keep them in the outside pocket.  This has been working great for me.  I had an old stretchy neoprene bag with zipper.
- get a waterproof laptop soft 'case' and store in the water bladder area.  This makes it much easier to load and unload laptop w/out opening bag.  The padded aqua quest 13" (fits a 13" laptop) fits just fine this bag. You  have to move the shoulder straps a little, to insert the case in the bag, but this is easy enough. Not sure a larger laptop with case would fit.

Other details:
- I was concerned the roll up closure would be annoying, but it is not overly so.  It is a little slower than a zipper, but offers other pluses.  water  profess being the obvious bonus, but it also helps with the bags fit by expanding/shrinking vertically the bag to some degree.
- concerned about overall durability of the mesh, but so far so good.  It seems very high quality.
- The hip belt pocket will fit a security id badge.
- There are attachment points that run vertically nearly the entire length of front side of bag on either side of large mesh bag.  They are hard to see in the picture.
4239482
This is a great backpack.  Perfect size for the light commuter. I typically cary a laptop, iPad along with cables, a backup mophie charger along pens and papers for work.  Very well built.  Easy to store on lap or at feet on the train.  I have had the pack for about 3 months and has shown no wear while commuting back and fort to NY by train and subway everyday.
3802970
This is a nice, compact waist pack/fanny pack.  I like that there is an innermost zippered compartment that seems to be water-resistant (based on how the material feels - sort of vinyl coated), and the top zipper opens up to divided compartments. My 5C iPhone in a protective case fits in the front zip pocket (a bit snugly - not sure a larger wallet case or Otterbox would fit) and the front clip is handy. I wouldn't try and pack more than a wallet, phone, and keys in this if you want to maintain the slim profile, but it does have room for more.  I measure about 38" around where I usually wear my belts and this adjusts to fit fine - it could go even larger if needed, perhaps 45".  I like that the excess strap length is held by the plastic hardware, rather than trailing loose. It fits easily through the belt loops of my jeans.  All in all, a good product for the price.
3028801
It's a fantastic and rugged backpack for a bike commute.  It gives complete protection for inside items (including great lightweight padding for a laptop) and includes several versitile pockets to hold various items.  I recommend the pack with two caveats:

1) The back of the pack where it lies on you is not waterproof and can get a bit gummy from sweat or rain.
2) The pack is not large.  That's a great attribute for a commute with a few things, but it isn't a carry-all pack.
1095588
In a house with two kids, no matter how many we buy, it always seems like we're one short. Or maybe we just have too many choices; and, it confuses the decision. I don't know. But, there's never a wrong time for a new backpack. Enter the ZipIt Shell Backpack.

On initial examination, it looks like a simple yet colorful backpack. Zipping it open however you're treated to a wealth of interior pockets, pouches, zippers, and compartments. That helps tremendously when it comes to organizing the various sundries you stuff in there, which is great for early school-age kids. At 12x16.5x6 inches though, it's not very big. Now, it will hold up to a 14" laptop. Unfortunately, I haven't owned a laptop that small in over a decade. So, for you commuters it may be a bit more accurate to say the pack will easily hold an iPad Pro or Surface Pro 4. I wish it had some exterior storage spots, but I understand their absence given the overall design.

In terms of wearability, both the back of the pack and the shoulder straps are padded "for comfort". But, I found the shoulder straps to be so narrow (only 2 inches wide) that carrying any real weight in the pack made them uncomfortable over a period of time. That in mind, I wouldn't recommend this as an "all day" kind of pack. I also found that, because of a band connecting the shoulder straps (near the base of the neck), I had to loosen the adjustable straps every time I wanted to take took the pack off, which can be frustrating. It's a minor ease-of-use inconvenience, but an inconvenience, in my opinion, none the less.

The look of ZipIt's Shell Backpack is pleasing both in shape and color/pattern options. The shell is semi-rigid, providing a structured look. The shell does have some give to it, giving me some concerns that it could get creased if it's mishandled or squished. ZipIt does offer a Lifetime Warranty, but only against manufacturer defects. So, let's hope I'm wrong about the potential for creasing. If it gets dirty though, the pack is machine washable. With two kids that's a major plus.

Overall, it's a nice little backpack, as colorful as it is useful.

Pros:
- Semi-rigid shell
- A lot of internal storage pockets
- Colorful
- Unique shape
- Machine washable
- Lifetime warranty

Cons:
- Narrow shoulder straps
- Must loosen straps to take the pack off
- Interior "laptop" compartment is too small
- No external storage
- Minor production flaws

Takeaway:
It's a very nice little backpack despite some design flaws.

This product was provided for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
4053623
Bag arrived earlier than expected...Was easy to install and makes bike hikes much more pleasurable now when I can store basic things such as a pair of glasses, comb or gloves and cell phone, etc. safely- instead of in your pockets where they can fall out and get lost !! Product price was very reasonable also in case of theft where loss would be minimal. Material wise the bag make up is a thin flexible woven imprint plastic material that I hope remains flexible during the cold season and doesn't crack easily. Over all I am happy so far and would recommend this to others who are also looking for a simple economical storage solution for their bikes.
1031338
Great low cost backpack.  Lots of pockets and slots for the commuting professional who needs to carry a notebook, file folders, and person items efficiently.  Appreciate the design thoughtfulness: sturdy handle and straps, cell phone holder, pockets for electronics, pens.  Suggested improvements: it needs bigger side pockets for water bottles.
51083
I have yet to use it for travel so the review may change if it doesn't hold through.

So far the bag is great for local commuting. Its slim yet holds quite a bit and looks great. I wanted a new bag to transport gaming consoles around. Normal backpacks tend to be too large and things tend to shift or cause more uneven weight. This slim pack allows things to fit snug and distribute the weight evenly so it doesn't wear out your back.  While testing I was able to fit the following:

Xbox 360 with power brick and a controller as well as a laptop,
Xbox one with power brick controller.
Wii U with Gamepad in a protective case, Power brick, 4 controllers, and a laptop.
I haven't tried the PS3 and don't own a ps4.

I was very surprised that it fit the Xbox one however. I use this mostly for my Wii U system and have to say it fits everything great with planning as well as water bottles on the side if you really wanted to. I will add photos later but for now im very impressed with what it holds and how it looks while doing so
4265077
I walk to work, about 25 minutes away, and my shoulder bag messed up my back and hip. I needed to find something that I could use to transport everything I need. I've spent a few weeks with this backpack now, and I'm really enjoying it. I haven't put it to a full test yet (with gym clothes plus lunch plus laptop), but I think it'll work just fine.

I only have one and a half quibbles: one, I wish that the smaller front compartments (not the front pocket) had two zippers like the main compartment; a half, the water bottle holder is too small for my water bottle - but I use it to hold my umbrella, so it's still useful.
3731086
I needed a smaller pack for day hikes or trips or even a long bike ride.  I thought this would work well for those situations.  I like to have a lot of pockets so I can sort what I take with me for easy access. This pack meets the majority of my criteria.  There is even a side pocket for a water bottle.
  The only thing I wish is that it was a little longer and a little less wide at the bottom.  But other than that, it suits my needs.  I have yet to take it on a hike or a bike ride.  So only time will tell how it holds up to wear and tear.