Every commuter needs a competent backpack, and I was shopping for a replacement after I retired my trusty old sack. I switched over to the Alpinestars Commuter pack and immediately got along with it. A backpack is just like a helmet in that some people love a certain model while others might hate it. Luckily, I've gotten along pretty well with the Commuter.
I'm not generally a fan of waist and chest straps, but these are pretty small and don't make it feel like a large hiking pack. The waist straps tuck away if you choose not to use them, and I simply let the sternum straps dangle.
A nice feature is the bag's water resistant nylon shell because you never know when a surprise shower might catch you out. Inside there's a laptop compartment, audio port and several organizer pockets. I typically just cram everything in there together, but I've started utilizing the different pockets with the Commuter. It makes life a little easier knowing where all the odds and ends are, and there seems to be a pocket for almost everything. One main zipper seals the deal and has a nice bit of overlapped material to protect your belongings. I've found it's a spacious and easy to use backpack that's durable enough to have a lot of years of service in it, making it worth the money.