They also place a high priority on comfort (over the weight-savings of ski mountaineering designs), with robust backpanels and nicely padded hipbelt and shoulder straps
If you tend to trip, fall, or power-hike with lots of lateral force, aluminum (or a beefier carbon layup) is more forgiving
One-piece machined aluminum frame for strength and durability
Chunky metallic hardware and sateen straps give it a bit of gloss, while stretchy internal pockets, compression straps, and a fully padded laptop sleeve give it serious functionality
Pick #1: The classic campus workhorse (Borealis-style) This is the style Ive owned more than once, and its still the one I recommend the most for school, commuting, and daily errands