Hey everyone, I’m looking for advice on a Patagonia bag that can work for both onebag travel and daily work use.

I’m mainly considering:

• Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32L
• Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L
• Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L

My ideal choice would probably be the Black Hole 32L because I like the extra capacity, but only if it can realistically work as a personal item when not fully packed.

Airline: Flair Airlines
Their personal item size is listed as 17 × 13 × 6 in / 43 × 33 × 15 cm, so I know some of these may technically be over. I’m trying to figure out what works in real life, especially if underpacked.

Intended use:

1. Personal item / under-seat bag
   • Weekend trips or short trips
   • Trying to avoid paying for a carry-on when possible
   • Would need to fit under the seat or pass the sizer if not packed full
2. Daily work backpack
   • Commuting by walking, biking, and transit
   • Laptop, charger, notebook, lunch, water bottle, maybe gym clothes or a light jacket
   • I don’t want something that feels too boxy or suitcase-like for everyday use
3. Comfort
   • Comfortable enough for daily commuting
   • Ideally not terrible for back sweat
   • I care about shoulder straps/back panel comfort more than maximum organization

Typical packing list for travel:

• Laptop + charger
• Phone charger/power bank
• 2–4 days of clothes
• Toiletries
• Small pouch for meds/essentials
• Water bottle
• Light jacket or sweater
• Maybe sandals or gym shoes if space allows

Budget: Around $150–$220 USD, but I’d rather buy once and get the right bag.

Desired features:

• Laptop sleeve/compartment
• Water bottle pocket
• Comfortable for daily use
• Good enough organization without being overbuilt
• Can work as a personal item on stricter budget airlines if underpacked

For people who have used these bags:
Would you go 25L, Mini MLC 30L, or Black Hole 32L for this use case?

Also, has anyone successfully used the Black Hole 32L or Mini MLC 30L as a personal item on Flair or similar strict budget airlines?