Remember when a backpack was an essential accessory for hip-hop heads and gear addicts? Well somewhere along the way the term "backpacker" became synonymous with "underground rap nerd." The technical aspects notwithstanding, backpacks became vessels for over-sized headphones, composition notebooks filled with wack rhymes, black books filled with toy tags, and bad demo tapes.

Penfield's rugged summer backpacks are the perfect pieces to return the word "backpacker" to its intended meaning as a description of a person who gets outdoors and tests the elements. The utilitarian Duxbury and Colrain backpacks are replete with the characteristics of great bags, with front and utility pockets a laptop sleeve pocket and stowaway storm covers to protect its contents in case of rain. The Duxbury is $50 and the Colrain is $65 both available at www.penfieldusa.com. You can still put your wack-ass rhyme books in them too, we won't judge you. More pics after the jump.