Thank you for your replies!

I really like a lot of aspects of the Goruck GR2, but have the following concerns:

-I have read that the way it opens, it is hard to pull items in and out with it at your feet in an economy airplane seat

-Most everyone on another forum I posted to said that it will be very difficult to fit under the airline seat and this is essential for me

-I have read that the laptop compartment is very tight with just one laptop alone (not in a case) and ideally I want to fit both my 15" MacBook pro and my MS Surface, while they are in their own respective padded cases, as when I travel I will need to carry them around separately from the backpack at times

-No integrated water bottle holders - I could attach external ones to the molle, but then it would be harder still to get under the airplane seat. Depending on the external water bottle holders, and how collapsable they are this may or may not be an issue

Any other suggestions?

These look like some possible candidates in this link below. Has anybody here had personal experience with the fit of a laptop in any of these bags?

http://gearmoose.com/best-tactical-backpacks/