Want REVENGE! Laptop bag.

December 26, 2008 2:50 PM

Family Fail. How can I get revenge on my family by purchasing an awesome laptop bag?

So, even though my family got me many things, all great and wonderful, they're still evil and fail hard because I didn't get a laptop bag. Of course, I never told them I want one, but they should be able to read my mind at this point.

I want revenge, cold revenge, but since I seem to have a running streak of bad laptop bags, I thought I'd list the items I'd have to carry.

1. Thinkpad X61T laptop. (Fairly small laptop.)
2. Cell phone.
3. Pens (a couple)
4. A couple of small paper notebooks. (Yeah, sorry.)
5. AC adapter.
6. Memory stick

Of course, I want all this within a 2x2 inch bag, but I'll take the following, too:

1. Ability to pick up and go. (Doesn't acquire reassembly with each get up and/or go.)
2. Doesn't scream "Steal me! I'm ever-so-valuable."

I know there's a million askmefis on this already. The problem is that new bags come out all the time and each situation is a bit unique. Furthermore, many retail places don't seem to carry a large variety or they carry everything Targus.

Cheers,

m

posted by tcv to technology (28 comments total)

My usual recommendation is to find a good bag you like on its own merits, and get a good laptop sleeve that you can put in it. That's what I do; my bag is a Timbuk2 messenger bag (on account of its being delightfully waterproof) but it doesn't look like it necessarily has thousands of dollars of shiny toys in it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:58 PM on December 26, 2008

Get an '07 Patagonia half mass. Runs for $50-60 on sale right now.
posted by special-k at 3:01 PM on December 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

By brother just got a Bag of Holding for Christmas. It has lots and lots of pockets, ideal for holding (as the name suggests!) and has a padded laptop compartment.
posted by firei at 3:08 PM on December 26, 2008 [2 favorites]

What style of bag are you looking for?

I have a Brenthaven, and I swear to god I would swing a bat at that thing with my laptop in it, I trust it that much.
posted by InsanePenguin at 3:14 PM on December 26, 2008

Mock if you will, but I have an older thinkpad X series and this is my favorite laptop bag: Combi Urban Sling. It's small with a really nice padded sling and just enough room for a laptop and some extra kit. Considering it's a diaper bag it pretty much has the "don't steal me" part covered, and with the included changing pad you're solid if your laptop ever happens to poop while you're out.
posted by true at 3:16 PM on December 26, 2008

I have an x60s and have been using this bag for a few years. It's a very good case and will meet all of the needs you listed (except, perhaps, for the second #2).
posted by ewingpatriarch at 3:19 PM on December 26, 2008

I absolutely love my Tenba Messanger bag - it's made for a camera stuff and a laptop. I don't use it for the camera side of it, but it's perfect for laptops. It's bulletproof and well built.
posted by bigmusic at 3:25 PM on December 26, 2008

I bought a Victorinox laptop backpack for my T60. I like it a lot. It holds a lot of stuff, but isn't particularly cumbersome unless you actually have it loaded with a lot of stuff.

I got it for next to nothing at CompUSA when they were going out of business.

I don't like messenger style bags much, as putting all the weight on one shoulder can be tiring (and can injure you if you do it too much!) That's not to say I'm really a fan of the backpack style, either..it's just the better of the two poor options, IMO.
posted by wierdo at 3:49 PM on December 26, 2008

My Acme Made bag was spendy but worth every penny. I got it almost five years ago and it's held up through lots of city schlepping and a fair amount of work travel, and people are always asking me where I got it. The Slim Cargo will work for you, I think.
posted by dogrose at 3:57 PM on December 26, 2008

I love my Tom Binh Buzz bag. It's great, light, and easy on the back -- but not exactly cheap. Sometimes I wish it were more suit-compatible, though...
posted by rdn at 4:22 PM on December 26, 2008

Seconding firei. I just received a Bag of Holding yesterday, and I LOVE it!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 4:46 PM on December 26, 2008

I hate your family already. Who do they think they are?

Here is what I have been using for my 13 inch MacBook for the last couple years. It will easily accommodate a bigger laptop. I bought it as a temporary bag until I got a "real" one, but ended up liking it so much I don't want to replace it.

It's an inexpensive messenger bag from Target. ($20 I think.) They may not have the same one any more, but they have similar ones. I bought a separate neoprene sleeve which I keep inside the main compartment. I just lift the flap (held down by velcro) then unzip the sleeve and take out the MacBook. I never have to remove the sleeve from the bag.

It has plenty of storage for pens thumb drives, and other small items, as shown, plus a zippered outside compartment for papers, Moleskines etc., and a zippered inner pocket. It comfortable holds my charger, cell phone, and anything else I need to carry on a daily basis.

It doesn't look like a Steal-Me-Brand Laptop Bag, which is a plus for me. On the minus side, it's not going to protect a computer if you drop it, obviously, but you can always add a better inner sleeve if that's an issue. The messenger bag style works great for me. I sling it over my left shoulder and let it ride on my right hip, leaving my hands free.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:17 PM on December 26, 2008

I'm a big fan of Tom Bihn.
posted by desuetude at 5:27 PM on December 26, 2008

What's your mode of transportation? My cycling friends are in awe of the black bag.
posted by PueExMachina at 5:39 PM on December 26, 2008

I haven't actually received this bag yet, but it will easily hold all of the things that you want it to hold, and then some. Also, picking up and going only requires a quick pull of the zipper. It is quite pricey, but there is at least a 30% discount freely available online.
posted by ccrazy88 at 5:44 PM on December 26, 2008

My sugar has the black bag PueExMachina mentioned in large, and it's cavernous. It's like Mary Poppins in there, he carries around a laptop+books+music equiptment+art supplies+tins of tobacco+everything else in the world at all times. So, yeah, with your little assortment of items, the medium will more than suit you, though as with many of the bags mentioned you're going to need a laptop sleeve.

Also, Ohio Pride, yo.
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:05 PM on December 26, 2008

I go through this constantly. I am a bag slut and am always staring longingly at bags.

there are a bunch of questions you need to ask yourself: do you want a messenger bag or a briefcase? do you want a backpack or a messenger bag? for example, i am limited in that i need the handles of the bag to go over my shoulder, but dislike a messenger because it pulls to one side.

there are the standards - tom binh, brenthaven, sfbags, timbuk2, booq. ogio has bags people love, and ebags has a couple of inexpensive computer bags that people seem to love. then there are the victorionox and targus and and and.

i've never been able to settle on one of those because i have too many different scenarios in which i need a varying combination of electronic devices. and i don't want pockets, all that means is that i'll forget what i needed in the pocket of bag x. so i have various pouches that get taken out of bag x and put into bag y. it works for me.

i bought a *REALLY* good sleeve from sfbags and then chuck the laptop into whatever I need. Right now the bag of choice is, believe it or not, an LL Bean boat tote. No way that looks like I'm carrying an expensive laptop.
posted by micawber at 6:09 PM on December 26, 2008

Don't forget Chrome! Expensive, but worth it. I have their Kremlin (the largest) messenger bag that I can fit a person into. Yes, a person. I carry quite a bit in it already. I'm not sure about their laptop bags, though, but they should be good, too.
posted by majikstreet at 6:54 PM on December 26, 2008

I love the evolution from STM. I'd say browse numerous bags in stores since you'll use you're bag daily.
posted by jeffburdges at 7:39 PM on December 26, 2008

Thirding Tom Bihn. They have briefcase-type bags, messenger bags, backpacks, and sleeves or sleeve-like bags. Some bags are designed to work with removable sleeves; others have padded compartments. I have an Empire Builder briefcase with Brain Cell insert for my MacBook Pro and a Ristretto Messenger bag for the MacBook I have at the office. Both are great.
posted by brianogilvie at 8:04 PM on December 26, 2008

Oh, and one more thing: The Bihn bags are expensive (they're made in the USA) but they're carefully made and very tough. Six years after I bought it, my Empire Builder looks nearly brand new.
posted by brianogilvie at 8:06 PM on December 26, 2008

I love my Timbuk2.
posted by Netzapper at 8:32 PM on December 26, 2008

My Timbuk2 hacker rocks.
posted by ecmendenhall at 1:10 AM on December 27, 2008

Fourth Tom Bihn.

This summer, while in Seattle, I took my family on a pilgrimage to the only Tom Bihn store on the planet (most sales are via the Internets). Not only did I get to meet Tom (who, you can tell, loves what he does) but he tried to help solve a problem I was having attaching a light to my Buzz. He also took me and my family on a tour of their factory.

He treats his workers right; he makes good bags; he listens to users' suggestions on how to improve his bags. Great customer service.

(I also like the Buzz because I can put it on with one hand while walking/commuting.)
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 4:41 AM on December 27, 2008

Take a look at Crumpler bags. I've been very happy with mine. It's about seven years old and still looks new despite being used almost every day.

(Their default website is a Flash-based monster of bad usability. The bags are much better)
posted by BinaryApe at 6:50 AM on December 27, 2008

I use something like this. Although it was $40 from Office Depot and less "dense" looking. I wanted a similar lack of hassle for when it was time to go- no zipping things up, no flap fastening- just dump my stuff in and walk away. It has two main compartments- slip the computer into one, the rest of the crap into the other. I haven't seen too many of them around, because manufactures seem to think people like playing all those games... The key, for me, is that it doesn't have side zippers to let it "unfold". I hate having to make space just to unpack my computer, take it out, then zip the bag back up. This way, bag goes on floor in corner, pull out what you want and leave it. (It does have a zipper on top to keep weather and prying eyes out if necessary.

It's not "cool", but it gets the job done. It's also not obviously a COMPUTER bag, so it's less apt to be a target. Just looks like a floppy briefcase.

Also good for travel, it's fairly compact and I like to put it under the seat. If I want to use the computer, I can slip it out without causing too much disruption. It also will fit some other carryon stuff that you want to have like books, magazines, a couple of snacks, medications that you MUST have on your person, etc.
posted by gjc at 11:45 AM on December 27, 2008

Seconding the Victorinox backpack. I looked at all of the Tom Bihn, Crumpler, Chrome, Timbuk2, etc. and nothing really covered all of my bases. My sysadmin boyfriend bought it for me because he was sick of seeing me carry my laptop around in a wussy quasi-briefcase. He mentioned that it was good to have a nice plain backpack because it was better for my back and also wouldn't look so obviously "hey, there's a laptop in here, so steal me!"

As a grad student, it has been perfect for carrying my MacBook Pro 15" along with a variety of textbooks, workout crap, blah blah blah. It has two other compartments inside, and I've also been really pleased with it for weekend trips and taking it on airplanes. I've had it for nearly two years and it still looks absolutely brand-new.
posted by Madamina at 12:08 PM on December 27, 2008

These bags are beautiful and indestructible. Amazing build quality. After 6+ years of travel on airplanes, buses and the nyc subway, mine still looks like new. Their colored parts are made from this clever mix of woven threads that allow for bright color but won't collect dirt or show age. The company is very flexible (for example, for anyone who cares about not buying leather, they will custom-sew a bag without leather for free).
posted by kalapierson at 10:29 AM on January 2