Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bag

Looking for a new camera bag

captainsohler — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:56:07 -0800

I need a new camera bag. I am looking for esoteric brands, beyond Domke or Lowepro. Can the hive point me in many different directions? As many manufacturers as possible: I am looking for an "urbanite" or travel bag, not a location shooting bag.

For more parameters, I would want to fit a digital EOS SLR Body, two or three lenses, a speedlight and other pockets for books, documents, and such--beyond the usual accessory pockets a bag comes with.

My Outpack Design bag by Domke (Saunders) is done, and I cannot find a similar model.

Thanks so much.

Best mens over the shoulder bag?

samengland — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:28:04 -0800

Best over-the-shoulder mens dispatch bag / "manbag"? Recommendations please. What is the best over-the-shoulder "dispatch" style bag / "manbag"? There are many on the market but I need one which is ideally waterproof and well constructed, and is durable enough for every day use. It would be nice if it could fit a standard 15in laptop and has enough depth to hold large(ish) books. I have had many that have broken and others I have seen just don't look very good in terms of the style. I'd like the bag to be either black or brown, quite plain, and of quite a high quality at a reasonable price. Any ideas?

Help me find the duffel bag of my dreams

transporter accident amy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:35:24 -0800

I'm looking for a small Eastpak duffel bag made of a specific fabric. Last week, I sat across from a young lady on the train who had a small duffel bag that I would really like to find.

The brand was definitely Eastpak. It was small enough to fit in her lap comfortably. Based on the size, handles, and shape (it had sort of a half-circle profile, not a barrel shape), it may have been a Compact Small Duffel.

The straps were nylon but the bag was a different fabric; something with a softer touch, like cotton or flannel. It was plaid; the main color was light gray, and some of the lines were pale pink. There may have also been white or ivory lines.

The bag was in great condition, so I thought it might be new; but I haven't found any plaid or non-nylon Eastpak bags in any style, so maybe it was old. Also, in case it matters, I live in the Netherlands, so chances are she bought it here.

Of course, I could get the same bag in a different fabric/color, but I'm more interested in the fabric than in the specific style of bag. I've checked Eastpak's web site, Google, eBay, and eBay.co.uk, with no hint of gray plaid.

Need a nice backpack for a heavy commuter!

bienbiensuper — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:34:12 -0800

I need to find a laptop backpack styled similarly to this messenger/briefcase bag: good hope bag My boyfriend can't carry messenger style laptop bags anymore (shoulder/back problems), but he luurrrrves his laptop bag. His birthday is coming up and I want to replace his bag with something as similar to this as possible.

I found the official backpack version of this bag from the same brand/maker - but it's too round on top and not as well styled (imho).

This bag is beautiful, but out of my price range (I want to spend ~$150). Something along these lines would be perfect!

Help me Bag an Apple

GJSchaller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:58:20 -0800

Looking for a good backpack for a 17" MacBook Pro I'm looking for recommendations for a durable, long-lasting, and comfortable backpack that can contain a MacBook Pro, as well as the rest of my geek gear. I'm not a HUGE gadget freak (I don't carry an entire IT closet on my back), but I do have some accessories, and some occasional books. I am not fond of shoulder slings or messenger bags. The 17" requirement makes things a bit trickier.

I've found several bag suggestions online, but need feedback on which are actually good (outside of on-site reviews). I live in NYC, but the Apple Store doesn't have a wide variety in stock - I'm trying to think outside the box for better bags that might not be sold in retail. One of the sites I've seen is Tom Bihn's Brain Bag - has anyone had any experiences with them?

Where to find a bag to ship in?

R a c h e l — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:22:08 -0800

Where can I get one of those durable bags that clothes and such are sometimes shipped in? You know the ones I'm talking about? Grey, opaque? I've gotten several shipments of clothes and things in them. I'm mailing someone a number of tote bags, and I think it would make more sense to ship in one of those than a box or something. I'm not sure if they'd fit, though. Is there anywhere local (Fedex, UPS, post office) where these might be available? I've got to get these in the mail this weekend, so I'd rather not order online - I /can/ use a box.

backpack be gone ...

ouchitburns — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:16:28 -0800

Help me find the get rid of my backpack! I am a student, but one of those older professional students, and I keeps catching glimpses of myself in windows with my huge backpack and I grimace.

I should no longer have a backpack.

So, I need a bag that I can bring to school and work placements. It needs to be:

1) Functional - (it should be able to carry at least one textbook and binder, and have room for the equivalent of a thin jacket.

2) Strong - my textbooks are heavy and it needs to be able to handle that.

3) Sleek - I want this to grow old with me so it needs to be of classic style.

4) Waterproof - would be nice. Not completely necessary.

I am in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am willing to spend up to $250.

I like the look of these, but they should be used as a starting point rather than a rule.

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/photos/the_man_bag/man_bag_front.jpg
http://www.bagsnob.com/images/DiorManBag.jpg

Thanks!

What on earth do you call this piece of metal and where can I get one?

iwhitney — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:40:56 -0800

At the end of woven straps, makers will put a metal cap to prevent the end from fraying. What is this cap called and where can I buy one? I have this bag and one of the straps is missing its end cap. I'd like to replace it, but am hampered by two things.

1) I don't know what that little piece of metal is called
2) Since I don't know the name, it's hard to google it and find a place I could buy one.

The replacement doesn't have to be an exact match. I just want to keep the strap from fraying.

Where to buy a Carry On Garment Duffel Bag in Minneapolis?

xotis — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:43:02 -0800

Minneapolis Filter: Where can I find this bag in or near Minneapolis tomorrow (Tuesday 9/22)? I am looking for a garment duffel/bag that's as minimal as possible, yet has room for 1 suit, 1 shirt, and a few undergarments/extras. I need one that will fit in an overhead bin on my flight tomorrow as I'd prefer to not check it if possible.

This bag is exactly what I'm looking for, but I can only find it online. I don't have time to order it online unfortunately, as I need it tomorrow by 9pm. I'd be happy with anything similar, as long as it's in the $100 or less price-range.

Thanks!

Travel Purses 101

Leezie — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:32:58 -0800

You: intrepid traveler. Me: in need of travel purse advice. I am looking for a safe, secure yet stylish travel purse. I like this one, but I'm concerned about its security. The side with all of the important stuff is just secured with a flap button. Then there's this one which is less expensive and appears to be more secure.

Do you have a travel purse besides one of these that you recommend for safe travel? Or, do you have either of these and recommend it? I want to be able to fit at least one guide book, probably a water bottle and the usual and customary travel sundries (although not a camera - I have a separate bag for that).

Where can I buy a messenger bag in the DC area?

k. — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:33:44 -0800

In what store (not online) can I buy a messenger bag? I've seen lots of places to order online, but this is something I'd like to see in person before buying. I've looked at some "luggage stores", which mostly don't seem to have this kind of thing. Is there a store that has a variety of bags that I could look at? I'm in the Washington DC area.

Here's something else I've been wondering: online, I see a lot of canvas "military surplus" bags for about $15-20. I assume these are not waterproof, but is there any other reason to think that $50 or $100 bags are better?

When I die, will my grandchildren fight over who gets it?

litterateur — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:57:21 -0800

I am writer in search of a messenger bag. What is your opinion of the Saddleback Leather Company, specifically its briefcase? In your opinion, is really it worth a month's rent?

Smells like teens' spirits

chalbe — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:13:01 -0800

Help me get the vomit smell out of a cotton canvas messenger bag. Long story short, I woke up one morning to find my cotton convas messenger bag covered in vomit. It must have been soaking in it for at least 7 hours. After some quick googling, I tried the following steps over two weeks to clean it but the smell still persists:

1. Washing machine with detergent and hung dry
2. Dry cleaned
3. Sprayed all over with Febreeze
4. Soaked in hot water with vinegar for 6 hours
5. 2nd trip in washing machine + extra vinegar and hung dry
6. And lastly, two days left in the freezer to try and draw out the smell

What am I missing? Is my bag doomed to a life of smelling like an awful mix of vomit, Febreeze, and vinegar?

Defunct telecoms logo is sooo passé.

softsantear — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:37:48 -0800

How do I remove (can I?) a screen-printed logo from a vinyl (?) bag? I'm talking about the kind of promotional bags you get everywhere, at conferences, from companies, etc. Generic cheap tote or duffle bag stitched with some sort of polymer-based thread, I guess -- with the company logo printed on in some kind of ink or paint.

Here are some generic examples from Google Images:
Bag 1
Bag 2

I have this great bag, very functional, but it has this honkin' awful logo from a telecoms company on one side. It's not really a big deal, but this would be one sweet tote if it were just plain black.

The image is really "burned in" to the material, so it's not something you can really pick away at. I was wondering if there is some kind of..... solvent or something that will peel this thing off.

Briefcase regret avoidance

FuManchu — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:39:02 -0800

What are the pitfalls, annoyances, and deal breakers of different briefcase types? Help me not regret a purchase! I'm considering throwing down some real money on a nice briefcase / messenger bag / computer bag. I'd like to hear your bad experiences with them so I know what to look out for. I haven't owned a lot of bags, let alone high-end ones, so don't know much about evaluating them.

My examples, with my cheap flip-top briefcase, are (1) the gaps that form on the side when using a shoulder strap, (2) the tendency for it to go horizontal when the handle is picked up and the latch not closed, and (3) the lack of a pocket easily accessed while wearing it on the shoulder.

So help run me through everything that I should know about briefcases. Magnets, zippers, leather, nylon, flip-tops, portfolios, map bags, small, large, specific to yours, general to the style, etc. What are the issues that come up only after you've bought and used it for a few weeks? What are the inside scoops that you won't find in buying guides or catalogs? Whether it's just a small annoyance, or made you regret buying it, let me hear it all!

Searching for an attractive laptop/gym bag.

metamush — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:55:44 -0800

This public transit commuting young woman needs a bag that will fit her 15 inch Macbook Pro as well as gym clothes/sneakers. This public transit commuting young woman needs a bag that will fit her 15 inch Macbook Pro as well as gym supplies. Duffel bags are out of the question. Would prefer it not to be a backpack.

a backpack that won't warp or crumple paperbacks

limon — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:25:20 -0800

I need a backpack that won't warp or crumple paperbacks. Cheap, plain, no frills. Should simply hold books in place and maybe a binder. I don't carry a laptop or any fancy accessories. Bonus if it doesn't make me (25 y/o grad student) look silly.

Best Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bag?

hokie409 — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:21:14 -0800

Best Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bag? Hello. I'm trying to answer the "what do you want for your Birthday question" and was hoping for some help finding a good Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bag.

My last laptop bag was this Belkin one strap bag (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S5CY92) which I purchased because I was looking for a comfortable strap.
(The zipper broke recently, I don't know what I do to zippers. That makes 3 bags and one ski coat with broken zippers I need to get fixed)

My criteria are:
1- TSA Checkpoint friendly. I don't want to take my laptop out of the bag.
2- Comfortable strap and otherwise comfortable to carry. I strongly prefer a strap that is well padded and in one piece. As opposed to those crappy badly padded sleeves that move and twist all around the strap.
3- Must hold my Dell D620 (14 inch scree) but no be so big that it's unreasonable to occasionally travel with my Acer netbook.
4-Well organized pockets and components. A key clip is a great extra.
5- If it's a backpack it shouldn't look *too* kid like b/c I will take it into business meetings. But I'll sacrifice looks for comfort like I did with the Belkin backpack.
6- Price- I was thinking between $60-150.

I'll start with this bag: Skooba R101-101 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET6P28) as a starting point. But I'm not sure on the strap. Any better ones out there?

Desperately Seeking Double Laptop Bag

TurquoiseZebra — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:46:23 -0800

Can anybody recommend a laptop bag that will hold two laptops? I have two laptops I need to carry but the problem is that they're both widescreen, so larger than your normal laptop and therefore don't fit a normal bag.

I carry all relevant cords, 2 small mice and misc. other items in the bag, so the roomier the better.

And of course, price is a concern, although not a dealbreaker.

I realize I may be asking for too much, but a "cute/pretty" bag wouldn't hurt either. (But I won't be too picky.)

Yes, I've Googled and looked around a bit but apparently my Google skills are failing me.

Thanks in advance!

Looking for Jute/Burlap bags got buying bulk foods in.

franklen — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:02:57 -0800

Need source for wholesale jute/burlap bags for holding bulk foods. Should be tight weave for holding fine food items such as flour; produced in the USA if possible; and made from organically grown jute if possible. I know this is a tall order and I don't expect to meet all those expectations. But I really want to help my local co-op grocery faze out plastic bags for bulk food purchases.

Please help.

Laptop rain jacket?

asterisk — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:37:30 -0800

Laptop rain cover/bag... does such a thing exist? I'm going to be covering (live streaming in this case) some events outside, one or more of which could take place in light rain or during passing showers. I have a cover for the camera and can bring a small TV tray to elevate the laptop but I'm not sure how to waterproof it.

The only option I've come up with are the XXL Ziploc bags (2ft x 2.7ft) but would condensation be an issue? Would it impede my aircard signal?

Googling only turned up rainproof bags for transport, I'll need to at least be able to use the trackpad, ideally the keyboard as well. I'll be using a 15" MacBook Pro fwiw.

What's a good female-specific purse/laptop bag for a 13" Macbook?

thewalrus — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:58:40 -0800

I bought my wife a unibody aluminum 13" Macbook for Christmas. She loves the laptop a lot but only has an old fashioned clamshell briefcase style carrying case for laptops, which was designed for 8 pound, 15.4" screen lap monsters. Can anyone recommend a female specific purse/laptop bag that is stylish and designed specifically for the 13" Macbook, or a vendor of an assortment of different styles of such bags?

So I'm Giving My Boss Zip-Ties for his Birthday...

Smarson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:25:52 -0800

Boss's Birthday meets Traveling Work Bag Essentials Filter: I need to give my boss something more than just a handful of zip-ties...help Here's the deal, my boss's birthday is coming up and he hates it. Primarily because he can't stand useless gifts & cards. He is always appreciative of them, but secretly loathes their non-functional place in this world. This only hints at the underlying inferno of efficiency that consumes this man's life. He is almost certainly the living embodiment of productivity. He also travels constantly and anything that can't fit into his work bag is dead to him.

On the rare occasions that he has enough free time to chat we've spoken about our mutual tendency to carry everything we could ever need in our work bags. Electrical chargers, ear phones, kleenex, cough drops, bus schedules, etc., etc. Today I brought up the fact that I keep half-a-dozen zip ties of varying lengths/sizes in my bag since they take up almost no space and can come in super handy in a pinch. I could tell he made a mental note to pick some up and that's when I had my idea for a birthday gift -- things he can add to his work/travel bag. Obviously I need something more than zip ties though.

Lifehacker had some great articles on "go bags," but what I need are things streamlined for air travel. Also, he is all about function over form so pricey travel gadgets from SkyMall are out.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Some more background on my boss:

*He used to participate in half-iron man competitions
*He is the epitome of "all business, all the time"
*He often gets labeled as a jackass since he doesn't have time for bullshit and is more apt to bypass all social niceties and cut straight to the point
*We're on great terms, but he scares the ever living crap out of me

Help me grab a bag

TheOnlyCoolTim — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:53:35 -0800

I would like to know a superior form of backpack. It should be primarily appropriate for day to day backpack and school usage but also useful for light travel use or light camping use. I am ~6'4", usually weigh about 185 pounds, and male. A backpack is a item of function, so I do not care at all about the aesthetics.

Durability is the prime concern; I am tired of buying a normal backpack and within a year it's deteriorating and after a few years it's useless. This would ideally be the last backpack of this type I buy in my life; I don't like today's throwaway consumer goods.

Waterproofing is another important concern. I am not as afraid as most people are these days to get wet when it rains, but I've found normal waterproof backpacks to be barely so, and then the rubber layer on the inside flakes off ant they're not at all.

Comfort and adjustability also matter.

I think the durability and waterproofing I like for my day to day use covers most of my requirements for the level of travel and camping I'm thinking of. Basically in addition it should be big enough for several day's worth of clothes and sundries or a couple nights of camping. Despite my last question this pack is not intended for actual serious backpacking, so don't really worry about things like strapping on tents and sleeping bags or that it won't have a frame. I'm just thinking I'd like to be able to use it to hike a few easy miles and plop down for a night or two and for that I will strap my big luxurious sleeping bag to myself in an ad hoc fashion and carry my big luxurious tent in my arm.

I'd prefer zipper closures, but with powerful zippers that will not break or malfunction.

I also prefer an absence of goofy specialized pockets or features for MP3 players, water bottles, laptops, and cell phones.

No wheels.

how to manufacture 1000+ units of new, custom fabric based product?

nolnar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:19:44 -0800

I've made a new fabric product that I hope would sell 5000+ units. For viable efficiency I need to buy manufacturing of the product or its parts. I don't want to reveal my product idea, but let's use a SLR camera bag made in sturdy fabric as an example. My product has similar materials, size and complexity. How do I go from there? background: I lack previous experience from buying manufacturing of a product. (I also don't have business experience but I'll focus on that topic later so leave that for now)

questions:
(1) Are there companies with online services that take blueprints/prototypes/CAD-designs of a fabric camera bag type of product as input and output a number of units (100, 1000 ...) of either the completed product or parts for me to assemble?

(2) Are there for fabric camera bag type of product similar services to to print-on-demand book publishing or what http://www.cafepress.com/ et al offer? That is, I input the design and the company hosts my product page, handles the customers payments and manufactures and sends out the product. I get a portion of the money from each sale.

(3) Are there detailed product catalogs with generic standard parts to buy in bulk for this type of product? Something similar to the extremely detailed catalogs of electronic and mechanical components available from many companies. So for a fabric camera bag type of product there would be standard should straps, side pockets, plastic clip-on joints and so on in various shapes, sizes, colors and materials.

Note: I know that there are various craft communities/websites where custom fabric products can be made on demand from any design by hobbyist crafters, as discussed in this thread http://ask.metafilter.com/111371/How-can-I-design-and-make-a-custom-camera-bag . But that is not viable for the thousands of units in my example.