Papa needs a brand new bag!

April 16, 2010 6:37 AM

Help me find the perfect bag for my needs. I'm trying to lighten the load and the bag I bought in a pinch while abroad is already falling apart. It's the right size and more or less the right configuration, but it's a POS.

For years I've been on the search for the perfect bag. What constitutes a perfect bag has changed during that time and as a result I find myself with perfectly suitable bags (from Timbuk2, Crumpler and off brands) for needs I no longer have.

Today's needs:
-Lightweight but sturdy/durable
-Un-ugly
-An outside pocket or two for quickly collecting/stowing things like receipts or business cards.
-A shoulder strap for slingin' it over my puddin' head.

Nice to haves:
-I prefer a bag that's taller versus wider.
-If it were *just* big enough to slip my 13" Macbook into occasionally I wouldn't mind (doesn't have to be uber padded)
-A handle on the top to quickly grab and go (similar to some of the Timbuk2 computer bags)

Budget:
Ideally under $100 but for the right bag I'd go as high as around $200.

Needs to be able to carry:
iPad (sometimes)
Kindle (always)
Moleskine XL Softcover Notebook
Small Canon P&S
iPhone power cord
A couple of pens
Some business cards (without ruining them)
Passport
A small number of various other small things like gum, lip balm, etc

Things that I don't want:
Anything super bulky
Anything that looks like a purse/is girly
Anything that's so hip it's tragic

Thanks!

posted by FlamingBore to Shopping (15 answers total)

I posted a similar question a while ago.
posted by tenaciousd at 6:43 AM on April 16, 2010

Response by poster: thanks tenaciousd, but that's WAY more stuff than I want to carry in this bag.
posted by FlamingBore at 6:49 AM on April 16, 2010

Have you tried etsy? I bought one of these camera bags and I'm really happy with it. You could turn this entry into an Alchemy request and see what you get.
posted by JoanArkham at 6:49 AM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Waterfield Designs Cargo Bags are at the upper end of your price range, maybe a bit above it, and are excellent. Maybe a bit heavyweight for you -- I'm not sure.
posted by galaksit at 6:53 AM on April 16, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks JoanArkham - I was completely unaware of Alchemy. How cool. If there's nothing on the market I'll certainly consider that!
posted by FlamingBore at 6:54 AM on April 16, 2010

This is completely non-specific, but check the vertical messenger bags category on eBags (you don't have to buy from them, but I find they're a good place to browse).

I like this one (but it's cheap, which would worry me) although it has no outside pockets (but pockets just under the flap).

Another good search term is "commuter" for this sort of thing.

I personally keep going back to this bag and I'm going to buy it one day.
posted by darksong at 6:54 AM on April 16, 2010

Response by poster: galaksit - The Cargo is too big for me, but thanks for the link. The VertiGo and the Muzetto are interesting though.
posted by FlamingBore at 6:57 AM on April 16, 2010

Response by poster: darksong - that Manhattan is very similar to something I already have from Timbuk2, just without the backpack straps. It's a lot heavier than I'm looking for but has a lot of the features I like. Thanks for the eBags link for vertical search. I didn't even realize that was an option. There are certainly some good looking bags there. I might have to track some down locally to check them out.
posted by FlamingBore at 7:02 AM on April 16, 2010

I have the Tom Bihn Large Cafe bag and it seems to meet all your criteria. It's been great.
posted by reverend cuttle at 7:24 AM on April 16, 2010

The Career Bag Finder has a good selection and some nice filtering capabilities
posted by IanMorr at 7:30 AM on April 16, 2010

Incase makes (made? I think there's a new model now that is not as good) a vertical sling bag that I would take to the ends of the Earth with me. That flap can snap closed, but if you don't snap it, the front pocket is really easy to get to, and there's also a large 'magazine pocket' on the other side. The only things it doesn't do that you want it to do is keep business cards safe loose, but if you get a five dollar plastic business card holder, you could throw that in the front pocket. There's no top handle, but there's a sewn-on strip of nylon strap on the top-back of the bag that functions like one.

Either way, you might want to use the search string "vertical sling bag." It turns up a decent few things that might fit your fancy.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 7:47 AM on April 16, 2010

Hiya. I just got a "Piazza Day Bag" from Ebags and I'm liking it. It's got a lot of nice pockets and seems pretty expandable. It will hold everything you listed except the 13" MacBook. It may be a little girly depending on how you think girls should look. That's all I got, ymmv.
posted by thirteenkiller at 7:50 AM on April 16, 2010

I'll second the Tom Bihn Large Cafe bag. Made in USA! (Surely that was on your list of criteria and you merely forgot to add it)
posted by BostonTerrier at 8:25 AM on April 16, 2010

I use this which is cheap and basic and surprisingly well-made. It's too small for a laptop, but it should hold an iPad.
posted by neroli at 9:18 AM on April 16, 2010

My Booq backpack is the best backpack I've ever owned, but this Booq Boa Slimcase bag has always appealed to me. It's within your price range and the quality is absolutely outstanding. It's made out of ballistic nylon so it's really sturdy. And if you happen to be a SF Giants fan, bonus on the black with orange interior! I'm an A's fan so the orange isn't my favorite, but I LOVE my Booq backpack!
posted by wherever, whatever at 4:58 PM on April 16, 2010