Where to buy a laptop backpack in NYC

August 26, 2019 11:01 AM

I'd like to purchase a new backpack that can hold my laptop. I'd prefer to shop in-person rather than online, so I'm looking for good options in NYC. Thanks for any tips!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell to Shopping (9 answers total)

What sort of style(s) are you looking for?

REI (Houston & Lafayette?) will have options, but possibly not the sort of thing you're looking for. I would also expect to find some at TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Nordstrom Rack, though possibly without the most engineered laptop compartments.
posted by hoyland at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2019

Highly dependent on your budget but there's a very nice luggage/general bags store on greenwich ave and I think charles st? I've gotten stuff there in the past and while it wasn't cheap it was all good quality.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:16 AM on August 26, 2019

If you are looking for something sporty, definitely check out REI - they have lots of options. If you want something more professional looking, I would encourage you to check out the Everlane store in SoHo. For more options, 2nding Nortdstrom Rack or maybe even Macys?
posted by something_witty at 11:27 AM on August 26, 2019

Timbuk2 has really, really well made laptop backpacks and they have storefronts in Brooklyn and Manhattan. I looked at their offerings online about a thousand times during my long quest for the perfect laptop backpack and was totally sold when I got my hands on them when I visited a storefront in Seattle.
posted by Sublimity at 11:48 AM on August 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

This may sound silly but check Staples -- of which NYC has several -- because they are definitely selling back-to-school supplies this week and a laptop-holding backpack would certainly qualify.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 12:04 PM on August 26, 2019

It might be worth checking out B&H if you're in the neighborhood. Upstairs in the camera bag section they've got some nice backpacks. Though many of them tend to be oriented toward carrying camera gear, they almost always are built for laptops as well.
posted by theory at 1:47 PM on August 26, 2019

Used clothing / Thrift stores will have older bags, well built, which also do not scream "I have an expensive laptop" in them. You can add decorations and clean them up a bit to make them workable, presentable, and a bit of character.
posted by nickggully at 5:20 PM on August 26, 2019

Chrome has two NYC locations and their gear is great. I believe you can order semi-custom or custom bags at the SoHo location. If you're local, you can always bring your bag in for repair, should you need to -- but their bags are dang near indestructible, so you may well never need to. (Had mine for 11 years and one of its plastic buckles cracked in Year 10. That was literally all that ever happened to it, their bags are frighteningly long-lasting.)

There used to be a place called The Bag House on Broadway near 11th (?) but I'm not sure whether they're still in business. If they are, give them a try -- large selection, many brands, tolerable-to-decent prices.
posted by halation at 7:32 PM on August 26, 2019

On the high end, try Tumi. They have several NYC locations.
posted by smokyjoe at 5:42 PM on August 27, 2019