Portable Office

April 6, 2006 5:36 PM

What features should I look for in a bag to use as a portable office?

We have a very mobile lifestyle. We work from home for a total of 3-6 months a year, but the rest of the time we work from all over the place. We have been using GTD with varied success for about a year. I've discovered that work goes pretty well from home, but when we're travelling I barely get anything done. I feel that one of the problems is that at home I have everything in one place: project folders, inbox trays, etc.

So I think a possible solution is to get a bag that can function as a mobile office, that I would use at home and abroad. (Any other mobile work tips are appreciatied) Has anyone found a bag that works particularly well for this or features that are useful. I don't want it too big, because I want to feel free to use it all the time. Thanks

posted by birchhook to Work & Money (9 answers total)

I could have sworn I saw something in the Levenger catalog, but I can't find it for the life of me on their website. (They're pretentious and possibly overpriced, but nice stuff.)
posted by callmejay at 5:54 PM on April 6, 2006

This is a good question! I'm also looking into a new bag that can serve all of these functions as well, so if you'll excuse me...

(extend lips)
(attach face to birchhook)

I'm going to leech onto this one.
posted by symphonik at 5:54 PM on April 6, 2006

I don't have a specific bag to recommend, but I would look for a bag that had the following:

* separation in the main bag, so that a laptop could be on one side, and paperwork on the other. Makes it easier to slide the laptop in and out that way.
* two easy to access outside pockets on length side, for wallet, cell phone, PDA, etc, and one large pocket on the width side for your laptop cord and other wires.
* multi strap capability - a shoulder strap at the min., hopefully one long enough to use messenger style.
*

I used to have a nice one from LLBean of all places, but it is gone and I don't see it on their web site. this levenger bag might work. this one is heavy but really nice as well.
posted by sperare at 6:33 PM on April 6, 2006

I use a backpack when working on the road. I have very specific needs in a backpack that probably won't apply to you, but the best thing I have ever bought is a Freudian Slip organizer from Tom Bihn. On one side it has great pockets for organizing papers and on the other it has lots of pockets for holding electronics and anything else I need to grab quickly. I have been through many backpacks, but this organizer has outlived all of them. It is also easy to pull out of one bag and put it in another.
posted by Alison at 8:35 PM on April 6, 2006

Best answer: These articles might give you a few ideas:

• Laptop Case Buyer's Guide
• Packing Mobile Gear
• Traveling Work Supplies - What's In Your Briefcase?
• How to Organize Your Briefcase
• 7. Organize Your Briefcase for the Road
• Run a Productive Business From Your Car-Office

Hammacher Schlemmer has a leather File Cabinet Briefcase, and check out RoadWired's MegaMedia Bag. Shaun Jackson Design offers the BackOffice convertible bag/pack in two sizes.
posted by cenoxo at 11:42 PM on April 6, 2006

I don't have one, but the FlyLady sells a ton of these Office in a Bag. People who follow her organizing/cleaning system seem to like it.
posted by SashaPT at 2:16 AM on April 7, 2006

Have you seen the Levenger Travelling Inbox?
posted by josh at 7:47 AM on April 7, 2006

Duluth Trading has this bag. They call it a "Mobile Office Backpack". They have a lot more stuff, but their site is a navigational mess.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:39 AM on April 7, 2006

I second Alison's recommendation of Tom Bihn bags. I have a messenger style bag (the ID), and a backpack (the Brain Bag). They are exteremely well designed and well made. You might like to check out their briefcase style bag, the Empire Builder.
posted by shakobe at 1:02 PM on April 7, 2006