Do you have problems with your laptop and gear bags holding up to all of the every day wear and tear that you subject them to? The Saddleback Leather Company makes gear bags that are super rugged and are built to last a lifetime. To back that up, they offer a 100 year warranty on each bag they sell. Let’s take a look at one of their latest bags, the vertical messenger. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Shoulder Bag

Saddleback Leather Company Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 14, 2009 at 10:17 am.

Gear bags are all the rage these days, most sporting voluminous cc’s of storage space and a plethora of pockets and compartments for storing our gadgety goodies.  The BUILT Laptop Backpack follows a bit … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Laptop Bag

Low profile laptop backpack from BUILT originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2009 at 8:55 am.

Just in time for the holiday season, the fine folks at SLAPPA have released a new series of gear bags with the Aura PRO-TOUR laptop backpack.  In the past, I have reviewed CD cases, laptop bags and sleeves from SLAPPA and I have always been impressed with the quality of their products. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Laptop Bag

SLAPPA Aura PRO-TOUR Laptop Backpack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 25, 2008 at 7:57 am.

In January I reviewed Tom Bihn’s Aeronaut and a gazillion and one little packing cubes, pockets and organizer pouches. As you may have gathered from the review, I was very keen on the packing cubes. Over the last year I’ve used these accessories, in many combinations on every trip I’ve done. I also use them to corral cables in my desk drawer.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

Tom Bihn Convertible Packing Cube/Backpack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 6, 2008 at 7:00 am.

I mentioned to Julie a few weeks ago that I’ve been looking for the perfect laptop backpack. Since I started my new job, I’ve been
using the Ice Red Drift messenger bag. Even though it’s
not a laptop bag, it worked pretty well, seeing as my Dell XPS M1330 came with a very nice sleeve. I also really liked this bag. Its
one major problem is that it’s a messenger bag. I sometimes have to make the mile and half trek home from work by foot (mostly when
I lose track of time and miss my last bus home), and a shoulder bag eventually starts to hurt my back and shoulder from the
unbalanced weight. I already have a couple laptop backpacks, but neither were exactly what I want.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag

Mobile Edge Women’s Express Laptop Backpack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2008 at 4:21 pm.

As I read Julie’s review of the Timbuk2 messenger bag, I couldn’t help but think of my own choice in gear-hauling. The ‘2′ is a fine bag and the design possibilities are unlimited. I looked at such bags while I was shopping for a new hauler. I knew I didn’t want just a backpack or rucksack; they get tangled on furniture as you walk by and they are too big for everyday carry. I need room for a book, a sweater and a water bottle, not a sleeping bag and a tent.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 4, 2008 at 8:34 pm.

Last October I received a pile of cases and accessories from Tom Bihn. Over the years I’d reviewed several Tom Bihn products, all bought with my own hard earned cash – no review samples. Tom Bihn’s products are very good value I think, but a little expensive. When reviewing a case that represents days of toil in your day job, even the most tolerant of reviewers is likely to be a little more harsh. Tom Bihn’s stuff has always come out shining – not perfect, but always well worth the money.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Tom Bihn Aeronaut, Packing Cubes and Organizer Pouches originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 28, 2008 at 5:05 pm.

If you saw the Ladies Madison Laptop Tote review, you knew there was a second review coming your way. Samsill graciously sent the tote and the Microsoft Summit Laptop Backpack for my use. For the last 3 months, everyone in the house has used the backpack. My husband and I tried it in multiple environments. He used it at school and for work. I used it to consolidate my purse, diaper bag, and independent contractor equipment into one bag. We split the time using the bag and carried it everywhere we went. Want to know how the Summit Laptop Backpack held up over these months? Keep reading the review!

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Articles, Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag

Samsill Microsoft Summit Laptop Backpack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2007 at 9:45 am.

I love leather gear bags. Not the froo-froo kind though. I’m talking about the more rugged style of leather bags. The kind that Indiana Jones might appreciate if he was a real person. The kind of bag that might be able to tell stories if it could talk. The kind of bag that isn’t made on an assembly line, but in a more personal setting. Bags from the Saddleback Leather Company of Texas fit this criteria and according to owner Dave Munson, these are the kind of bags that your grandkids will fight over when you’re dead. Sounds good enough to me, let’s take a closer look…

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Saddleback Leather Company Briefcase originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2007 at 5:20 pm.

Cory at Spire USA contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their latest product: The Torq – a laptop backpack. Although I currently use a backpack bag for all my camera gear – the Crumpler Karachi Outpost backpack – and I only have one back, I thought I would give it a try. What could it hurt (aside from my back)?

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag

Spire Torq Backpack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2007 at 11:30 am.

Sometime back in May or June I decided to try a different approach for my
photography business. Rather than the traditional portrait stuff, I
decided to see if I could make a nickel selling action shots. So far my
little endeavor (iphotsports.com) seems to be paying off
pretty well. Anyway, getting round to the point, in order to properly
shoot action shots, I had to purchase a digital SLR (Canon 20D), lenses,
and other accessories. I very … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Audio / Video Gear, Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

Crumpler Karachi Outpost Backpack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2005 at 6:00 pm.

You’ve got to love a bag from a company named Bumbakpaks. Come on, it’s just fun to say. Bumbakpaks, bumbakpaks, bumbakpaks. Ok, now that I have that out of my system, I can tell you about their Urbanomic Hamptons Chocotango bag which the company refers to as a messenger bag. But to me it looks more like a satchel that a teacher might carry. Regardless as to what it looks like, this bag has the ability to hold all of your gear and your laptop. What … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Bumbakpaks Urbanomic Hamptons Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2005 at 6:32 pm.

Product Requirements:
Daily gear that needs a bag, a smaller
sized laptop (up to 11.5" x 9.5" x 1.5" / 290 x 240 x
38mm)

One of my favorite gear bag manufacturers is
Tom Bihn. This unpretentious and friendly company has a past record for
producing some of the best looking, hardest working and longest lasting bags
that I have … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

The Buzz Sling Bag by Tom Bihn Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2004 at 12:00 am.

Introduction
About a month ago I received a Volt XL backpack from Cory Barnes at
Spire USA. Based in Boulder, Colorado,
Spire manufactures a range of backpacks, courier-type bags and protective cases.
The Volt is not the first Spire product that I’ve tested; a few years ago I
bought one of the first of Spire’s Meta backpacks for my G3 PowerBooks. Some of
these computer bags and cases are very expensive and so many purchasers … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Laptop Bag

Spire Volt XL Backpack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 7, 2003 at 12:00 am.

As you can imagine, Julie and I see all sorts of laptop and gear bags in all
sorts of styles and flavors. Obviously, some of them are better than others.
Some of them have redeeming features but they aren’t quite ready for
prime-time, and some…well some are so bad that we send e-mails back and
forth to each other discussing the various features that guarantee that that
particular bag will wind up in the bottom of our respective junk closets.

The bag I … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

BooqPaq3 Laptop Backpack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 23, 2003 at 12:00 am.

Here’s the bag’s description printed on its tag:
Durable Moisture Resistant Fabric
Large Storage Compartment
Cell Phone Pocket
Audio Pocket and Portal
Key Clip
Zippered Accessory Pocket

The Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag has a padded zippered pocket that rests
against your back or side. It’s fairly thin, but I use it to hold my wallet, ID,
and a few thin magazines. The seams, stitching, zippers and pockets are of high … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear, Miscellaneous

Tagged: Backpack, Bag, Shoulder Bag

Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 9, 2003 at 12:00 am.

One of the best things about being a Gadgeteer is that I get to play with
some of the coolest accessories that come onto the market, but then sometimes
that can backfire. For instance, right before we took our
Spring Break trip to Scotland,
I was sent the new Tom Bihn
visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

Tom Bihn Smart Alec Day Pack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 3, 2003 at 12:00 am.

Notebook computers, gadgets, gizmos, PDAs, digital cameras, cell phones and
other assorted stuff… what do you use to schlep it all around?  A
grocery sack? Duffel bag? Nope, not if you’re a gadgeteer. You want something
that looks cool and is functional with lots and lots of pockets! One such
solution is a STM Sport Laptop BackPack. These are high quality ergonomic packs
made of 600d Ripstop fabric from Australia (available in the US at visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Backpack, Bag

STM Sport Laptop BackPack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 12, 2001 at 12:00 am.