Before I kick off, full disclosure; I’m a fan! A fan of Tom Bihn and nearly everything that comes out of their Seattle factory. I bought my first Tom Bihn bag in 2002, an Empire Builder, and shortly after bought the Brain Bag. These were painfully expensive at the time, but when I eventually sold them I got a re-sale price that I’d never get from lesser bags. So the total cost was not so bad. Also, the functionality; the features and benefits; and the incredible build-quality loaded into every case made the expense worthwhile. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Travel Gear

Tagged: Bag

Tom Bihn Tri-Star Travel Bag and Accessories Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2009 at 7:00 am.

Don't think of it as just for gadgets. It's a versatile tool storage unit for many types of work.

We geeks do love carrying around our tools and toys. Cases, packs, clothing with special pockets, and belt cases are found where ever gadget lovers congregate. Recently, a new wrinkle on the fanny pack/belt case genre has come on the scene – the Grab-It Pack. I was given one to review. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, BeltPack, fanny pack

Grab-It Pack is highly versatile, but nerdy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 25, 2009 at 10:37 am.

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.

A few years back my car was a SAAB 95 estate (station wagon). The 95 is perhaps not so large by US standards, but for most of us Europeans its a big beast. For vacations we really did not have to care about packing – we just threw everything in the back. For the last couple of months I’ve been living with a bag that’s a bit like this; the new Meta from Spire. The Meta is big; easily the biggest, baddest travel/gadget bag that I have. The composite photo below gives an idea of its size. I’m 1.88m (6’2”) tall. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Bag, Case, Laptop Bag

Spire Meta & Dart, Travel Bag / Gadget Bag & Laptop Sleeve Combo Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 6, 2009 at 7:31 am.

You can never have too many cases and bags, I always say! … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Macbook, Sleeve

Toffee Leather Laptop Sleeve and Brief originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2009 at 1:00 am.

I have been a fan of leather bags from the Saddleback Leather Company since my first review of their Briefcase bag and then their Explorer’s Satchel. The style of their bags is what I would call American adventure. They look like something that you might see a person carrying 100 years ago. Definitely a style that can be considered both trendy and classic at the same time. Today I want to show you their latest offering – a Laptop Sleeve. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, gear bag, Leather

Saddleback Leather Company Laptop Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 9, 2009 at 10:05 am.

I’m pretty particular about what I want in a laptop bag. I tend to prefer backpacks because of the more even weight distribution, but I’ve recently been using messenger bags again. My current favorite is the Ice Red Drift. When Julie sent me the Expand-It from BBP bags, I thought it looked interesting – but I wasn’t convinced at first look if it could compete with my current preferred bag. We’ll see if it matched up. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, gear bag, Laptop Bag

BBP Expand-It Laptop Messenger Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 27, 2009 at 11:16 am.

Do you use a laptop sleeve to protect your laptop when you carry it around or place it in a larger bag? Have you ever considered that the sleeve that you’re using could be holding in heat and slowly damaging your battery? bbp bags have considered this fact and are offering a solution with their new Breathe Sleeve.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

bbp bags Breathe Sleeve Laptop Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 3, 2008 at 8:51 pm.

I am always looking for a better mode of transportation for my laptop and other supplies/accessories/junk. Last month I completed a review of the Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag from Mobile Edge. Now it time to check-out another Alienware branded bag, the Mobile Edge Alienware Orion Messenger Bag.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Alienware Orion Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2008 at 3:16 pm.

The main thing I hate about traveling is going through airport security. You know the drill, take off your shoes, jacket, metal items in your pockets and place them in a tray. Then remove the laptop from your shoulder bag and place it in another tray. It’s always a hassle once your items come out the other end of the Xray machine because you have to hurry up and gather them before you hold up the line. How would you like to make your life a little bit easier with that task? How about if you didn’t have to remove your laptop? Well now you don’t have to thanks to the Checkpoint Flyer laptop bag from Tom Bihn.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer Laptop Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2008 at 10:15 pm.

For the past seven years, I’ve been using the same messenger bag as a laptop bag. I got it for free at a conference, and by the end of those seven years, it looked like they should have paid me to take it. So, when the opportunity arose to review the re-designed version of the Tom Bihn Empire Builder bag, I jumped at the chance.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Tom Bihn Empire Builder Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 17, 2008 at 8:00 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.

My Dell laptop backpack has seen better days. There are several places where the material has frayed and it seems like it gets worse with each passing day. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to review a new bag.

Mobile Edge has put together a line of Alienware branded bags. This review covers the Mobile Edge Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag. Although my current bag is a backpack, I actually prefer the messenger style of bag in terms of look, accessibility and comfort.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Mobile Edge Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 30, 2008 at 8:30 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.

Anyone else out there ever had a secret fantasy about wanting to be like Indiana Jones?
Come on, I can’t be the only one. I remember the original movie and falling in love with the
character. Traveling to exotic locations, searching for treasures, yeah, that’s me in a nutshell!
Ok, not quite… But I do live in Indiana and… ok, the similarity ends there. Or it did till now.
Now I am one step closer to fulfilling that fantasy because I have an Explorer’s Satchel from
Saddleback Leather Company.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Saddleback Leather Company Explorer’s Satchel Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 28, 2008 at 8:19 pm.

Mobile Edge carries a nice selection of gear and laptop bags for both men and women. They recently sent me their Mini Messenger, which I’ve been using for a few days now to see how well it performs as an everyday bag for this gadgeteer. Let’s see how it stood up…

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Mobile Edge Mini Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2008 at 8:30 pm.

Last fall, I reviewed The Ice Red UNI Cargo Laptop Tote Bag. Now, not quite one year later, Ice Red has another laptop tote bag for women that they’ve sent to me to review.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Ice Red Sirocco Laptop Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2008 at 4:00 pm.

Laptop bags designed specifically for women, were until the last couple of years, somewhat hard to come by. Now they are available in all manner of fabrics, colors and styles. Ice Red is a company that specializes in this field and recently sent me their Shine laptop bag for review.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Ice Red Shine Laptop Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2008 at 3:15 pm.

Incase Neoprene Sleeve and the Thinvelope Leather Slipper Case for the Macbook Air are both very nice cases in their own right. They provide the Macbook Air protection while it travels within their soft interiors, but provide little to no protection while your MBAir is in use. The i-volution Leather Suit for the Macbook Air takes protecting your Air to a whole new level. Vaja has designed the i-volution Leather Suit to be worn all the time…never to be taken off; 24/7 protection.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Vaja i-volution Macbook Air Leather Suit Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 12, 2008 at 6:58 pm.

When I initially saw the Thinvelope Leather Slipper Case, it reminded me of several old college professors who carried their papers around in cases almost identical in style and material. Beyza has done a great job mixing Old World craftsmanship and modern function. The Thinvelope is an excellent means of protecting and transporting your Macbook Air with style.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Beyza Thinvelope Macbook Air Leather Slipper Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2008 at 7:24 pm.

I have been debating on buying a Macbook Air since they were announced. Fortunately I found a good deal on a barely used one that included the SuperDrive and two cases. One of these slipper cases was the Airmail by manilamac, which I was so impressed with I immediately gave it to my six year old. The other was the Neoprene Sleeve for the Macbook Air by Incase, which I was so taken aback by its simple perfection, in terms of form and function, I decided then and there I was going to do a review on it.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Incase Neoprene Macbook Air Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 15, 2008 at 7:41 pm.

Julie received an e-mail from Tanya Jeffers of Connecting Point Communications. Tanya requested we review Kensington’s Contour Balance Notebook Case, and see how their cases differ from competitors. I was lucky enough to be selected for the testing and review of the case. When I unboxed the case, there was a chain tag with the phrase, “Fits like your favorite pair of shoes.” There was also a sleek figure in high heels above this phrase. I immediately thought, “Yeah, like that is possible for me!” Not only because I wear a size 10 wide shoe, but it is difficult for me to find stylish, comfy shoes. My favorite shoes are tennis shoes, so all I could think was, “Will this bag really be as comfortable as them?” After testing this case, I quickly realized it was not only possible but I could achieve a great fit at an affordable price!

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

Kensington Contour Balance Notebook Case Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 20, 2008 at 5:45 pm.

Sometimes you don’t want or need to carry pounds and pounds of gear along with your laptop. For those times, the HardCase from WaterField Designs might be the perfect gear bag for you and your computer.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

WaterField Designs HardCase Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 4, 2008 at 1:59 pm.

I am always looking for a better apparatus to carry my laptop and miscellaneous supplies. When looking at a new one, I have some simple criteria: 1) comfort, 2) appearance (style) 3) durability and 4) functionality (how well does it hold my stuff). That in mind, I jumped at the opportunity to try out a few of SLAPPA’s products from their new Ballistix’s line.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Laptop Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag

SLAPPA Ballistix Laptop Bags and Sleeves originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 27, 2008 at 4:57 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.