HEX has announced two new Fall collections of their bag lines – Recon and Varsity. Both lines includes a messenger bag that has an easy-access iPad bay that allows users to interact with their iPad (gen 1 or 2) without having to remove it.

The Recon and Varsity collections are each comprised of eight bag styles including 13” and 15” messenger bags for iPad, laptop bag, 13” & 15” laptop sleeves, and three backpacks. The Recon line is more casual with its industrial grade washed canvas shell fabric that looks weathered. While the Varsity line is made of heather grey wool, giving it a little more classy appearance.

These bags are available for pre-order now at www.ShopHex.com, bags are expected to ship beginning mid-August.

Filed in categories: Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: bags

HEX’s New Bag Line Houses iPads and Laptops originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 7, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

So you just bought an iPad.  What do you carry it in?  Thinner than most netbooks, much smaller than most laptops, you are no longer confined to gi-nor-mous bags if you want to carry just the basics.

When the iPad was announced, I immediately set out to find a suitable bag.  As it turns out, the folks at Tom Bihn have a bag that carries the iPad, a few accessories, and that’s it.  Sometimes, that’s a good thing!

The Ristretto for iPad/Netbooks is a smaller variant of the regular Ristretto.  Let’s take a look at the specs.

• Built-in padded compartment sized specifically for iPad, Netbooks and Kindle DX
• Padded iPad/Netbook compartment measures: 10.86″ x 7.59″ x .98″ / 276 x 193 x 25mm
• Padded compartment made of .25″ (8mm) open-cell foam laminated with durable 4 Ply Taslan / interior of super-soft brushed nylon protects from all sides
• Choose from three shoulder straps (Standard, TerraGrip, Absolute, that attach to snaphooks via d-rings
• Overall measurements: 12 x 9.25 x 4.75 / 305 x 235 x 120mm  Exterior of 1000 denier Cordura®
• Lined with 500 denier Cordura®
• Weight: 11 oz.
• Made in the TOM BIHN Factory in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

I chose the Olive / Cayenne color scheme and the Absolute shoulder strap for an additional $20, which gives you a more padded strap.

Rear view. Not shown is the detachable leg/waist strap that attaches to the four tabs.

The bag is slightly wider towards the bottom.

Use the supplied strap, or use your own. Or remove it completely.

I wasn’t sure about the color scheme until I opened the flap and was greeted with a brilliant, chili-pepper “cayenne” red!  I love it.

There is one zippered pouch inside.

A peek in the accessory compartment. There are two pen slots and two medium pockets

The main compartment contains a permanent padded area with a flap.  What isn’t obvious is that the flap has no velcro, no magnets, no snaps, nothing.  It simply folds over the top of your device.  Quick and silent.

Looking down the main compartment

No velcro here! Yay!

Flap pulled up, iPad inside it's padded cozy home

iPad halfway out...

iPad out of the pouch

You may be wondering why I’ve got the iPad inside the Apple case.  Well, the iPad plus case fits the Ristretto just fine.  I imagine it would fit in the bag with other aftermarket cases as well as long as they’re not too bulky.

Not too much, not too little. Just right.

The Tom Bihn Ristretto for iPad/Netbooks holds just what I need:  iPad, keychain flashlight, USB flash drive, zippered pouch with basic first aid supplies, second pouch with various loose items (eye drops, screwdrivers), Verizon MiFi 2200 EVDO device, Bluetooth headset, Leatherman, two pens, headphones, and a ThinkOutside fold-up bluetooth keyboard (which works with the iPad).  $110 isn’t cheap, but the built-in sleeve makes it worthwhile for me.

Addendum:

After a few requests, I tried slipping in the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard.  It fits!

I don't know why I didn't think to try it at first, but it fits!

Main compartment with iPad

iPad screen on inside main compartment

Alternate view of iPad in main compartment

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: bags, iPad

Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag for iPad Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 3, 2010 at 10:34 pm.

Austrian design company Urban Tool hopes so. I’m definitely not brave enough to wear one myself. People already think I’m goofy… If I’d showed up at my day job wearing one of these, I can only imagine the looks that I would get. But then, I live in smalltown USA. I do think the idea is pretty interesting and I’m always looking for new bag ideas. Urban Tool sells several styles of these convertible holsters, as well as more traditional shoulder bags, that I’d really like to check out. I also love how they say that some of the bags are made of hydrophobic materials.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: bags, gear bags, holster

Is the US ready for Urban Tool hipHolsters? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2009 at 7:52 am.