STM, an Australian company that makes very nice bags, has been featured here before. This time, I get to review one of their full-sized laptop bags- the medium-sized, vertical shoulder bag. It’s a great looking bag and I could not wait to try it out!

When I look for a bag, I want something that will carry my stuff in an organized way, be good quality for the cost, and look OK doing it. The STM Vertical Medium Laptop Shoulder Bag runs $70 from eBags.com and is a good size- 16.3′ x 11.8″ X 3.1″ with a laptop slot that is 14.8″ x 10.4″ x 1.3″ and holds my 14.5″ HP with a little room to spare. The proportions are such that they feel OK on both me, a very large guy, and my slender wife. The removable shoulder strap is generously cut and easily adjustable. The bag also features a handy and very sturdy grab handle, which I really like in a bag.

STM bag proportions

The bag is very well made. As was noted in the previous review, there is a lot of attention to detail- sturdy hardware, interesting and strong zipper pulls, and a really well-done shoulder pad that does not slip and is very comfortable. The main pockets are lined with a grey fleece material with some quilting that feels nice and soft. I do not worry that anything will be scratched in these pockets!

The lining fabric, zipper pulls, and shoulder pad. Notice the Velcro on the front pocket- that is what holds the main flap down.

Shoulder strap hardware

So, high marks for looks and quality. (Forgive the fuzz and mild wear- I’ve been using this bag now since I got it and I carry it daily, and we have a cat, so…)

The bag features a large main pocket for the laptop or whatever you want to fit in it, a full sized back pocket, a pocket in the outside main flap with a zipper on the side, a large pocket in front of the laptop pocket almost as wide and tall, another one about 2/3rds that size (which seems to be designed for an iPad), and an organizer pocket with an exterior pocket, a large gusseted opening, several pen-type slots, another zippered pocket behind them, and a key clip.

Organizer pocket

Back pocket and grab handle

The bag can hold quite a bit without looking bulgy, although since it is a vertical bag, it is designed to be rather thin and does not particularly like thick stuff. It cannot easily handle things like water bottles, lunches, and even big ‘power bricks’ well although it is fine with magazines and files. The photo below shows everything I was carrying when I took the photo. There was still plenty of space, but mostly for rather flat stuff. In fact, the camera shown sort of has to be ‘positioned’ in the top part of the organizer pocket so it does not make a bulge.

Everything in the bag on photo day

There are a couple small things about this bag that bother me a little. The laptop flap and the main flap just secure with relatively small areas of Velcro. In fact, the Velcro area for the main flap- the wide oval shape on the organizer pocket shown a few photos up- really does not allow for much variation in bag thickness. The other minor thing is the relative inability to hold thicker stuff. If I was taking this on a plane or trip, I would need another bag for bulkier items. If you need bulkier storage or more secure front flaps, consider the Scout bags, or one of their other shoulder bags.

They have a nicely worded warranty, but since the company is in Australia it would be interesting to know how it actually applies.

Not quite my ‘dream bag*’ but a nicely put together bag that will probably hold up for a long time with daily abuse. (*- I want a nearly impossible collection of mix-and match components so I can carry what I want when I want without spare bulk and not shuffle items from bag to bag. Dream on, right?)

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

STM Vertical Medium Laptop Shoulder Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 13, 2011 at 10:08 am.

When you are going through airport security, what’s the most important thing?  I mean, aside from making sure your socks don’t have holes in them, that is.  You want to get through it fast, right?  And it sure is a hassle having to remove your laptop from its bag and then put it back in the bag on the other side.  Well, no more worries mate.  The MobileEdge ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase 2.0 is the bag for you!

UPDATE:  new pictures added at the bottom of the review.

In the past month I went on 2 trips so I had to go through airport security in several different airports around the country.  I was intrigued by this bag that claimed I didn’t have to remove my laptop before going through security, because they are pretty strict at airport security, right?  I wondered how all the airport security folks around the country got the message about this bag and what I was gonna say if they made me remove the laptop.  I wondered if Julie was gonna bail me out of jail for refusing to remove the laptop, because my review just wouldn’t work if I had to remove it!  Luckily, Julie didn’t have to come to my rescue.

I was successful at every airport getting through security without having to remove the laptop from the bag, and it was simply a breeze with this bag!  As you can see from the picture below, you just unzip the main zipper and open the bag completely flat.  Lay the bag on the conveyor belt and shazam, that’s it.  I didn’t have to get an extra bin to put the laptop in, thereby saving me a couple minutes and lots of hassle.  If I traveled alot, this bag would be extremely valuable because over the long run the minutes you save having to stand in line add up.

As you can see from the pictures, I took them in my office and not at the airport.  I was pretty confident in Julie’s ability to negotiate with airport security, but I wasn’t going to push my luck by trying to take pictures of the bag as it went through the scanner.  I wasn’t interested in being on the CNN evening news!

Let me tell you some of things I love about this bag.  For such a small bag, there are a ton of pockets.  On the front of the bag you have 2 outside zippered pockets, as well as 2 horizontal zippered pockets.  I used these horizontal pockets to hold my travel papers, ID, baggage claim tickets, etc.  It made it very convenient to get to these items without having to unzip the main zippered compartments.

The bottom of the bag has rubber feet to allow the bag to stand by itself without falling over, and I really liked this.  I did pack it really tight one time and it was heavy on one side of the bag, which caused it to tip over.  But most of the time it did a good job standing up.  The bag is padded everywhere, literally.  This bag was made for traveling because no matter which pocket you choose, padding is everywhere.  The stitching and quality of this bag are also top notch.  From the zippers, to the handle, to the hooks on the end that hold the strap… it just feels like quality and not cheap at all.  The shoulder strap is also padded and made of some kind of elastic because it stretches and gives a little bit.  This made it easier on my shoulder when I carried it.

Inside the main zippered compartment where the laptop goes is a large zippered pouch that is perfect for holding file folders, magazines, books, etc.  The other large zippered compartment is where all your other gear is stored.  It has specific storage slots for flash drives, which is a nice touch, as well as 2 zippered mesh pouches to allow you to see what’s inside the pouch.  There are also slots for pens, your business cards, and 2 velcro pouches to hold misc items.  There is also a small hook on a strap to hold things like your keys so they don’t get lost in the bottom of the bag… nice touch!

I am very pleased with this bag, and even though it can’t hold as much stuff as some of my larger computer bags, this has become my daily-use bag of choice.  And because of the quality of materials, and a lifetime guarantee, I think this is going to last me a long time.  Some added benefits of the bag for traveling are that it fits in overhead bins of course, but also, because of its small size it fits under the seat in front of you.

MobileEdge has several different varieties of these ScanFast bags, from this briefcase, to messenger bags, several backpacks, and even a Netbook bag.  So there is a bag for everyone.  My only complaints are trivial… the tassels on the zippers sometimes got in my way as I was closing the main compartments.  But the convenience of having the tassels to close the zippers outweighs any hassle you get.  Also, as I mentioned, it will tip over if you pack the bag with too much stuff or let it get heavy on one side.

I have used lots of laptop bags to travel with over the years, even some really expensive ones that had wheels and a handle.  But the lightweight, durable quality of this bag, combined with the ease of use going through security means that I won’t be traveling with any other bag.

—————————————————————————————————————–

UPDATE:  The pictures below show me holding the bag, which can hold up to a 16 in. PC or 17 in. Macbook.  The pictures also show everything that I currently have in my bag… 15 in. laptop, power cord, misc cables, CDs, chargers, iPad, adapters, headphones, and a 1 in. file folder.  I could easily double this and still fit it all into the bag.  And I actually find the laptop bag attractive, especially considering bags I have owned in the past.

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag, Travel gear

MobileEdge ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase 2.0 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 30, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

As soon as I opened the Skooba box I fell in love with the color of my bag! I know that sounds like a girl thing but let’s face it-I’m a girl! If you want something that sounds like a guy thing, how about my 80 year old father who said- “It has lots of pockets, it’s a good bag!.”
Seriously though, I had two major adventures with the bag. First I was caught in an unusually hard rainstorm with a tiny umbrella that I happened to have jammed in the bag. On another day, I placed the bag at the edge of my desk and walked away quickly without making sure the strap was no longer relying on my shoulder for support ergo it hit the floor. Suffice it to say, my netbook made it through each event without any water damage, cracks, dents or scratches. The bag is listed as water resistant and as I said, nothing was wet inside of my bag. The area that you place your netbook in is nicely padded-luckily for me! I did try to only carry the messenger bag for a week and use it as my purse/notebook bag. What I discovered is that I carry around a lot of stuff in my purse. I’m the kind of woman that has everything in my purse so needless to say that didn’t translate so well when switching to the one bag for all of my needs but on those minimalist days it worked very well. I wouldn’t have minded if it had a little more depth to hold more of my girly things but perhaps the manufacturer felt it would take away from the whole “lightweight” thing. The bag itself is light and adding the contents of my purse would defeat the purpose I suppose.

The bag does have several pockets to store things like pens, keys, cords, files and it included a cute hidden zipper area that housed netting to hold a water bottle. I liked the idea that you were able to put it away if you didn’t need it.  Also within the padded area for the netbook was a padded pocket that I used to carry my Kindle (and yes, it was in my bag on that fateful day it hit the floor!).  There is also a really nice zipper that goes across the top of the bag so you don’t have to undo the buckle to get access to your netbook. The carry strap is not padded but it really isn’t necessary when carrying a netbook since it hardly weighs anything. I did over stuff it a couple of times but it never became uncomfortable. I would definitely have to recommend the Skooba Netbook Messenger bag for my fellow netbook users because it keeps everything as simply as the netbook does.

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Skooba Netbook Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 10, 2010 at 10:30 am.

As you all know, I have been searching for the ultimate gear bag for years.  I posted a glowing review of the Duluth Traders Fire Hose Field Bag just a few weeks ago, and that was the best bag I had seen.  I bought an Asus eeePC 900HA (one of the last available 9” netbooks) a week ago, and to my dismay, it did not fit in the rear compartment.  Since this was to be the notebook computer I am bringing with me storm chasing this year, I need access to it from my seat in the van to do video and photo storage and light photo editing.  The Duluth bag, as amazing as it is, was not going to able to be the bag of choice for my trip.  It needed to be about half an inch wider to get the starring role there.  So, the search resumed.

I was doing my browsing on Ebags.com, and this little beauty hit my eye and I immediately wished I had seen this years ago.  Oh, the problems it would have solved.  I put in my order and a week later it showed up at my door.  I knew immediately that it would be the perfect bag for stowing all of my storm chasing gear in a compact but well-organized place.  It’s called the Olympia Multi-Purpose Waist Pack.  It’s made of black ballistic nylon with orange/yellow lining inside for maximum visibility.

The specifications are:

Size: 8″ x 12″ x 6″
Weight:1 lb , 8 oz
Capacity:600 cu. in.
Material: Rigid poly ballistic fabric
Warranty:10 Years
Linear inches:26″

The back of the bag has a zippered compartment to stash the waist belt.  I will probably not be using this feature, and the belt tucks very nicely behind.  Each wing flap of the belt contains a small zippered compartment perfect for stowing keys or change or a small mp3 player.

flap pocket

The main compartment is very open and contains a floating flat mesh pocket for travel documents.  My passport and travel papers fit perfectly in here.

The front of the main compartment has two flat fabric pockets.  They hold:

- Vixen pocket monocular
- Kestrel 4000 weather meter
- Emergency backup battery charger with cables for my phone, camcorder and iPod Touch.

The rest of the compartment is open.  There is no key-fob dangly thing in this bag.  The main compartment is spacious enough to hold:

- 9″ Asus eeePC 900HA netbook in its protective sleeve
- belt pouch with Droid phone, iPod Touch and earbuds
- belt pouch with Sony SX-41 camcorder and spare battery
- belt pouch with Canon S90 digital camera, spare battery and spare memory cards

The three belt pouches will be on my belt while on the chase, the space left in the bag will hold my fold-up jacket and any other sundries I get on any particular day.

There are two large pockets on the front, with zipped pockets in front of each of them that hold:

- a small notebook with pens and pencils
- business cards and my Olympus pocket voice recorder
- More cables and a USB memory stick
- pill case, Dramamine, a lot of spare AA and AAA batteries and a USB memory stick
- Sony Reader Pocket

And two mesh pockets for water bottles on the side, into one goes my Garmin Colorado 400t GPSr!

Here is all the gear it can hold (the Garmin GPS is tucked into the left mesh pocket):

To see a video of all this gear being packed into the bag, see my video at

Conclusion:  A great gear bag at a great price!

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: bag gadget camera travel compact organizer, Case, Shoulder Bag, Utility

Olympia Multi-Purpose Waist Pack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 10, 2010 at 10:40 am.

My reviews of Saddleback Leather Company bags have proved to be very popular on The Gadgeteer.com. Many of our readers who have gone on to purchase their products have written back to let us know that they have been more than happy with them. Today I wanted to do a quick review of one of their small standalone bag / add-on accessories for some of their other bags. It’s the Pouch.

The Pouch is currently available in four colors that include Carbon Black, Chestnut, Dark Coffee Brown and Dark Tobacco Brown. I was sent the Dark Tobacco Brown version.

The Pouch is 6.75 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall. It’s made of hypoallergenic 4-5 oz. (2-2.2 mm) thick chrome tanned leather with polyester marine grade industrial thread and metal rivets that are used at various stress points.

This bag doesn’t have magnets, zippers, velcro or plastic clips to hold the flap closed. Instead, it uses a really cool leather loop and toggle design that can be opened and closed easily with just one hand.

The removable leather shoulder strap is adjustable from 39 – 56 inches. It’s pretty thick and for me is not the most comfortable. I’d rather have something a bit softer and thinner and may try to find some leather strips to braid into an alternative shoulder strap. That said, this strap is very rugged and is probably strong enough to tow a truck

The strap is attached to the back of the pouch by two spring loaded metal clips. These clips allow you to use this pouch with other Saddleback Leather bags, which I’ll tell you about in a minute.

There’s a flat open topped pocket on the back of the pouch that can hold thin items such as your passport, flight boarding passes, a small notebook, etc.

You may notice the scuffs and scratches on this pouch and consider them a defect in workmanship. Let me assure you that this is not the case. Those marks are natural occurrences in the skin and should be considered character marks, not defects. I’ve been told that some of their customers even request bags with certain types of these markings.

Opening the flap reveals the main (and only) compartment in this pouch, which is lined in pigskin. I was not aware that pigskin is the second strongest hide in the world, second to kangaroo. This material has a very slight sheen to it and is smooth. I like the fact the pouch is lined instead of just having the raw leather, which sometimes ‘sheds’.

The interior pocket is a little over 8 inches deep and 5 inches wide. The pouch is pretty stiff, so it doesn’t feel like it can hold all that much at first. After some use, it will stretch out to accommodate more items. But be aware that it’s not designed to hold a lot of gear. Think of it as more of a minimalist gear bag and you’ll be fine.

The Pouch works great as an around the town shopping bag or out to lunch bag. I have used it to hold my Waterfield wallet and a small point and shoot Canon digital camera.

As mentioned earlier, the shoulder strap can be unclipped so that the pouch can be attached to other Saddleback Leather bags such as the Leather Briefcase, Leather Laptop Sleeve or Messenger Bag as shown above. It’s a nice add on that can be used to hold items that might not fit in the main bag.

My only criticism of the pouch is the price. I know that some people wouldn’t even blink an eye at that price, but for me, it would be hard to pay $127 for such a small bag.

I’m a real fan of Saddleback’s quality. Their workmanship is beyond compare and they stand behind their products with a 100 year guarantee. If you want a leather bag that will last ‘forever’ and prefer a more rugged style over froo-froo designs, you’ll love these bags. Trust me.

(Note: The links in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website are affiliate links.)

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Leather, Shoulder Bag

Saddleback Leather Company Pouch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 8, 2009 at 3:34 pm.

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.

FYI: Most of the pictures in this review are thumbnails that can be clicked on to see larger sized versions.

I know that this bag doesn’t look like what most of us picture in our mind when we think of a classic messenger bag. To me it looks like the big brother to the Saddleback Leather Explorer’s Satchel. And in a way, that’s exactly what it is. It’s made of thick rugged full grain leather and is available in 5 colors: Carbon Black, Chestnut, Dark Coffee Brown, Dark Tobacco Brown, and Light Tobacco Brown. I was sent the Dark Tobacco Brown version of the Messenger bag for this review.

This is a vertical oriented bag with a buckle down flap and a wide comfortable grab handle on top. If you click on the image, you’ll notice a lot of scuffs and scratches in the leather. No, I didn’t test the ruggedness of this bag by dragging it behind my car before taking the review shots. Scratches and scuffs are just the nature of bags like these and are not to be considered a defect or a problem with the workmanship. I think of them as character making battle scars.

If you flip the bag around to see the back, you’ll find a large vertical pocket that can hold several standard, large format sized magazines or file folders. You’ll also notice several D rings that can be used to attach different items to your bag. The large ring below the grab handle is used to convert the messenger from a shoulder bag, to a backpack. The Saddleback Leather Briefcase bag had this same feature.

It only takes a minute to unhook the shoulder strap, run one end through the metal ring and the attach the clips to the bottom D rings.

You’ll notice that the strap is adjustable and has two shoulder pads.

Each side of the Messenger bag has a open topped pocket that is large enough to hold a phone, compact umbrella, water bottle, etc.

As I mentioned earlier, there are several metal D rings positioned in different areas of this bag. These rings are handy for hooking different items such as keys, flashlights, etc. The hardware is nickel plated metal, which normally used for dog collars and horse tack, making it feel very strong and rugged.

The buckled flap lifts up to reveal one large compartment.

Inside, you will find an open topped pocket on each side and a key holder attached to a leather strap. This compartment can also be customized by clipping in the included divider.

The divider is made of thick leather and has metal eyelets riveted into each corner.

Matching clips are riveted into the main messenger bag compartment.

It takes a bit of blind wrestling to clip in the bottom edge of the divider, but once installed, the bag now has two compartments instead of one. The divider does wiggle around a little, but I think this is a nice feature nonetheless.

Here we see my 15″ Macbook Pro in the bag. Since the messenger isn’t padded, I suggest that you protect your laptop with a padded sleeve before placing it into the messenger bag. With the MBP in the bag, there is still plenty of room for the AC adapter, a mouse, other cables, etc.

I had to chuckle a bit when I read a comment on the messenger bag page on Saddleback Leather’s site. They mentioned that this is a light weight sleek bag. I wouldn’t call any Saddleback Leather bag ‘light weight’. When empty, this messenger bag weighs in at 6 pounds 2 ounces on my electronic scale. For me it’s too heavy to use for my everyday bag, but then I’m only about 5’6″ and 130lbs. Most guys probably wouldn’t even blink at the weight though.

Here’s what the messenger looks like when worn as a shoulder bag and as a backpack. For me, the bag felt more comfortable worn as a backpack as the weight was evenly distributed instead of just wearing it on one shoulder.

When you see one of these bags in person, you immediately know that it’s been built to last for a lifetime. The materials and construction are top notch. I couldn’t find one defect with this bag no matter how hard I looked.

If the price and weight of this bag doesn’t bother you, then the Saddleback Leather Messenger bag is a terrific gear bag that will last for years and years to come. It will serve you well on your next adventure down the Congo, or during less exciting adventures on your commute to the office. Either way, you’ll turn heads when people see you with this great looking rugged classic styled bag.

(Note: The link in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website are an affiliate link.)

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.

It’s no secret that I’m not a girly girl. Give me some old jeans, a tshirt and a pair of sneakers and I’m perfectly comfy. Same goes for my gear bags. I don’t want a froo-froo bag with flowers or Hello Kitty on it. I like like simple unassuming bags that don’t look too shiny or new. When I saw the Muzetto from WaterField, I knew that I had to get my hands on one even though it’s being marketed as a man bag, murse, or whatever you want to call it.

The Muzetto is available in 3 sizes:

15″ Laptop Muzetto $259 / 15.5″ x 11.75″ x 2.7″ / 2 lb.
13″ Laptop Muzetto $239 / 14″ x 11″ x 2.5″ / 1.7 lb.
Personal Muzetto $179 / 10.5″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″ / 14 ounces

And 6 colors: Black, Copper, Flame, Green, Pearl and Pine.

I was sent the Personal size in Flame.

This is a vertical messenger style bag that is made of a slightly pebbly textured supple leather and a closely woven canvas. The front flap has no closure mechanism (velcro, snaps, magnets, etc). The weight of the flap holds it closed.

The only exterior pocket is located on the back side of the bag. On the personal sized Muzetto, this pocket is 8 inches wide by 9 inches tall.

This pocket is lined in a Gold fabric that makes it easy to see the contents.

When you open the flap, you’ll find another 8 x 9 inch flat open pocket.

This one is lined with a soft Black knitted material. I use it to hold my cell phone, camera or other small items that I don’t want to be scratched by clanking around in the main compartment.

The main compartment is lined with the same Gold fabric that the back pocket is lined with.

The only other storage is a zippered pocket located in the front wall of the bag. I tend to put my wallet and / or car keys in this pocket.

The Muzetto comes with a removable shoulder pad that has a rubber grippy surface on the back. I actually don’t use this on my shoulder. Instead, I use it to keep the two layers of the adjustable woven 1.5 inch wide shoulder strap together.

When the folks at WaterField asked me which size of the Muzetto that I wanted to review, I asked for the smallest (personal) size. My plan was to use it as a companion bag for my daily gear bag. I tend to go back and forth from using the Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger bag or the WaterField Sling bag. But I’ve wanting something smaller to carry around when I go to lunch or on the weekends when I’m out and about. The Muzetto personal size is perfect for carrying a few essential items.

Here is a collection of items that I have been storing in the bag during my review period. A Waterfield wallet, sun clips / case, Pantech Matrix Pro Smartphone, Kingston DataTraveler 32GB flash drive, Airdrives headphones, eye drops, 3×5 index cards and binder clip, Bic pen, and a flash light. Not pictured are my car keys and some Carmex lip balm that I also carry.

A 10″ netbook like the HP mini 1000 (and the power adapter) fits perfectly in the personal sized Muzetto. The Amazon Kindle (even in a case like the one from Oberon Design or M-edge ) also fits just fine. Since the Muzetto does not have any substantial padding, it’s probably a good idea to protect items like netbooks and the Kindle in a secondary case when carrying them around in this bag.

As a reference, here I am wearing the personal sized Muzetto. I am 5’6″ tall. Wow, I really need to get some sun!

I really like the Muzetto. It’s been a perfect bag for the task that I assigned to it. I have had no complaints with the materials or construction. The only complaints that I can come up with are that the shoulder strap isn’t removable and the price. $179 is a lot of money to pay for a small bag like the personal sized Muzetto. The largest size is an additional $80. Is it worth it? My answer is that in my experience, WaterField bags stand up to years of use and abuse. I have several of their products that I continue to use every day and they all still look brand new. So, it might put a squeeze on your wallet at purchase time, but once you buy one, you’re done.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: gear bag, Shoulder Bag

WaterField Muzetto Gear Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 1, 2009 at 8:15 am.

I remember as a kid traveling with my parents (aka, back in the day) when there was no security at the airport or during college being able to say goodbye to my girlfriend at the gate. But sadly those days are forever gone…. Today, we have painfully long lines to get through security where you must take off your shoes, bag your toothpaste and shampoo, remove your laptop from its bag, etc. So to allivate some of this hassle, Skooba Design has come up with a new bag design which allows your laptop to remain within the safety of its specially engineered compartment while your bag goes through security. The Skooba Checkthrough Messenger Bag is the second laptop case in their Checkthrough series.

Skooba’s Checkthrough Messenger Bag is a high quality laptop bag constructed of 1680 Denier (a heavy duty) Ballistic exterior with a smooth nylon interior. All materials are water-repellent and the edges are well stitched. The messenger bag overall size is 17″L x 13″H x 5.5″D and weighs in at 40 ounces. The front flap has a medium sized pocket perfect for keeping travel receipts or misc paperwork.

The zippers and stitching are top quality and rugged enough to stand the test of time.

Both the strap and handle are nicely made and relatively comfortable.

I typically do not carry much with me when I travel (the lighter the better) just the essentials; my Macbook Air, Etymotic hf5 earbuds, iPod Touch, Verizon USB727 wireless card, credentials, aventail token, usb extension cable, and bit of paperwork as well.

All of this fits neatly in the interior front pocket of the messenger bag. The inner front pocket has four sub-pockets of various sizes that make it easy to keep things well organized and keep your stuff from rattling around. The front pocket also has two pen slots, a key clip, business card slot and it zippers closed. The front pocket is stitched onto a large padded main pocket ideal for carrying paperwork and (for me) my power brick for my Macbook.

The computer compartment fits my 17″ Macbook Pro like a glove (for reference, a 17” Macbook Pro measures 15.4 x 10.4 x 1”). This compartment is well padded and does a good job of protecting your laptop. But countless laptop bags do that…..

What makes the Checkthrough Series unique is the see-thru computer compartment that enables you to leave the laptop in your bag versus having to remove it. The messenger bag unzips around the middle, folds open and exposes the laptop section with its ‘patent-pending quick-recognition’ window.

Additionally, the laptop bag itself is designed to have nothing else on the computer half of the case to interfere with the X-ray scan.

Skooba Design’s Checkthrough Messenger Bag worked perfectly. I unzipped the zipper connecting the two halves, layed it on the X-ray machine and the TSA security folks did not even look twice (although they were eyeing me for asking a little old lady to take this picture of me going through with the messenger bag). It was very convenient and definitely one less logistic that you have to deal with in what is sometimes a stressful situation. As for comfort, the shoulder strap and handle are well padded and are reasonably comfortable. For those who travel by air a great deal and have to lug around a laptop, the Checkthrough Messenger Bag by Skooba Design is definitely worth considering.

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Skooba Design Checkthrough Messenger Bag Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 21, 2009 at 1:00 am.

Note: This is a 2nd opinion review of this product. We have another review of the Empire Builder bag that you might like to read as well.

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.

First Impressions

The most important concern for me in a laptop bag is functionality. At first glance, the Empire Builder appears to be an amazingly useful bag, with a large variety of pockets and pouches. Unlike many functional-looking messenger bags, the Empire Builder pulls this off while maintaining a stylish, professional appearance. This is a messenger bag I would not feel uncomfortable taking into a business meeting. (I should note that the folks at Tom Bihn refer to this bag as a briefcase, but given that it is made of ballistic nylon and Cordura and is designed to be carried via shoulder strap, it definitely gives more of a “messenger bag” impression than “briefcase” to me.) The ballistic nylon and Cordura make the bag very sturdy, and the fine construction of the bag shows the attention to detail that is common to Tom Bihn products.

The bag that I received has the “Black/Steel/Crimson” color scheme. The exterior is a businesslike black and grey, but upon opening the main compartment, the front flap or the front vertical pocket, you are greeted with a cheery bright red interior, adding a bit of playfulness and making it easier to find small items that would be lost in a darker interior.

Functionality

How many pockets are there on this thing, anyway?

The front flap has three external pockets – a small vertically-zipped pocket that is about the right size for a cell phone or PDA, a larger horizontally-zipped pocket which could carry a few CD’s or DVD’s, and a diagonal open pocket which would give easy access to plane tickets, passports, etc. The front flap is secured with a tough plastic 2″ side-release buckle (adjustable on the bottom side).

On the back, there is a large open pocket which could hold a few magazines or papers. Below this are three smaller pockets. The diagonal slash pockets on either side of the central pocket could hold a few pens, or a small cell phone, but the central pocket is the kicker: it has a zippered bottom, and when unzipped it becomes a slot that could fit on the extension handle of rolling luggage, allowing it to stack securely. When zipped, it’s another pocket of roughly jewel-case size. The problem with using any of these as pockets for storage is that if you are carrying the bag using the shoulder strap, anything you have in there is pressing up against your body. If you use them for anything other than papers, magazines, etc, this would become quite uncomfortable. Additionally, since they are all open pockets, if you’re caught in the rain anything inside them will quickly get soaked. On the plus side, I feel more secure carrying documents such as tickets or a passport in these pockets, secured against my body, than in the open front pocket designed for that purpose.

Opening the front flap exposes a huge open pouch with six pockets against the interior wall for holding pens, small electronics, eyeglass cases, etc. There is also a small ring with a key snap on the left side. Below the massive open pouch is another zippered compartment that extends for most of the length of the bag.

Good grief – all that and I haven’t even talked about the main compartment yet. Let’s take a few breaths, and dive on in.

The zipper for the main compartment goes almost all the way down the sides to allow easy access to the interior. However, it doesn’t simply flop open. The main compartment is reinforced on the front, back and sides with 1/4″ Cordura-coated foam walls to provide additional protection to the bag’s contents. The side walls hold the front and back of the bag together, but flexible attachments allow them to pull apart enough to access whatever you need inside.

On the back wall of the main compartment there are two clips to secure a Tom Bihn Brain Cell laptop case (sold separately), turning the messenger-bag/briefcase/whatever-you-want-to-call-it into an incredibly protective laptop bag with minimal fuss. Oh, and there’s yet another pocket on the Brain Case (snap shut, rather than zippered) for cords, small power supplies, etc.

On the front wall of this compartment are three plastic dividers for papers, magazines, file folders, etc. These dividers can be removed or more can be added very easily.

Two more storage areas, that I’m not sure were really intended, are on the sides between the external ballistic nylon casing and the internal foam reinforcement. Through extensive testing, I’ve discovered that as long as you don’t slide the zippers down all the way, these makeshift pouches are the perfect size for storing twelve-ounce cans of your favorite beverage.

Whew. Those are all of the pockets/pouches/compartments that I’ve found so far. I’m sure that a year from now I’ll find another few and wonder how they got there.

Later thoughts

Initially after transferring my gear to the Empire Builder, I found it somewhat uncomfortable to carry – it rested against my body in a different way compared to what I was used to with my old messenger bag. Within a day or two, though, I had either adjusted something, or had grown used to the way this bag is carried. I’m still not sure which. Now, the only time I have any discomfort while carrying the bag on my shoulder is when it is overstuffed, or when I’m moving quickly and it bounces against my body. These are problems with every shoulder bag I’ve had, so I’m not going to complain. The bag is rather bulky, and this can be a problem in crowded situations such as a city bus. I’ve lost track of the number of people who’ve received a ballistic nylon slap on their way to work. However, given the storage capacity of the bag this is not surprising, and muttered apologies seem to ameliorate the problem.

All in all, I’m very happy with the Tom Bihn Empire Builder, especially with the addition of the Brain Case laptop case. I plan on using this bag for many years to come. Given the sturdiness and excellent construction, I imagine it will still be in good shape for a long time.

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.

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.

Specifications

SafetyCellâ„¢ computer protection compartment
Roomy interior with padded pockets for CDs, PDA, phone, and files
Made of ballistic nylon (Material: 840 Denier Nylon) for durability
Media pocket with pass-through port for headphone cable
Ergonomic adjustable shoulder strap
Exterior pocket for easy access to travel documents
Cool-Meshâ„¢ ventilated back panel
Color: Black Graphite
Lifetime Warranty
Weight 3.4 lbs
Fits Notebooks Up To:   15.5″ L x 12″ W x 2.3″ H, screens up to 17″ (diagonally)
Exterior Dimensions:   18″ x 16″ x 6″

My first impression of the bag is that it is designed with a target audience of teens, college students, and general non-professionals. I have struggled with a good description of what drove this impression. Maybe it is the Alienware logo, an alien’s face, which is approximately 2-inches in length and located on the front-face of the Odyssey Messenger Bag.

The bag looks and feels very durable. The ballistic nylon is a popular material in bags today and it is easy to understand why, because it is durable and easy to clean. Contrasting the look of the 840 Denier Nylon is a Cool-Mesh material, which is used primarily on the back of the bag but also appears in smaller, ribbed sections on the front-face.

The subtle difference in shades of black and graphite adds to the depth of the bag.

The Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag has the standard front flap design secured by two adjustable, hard plastic slide-in buckles. I prefer messengers that use a single strap, just because I hate having to open two buckles to unsecure the flap.

The zippered, dedicated media pocket is on the top of the flap and has a pass-through port for headphones. While another external zippered pocket at the bottom is great for those items you need readily available like plane tickets, passport or a company photo badge and it includes three elastic bands for pens, a keyring on a removable clip and a mesh pouch so things do not fall out when you pocket is unzipped.

Each side of the bag has zippered pockets with Alienware stitched in the material. These pockets are great for accessories like power cables, presentation remotes, or even cell phones and keys.

A left to right zipper pocket runs the entire width of the back panel. This pocket would be great for a notebook or a file.

The back of the bag is primarily covered with Cool-Meshâ„¢ material that combined with the contours allows airflow to keep the heat down.

The shoulder strap and, more specifically the pad is less then impressive. The pad is not very comfortable and it feels like it lacks sufficient padding.

There are two more small pockets located at the base of the shoulder strap. These pockets are ideal for small things like jumpdrives, keys, lip balm, change and my iPod shuffle.

I really am disappointed that the bag design lacks a handle. I like having the option to not use the shoulder strap all the times.

Plastic buckles and metal zippers with approximately inch long lanyard extenders make up the external hardware. Nothing fancy but functional. Normally I would be concerned about the durability of plastic for hardware, but the bag has a lifetime warranty, so if it breaks the warranty is there to replace it.

Pulling back the flap, I move to the Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag’s interior. The first compartment has two side-by-side mesh pockets that run the width of the compartment but do not go all the way to the bottom. It can be closed via a zipper.

The main interior section is also zipper shut and is partitioned into halves. The first has two long 4-inch wide Velcro-flapped pockets. The pockets are expandable and great for holding those long miscellaneous items, like markers, laser pointer pens, cords and large graphical calculators.

These two pockets are separated by 8 open pouches. You could use these receptacles for business cards, calculators or, if you are like me, your old Palm V.

The computer section is designed to hold a laptop with dimension not exceeding 15.5″ L x 12″ W x 2.3″ H. The SafetyCellâ„¢ computer protection compartment utilizes what I estimate to be ½ inch padding on all sides and a Velcro strap for security.

The interior is fully branded in a subtle manner with “Alienware” on the material visible when exposed to light. A more obvious brand is the alien face stitched with white thread in the padded wall separating the two partitions of the main compartment. At first, it caught me completely off-guard but I got use to it. At
least it is not on the outside.



I think the interior is roomy enough for a notepad or two, maybe even a text book with the laptop.
In conclusion, I found the bag’s many pockets great for holding a lot of stuff and organizing it quite nicely. The material is very durable and stays clean very well.

The lifetime warranty is a great added plus. I think it says a lot about a manufacturer when they are willing to stand behind their product by offering a warranty.

I am disappointed that the design engineers failed to see the need in a handle and that they did not use more padding in the shoulder strap. My biggest turn-off with the Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag was the amount of branding displayed on the product. I have never been a huge fan of serving as a mobile advertisement for corporations and that is what I feel like with this bag. Of course, the Alienware fans might love to promote their favorite brand.

All-in-all, I still would have a hard time not recommending the bag. It terms of storing items for transportation, which is the main function of any case, this product delivers.

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.

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.

Saddleback Leather Company make fantastic handmade leather bags that are the real deal. These aren’t cheesy bags that might last a year or so before falling apart. They don’t design bags with snaps, zippers or velcro that can wear out or break. These bags can last a lifetime and beyond. I reviewed their briefcase bag last year and was extremely impressed with the quality. The only issue was the size and weight. As a result, I was really happy when I found out that they were offering a much smaller bag called the Explorer’s Satchel. Available in Chestnut, Black, Dark Coffee and Tobacco Brown, I was sent the Chestnut version of this bag.

Sized at 10 x 9 x 3.75 inches, this bag is like a mini version of the briefcase that I previously reviewed. It weighs in at 2 lbs empty and is made of 100% waterproof full grain boot leather. It has a buckled flap and a grab handle, which is one of my must have features for a gear bag.

If you flip the Explorer’s satchel around to the back side, you will find a 8.5 x 9 inch flat open topped pocket that is capable of holding items like plane tickets, a passport, etc. There are also two D rings sewn into the front and back seams on the ‘shoulders’ of the bag.

The bottom of the bag has four more D rings. One in each corner. You can use these rings to attach items to the bottom of the bag – like a mini umbrella, treasure map, etc. It’s also interesting to point out that the leather seams at the bottom of the bag create a pseudo stand to keep the base from actually touching the ground.

There is a pocket on both sides of this bag. The pocket is sewn between the seams, so it’s a bit hard to get your hand inside it due to the attachment ring for the shoulder strap.

The adjustable shoulder strap is also made of thick rugged leather. It’s easily removable if desired. It also has a shoulder pad, that I found to be somewhat uncomfortable for me.

When you unbuckle and lift the flap, you are greeted with a nice whiff of leather. Mmmmmmmmm, yummy. The interior is lined with super tough pigskin. Inside is an metal key clip attached to a strap of leather.

The key fob has a nice sturdy spring loaded clip attached to it. I never use these things though… do you? They tend to just flop around inside the bag getting in my way. I almost am tempted to cut it off and use the clip for something else ;o)

The interior of the Explorer’s satchel has one main compartment that is approximately 8.5 inches across by 8 inches deep and 3 inches wide. There are two smaller pockets sewn into the sides. I like the fact that the leather is rigid enough that the bag keeps its shape when empty or full.

Here’s subset of the gear that I carry with me every day (minus my Centro, which isn’t pictured). I couldn’t fit all my stuff into this bag, so I just picked the essentials. Some of the items include my Centro, 180gb iPod Classic, stock earbuds, a 4GB USB flash drive, ATP USB card reader with cable, iMono USB MicroSD card reader, Huntlight FT-A3 mini flashlight, sun clips in case, Bic pen, Carmex lip balm, eye drops, screw top plastic pill holder, car keys, Cummins badge, check book, clipped stack of index cards with super secret info scribbled on them, Miquelrius notebook and my Waterfield wallet.

And here’s what all that gear looks like piled into the Explorer’s satchel. It’s not crammed completely full, but it’s pretty close. The only real problem with carrying this many loose items is that you have to remove the bigger items in order to get to the smaller ones at the bottom of the bag. I only use the interior side pockets to hold items that stick out far enough for me to easily retrieve them.

To give you an idea of the size of this bag, here I am wearing it. I’m about 5’6″ tall. Even when stuffed full of gear, the bag was easy to carry bandolier style as I’m wearing it here. The only comfort issues that I experienced were with the padded shoulder strap pad. The edges of the pad had a tendency to dig into my collar bone causing it to become sore. Shoulder strap pads usually drive me nuts sliding around, so I just removed it. Problem solved )

The Explorer’s satchel doesn’t have the capacity to function as my every day gear bag, but it works perfectly as a weekend out on the town or travel bag. I really love the style of it and it does garner some envious looks from passersby. Its price tag of $275 will probably cause a lot of people to run away in fear though. I agree that it’s expensive. But if you want a small leather bag that will out last you, and your kids, the Saddleback Leather Company Explorer’s Satchel is the one to get. I highly recommend it. Now I’m off to plan my next archeological adventure…

(Note: The link in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website is an affiliate link.)

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…

For quite a while now, my favorite style of gear bag has been the messenger style. I’ve been carrying the Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger since the beginning of the year. I love this style for two main reasons. Reason number one: The flap can easily flop back and remain open. I typically leave mine open on my desk while I’m at work, or in the passenger seat of my car while I’m driving. Reason number two: Messenger bags usually have a large cavity for storage. I like pockets as much as the next person, but for the most part, I want a big open area that I can stuff large items into if needed – which I often do. I like the convenience of being able to carry the daily mail, newspaper and any packages that might have been delivered to my day job.

This bag is made of heavy-duty 1680D Ballistic Nylon and is available in four color styles, that include Black with Orange piping, Black with Pink piping, Black with Red front and Black with Silver front. I was sent the Black with Orange.

Right away I realized that the Mobile Edge Mini Messenger was not really a true messenger style bag – not that there is a definition carved in stone somewhere out there… This bag is more vertical than horizontal, with a long flap that is held closed by a pinch plastic clip.

There is a zippered U shaped pocket build into the front flap. This pocket has a pass-through port for earbuds, so that you can store your iPod, iPhone or other music player inside and still listen to tunes as you walk around.

On the back side of the bag, there is a flat zippered pocket that is 6 inches wide by 10 inches deep. You’ll also notice the adjustable shoulder strap. This strap can’t be removed / replaced and does not have a padded shoulder pad attached to it. No grab handle either…

On one side of the Mini Messenger, you’ll find a mesh drawstring pouch pocket. Most of the time people put water bottles in mesh pockets like the one on this bag. The only problem is that it’s too small for a regular sized water bottle to fit in it. On the other side of the bag is a 3 x 6 inch velcro flapped pocket.

I do like that this bag can stand up on it’s own even when filled with gear.

When you unsnap the front flap and lift it, you’ll find a plastic windowed ID pocket and a deep open topped mesh pocket.

The front part of this bag can unzip to reveal a collection of pockets and slots.

The outside section has 3 elastic slots for pens and pencils. Below the slots is a 9 inch wide by 7 inch deep open topped mesh pocket.

Opposite that area is another see thru mesh pocket. This one is 9 inches wide by 5 inches deep, zippered and more flat than the others. You can see my Centro through the mesh.

Below the mesh pocket are two velcro tabbed 4 inch wide by 5 inch deep pockets.

The main zippered compartment for this messenger bag is divided into two sections. Both sections are padded and are lined with soft Nylex fuzzy material. The back section can accommodate a 12.5″ L x 11.5″ H x 2″ W laptop and has a velcro tab to hold it closed.

I found this main section to be too small for my everyday use, but it would work fine as a travel bag or a purse substitute. I do wish that the interior was a lighter color as it’s hard to see any loose items at the bottom.

To give you an idea of the size of this bag, here I am wearing it. I’m about 5’6″ tall. Even when stuffed full of gear, the bag was comfortable to carry bandolier style as I’m wearing it here.

The materials and workmanship on this bag can’t be faulted. It’s a nice looking bag that can hold its fair share of gear and even a small notebook. Make the water bottle holder bigger, the interior a lighter color, add a grab handle and you would have a very worth little travel bag. I won’t call it a messenger bag though ;o)

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and 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.

Introduction

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.

The two main items in my box of goodies from Seattle were the Empire Builder laptop case and the sublime “Aeronaut” carry-on bag. However, being a sad little luggage fetishist, what excited me most were the accessories. Tom Bihn sent a range of organizer pouches, and packing cubes. Though not essential, the packing cubes and pouches make traveling with the Aeronaut a whole lot easier; so this review looks at both Aeronaut, pouches and cubes as one system.

I had four trips coming up where I thought I would test the Tom Bihn luggage. First up, a business trip from the UK to Chicago, and after that another to New York. Both would be four-night stays, traveling with carry-on luggage only, but for the New York trip I had to move on directly to a two-night conference in Nice. After that would be two back-to-back trips; first ten days in Hong Kong, then just over two weeks in South India.

For the trips I generally flew business or premium economy class on the long-haul legs, but coach on the shorter legs. This pattern imposes particular constraints on carry-on luggage. Long haul business is pretty relaxed about the size and weight of carry-on bags, but the budget carriers (BMI especially) seem to take every opportunity to charge you for stuff. If a budget carrier charges for checked luggage, this seems to be an incentive for check in clerks to ensure you check something! So, weight and bulk would be important!

I decided to take the Aeronaut on the business trips, with my Macbook Pro tucked into its Brain Cell, in turn stuffed into the Aeronaut. I would need a suit, but packing the suit jacket would wreck this. So, this would be carried, but all the other business clothing would be packed into the cubes within the Aeronaut.

The Aeronaut

The Aeronaut is a carry-on bag. Having had my luggage lost twice on business trips I go carry-on whenever possible. It takes a little thought and discipline, but its the way to travel for shorter trips.

My review sample was in a beautiful 1050 red ballistic nylon with black detailing.

The interior fabric is a very nice checkered material which appears in much of Tom Bihn’s gear. It is described as “200 denier nylon with a Dyneema (like Spectra) ripstop fabric” on their website. Besides being used as a liner for the Aeronaut as well as several other Tom Bihn cases, it is also the main constituent of their packing cubes.

I’ve never seen the pattern on other brands so I guess it was commissioned for Tom Bihn. In practice its a lightweight and flexible but tough nylon fabric which looks great – charcoal grey with silvery ripstop checkers. The Aeronaut is 56 x 35 x 23 cm / 22″ x 14″ x 9” and sans shoulder strap my sample weighed 1.24 kg / 2.73 lbs.

Like Tom Bihn’s other cases the Aeronaut has lots of “organic” curves. Its designed for human beings rather than just to optimize a production process. The front panel has its main compartment accessible via a large u-shaped zipper.

On each end are two smaller compartments accessed by zippers going from the base around over the top.

One end (the end that would be uppermost if your were carrying it vertically) has a diagonal zipper over a smaller pocket. In here is a key lanyard.

The Aeronaut has several carrying options. The main grab-handle is constructed from 2” webbing pulled together with a lightly padded grip. At each end is a handle designed for pulling the bag out of luggage racks. This last is red ballistic with black edging and is also useful for carrying the Aeronaut vertically (For example in crowded queues like O’Hare security!).

The optional “Terra Grip” shoulder strap clips to a couple of black metal d-rings. The Terra Grip has a rubbery pad which is very comfortable and sticks to your shoulder quite well. Its not rubber, but is apparently made of UV-stable “soy-based soft-touch polymer.” It works pretty well, though the grippy pad can ruck up a suit jacket. I tried the aeronaut with both the Terra Grip and the Absolute Shoulder Strap (< Empire Builder review>>). The more you are going to carry, the more I think you should consider the latter. Tom Bihn recommend the Absolute Strap for loads much above 7 kg (16 lbs) and I would agree. The Absolute Shoulder strap also has the advantage of one slippy side and one grippy side. The Terra Grip is $18 and must be purchased separately to the Aeronaut.

Finally there is a fully padded harness which zips away into the back of the case.

When the harness is stowed, the back of the Aeronaut is really smooth. Even the “receivers” for the harness straps retreat neatly into a pair of recesses.

Under the main flap is a zippered mesh pocket. Also in the main compartment is a means of modifying the bias of interior space to either the main compartment or the end compartments.

It took me a while to figure this out, but by popping the studs inside the main compartment you can allow the walls of this area to “relax” into the end pocket space. Do the studs up and you get the end pockets back. A neat way to get a bit of flexibility.

The zippers are splash-proof YKK #10 Coil zippers and all the metal hardware is black steel. The Tom Bihn logo is on the main flap; “portable culture.”

The packing cubes

Packing cubes are nothing new. I’d bought a few small ones of various brands for corralling cables and accessories, but had never tried the larger kind for clothing, shoes etc. The Tom Bihn packing cubes are made from the same attractive charcoal grey and silver-checked material that lines the Aeronaut. Each cube uses No. 5 YKK zippers, and some also include polyester mesh panels. The cubes have a loop of webbing to aid removal from cases etc, and each has the blue version of Tom Bihn’s new logo. The cubes are very light, around 75 grammes on average, and the material is soft and flexible but still built to Tom Bihn’s usual “bullet proof” standards. The flexibility is important, when you are not using the cubes its nice to be able to fold them up tight and compact. I have some Eagle Creek packing cubes and these are more rigid.

One is sometimes required to empty a case for inspection. Its much easier to do this, and more to the point, easier to re-pack it with cubes rather than a loose pile of stuff. On my India trip I was rarely in the same hotel for more than a night and so it was hardly worth unpacking everything. I also had to secure stuff in my main bag whenever I left the room. Again, packing cubes make access when “living out of the case” so much easier.

Aeronaut end pocket – fabric / fabric $15
Smart business shoes look a bit naff with travel clothing; jeans, zip-offs etc.. So I usually pack these in a supermarket carrier bag. No longer. I now have this nice opaque packing cube which I am dedicating to shoes (else the polish and dirt rub off on clothes).

I don’t want the shoes to rub on each other, so they are separated by a shoe cloth. Tucked inside the shoes are some socks and underpants. (My shoes are US mens size 11.) Its 34.5 x 20 x 8 cm / 13.6” x 8” x 3”

Aeronaut end pockets – mesh / fabric $15
When you reach up to remove something from your carry on, you don’t want your manky underwear spilling out for viewing by your fellow passengers. This said, you want to identify what’s in there. These packing cubes have mesh sides and / or edges to allow you to see the contents without opening.

The mesh also allows damp items to breath a little, for example, stuff that comes back from the hotel laundry not perfectly dry. Again these cubes are about 34.5 x 20 x 8 cm / 13.6” x 8” x 3”.

Convertible packing cube $15
This one is pretty cool. The cube has d-rings at either end and a diagonal zip picket on one face. Obviously its a plain packing cube most of the time but converts into small shoulder bag by simply clipping the strap from your main bag into the d-rings.

I used this on some trips to carry my swimming kit around. It was also pretty handy for the beach or for shopping and for pulling together all the organizer pouches (see below). Its size is 34.5 x 20 x 8 cm / 13.6” x 8” x 3”; the same as the other Aeronaut cubes.

Clear Quarter Packing Cube $20
I used this double-sided cube for medical kit and washing kit on the long vacation trips, and on the business trips it served as a gadget case. Its 20 x 17 x 8 cm (7.8″ x 6.7″ x 3.1″) and weighs a tad more than the other cubes at 125 g / 4.4 oz.

Large Packing Cube $18
On all trips the large packing cube was used to store folded shirts and trousers. As long as its reasonably full (about five shirts) the cube does a fine job maintaining your clothes in a reasonable state of press.

On the business trips I wrapped my trousers around the shirts.

These emerged at the end of each trip just fine – no pressing needed. The large cube is 34.5 x 34.5 x 10 cm / 13.6” x 13.6” x 4” and 105 g / 3.7 oz.

Passport Pouch $10
On the vacation trips I used the passport pouch to carry my room key, passport, cash and cards on those party nights where I could not trust myself to look after a wallet.

I also use it daily at the gym to hold my car and locker keys, some change and my gym membership card. Its 13 cm x 16 cm / 5” x 6”.

Organizer Pouches
Tom Bihn make a range of organizer pouches. They come in plain cordura or Dyneema ripstop in clear and padded forms. The cordura color range is large (about 11 colors I think), and you can check it out on the Tom Bihn website. This said, you do not get to choose your colors, you can just indicate a preference when ordering. The clear form has the front panel in clear plastic, a plastic zip (with plastic slider) across the top and a small plastic snap-hook for clipping to d-rings on and in larger bags, key lanyards … etc. The padded pouches have light padding – its not too bulky but just right for protecting and organizing power adapters, portable disk drives, a pda etc. All pouches come in three sizes: mini, small, and medium. They measure as follows: mini; 14.5 x 10 cm (5.7″ x 3.9″); small; 18 x 12.5 cm (7″ x 5″); and medium; 26 x 18 cm (10.3″ x 7″). The price for the cordura pouches is: mini ($5.00), small ($7.00), and medium ($9.00). For clear pouches its: mini ($6.00), small ($8.00), and medium ($10.00). Padded comes at: mini ($7.00), small ($9.00), and medium ($11.00). I was sent a selection of padded and clear pouches.

Mini Clear Organizer Pouch $6
This blue backed pouch was an obvious container for my earbuds. I have two sets in here, plus some adapters. The black set are my motorcycling earbuds and are custom made for my ears. These were staggeringly expensive and so I’m glad of; a) a bright colored case, and; b) a snap-hook to fix them into larger bags.

Small Clear Organizer Pouch $8
This one is perfect for flip-chart pens, OHP pens etc.

Small Padded organizer Pouch $9
I have a pair of Sony in-ear noise reducing headphones. These are small, dark, expensive and easy to misplace. This small padded pouch provides the buds with an ideal home.

Medium Padded Organizer Pouch $11
Last, but perhaps most useful of all has been this medium padded pouch. I use this for my Macbook Pro power adapter (this is the smaller, 85W adapter by the way)

The system in use

Here you can see the contents for the business trip spread all over the bed.

The next view is the same stuff partially wrapped into the packing cubes.

Then we have it all ready to go in the main case. The organizer pouches are on the middle left, stacked in the convertible packing cube.

Finally some views of it all going into the Aeronaut.

I also tried to squeeze in my Macbook Pro and some other gadgets. These in turn are protected and organized by the Tom Bihn Brain Cell and organizer pouches, the latter being tidied up by the convertible packing cube (see below).

The last shot shows everything in, with the flap about to be zipped up. This whole lot weighs 13.5 kg / 30 lbs and a complete listing of the contents is in the box below (the numbered items in my master list). The pics at the start of the review show me holding the Aeronaut in this state – fully loaded.

Click on thumbnail to see full size image

On the shoulder and in the hand its surprisingly comfortable. With the “Absolute Shoulder Strap” (see Empire Builder review) its more comfortable still! With the harness deployed and on the back its perfect for those long treks between transfer gates. I’m 6’2”. If you are vertically challenged try the “breve” version of the Aeronaut – its the same size bag but with straps modified for people under about 5’8”.

Packing the Aeronaut with the help of the cubes is very easy. Everything just slides in there; nice and neat. I don’t know why it took me so long to get into packing cubes – life changing! Most of the time I carry it using the shoulder strap. To reduce my “footprint” in crowds I might carry it vertically using the lug-handles. These last make it very easy to remove from racks.

Comfortable or no, the perceptive will have noticed that problematic figure of 13.5 kg all up weight. This is about 3 kg more than many budget airlines will tolerate for carry-on luggage. There is a solution for the uber-geek but for the complete story you will have to wait until we post the review of my Koyono “Black Coat Classic.” The Black Coat is what I’m wearing in the opening pics of this review – this baby has 14 compartments to secret away all sorts of junk! Just think of the potential – slip those organizer pouches away onto your person and suddenly your carry on bag is 3 kg lighter!

Any problems with the Aeronaut?

One thing I found odd was the orientation of the main zipper. I found it a little frustrating when I had to remove the laptop for security checks, especially when I had to do so while waiting in a queue. I wrote to Tom Bihn to ask about the logic behind the main flap orientation. Tom explained that with early prototypes of the Aeronaut, when he came into a hotel room and flung the bag onto the bed, it would typically end up with the handle (top edge) nearest him. After unzipping the main compartment, Tom wanted the flap – the unzipped hatch closure – flip back towards him, so that the zippered mesh pocket in the flap was handy. If the closure to faced 180 degrees from its current orientation, the hatch would flip away and the pocket would be far less convenient. This all makes sense; the Aeronaut is not really a laptop case and it was not designed to address my predicament. This said, with carry-on rules as they are, many travelers are stuck with one bag and the laptop has to be – at least for security checks – tucked away somewhere. I could imagine a modification that would deal with this though – another zipper running longwise on the top panel perhaps an inch or so from the back edge, plus some webbing to anchor the bayonet clips of a Brain Cell inside the case. In this way the Brain Cell could just hang there behind the packing cubes, accessible from the outside via the new top zip if needed. However, if this is done the Aeronaut starts to become more like Tom Bihn’s new “Western Flyer” case. Perhaps I want the case to be too many things.

On the shoulder the bag looks far less bulky than bags of equivalent volume. Before the Aeronaut my carry-on was a RedOxx “Air Boss.” The Air Boss was a nice case, but it would flex so that the contents made the case bulge out, and look very big and heavy. By contrast the Aeronaut flexes – unless its brim-full as in these pics – so that it sort of, wraps around you. Its hard to describe but this has the effect of making the bag look smaller.

I was worried that the red ballistic fabric would be a dirt magnet, but it still looks pretty clean after six trips. I did get a dirty smudge on the bottom of the bag, but this cleaned up fairly easily with some washing-up liquid and a nailbrush. This said, if I was forced to check the Aeronaut then it might not fare so well. What would be handy would be some sort of lightweight spray cover, perhaps in a lurid color that I could wrap around the bag. Ideally this could be locked shut. Not so much for real security, but to provide evidence of tampering. If I was really worried about the case getting dirty I’d probably buy the black or grey versions.

Summary

Overall then, as you probably gather I like this suite of gear. Its so easy to criticize luggage on the basis of “its not the way I would design it.” Often I read reviews that are positional statements about the reviewer’s design philosophy. I’m not going to go there. Its really hard to fault this kit from Tom Bihn. I list some items as “cons” to be consistent with the format of other Gadgeteer reviews, but really these are minor suggestions for improvement. The Aeronaut is a very nice looking, elegantly simple and very practical bag. It does what its designed to do very, very well. Add in some packing cubes and organizer pouches and you have a great system for one-bag travel. The cubes are by no means the only ones out there in the marketplace, but they are some of the most lightweight and strong, and pretty to boot. The organizer pouches are straightforward, they do the job well, at a very keen price. Overall, beautiful work Tom Bihn. Well done.

Aeronaut Price: $175
Packing cubes: From $10 to $20
Organizer pouches: From $5 to $11

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.

Introduction

Back in 2002 I wrote my first ever gear review for The Gadgeteer. I reviewed the Tom Bihn Empire Builder after buying it as protection for my Titanium G4 Powerbook. I was really happy with the case, and still am.

Anyone looking for a product review prior to buying will, I imagine not be much interested in a “compare and contrast” review of two versions separated by some five years. However, the buyer may be interested the “back-story” as evidence perhaps of a company’s commitment to product development and improvement. I therefore, on occasion will refer to the original Empire Builder to show how things have changed for the better.

Test environment

Tom Bihn sent me a pile of stuff for review back in October. This was fortunate. I had changed jobs earlier that year. I used to be a lecturer at a University, and now am a management consultant. October 07 through until mid-January 08 would see me traveling a great deal, mostly outside my home base in the UK. The trips were a mix of short and long haul for conferences and client workshops, and two long-haul vacations. The new cases would be handy for the trips. On each trip the Empire Builder would obviously be used for walking with the laptop, but also would need to survive a rain-shower, protect said laptop in the event of a drop, pass scrutiny at a UK check-in desk and serve as a mobile office. The Empire Builder, and all the other gear in this crop of reviews was thus tested properly on real trips.

What I would carry

Five years ago I used to carry a lot more stuff on business trips than today. Airlines never seemed to bother weighing carry-on bags and brief-cases. I could load up my gear bag with all sorts of garbage to while away the time on flights. Now the environment is different. For flights outbound from the UK we had, until this month very strict regulations on the number of, and size / weight of carry-on baggage. Some budget airlines would only allow one carry-on item and it had to be less than 7.5kg! Though the more common limit is about 10kg. These regulations may well return, so such constraints will inform this review. Another change is personal. I travel so frequently now that my packing cannot be a random dump of “just in case” stuff. The approach is too time-consuming. Instead, I now have a master business travel pack list as a spreadsheet. Being a “sad git” I’ve included weights in this. All I need do is modify the number of shirts etc. according to length of stay, tick the relevant boxes and “Numbers” would do the rest – a pack list with total weights.

For the purposes of this review though, I’ll talk about a fairly typical scenario; traveling by air to an overnight hotel stay, for a client meeting the next day with a flight home that evening. The Empire Builder is not really designed as an overnight bag, but to use it as such is an interesting stress test I think.

The gear I would take on this business trip is included the picture below:

Besides the Macbook Pro, its cables and power adapters I usually carry some presentation hardware: video and audio cables, Keyspan Remote, spare batteries for the remote, Flip and OHP pens. I’m paranoid about backup; I have stuff on memory cards, burn DVDs of important materials (usually presentations / videos), have a clone of my hard drive on an external Firewire drive.

Entertainment comes in the form of my iPod, Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones, magazine, sometimes a book, and my swimming kit in a dry-bag. My Nokia N95 and accessories is in there too; a USB charger cable, a Jabra Bluetooth ear bug, and a USB charger cable for same. Other stuff includes tickets, passport, cell phone, earplugs, a head-torch with batteries, pens, a notepad and paperwork, files etc.

I sometimes have time for a little tourism, so my camera is in its case and it sits alongside a SDHC card adapter. I might also take a guidebook.

Clothing for the overnight is a coolmax t-shirt and cotton boxers (for sleeping and lounging), and fresh shirt, socks and underwear for the next day. My toilet bag is fairly minimalist for overnights as hotels provide most of what you need: its just got toothbrush and small toothpaste, floss, razor handle and blades, shave oil, comb, gel and some Savlon.

Other odds and sods: a lexan spork, a folding water bottle and an umbrella.

All this stuff is corralled with some organizer pouches also sent to me by Tom Bihn. These are reviewed separately. The total weight of this gear and the case itself is 10.5 kg / 23lbs. So here we are around the weight limit for domestic flights out of the UK. This said, even fully loaded like this the bag does not “look” too big or heavy. Only those budget airlines that charge for checked baggage would make you check it – any excuse to make a bit extra off the traveler!

Appearance and function

My requirement of any laptop case is that it should look OK with a suit, but not look too boring. Another requirement is that the bag should not look like a big, heavy rucksack – check-in clerks where then less likely to weigh it. The final requirement was that the bag fit easily in overhead lockers and under-seat spaces on aircraft. First time around I ordered the Empire Builder in conservative black, but this time asked for the red/black option. Its fine with a suit, and looks like most laptop briefcases but with perhaps some more curves – its more “organic-looking I think.

The Empire Builder is made out of 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura®. The main flap is red ballistic, and the remainder is black apart from the grey interior and some silver detailing around pockets. It also comes in several other colour combinations and these can be viewed on Tom Bihn’s website. Zip-pulls and other metal hardware is now coloured black. The black finish seems pretty robust and has not chipped yet. Its 18.25″ x 12.75″ x 7″ (465 x 325 x 180mm) so its length has increased a little over the original. Including the 15″ Macbook Pro Brain Cell laptop protector and Absolute Shoulder Strap weighs just under 5lbs (2.3kg) empty.

On the outside of the front flap of the Empire Builder are two zipped pockets, and one angled and unzipped pocket for tickets etc.

The flap is secured by a big clip-buckle fixed at the top but adjustable on the lower side. One improvement on the original is that the case now features #10 YKK Uretech® splash-proof zippers for the main compartment and exterior pockets. During one trip I managed to get the red panel dirty when I brushed against a filthy taxicab. To clean the nylon I just ran it under the tap and scrubbed with a nail brush and some soap. When I rinsed it off I turned the tap on full-blast. The zips did not leak; pretty good, and a bit better than “splash-proof!” The red panel cleaned up just fine too.

A big zipper allows access to the main compartment. When opened the “bellows” design allows one to view the contents easily, while still retaining structure.

Inside the main compartment is the removable laptop cell; the “Brain Cell.” The Brain Cell used to be attached by pop-studs, but now Tom Bihn use plastic bayonet clips. These are a little tricky to handle, but way better than pop-studs. They secure the Brain Cell very well; it is not going to fall out.

Next to the Brain Cell are three rigid dividers for protecting and separating paperwork; a nice mobile file cabinet. On the back is a compartment for magazines or a newspaper and a new feature, a “roll-aboard” slot that allows you to secure the case onto the handle of a roller-type case.

The slot zips shut at the bottom so its a pocket when you’re not using it to fit on roller luggage. Either side of this slot are two small pockets for tickets, cell-phone umbrella etc..

Under the main flap is a large zipped pocket and behind this a large open pocket / void with some sub-pockets for bits and pieces. In the original this open pocket was cut as a horizontal “slash,” the new version is crescent shaped, and I guess this stops items in the end most sub-pockets from being exposed … to weather, preying hands etc..

Also in there is a detachable key lanyard that clips to a d-ring (The old version was fixed in place.) Towards the bottom right of this area is the Tom Bihn logo. This now looks fab; the original was so ugly I cut it off.

The “Absolute Shoulder Strap” has a rubberized shoulder pad and is adjustable at both ends so that the position of the pad can be changed. This strap has what Tom Bihn calls a “control-stretch system” Its a neoprene pad with a stretch backing to make bags feel, so Tom Bihn claims “50% lighter and 100% more comfortable.”

The Brain Cell is a small bag by itself and has its own carry handles and D-rings for attaching the shoulder strap. There is also a large stretch-mesh pocket that could hold a magazine or two, or a power adaptor.

The Brain Cell looks, at first glance just like a rugged padded cell. However, closer inspection reveals a lining that is soft and stretchy and acts as a suspension cradle for the PowerBook. The cradle hangs inside a more rigid “box” made from foam padding and hard plastic, the whole lot being covered in Cordura.

Since I wrote that first review I’ve looked at loads of laptop “cells.” The Brain Cell has to be one of the best constructed out there. Its composite structure provides excellent protection from vertical drops, and horizontal “dings.” The latter often coming from sharper objects in the same bag. The Macbook Pro fits perfectly into the cell and is secured with a long run of Velcro. In turn the Brain Cell clips into the Empire Builder with the bayonet clips mentioned previously.

Both the Brain Cell (available in different sizes for different laptops) and the shoulder strap must be purchased separately to the Empire Builder.

Assessment

Build quality is superb. Tom Bihn is operating at the “premium” end of the laptop case market. I said of the original “This bag is very tough and should last a long, long time.” Well check out pictures of the original. After five years of hard use it looks like new. (All I did before taking the picture was to throw it in the washing machine with a few towels.)

One of the things that annoys me about luggage is pulled seams, and frayed edges where fabric is cut but not sealed. This is especially problematic around zippers, where the bits of stray fabric get stuck, or pull; worsening the problem. The original Empire Builder shows none of this. Not a scrap of stray fabric in sight. Past performance is no guarantee of future success, but the condition of my original bag is pretty compelling evidence of sound build quality.

The YKK zips run very smoothly and everything is very neatly stitched together. The curves and the subtle detailing must be expensive in terms of waste fabric, and sewing time, but the result is a case for humans rather than something designed for cheap, high-volume manufacture.

In addition to the Brain Cell there is also thick padding on the walls of the main bag. This latter feature, besides offering further protection also helps to give the bag a more structured look than the more “floppy” messenger bags.

The Empire builder accommodates all my stuff comfortably. It is a bit heavy with all this gear, but that is a problem with me, not the bag. Remember, the Empire Builder not really an overnight bag. Take out the overnight kit and perhaps the camera and my test load is a little more realistic.

The removable rigid dividers do a great job of protecting documents. Three are supplied with the empire builder but you can order more if you like. The magazines are in the back pocket and the N95 is in the right hand rear slot (next to the roll-aboard slot). Wallet, tickets passport etc are in the pockets on the outside of the front flap. Passport, tickets boarding pass etc are in the unzipped pocket for easy access while boarding aircraft, and when I’ve finished with these they slip into the vertically zipped pocket for security.

Amongst the stuff that Tom Bihn sent me were some packing cubes. One of these controls my clothing. The swimming kit is in a dry-bag.

Under the flap we have some items in the small pockets and the rest just chucked into the two “voids.”

Here is what it looks like on my shoulder:

I’m 6″2″ I think this bag might look a bit odd if you are of small stature. If you wanted something smaller an alternative from Tom Bihn is the Zephyr; like a baby Empire Builder.

As I said in the initial review, while I wanted a reasonably conservative exterior look, I really want loud fabrics on the inside. This would look cheery, and also allow me to find stuff that gets lost the dark black Cordura voids. However, having tried a few bags with loud interiors I now realize why manufacturers avoid this. It adds extra weight for one thing (an extra layer of fabric) and also gets very grubby in an area that is difficult to clean. One bag I had with a yellow interior looked pretty sad after a while mainly because of the ink marks left by ball-pens. My solution to this problem was to wrap small bits of “Day-Glo” tape around bits I was likely to loose. This has the added benefit of allowing things to show up under hotel beds. The original Empire Builder was pitch-black in the interior, but this new version incorporates a nice compromise. The interior of the main compartments and under the front flap is silvery grey. The scheme works really well at providing a bit of contrast against which small stuff (like USB phone cables) can show up. Critically however, a stray ballpoint pen mark doesn’t look too bad. Well-done Tom Bihn!

With the original design, when the bag was full of all my junk the grab handles were a little uncomfortable. The handles were forced apart, and this tends in turn to force the fingers and thumb apart. I recommended putting a piece of something to wrap around these handles and hold them together. This would have been fiddly, but would save the hands. The design of the handles has now changed subtly. The padding and sticking is arranged slightly different and the whole thing is a lot more comfortable to hold. I’m at a loss to think what Tom Bihn has changed here exactly, but it all works just fine.

What about that: “50% lighter and 100% more comfortable.” Well actually yes, it works! The “bouncy” neoprene pad does a fine job of conning your shoulder into thinking that 24lbs is 12! The original shoulder strap tended to ruck up the shoulders of a suit. Another feature of the Absolute Shoulder strap is that it has one grippy side and one slippy side. The latter is great if you are wearing a suit; it prevents the suit shoulders from getting messed-up. The grippy side is great if you want to keep the bag secure while running for that flight.

Any problems with the new Empire Builder? Not a lot:

Not a huge deal, but the bag can fall over when the computer is removed, especially if you have heavy stuff under the main flap.

As I said of the original, some features of the Empire Builder are not so accessible for lefties. I’m assuming here that if you were right handed, then like me you would carry this bag on the left shoulder, leaving the right hand free. If you are a lefty then the bag sits on the right shoulder with that ticket pocket, and the key lanyard round towards your back and not so easy to access.

It is still heavy!

Conclusion

The bottom line: its better, way better. A good product has been made into a great one by a company that listens, and seems to be serious about both design, and build quality. What did I say before? “The new Empire Builder is expensive but extremely well-made. I really like it. The bag has got loads of space and is as tough as they come. It looks great and at the end of the day, does exactly what I want it to do.” I say that again. There are inevitable trade-offs in making gear like this. Quality does not come cheap, and toughness and robustness usually imply increased weight, or the use of exotic and expensive materials. I think Tom Bihn has managed these trade-offs very well in a case that is a little expensive, but still very good value.

Price: $150.00 for the Empire Builder
$60.00 for the Brain Cell
$25.00 for the Absolute Shoulder strap
Total: $235.00

(P.S. if you import one of these to the UK you will have to pay about $90.00 worth of charges: VAT, Import duty, admin charges to the carrier … etc.. With 2008 exchange rates the price of the bag is not so bad for us Brits. Best thing to do is wait until you are in the US, then have one sent to your hotel.)

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Tom Bihn Empire Builder Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2008 at 7:15 am.

Messenger bags are my favorite style of gear bag to carry. I like them best because they usually have one large compartment that I can dump all kinds of gear into. I also like that they are typically designed to sit flat on the floor or desk, instead of flopping over. if you’re looking for a messenger bag that has ample storage, but with a small price tag, you might want to check into the Drift messenger bag from Ice Red Designs. I had reviewed their UNI cargo tote bag a few months ago, and found it to be a good value for the money. Let’s see if their messenger bag is a good buy too.

The Drift messenger bag is available in two sizes: Large (17”x13”x7”) and Small (13”x11”x5.5”). You also have your choice of seven colors (Black/Red, Black/Blue, Brown/Orange, Brown/Yellow, Blue/Lime, Gray/Blue, Black). I was sent the Large in Blue/Lime.

The exterior of the bag is made from heavy-duty 1680D ballistic nylon, with an industrial-grade tarpaulin bottom.

The main flap is held closed by two cinch-down plastic squeeze clips and two long strips of Velcro. In the picture above, you’ll also notice a metal spring clip. You can use this to hold your car keys. It can either hang on the outside of the bag as shown, or you can tuck it into the main compartment.

The flap has a built in flat zippered pocket, that you can use to carry flat objects.

If we look at the back side of this messenger bag, we’ll notice that it does not have any pockets. I like my messenger bags to have a large flat open pocket on the back, that I can tuck mail and magazines into. Too bad the Drift doesn’t have have this feature. It is also lacking a grab handle, which is another gear bag must-have for my favorite bag. It does have an adjustable non-removable shoulder strap, with a removable stabilizing strap for bike messengers.

You might also notice how the top of the bag extends past the sides. This helps to keep any weather (rain, snow) from seeping into the interior of the bag and onto the items stored inside.

Each side of this bag as an elastic topped open pocket. The elastic is convenient for holding a water bottle, but not so convenient when you need to find a small object at the bottom of the pocket. It’s hard to quickly get your hand/fingers to the bottom of the pocket due to the elastic band on top.

I do like that this bag stands up when you put it on the floor or on a desk. Even with a laptop and other items inside, it does not easily topple over.

Opening the flap reveals the two strips of Velcro that hold it in place, as well as two generously sized pockets that the Velcro is sewn onto. These two gusseted pockets are approximately 6.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches tall and can hold quite a bit of gear. I like to use them to hold my wallet, PDA, phone, checkbooks, small Miquelrius notebook, 3×5 cards, etc.

The interior of the Drift messenger bag lined in a brightly colored waterproof material. The style is in keeping with the way most messenger bags are designed with one large cavity that has pockets sewn into the front and rear walls of the bag.

On the back wall of the bag, is a large zippered pocket that can hold documents and notes. The width of this pocket is large enough to hold a regular sized magazine, but not deep enough to actually zip the top closed when a magazine inserted into it.

The front wall of the Drift messenger bag has a collection of ten different organization pockets. These ten pockets include three pen / pencil slots, a clear ID photo pocket, two open topped narrow pockets that can hold a smaller items such as candy-bar style cellphones, small flashlights, lip balm, etc. There are also two zippered pockets. One of the zippered pockets is larger and holds two more open topped pockets. All in all, this messenger bag provides a lot of storage.

What this bag doesn’t provide is a dedicated laptop pocket or padding of any kind. I used it during the review period to carry my day-job Dell laptop back and forth from the office to home. I didn’t have any problem getting it to fit in the bag, but the lack of padding did bother me a bit.

While the Ice Red Designs Drift messenger bag doesn’t offer a couple of my must-have features (grab handle and large outside magazine / mail pocket), it certainly does provide lots of gear storage with a price tag that won’t make you flinch.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Ice Red Drift Messenger Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 17, 2007 at 3:30 pm.

Looking for an inexpensive bag for your laptop that is geared towards women and doesn’t really look like a laptop bag? How about the Ice Red UNI Cargo Laptop Tote bag.

Constructed of durable 1680D ballistic nylon, the UNI is available in Black, Brown, Grey, Lime and Navy. It’s sized at 12″ x 16″ x 5″ (bottom expandable to 7.25″), so that most 15″ laptops will fit just fine. My Macbook Pro included.

The back of the bag has a large deep pocket with a Velcro tab on top to hold it closed. Regular sized magazines fit in this pocket with no problems.

The UNI has two non-padded, non-adjustable straps that are 11 inches long. This style of bag is designed to wear over one shoulder. The straps are not long enough to wear bandolier style. Since the straps are not padded, carrying a lot of gear in this bag might be uncomfortable.

On the face of the bag you will find three pockets. There are two large pockets with Velcro’d flaps that are 11 x 6 x 2.5 inches. These are nice sized pockets that can hold various items such as a water bottle, cables, adapters, etc. They are really too deep to store your cell phone as it wouldn’t be convenient to fish around in them when the phone rings.

Directly behind those two pockets is a zippered 11 x 12 inch deep flat storage area with a bright Orange lining.

The main opening of the UNI cargo bag can be zippered shut. This is a nice addition to this tote bag.

Inside you will find an organization panel of pockets on the front wall of the bag. This panel of pockets includes three pen / pencil slots with a larger open topped pocket beside it that could hold a slender cell phone. My iPhone fits perfectly in this pocket. To the Left of the pencil slots, there is a slot for an ID and behind it, a zippered pocket. Behind this entire set of pockets is another zippered pocket with two open slots inside it.

On the opposite wall of the UNI bag is a padded laptop sleeve.

My 15″ Macbook Pro fits perfectly in this sleeve.

The main compartment of this bag is definitely large enough to carry a lot of gear.

You can even expand the bag if you need more space. By unzipping the zipper that forms a U around the bottom of the bag, you can increase the size up to 7.25 inches thick. An added benefit of expanding the bag is that it helps to keep the bag from tipping over when you set it on a flat surface.

To give you an idea of how large this bag is, here I am wearing it. I am 5’5.5″ tall.

Designed for women, the Ice Red UNI Cargo Laptop Tote bag is a very nice inexpensive laptop bag with lots of storage. If you’re a girl that prefers shoulder style bags, this one might be just the one for you.

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Ice Red UNI Cargo Laptop Tote Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 5, 2007 at 8:00 pm.

I am regularly out in the middle of nowhere for work or camping with the family. Being the tech-toy junkie that I am, I bring a wide range of devices with me wherever I go. The Maxpedition COLOSSUS Versipack is an ideal bag for consolidating and protecting them in the wild. The COLOSSUS is the largest bag in the Versipack series.

The COLOSSUS Versipack is extremely well made. The exterior of the Versipack is constructed of a heavy duty ballistic nylon material. The interior lining is nylon as well but smooth and will not impact your devices. The metal zippers are top quality and will last the lifetime of the bag. The front, back, sides and bottom are reasonably well padded while not making the Versipack too bulky.

The front and top have velcro to attach a nametag or small pouch. The back has a rubbery material that decreases the amount the bag slides around your side or back. The shoulder strap is removable, a nice plus. This allows you to add the JANUS Extension Pocket to the strap giving you the ability to have a front pocket across your chest. The bag is more or less symmetric allowing for ‘ambidextrous’ use.

The COLOSSUS has six exterior and eight interior pockets of various shapes and sizes. The main pocket is 8” x 5” x 10” deep with front and back internal pockets. The largest of the internal pockets has a velcro closure. There is a mid-sided zippered pocket on the lid and a simple pocket with two small mesh pockets on the front of it.

The top pocket is 6” x 5” x 1” thick with a small internal pocket that has three elastic loops.

The back pocket is 9” wide x 11” deep, ideal for paperwork or a map. According to the Maxpedition website the back pocket is ‘hydration compatible’.

The front pocket is 8” x 7” x 1.5” thick with three velcroed subpockets within and two zipped pockets on the exterior. There are many hard point locations to hang items on the exterior of the bag. There is also a metal field loop on the top of the back. The bag weighs 34.2 oz when empty. It is available in black, green, khaki, digital foliage camo.

The COLOSSUS Versipack is very comfortable to wear. It hangs nicely on either side while distributing the overall weight of the bag. According to the Maxpedition website, the COLOSSUS is a "Special Project" due to its complexity and ‘labor-intensive nature’ and will be produced only on a limited basis.

Maxpedition lives up to its motto of ‘Everyday Hard-Use Gear’ in the COLOSSUS Versipack. Once again, it is very well made, extremely durable, and nicely sized. Priced at $118.99, it is a bit expensive for a mid-sized bag. But in this case, you get what you pay for.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Maxpedition COLOSSUS Versipack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 5, 2007 at 11:08 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…

The Saddleback Leather Company sells four types of leather products. They sell briefcases, satchels, suitcases and messenger bags. I was sent their medium sized Light Tobacco Brown briefcase to review. This style of bag is available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) and four colors (Light Tobacco Brown, Chestnut Reddish Brown, Dark Coffee Brown and Carbon Black).

Upon first seeing this product, I was struck by its robust look and feel. I had an overwhelming urge to beat my chest like Tarzan or something… I resisted that urge though as I’m a girl and it just wouldn’t look right ;o) This bag has been built to last. I mean really last. Saddleback Leather bags are constructed of 4-5 ounce full grain leather, which comes from the top layer of the cow hide (the toughest part).

You’ll notice if you look closely at my pictures, that you can see scuffs, scrapes and blemishes on the surface of the leather. If you like your bags to look perfect and pristine, you probably won’t like these bags. Personally, I think they look very cool and give the bag character.

The briefcase has a large flap that is held closed by three straps with buckles. You don’t have to fasten all three buckles though. I would leave the outer straps tucked under and would just fasten the middle buckle. You’ll also notice an adjustable shoulder strap and a convenient grab handle at the top of the bag.

The flap straps wrap around the bottom of the bag, to give it stability. If you like, you can stow an umbrella, newspaper or tripod under these straps. You can even remove the straps completely. It’s up to you.

There are only three pockets on the exterior of the briefcase. One on either end, that can hold items such as your cellphone. My Treo 680 fit fine. The other pocket is located on the back of the bag and can accommodate a standard sized magazine (the top of the magazine sticks above the flap by about 2 inches with my Medium sized briefcase).

You might notice the extra metal rings on this bag. You can use them to attach key rings and other items. Three of them are also used when you convert the bag from shoulder style to backpack style. More about that in a bit.

All of the hardware used on the briefcase is super sturdy. From the buckles to the rivets, these bags are made to last a lifetime. In the picture above, you can also get a good look at the quality stitching and the thickness of the leather.

I really like the grab handle which is made of a large comfortable roll of leather. Once you have a gear bag with a grab handle, you’ll never want one without it. It makes taking the bag in and out of a car so much easier.

Unbuckle the main flap to gain access to the interior of the bag. As you will notice, there aren’t any pockets on the exterior, under the flap. I kinda wish there was at least one flat pocket for papers or other thin items.

The interior of the Medium sized bag is separated into two main compartments. The back compartment is completely open and can be used for a laptop, books or other larger items. A 10 inch strap of leather with a spring clip for your keys is riveted to the divider wall. There is a false bottom in the back section. A leather flap lifts up so that you can hide flat items such as your passport or extra cash.

The front section of the bag has four open topped pockets sewn into the sides. One on each outside edge and then two on the center divider wall.

Here’s what the briefcase looks like loaded with some of my stuff. My 15″ Macbook Pro fits in the back slot. It’s a snug fit though and would not allow for an additional protective sleeve. In the front section, I have a couple of my favorite Waterfield gear pouches, along with a Waterfield Design wallet in one of the pockets. In the other pocket, I have a checkbook and my iPhone. The side pockets have pens and other small items.

Here I am wearing the bag bandolier style. For reference, I’m 5’6″ and weigh 125lbs. It looks great doesn’t it? It’s an eye catching bag, that’s for sure. But here’s the thing… This bag is heavy. Empty, the bag weighs in at 6 lbs. 11 oz. That’s with absolutely nothing in it at all. Load it up with your gear and it’s going to give you a work out. At least it did for me… Maybe I’m just a shrimpy wimp though. ;o)

You can convert the bag to wear like a backpack. For heavier loads, this may be more comfortable. To convert it, you detach the shoulder strap, reattach one end to the bottom metal D-ring, pass the other end of the strap through the large metal ring near the grab handle, then reattach the end of the shoulder strap to the opposite bottom D-ring.

The shoulder pads can then be adjusted for just the right fit. Adjusting the straps to wear this bag backpack style is a bit tricky though and might not work for everyone, depending on their size.

Although I am able to wear the bag this way, I couldn’t quite get the fit just the way I wanted it. I almost wish there was another strap to go across my front.

I’ve been extremely impressed with the materials and workmanship of the Saddleback Leather Company Briefcase. I have no doubts that it will last longer on this planet than I will. It has a classic simple style that catches eyes better than all those other lame looking designer bags on the market. The only complaint that I have is that it’s heavy. But I suppose if you want a bag made with the kind of materials that will last forever, you will have to deal with the bulk. This issue keeps me from using this briefcase as my every day bag, but on those days when I want to be noticed, I strap it on and bask in all the envious looks I receive.

Small (12 x 10 x 6 inches) – $410.00
Medium (14 x 11 x 9 inches) – $485.00
Large (16 x 12 x 9 inches) – $520.00
Extra Large (18 x 13 x 9 inches) – $545.00

(Note: The link in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website is an affiliate link.)

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and 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.

I have been in the market for a new briefcase after my venerable piece of junk brief bit the dust a few months ago. Enter the Maxpedition Tactical Attache! It is designed to conceal a gun in a large pocket, but as I do not own a gun (outside a long unused Tippman paintball gun), I cannot comment on this feature.

Like all Maxpedition bags, this one is built to last through a nuclear war. Also like other Maxpedition bags, there is no soft lining in most of the pockets…but the main compartment is not only lined, but padded as well! Same goes for the rear compartment. This makes a nice departure from the usual pure, stiff, scratchy ballistic nylon I have come to expect from Maxpedition.

Looking at the front of the bag, you have four pockets and a few sleeves, all fastened with (gasp) Velcro. No stealth here…opening one of these pockets makes enough noise to rouse a whole forest of enemy combatants to your presence. I like zippered pockets, because they keep items securely in the pocket, but if the items are large enough to fill the pocket, then it should be secure enough.

There are two small pockets measuring 3 ½” wide by 3″ tall by 1″ deep. These pockets are OK for USB keys or dongles, but be careful lest they fall out from the openings in the sides at the top of each pocket. A Bluetooth GPS unit would also fit well in one of these pockets, or a stack of Post-Its. It’s one thing to protect your gadgets from slashing bayonets, rain and mud, but without significant shock protection, the outer pockets are of limited use.

Below these two pockets is a long pocket 7″ long by 4 ½ “ tall by 1.5″ deep. Inside this pocket, in the back, is an elastic band that is sewn in such a way to create four loops 1 ½” wide. These could be used for keeping batteries, USB dongles, memory cards, or any other small item you want to keep secured. The rest of the pocket is bare and unlined. The flap has a strip of loopy Velcro across the front of it.

To the left of these pockets is a large pocket, this one zippered. 9″ tall, 6″ wide by 1″ deep, it is completely open save for a slash pocket against the front side of it. Perhaps maps, notepads, calculators or other like items can go in here. I used it to store the remote presenter control and hall passes. In front of this pocket is a flat pocket, the flap has an ID window pocket sewn into it. There are so many pockets, you might have to make a map to figure out where you put what! None of these pockets is particularly useful if you want to organize things, due to the lack of internal compartments. This large pocket is difficult to open, as, when closed, the single zipper pull is right up against the side of the pocket next to it, so you have to dig for it a little.

The front panel of the bag that these pockets are sewn to is the front of the concealed weapon pocket. There is Velcro inside this pocket for putting a holster (not included). It opens up pulling a plastic D ring at the top of the pocket. It is held closed by, you guessed it, Velcro! It could be used for keeping a slim notebook, if you want to use this for less tactical purposes. It is 15″ wide by 9″ tall, and is flat in depth, but you could fit something up to an inch thick in this pocket and still have no trouble closing it.

The main compartment is padded, with a stiff and lightly padded divider that is held in place by yet more Velcro. It closes with a nice, big zipper with a nylon cord pull. One side of the divider has two slash pockets, one large enough for holding a CD in a jewel case, the other too small for a CD. The inside of this compartment is lined and padded, and fits my 14″ laptop just fine. It would fit a 15″ laptop without a problem! In order to access this compartment, though, you have to undo the grab handle, which comes apart simply by pulling on Velcro. I really think Maxpedition has a lot invested in Velcro…

The back compartment is accessible via zipper, and it offers the only real organization in this bag. There is a large rear pocket, which can be secured with a plastic clip. The clip gets in the way of letter-sized paper or folders when closing, though. The upper part of the clip tends to mush the center of the paper a little. There are three flat pockets sewn in front of this, each one too small for a CD. They look like they were designed for floppies, but I honestly can’t figure out what I am supposed to put into these pockets. The back panel is thickly padded and lined.

There are water-bottle pockets to either side of the main compartment. One is designed exactly like the one on the Jumbo Versipack, with a grommeted hole in the bottom. Both retract against the side of bag with a cord that is accessible from inside the main compartment.

The shoulder strap is a nice, 2″ wide job that is pretty comfortable. It has a wrap-around shoulder pad that is removable by, yep, more Velcro.

So, how do I like this bag? Well, I have mixed feelings about it. It is full of pockets, which is good, but they could have better organizing capability and less Velcro. It makes a nice bag for my laptop, but I stopped using it after about three weeks. Why? I switched back to my 9″ laptop that fits in my Ellington Europa Field Bag. I have had three Maxpedition bags now, and though they come close to being excellent bags (they certainly are indestructible), their general lack of real organization and heavy reliance on Velcro make them unappealing to me. If you want a bag that will get you through the toughest situations, if you are in law enforcement or are in the middle of a battlefield, I can’t think of a bag better suited than a Maxpedition bag. For a civilian gadgeteer, though, there are better options with more organization and protection for our little gadgets.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Maxpedition Operator Tactical Attache (#0605) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 5, 2007 at 5:22 pm.

It is one of the biggest ironies of the current digital age. While our information may effortlessly reside in a persistent data cloud accessible from anywhere, all the mobile stuff we need to access that cloud needs an earthly place to stay while we are out and about.

The proliferation of electronic gadgetry has also given rise to a veritable explosion in the number and kinds of bags we can choose from to organize this stuff for the road. At least this has been the case in my closet, which is stuffed full of promising bags of all description – ranging from backpacks to messenger bags to folding contraptions intended to make easy the task of hauling electronic stuff (and collateral paperwork) around while traveling. There is no simple answer to the persistent question of the digital age: What kind of bag do I need?

Last year I had the opportunity to try out the Tom Bihn Archetype case. I loved the Archetype, which is a very well-made case constructed of cork, designed to carry your Apple laptop and nothing else. That’s the minimalist genius of the Archetype, and it’s perfect for many, but not all, situations. But what if you want to carry other material with you, or think you’ll need to recharge your MacBook before returning to home base? Under those circumstances, another solution is probably better suited.

Just in time for holiday travel this past December, I had the opportunity to try one of Tom Bihn’s other solutions: the Super Ego messenger bag. The Super Ego is Tom Bihn’s biggest messenger-style bag, and by big I mean roomy. Around the house here was a good deal of amazement and skepticism about the practicality of such a large bag (I wasn’t kidding about my closet), which was quickly replaced by a bit of envy – that’s really nice, but do they make a smaller one? At that time the answer to that question was in fact, no, which was shaping up to be my primary complaint about the Super Ego. Recently, however, Tom Bihn has added a new, smaller version – the Ego – to it’s line. This has not only rectified that limitation, it has resolved tensions around the house and now allows for a comparative review. Thus, this really is the tale of two Egos.

When I took the Super Ego on its first outing to visit family around the holidays, I stuffed it silly not only with gadgetry, but also with overflow from the small roller-bag I brought to avoid checking luggage. After doing so, I was dreading the initial heft of the Super Ego onto my shoulder as I knew it was going to be heavy, but I was pleasantly surprised. The design of the bag itself and the shoulder strap are such that the load – which was not light – was very nicely distributed. In contrast to other bags I’ve owned where this load might have felt like a dead weight dead set on separating my arm from my shoulder, the structure of the bag helped carry the large load very comfortably.

I also learned on this first trip that the Super Ego is extraordinarily well-designed to keep things organized. In addition to an external water-bottle holder on each side and a magazine pocket on the back, there are two main compartments (one intended for laptop, the other for smaller stuff which also has a built-in organizer panel) and 6 smaller pockets (two of which are zippered) on the flap covered front panel. The open pockets are nicely sized for items needing quick access, such as PDAs, phones, and smaller digital phones. The Ego shares all these design elements.

The smaller of the two main compartments in both bags is shaped like a expandable pouch and seems perfect to accommodate small, but oddly shaped items such a digital cameras, power bricks, and the like. It also contains a useful organizer panel, as well as two attachment points to further organize the space. A lanyard for keys is an obvious use of one of the attachment points, while the other can be used to accommodate optional Tom Bihn Organizer pouches of various sizes (ranging from $5-$11 each) so that smaller items don’t find themselves lost at the bottom of the compartment.

The other main compartment is designed to accommodate an optional Horizontal Brain Cell sleeve (various sizes to accommodate different laptop models and different colors to accommodate preferences; $50), also from Tom Bihn. Two clips sewn into the back wall of the compartment clip into the Brain Cell to make the two components work together seamlessly. Not only does the Brain Cell offer tremendous protection for a laptop (and random eggs being dropped from shoulder height, as demonstrated by a video on the Tom Bihn site), it provides a bonus feature when the bag is stuffed full. In protecting the laptop itself, the Brain Cell also effectively protects the space around the laptop, which is important when you have to unload the laptop for the purpose of passing through airport security. Rather than having to repack your back while dressing and slipping on your shoes, your laptop will effortlessly find its way back into the safety of the Brain Cell and your Ego of choice. With the Brain Cell installed there is still sufficient space for books and a lot of paperwork, though the Ego is clearly less accommodating than the Super Ego on this front. The space in this compartment of the Super Ego is cavernous, and sufficient to hold a second sleeved laptop if you really want to go overboard.

As you may have gathered from the options described above, one thing that makes the Ego line stand out is the degree to which the bags can be customized to your liking. That is true not only of the features, but to a great extent also the look of the bag. This can be accomplished by swapping the interchangeable highlight strip with another. These strips are available in about 2 dozen different colors and materials, as well as method used to secure the front flap (standard clip or an automobile seat-belt clip if you desire). The base colors are a bit more limited than those in the strips, but the combinations are wide ranging. Our red Ego bag is currently sporting a mod-green print, while the grey Super Ego is enjoying one the color of wasabi, though contemplating the next one to try. Since I’ve been doing a good deal of bike commuting, it may be time to try out the reflective strip shown on the right hand side of the picture below.

The Egos are really finely made bags – systems, really – and Tom Bihn’s customer service is first-rate, which makes them very attractive as candidates for giving your gadgets a place to live while on the road. How do they look in use? Is the size difference between the two really that substantial? In terms of usability they are both fabulous bags. In terms of looks, you can judge for yourself, but I think the Rodin sculptures look a bit jealous of Casey as she models both bags, as do the totems eyeing me (as a point of reference, I’m a foot taller than her 5 foot 2). While the bags are clearly differently sized, neither one appears to be too large or too small when worn.

In sum, I can recommend either of the Ego bags without reservation. I think the choice of Super Ego or Ego is really one of personal preference, though smaller framed people may feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Super Ego. Either way you chose you will find that they are superbly designed and constructed with high-quality materials. This means, of course, that they are not inexpensive – if you are looking for a low cost bag then don’t look at Bihn’s bags. However, these bags are great values, even outfitted with the optional items described above. Be sure to get a color you like as you will likely live with it for a long time, as you will likely not be in the market for a new bag any time soon – that’s been my experience, which is a relief to both Casey and my overstuffed closet.

Price: Ego — $130; Super Ego — $140.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Tom Bihn Super Ego and Ego Messenger Bags originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 14, 2007 at 4:29 pm.

For the past 8 months, my everyday gear bag of choice has been a custom Bagaboo messenger bag. That bag ended a long personal quest for the perfect bag… That is until I saw Waterfield Design’s latest creation, the Sling. Actually, I didn’t really pay much attention to the Sling when I first saw it show up on Waterfield’s site. Then they contacted me to ask if I would like to review it. I said sure, but still was not totally excited about it. Then it arrived and my mind instantly changed.

The Sling is unlike any Waterfield bag that I’ve reviewed in the past. It has a messenger bag shape and style with material that is almost metallic looking… shiny. It has a fine canvas look and texture, but feels somewhat slick to the touch. A friend at work said it reminded him of a space suit. Guess what? This ‘spacesuit’ is machine washable!

Available in Blue, Brown, Green, Red and Silver, I was sent the Sling in Green. My favorite color! Yay! The exterior of the bag is plain except for a small Waterfield logo along the bottom edge of one side.

Both ends of this bag have a roomy open pocket that is large enough to stash items such as phones, PDAs, digital audio players, a water bottle, etc.

The bottom of the Sling is covered in a layer of nubby rubber that both keeps the bag from sliding around on a slick surface and also protects the bottom from dirt. The padded adjustable shoulder strap has the same nubby rubber strip on the underside, to keep it from slipping off your shoulder.

Access to the interior is accomplished by unzipping dual zippers across the top of the bag. Inside you’ll notice that the bag has a lighter color lining. This makes it easier to see dark objects that might be hiding on the bottom of the bag.

One interior wall of the bag has side by side 7 x 7 inch zippered mesh pockets.

The opposite wall has one large 6.5 x 11 inch non mesh zippered pocket.

Both ends of the bag have open topped mesh pockets. The mesh used for the interior is finely woven and is not snaggy. You can see through it, but just barely. Also, one end has a strip of canvas that you can attach an optional matching pouch or a set of keys.

The matching zippered pouch is 11 x 7 inches and has no padding. There are no pockets inside the pouch.

The Waterfield Sling bag might not be the right bag for everyone given the fact that it is a ‘soft’ sided bag. Since it has no padding or support, it doesn’t make a very good laptop bag. But it makes a great ‘throw all your junk into it and go’ kind of bag.

Now let’s load it up with all the stuff that I carry with me on a day-to-day basis:

Umbrella
Some mail
Waterfield Wallet
Various Waterfield Pouches (4) which hold all kinds of nifty things
Eyeglass case for my magnetic sunclips (which is entirely too big for what it holds…)
Treo 680
Inka Pen
Huntlight FT-A2 Flashlight
Gomadic car charger with several exchange tips
Checkbook
Miquelrius book for my Gadgeteer ideas, to-dos and lists
Stack of 3×5 index cards with often used info for my day job

Now here is the Medium sized Sling containing all the items listed above. There is still plenty of room left for other items.

Here I am holding the bag which is still containing all of the items that I listed above. Just for reference, I’m 5’6″ tall. The bag is very comfortable to carry on your shoulder.

If I had the opportunity to change one thing about the Sling bag, I would add a grab handle to the top. Maybe a rolled handle on either side attached by rings so that it would fold down flat when not being used. Other than the lack of a grab handle, the Sling has all the features that I look for in a great gear bag: storage capacity, easy access to interior and all pockets, no Velcro, flat bottom so that it won’t topple over when sitting on a desk / floor and of course, style. I think I’ve found my new favorite gear bag. Thanks Waterfield!

Large Sling $139 / 17″ x 14″ x 10 ” / 1.9 lb.
Medium Sling $129 / 15″ x 11″ x 8 ” / 1.4 lb.
Small Sling $99 / 12 ” x 8 ” x 5 ” / 1 lb.
Matching Gear Pouch. $10 / 11″ x 7″

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Waterfield Design Sling originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 4, 2007 at 5:00 pm.

Ah… bags. Yes, it’s an addiction. Got a million of them in the attic, many gathering dust. I buy them, use them, find something better and then move on. My requirements for a gadget bag are simple: lots of pockets and/or compartments, have rough dimensions of 10-12 inches long, 7-8 inches tall and 4-6 inches deep. The CityWalker and Europa Field bags are both excellent examples of the kind of bag I love. I use the Europa to tote my Fujitsu P1510D laptop to work every day, but for my travels this year I decided on a new bag. A beautiful, black and compartmentalized bag from Victorinox called the Travel Companion Horizontal Tote.

Measuring 10″ x 7″ x 4″ and made of 210 x 640D Nylon w/PU Backing (specs from eBags, where I got this beaut), it has the perfect dimensions for everyday gadget detail. There is a nylon strap that is permanently attached to the bag, via a rotary racheting system that can adjust for shoulder carry or for use as a waistpack. The six inches of the strap closest to the pack are padded very nicely for maximum comfort. I keep it in the shoulder-bag position, where it is extremely comfortable. The back of this padding is pretty attractive to cat hair, so beware of that! The strap itself can be detached from itself via a snap-click mechanism typical of lumbar-pack belts, the connection point being right at the start of the padded section on the left side of the strap. This strap is adjustable for use as a waist pack, but I have found it a little difficult to adjust the length of the strap to fit my waist and then try to readjust it for use as a shoulder pack. The strap does not have a shoulder pad to it, but I have not found that to be all that detrimental to the comfort of carrying the bag.

There are three main compartments in this bag. I will start with the front zippered pocket. The zipper crosses the front of the bag two-thirds of the way up the height of the bag, and opens a fairly large flat pocket. It does pouch out a little, so you can fit quite a bit in this pocket. I keep my two-day pill case, Dramamine, a retractable USB cable, retractable headphones and retractable Treo 650 USB cable in here, as well as a USB SD card adapter and my iPod (either the Nano or the Shuffle, depending on my needs).

The middle pocket is amazing. It is loaded with pockets of varying sizes to accommodate your gear. The front side of this compartment has a 6″ long by 3″ deep pocket that is lined with soft, loopy nylon and is meant for sunglasses. It is open at the top with a fabric tab that closes over it with a Velcro fastener. It is the only place on this bag where Velcro can be found. I keep my Sanyo C6 digital camcorder in this pocket for easy access. Next to this pocket is a 5″ deep, 2″ wide loose pouch that I keep my Kestrel 4000 weather meter in. Perfect fit!

The rear side of this compartment has an organizer panel on the front and a slash pocket behind. The slash pocket goes the entire width of the bag and is perfect for keeping papers secure. I keep my passport in here, but it would be great for keeping tickets, maps and coupons secure. In front of the slash pocket a 3″ tall, 3 1/2″ wide loose pocket where I keep my Canon SD700IS digital camera. This pocket is loose enough to fit a camera a little larger than that. Next comes a panel of three stacked pockets, perfect in size for storing two SD cards, in protective cases, in each, side by side. I keep three SD cards in here, with spare batteries for the C6 camcorder and my Dell Axim x51V. Next to that are two pen silos, with a very nice keychain dangling between. The keychain is metal, with a metal spring clasp that is attached to the bag with a swivel mechanism. Just another nice touch in an extraordinary bag! Oh… and this compartment is gusseted, so you can open it wide to get your gear without worrying that your things will spill out!

The last compartment is an open compartment the length and width of the bag, and an inch deep. The front of it is home to a large zippered mesh pocket, perfect for keeping papers secure. The main pocket holds my Treo 650 in a flip case, Garmin 60CS GPSr and Dell Axim x51v in a metal case. The Axim will be replaced in another month or two by an OQO Model 02 with an extended battery and metal Stronghold case. I have already made a mockup to check that it will fit, and it will be a perfect complement to this bag! This compartment is also gusseted… what a deal!

This is an outstanding bag that I see myself using for a long time to come. It is a little larger than the Citywalker bag I raved about two years ago, but not uncomfortably so. It is also a lot less restrictive in the way you can organize your gear. The zipper pulls are attached directly to the bag, instead of being on cords attached to the zippers, so they will be very durable. This will be my gear bag of choice until something else comes along. Boy, am I finicky!

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Victorinox Travel Companion 2-Way Carry Horizontal Tote originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 12, 2007 at 5:42 pm.

Canvas, Cordura, Leather, Silk?

No, there is nothing wrong with your RSS feed, you are reading a review on silk gear bag. Yes, it is indeed possible to have a practical bag made of silk.

Initial impressions

I relish coming home to see a package sitting at my door, and the day that my Abbi New York Jade bag arrived was especially exciting for me. I love Chinese silk brocade, and testing out a gear bag made from this elegant material piqued my interest.

Swaddled in a protective dust bag, the Jade is a rare hybrid of luxury and practicality. Medium in size, the dimensions of the bag are 15.5″x12.7″x3.9″. This will accommodate most 15″ laptops, including my 15″ MacBook Pro.

The exterior of this messenger style bag is made of a pale green silk brocade, accented by a bright pink satin interior.

On the exterior of the bag there is one large pocket that runs along the length of the rear. This pocket is shallow in depth, which makes it perfect for a magazine or a small folder of papers.

The bottom of the bag is protected from snags and stains by four metal feet.

Between the external and internal fabric layers is a thin cushion of Duraflex padding, which is dense yet light. There is similar padding on the matching arm strap.

The interior fabric is snag-resistant and not too slippery. The interior has several loops for pens and 3 pockets, one large catch-all pocket, one medium pocket suitable for an iPod or PDA, and one flat zippered pocket with a loop to prevent the metal zipper from scratching anything in the main compartment.

Product Testing

Since I’m a bit clumsy and it is winter here in Pittsburgh, I decided that I should Scotch Guard the outside of the bag before carrying it on a regular basis. This kind of fabric treatment is an inexpensive way to protect all kinds of clothing and accessories. The brocade was colorfast and did not run or discolor after application. I did not apply the treatment on the inside of the bag, since I never carry liquids inside my bags.

I carried the Jade every day during my month of testing and it is very light and comfortable. The matching arm strap is adjustable and removable and has slip-resistant padding which distributes weight across the whole shoulder.

The construction of the Jade is exceptional for its price range. Even after carrying several very heavy (>50 pounds) loads, the seams showed no sign of distress.

The design of the internal pockets makes it very easy to locate items, like a ringing cell phone, one-handed while carrying the bag. The silk brocade was remarkably durable– no signs of snags or tears.

There are two design issues that I noticed while testing.

First, the Jade does not have a dedicated laptop compartment. I like to separate my computer from the papers and other things in the main compartment, so I used my Tucano sleeve on my MBP as well. This added bulk, but helped me organize and protect everything in the main compartment better.

Second, the front flap is secured by velcro. This caught on all sorts of things. A simple magnetic snap would be better.

Overall, I liked the Jade and carried it everyday, even when I didn’t bring my laptop. I received many complements on it wherever I went. The simple design makes it versatile enough to use every day.

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Bag, Laptop Bag, Shoulder Bag

Abbi New York Jade Laptop / Messenger Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2007 at 2:30 pm.

Whoo hoo, it’s time for another gear bag review! Yay! Yes, there really is cause for excitement this time. Why? Because I think that I’ve finally found my around-town / out-for-lunch gear bag! I’ve been searching for the perfect small bag that I can stow inside my everyday bag (right now that is a custom Bagaboo messenger bag) and then take with me when I go to lunch. My criteria has been a bag to carry my wallet, phone, a pen, sunglasses and a few other things as necessary. My quest has brought me to the Tom Bihn Cafe Bag.

Tom Bihn bags are made in Seattle, Washington. This particular bag is available in Small, Medium and Large, as well as 10 different colors, I was sent the Medium version in Steel / Crimson. Medium measures 10″ x 11.5″ x 3″, while Large measures 12″ x 13″ x 3″ and Small measures 7.5″ x 11″ x 3″. The exterior of the bag is constructed of 1000 Denier Cordura, which has a very slight rough canvas texture . The interior is lined with 500 denier Dupont Cordura, which has a smoother feeling texture.

As you can see, the Cafe Bag has a vertical orientation, with an interestingly shaped front flap that is secured via a Black plastic squeeze buckle.

On the back side of the bag, there is a large open topped pocket that is perfect for holding regular sized magazines. You’ll also notice a carry handle. Yay! This is a must have feature for a bag to become my favorite. The only thing that would make the handle perfect would be if it was rolled instead of just a flat piece of webbing… but now I’m being too picky aren’t I?

See the little loops sewn into the seams on the either side of the bag? This is for an optional waist strap so that you can wear the bag messenger style.

Lift the flap and you notice that the interior of the bag has a cool contrasting color which makes it easier to see objects at the bottom of the bag.

An 8.5 x 8.5 inch flat zippered pocket is located under the flap. I use this pocket for my checkbook and other small flat items that I don’t often need.

If we check the interior, we’ll find that it is nice and roomy. Two open topped pockets and 2 pen/pencil slots are sewn into the front wall of the bag. There is also a hanging key-holder (barely seen on the left edge of the picture above) sewn into the left side. The key-holder has plastic clips on each end, so it can be removed.

Here is a close-up of the interior pockets which are both approximately 3.25 x 5 inches.

Let’s check out the gear that the Medium sized Cafe Bag can accommodate. Hard sunglasses case, 2 standard sized magazines, 2 pens, Treo 750v, Waterfield wallet, small Waterfield cable guy pouch, and a large Waterfield gear pouch.

And here is a picture with all the items neatly stowed in the bag. As you can see, it is not even really crammed full.

There’s room for even more magazines too.

Here I am wearing the bag on my shoulder (and evidently unaware that the rubber shoulder pad had slid down the strap…doh!). For reference, I’m 5′ 5.75″.

I can’t find anything to complain about with this bag. The materials and craftsmanship are top notch. I really like the unisex style as I’m not one to go for froo-froo girly bags. I also like the vertical orientation and the pocket layout. The Tom Bihn Cafe Bag is a great little bag that is handy for carrying your most necessary items when you don’t need or want a large bag.

Small Cafe Bag – $45.00
Medium Cafe Bag – $50.00
Large Cafe Bag – $55.00
Waist strap – $5.00

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Tom Bihn Cafe Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 13, 2006 at 6:07 pm.

At least once or twice throughout the years, I have mentioned to John Hindaly of Vaja that it would be fantastic if they would consider adding a line of gear bags. All this time, I’ve been waiting patiently for them to create one of their masterpieces… I’m happy to say that my (and your) wait is now over. Vaja has just announced 3 new gear bags. A 15″ wide messenger, a 15″ vertical messenger and a slim messenger bag. They sent me the 15″ vertical messenger bag tonight. I’m honored that Vaja chose The Gadgeteer as the first review site that they’ve sent a sample to!

I think this is the biggest Vaja box I’ve ever seen ;o) I’m so used to receiving their boxes that fit in the palm of my hand.

Mmmmmm, can you smell that yummy leather fragrance? No one is able to resist it. I took this bag with me to work and everyone that saw it had to pick it up and sniff it.

This bag is gorgeous! It has 5 pockets (2 zippered) and an adjustable heavy woven shoulder strap. Size wise, it is 14 x 11.3 x 4.50 inches. Empty it weighs in at 2.64 pounds. The bag is made entirely of fine grained soft leather. The version I was sent is Black with Red. You know Vaja though, customization is their thing. You can order this bag in a rainbow of color combinations.

The design of this bag has the primary color on the exterior, except for an accent strip of the color used for the interior flap and main compartment face. The Black and Red design for my bag kind of reminds me of a racing motif.

And for a little bit of bling, there’s a Sterling Silver Vaja logo in the bottom right corner of the flap.

There are no pockets on the outside of the front flap, but there is one large zippered pocket on the back of the messenger bag.

As you can see from the picture above, this pocket is not quite large enough to fully accommodate a standard sized magazine in either portrait or landscape orientations. I think an open pocket across the entire back of the bag would work much better.

The right side of the bag is plain except for a small fabric tag with the Vaja logo. I think it would have been nice to have a side pocket here. Maybe for a small umbrella or mobile phone…

The left side is void of pockets as well. You will notice the leather tab with 2 holes though. This is a custom option and can be placed on either the left or right side.

The tab can accommodate Rivet system plates and accessories. Vaja sells the kits as an add-on to the bag. With the system, you can connect your phone, PDA or other item to the side of the bag.

If you look on the bottom of the bag, you’ll notice 5 metal feet. This is a nice touch that looks classy while also protecting the leather on the bottom of this expensive gear bag. This bag also stands up straight and doesn’t normally topple over. I always hate when bags do that.

In the picture above, you can see a close up of one of the feet and also see the perforated detail of the leather that makes up the sides and bottom of the bag.

When you lift the flap, you are greeted with 2 open pockets. The pocket on the left is approximately 5 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep. The pocket on the right is 7 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep.

The pocket on the right also hides a smaller zippered pocket on the back wall which is 3.5 inches wide by 4 inches deep. The pocket isn’t the most convenient to access though…

I should mention that the main flap of the bag does not have a fastener of any type to keep it closed. This may or may not be a concern. I find that the flap is heavy enough (there is some padding in it) to stay closed on its own.

The main compartment is 13 x 10.6 x 4 inches in size, and like most messenger bags, is just an open cavity. The interior is lined in grey knit material that is emblazoned with the Vaja logo.

There is one pocket on the back wall of the bag. This is a 6 inch wide by 7 inch deep zippered pocket. Next to it, you can see 2 more custom options. One is a spring loaded metal hook that works great for keeping track of your keys, and the other option is a detachable leather gadget pocket.

The pocket comes in Small and Large sizes. The small size was included with my messenger bag. This size just barely fits a Treo smartphone.

The sides of the pocket are elastic, while the rest is made of leather, with a color scheme that matches the scheme of the bag.

Ok, let’s talk about what it is like to use the Vaja Messenger bag as your daily gear bag. Lately, I’ve been carrying a custom designed Bagaboo messenger bag, so I was curious to see if all my every day carry stuff would fit into this new bag.

I’ll be honest and tell you that I didn’t move everything from the Bagaboo over to the Vaja bag. I just moved all the main stuff. I left a few pens, my checkbook (by mistake…), neoprene bottle cozy, a large Waterfield Cable Guy pouch and a few other odds and ends.

Here you see all the main items inserted into the Vaja bag, with room to spare. For such a compact looking bag, it really does have a generous amount of storage capacity.

The Vaja messenger isn’t marketed as a laptop bag, but with the optional laptop sleeve (leather to match the bag, or neoprene), it will work as one just fine.

Here I am wearing the bag. I wasn’t sure how well I’d like the unpadded woven shoulder strap, but I found it to be surprisingly comfortable. It does not slide down my shoulder when I wear a slick coat like the Bagaboo strap does.

I like pretty much everything about this bag. Of course I can always find something to criticize… after all, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t. I did notice one thing that this bag lacks. Pen / pencil holder slots! Not that the lack thereof should make you disregard a purchase of this bag, but I’m just saying… ;o) I do wish this bag had a grab handle, but since the flap does not fasten, a handle wouldn’t work too well.

As made, my bag sells for $405. Yes, that is a lot of money to spend for a gear bag. Some people don’t blink at that price when they consider the great materials, quality workmanship and style that this bag offers. I know I will enjoy this one for years to come.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Bag, Shoulder Bag

Vaja 15″ Messenger Bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 26, 2006 at 6:14 pm.