Women use the same gadgets as men, but some of us want a different type of gear bag to carry them in. Typical unisex bags tend to skew “more manly”, and they often have a look that announces “expensive gear inside”. Women may want a bag that looks more like a handbag to blend in with their business attire, and one that has room for the stuff they’d normally carry in a separate purse so they can fit everything into one bag. The laptop bags from Alesya Bags look like a handbag, and they cleverly carry up to a 15″ laptop inside and still have room for other stuff. The top zipper opens to a shallow pocket that holds a wallet, keys, phone, or other small goods that get lost in the bottom of cavernous bags. The back of the bag has a large pocket for files or magazines. The front has a zippered compartment with pockets for phones, chargers, cables, and other necessities. There’s a zipper along the bottom of this compartment that opens the front of the bag to reveal the laptop compartment. Alesya Bags are made of 100% leather and are fully lined. The Black By Popular Demand bag is a hobo-style and has a strap with an 8″ drop to fit comfortably on your shoulder. This bag is also available in Heavy Metal; both bags are $289. Alesya is announcing that new colors will be appearing in a matter of days.
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An 8″ drop strap on a bag holding a 15″ laptop and other stuff does not fit well on my shoulder, especially when wearing heavy winter coats. The picture even shows the bag hanging by the elbow – which probably would not happen if there were a heavy laptop inside.
I do wish manufacturers would create something more adaptable for women’s computer bags. I like short handles for short distances, but a hike to the train is much more comfortable with a longer shoulder strap.
In my opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary.
I used this design for years and trust me, I hoard tons of stuffs in that bag. It actually holds the items + the laptop really well. It gets heavy, yes, but the strap is thick and I am not sure if it is due to the fact that they are made of leather, it actually is comfortable to have over the shoulder despite the weight of the bag (+ items in it). It hides the items well too and does not look bulky. After at least 10 years old using that bag, I am not looking to buy a new one, to find that it is now new designs instead.
Hi Pam! Thanks for your comments. I carry the bag on my shoulder every day and find it works well. Of course – that’s how I designed it so I may be a *bit* bias. Check out these other reviews that address your issues:
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/alesya-black-by-popular-demand/
http://authenticallyemmie.com/2011/09/review-alesya-bag/
Best, Alesya
Thanks for the reviews, Alesya. Just a thought to mull over – offer a second longer shoulder strap for those of us who are somewhat challenged in that department. 🙂
When my backpack-style laptop bag developed a broken zipper, I realized it was time for me to look for a new laptop bag. I didn’t want a black one like everybody else seems to have. I wanted something a bit more different. When I was looking, I had a business trip coming up so when I saw this bag and that it goes over your rolling luggage handles, I was sold. I loved the color, too. I knew it would not get mistaken for someone else’s laptop bag. I have just returned from my trip and it worked great. It was so much easier to just loop the bag over my luggage handles and roll it all than to have to carry it along with my purse. It held my laptop, a folder, three magazines and a hardcover book with two smaller travel books. There was also a large zipper pocket on one side that held some extra stuff. There are little loops for pens and a hook for a key or a portable access fob (VPN key). The straps are comfortable and just the right length. Overall, a great bag!