Shoulder bag

Skooba Design Checkthrough Messenger Bag Review

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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 […]

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Tom Bihn Empire Builder Bag (2008) Review

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.

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Mobile Edge Alienware Odyssey Messenger Bag Review

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.

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Saddleback Leather Company Explorer’s Satchel Review

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.

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Tom Bihn Aeronaut, Packing Cubes and Organizer Pouches

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.

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Ice Red Drift Messenger Bag

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.

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Saddleback Leather Company Briefcase Review

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…

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Maxpedition Operator Tactical Attache (#0605)

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.

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Waterfield Design Sling

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.

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Victorinox Travel Companion 2-Way Carry Horizontal Tote

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.

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Tom Bihn Cafe Bag

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.

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Vaja 15″ Messenger Bag

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!

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Ellington Leather Europa Field Bag

Women seem to be able to wear men’s clothing without catching any flak about it, but men…just try on that blouse and see what happens. Ouch. This is true as well of bags…women can walk around with a briefcase, and kiss other women, and nothing could be seen as further from normal. Let a man walk around with a women’s purse, though…and we won’t even continue the parallel metaphor, and you could wind up being beaten up and left to die on the pavement.

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