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Advice On Notebook Backpacks?
UnknowingFool writes "I'm about to go on a whirlwind trip with my laptop. Currently I'm using a generic laptop bag, but it's not really made for trips like this. I want to see if I can get a good notebook backpack and wanted to know what experiences traveling geeks here have had with notebook backpacks. My criteria: 1) Around $50 2) Functional enough to be used after my trip as a generic backpack 3) Tough enough to survive hauling through airport, yet comfortable enough to endure wearing for hours 4) Enough pockets for my chargers, cables , etc." I've been impressed with some bags from Targus; any good suggestions out there?
It's defintely beyond your price, but I swear by the Axio pack from harodesign: it's a hard pack, and since I drive a motorcycle to work every day, it's the only thing I trust. I'm somewhat of a laptop bag snob (I've tried brenthavens, targus, etc) and this is the best one I've had yet. I actually carry two laptops in it! Of course, I warn you that people will call you boba fett if you wear it. ;)
Axio by harodesign
(btw, not a shill, just a satisfied customer!)
At Defcon last year they had these really neat laptop backpacks with hard outer shells. It looked like they'd protect well against a nasty fall. I can't find the product now; anyone know what I'm talking about, and where to get one cheap?
Thanks!
We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
About a year ago I purchased an ObusForme backpack for my computer (the Axis Model). It is excellent. If you are not familiar with them, ObusForme is a company that got its start designing those back-pads for putting in your chair to get better support. The bags are designed using something they call the Comfort Support system. It really works. I had a Lowepro bag for about a year. It was excellent - really rugged, but I've got a bad back so switched to the ObusForme and I'll never go back. It was around $70 Canadian - so it was a good deal. Sure there are some excellent bags out there (Tumi, Brenthaven, Booq) but they are all 2-4 times the price. Check out ObusForme at http://www.obusforme.com/.
$20 of PVC pipe, an old hiking pack frame and you can build a pack to do whatever you want.
Where are we going, and why are we in this hand cart?
When I had an AlBook, I used thisSamsonite Avior Laptop Backpack which was both classy and functional.
I since traded it for a Powermac otherwise I'd have kept it.
But I admit it's a bit other the 50 bucks the story submitter mentioned.
Trolling using another account since 2005.
I bought the Swiss Army 'davos' from REI almost a year ago and have never been happier with a laptop bag of any kind. Granted the bag is a little above your price range but I have found it to be well worth the cost. Swiss Army also appears to have a newer bag, 'verbier', which seems like a slightly less expensive and slightly smaller version of the same thing.
n fo.cfm?product_id=3529&category=49 n fo.cfm?product_id=3546&category=49
The big drawback to these bags is that they do not sell/ship with the laptop sleeve (at least as of the time of my purchase) and it must be purchased from a phone retailer (number and instructions included with bag).
This trouble asside the laptop sleeve is on par or better than that which comes with the Targus bags.
FFR:
http://www.swissarmytravelgear.com/webstore/morei
http://www.swissarmytravelgear.com/webstore/morei
I've got a Targus bag which I've been using for a year. The thing is rather comfortable, but can get a little rough after a few hours with it. I'd give you a link off the targus site, but it doesn't appear to be on there. The back and shoulder straps are completely padded, and the back most compartment is huge and holds a slip for my laptop. The slip has a netted pouch for nick-nacks (PCMCIA cards, etc) and there's space enough for my power adaptor. The next Compartment up has enough room for whatever books I might be carrying, notebooks, compartments for pencils, and another netted one that holds my minidisk player, LAN cables, etc. Then there's another front one that could fit smaller books, and two others on the sides of the bag (each about the size of a can of soda). From the looks of their site all the bags are nearly as spacious. With these bags full they can be quite bulky, but when I've got just my laptop in there, it doesn't seem so cumbersome.
There's a few problems with using Targus bags though.
If you're paranoid... since Targus is a name brand laptop bag it's pretty much a guarentee to thugs that you're carrying a laptop with you.
Second, I don't think any of their bags are particularly attractive. I think I got the lesser of the devils with the black/silver I have, but I still think it's kind of ugly.
The other route you could go, is get a truely comfortable bag and convert it to a laptop bag. Using cardboard, or some other type of padding to make a slip, then sew a cover on that and attach it to the inside of the bag. It's a little more covert and you might like it better. But I'm lazy, and I was willing to drop 75 on my bag.
Hey, it's my OPINION that dogs have eight legs and make a sound like a car horn every time they take a piss.
I use a leather backpack from Wilsons that is made for a laptop, but it certainly doesn't look like a laptop bag. The one I have isn't on the website anymore, but there is still an option listed there.
"Sometimes the only thing left to say is 'Oops'" -- debbers
I saw one of these in an ad in a Mac magazine a few months back and wished I had had one during my trip to NYC for HOPE.
u k/ index.htm
http://www.unicorn-video.smartemail.co.uk/axio-
- When you do things right, no one will be sure you've done anything at all.
is what I would suggest. I just use a Marware Sleeve on my iBook and then toss it in my Eddie Bauer backpack. I think having a laptop bag gives your item a greater chance of getting stolen than a regular back since a laptop is ususally more valuable than whatever's in a regular backpack. Eddie bauer backpacks aren't that bad in terms of price, and have known to be very rugged and well built. Mine has enough pockets and things to throw all of my books, charger, mice, etc. and nobody would know that there was a laptop inside.
That's a good idea. I have a Jansport backpack with a "bladder pouch," but instead of a bubble-wrap I have a zippered neoprene sleeve for the laptop. The sleeve itself doesn't have room for the power supply or mouse, but combined with the various small pockets the backpack affords the whole setup has done me well on a number of trips. The neoprene sleeve is made by Tucano, but I bought it at a local computer store so it or something like it shouldn't be too hard to find.
Sales Skyrocket After Media Expose' on Bag Labels.
Tom Bihn designs T-shirts based on labels; all proceeds to go to homeless veterans's charity.
PORT ANGELES, WA: Tom Bihn, a Port Angeles-based company that designs, manufactures and sells laptop bags, messenger bags, backpacks and briefcases, has garnered worldwide media attention this week after a Web blog posted the contents of the label sewn into most bags.
The inside label carries instructions on washing and caring for the bags. Because the bags are sold in Canada, the instructions are also printed in French. The French version, however, contains an additional phrase: "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N'AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI."
Translated to English, the phrase reads, "We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We did not vote for him."
This week, reports have aired on Seattle, Chicago and California NBC affiliates, on Seattle's KOMO radio and the nationally syndicated Paul Harvey radio show, on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", and on the Port Angeles cable station PNN. Bihn has fielded inquiries from German, Irish and other international media outlets.
The company has recorded record sales this week -- with sales more than double all previous weeks in the company's history. Customers have flocked to the Seattle and Port Angeles stores to scoop up the bags with the now infamous label. E-mails and calls have poured into the store, with many customers ordering directly from the company's Web site at www.tombihn.com.
The "secret" message began as an inside joke among seamstresses and staff at the Tom Bihn factory, and was apparently intended to poke fun at company's founder and president, Tom Bihn.
Bihn has created a t-shirt featuring the label, and will donate all proceeds of the sale of the shirts to the Seattle Vet Center, specifically towards its Homeless Vet Program. The t-shirt is available for purchase on its Web site and at its Seattle retail store.
Tom Bihn products are proudly made in its Port Angeles, Washington, factory.
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I just got the Ogio Metro bag from Ebags, I love it. Seems to have everything you are looking for, and since I see no reason to stop carrying your laptop outta do nicely.
I sort of agree with your idea, but...I just like the way my Targus feels secure. It has like an inch of padding all the way around the laptop's compartment. I know I manhandle my backpack a lot (lots of flying and field work) but I don't worry too much about being rough with it because it's well-protected. Although I never take this backpack anywhere if the laptop isn't going with me, so I don't care about added weight from the padding.
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The El Ocho is the best all around size (about the size of a school backpack) but they make 2 larger ones and 1 smaller. I ordered mine in the ballistic nylon and it really is quite bombproof. At the time they offered an additional inside coating (it already comes with a waterproof rubberized coating) and a rubber bottom but I am glad that I didnt order them as they wouldnt help (its already waterproof enough and durable enough). Get the Strap Pad you will thank me later.
My mother has the small size (of the clasic model...not this new "mini" model that I see they have) and while it would probobly have room for a laptop, it is just a little bit too small for use as anything but a large purse.
Bottles.
It's called Ortlieb, but apparently it's misspelled so often that they made a website mirror under the name ortleib.com...
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