What are your favorite laptop bag brands?? I NEED HELP! (Seriously).

e.rose · Feb 3, 2014

SO...

There is a DISTINCT possibility that at the end of this month I'll be getting a new 15" MBP w/ Retina... And I'm super stoked.

SUPER.
STOKED.

[To those of you that were around when I first joined... Remember how EXCITED I was to get my camera? THAT'S the kind of excited I am... :lmao: ]

So, that being said, I'm sort of shopping around for a bag to keep it in.

Problem is, I am SUPER, super, super particular about... things. And bags. And things.

So far, I really like this one:

Brenthaven 15" Collins Slim Brief Case for MacBook - Apple Store (U.S.)

I dunno why. I just do. Ha.

But one of the guys at work made it a point to tell me that it looks like a bag that a "confused dad who is trying to be hip" would use. :biglaugh:

I still like it... but he got me thinking that maybe there's something out there I'd like more.

He suggested I check out Chrome Industries, and I did, but I didn't like any of their stuff. It was TOO... guyish.

That being said, I don't want anything overly girly either... unisex is pretty much where my comfort zone is for this kind of stuff, but I could be swayed towards more feminine if it's something really cool. :lol:

The dude at work also suggested Timbuck2... but I didn't really like any of those either.

I've noticed that the trend of the bags that I do like, even if just a little, are made out of materials other than nylons... like that denim bag I linked to above... I like canvas too... So something like that.

Also, I definitely want a shoulder bag or messenger bag... NOT a backpack.

Do you have favorite brands you can recommend, that I could look into?

I need to be able to fit my laptop, a charger, my wacom tablet and a fairly large hard drive (not like the typical super slim, index card sized drives), comfortably, as well as maybe a notebook.

What suggestions do you have?! :biggrin:

Derrel · Feb 3, 2014

I have a well-made Domke laptop bag. It doubles pretty well as a camera equipment bag too. Not sure what the model on it is, but it's a messenger-style bag with a large, divided main compartment, two front pockets, and a rear, zippered compartment. It appears to me to be the typical "Domke canvas" material--tough as nails, water-proof, etc. The front pockets would easily hold a hard drive and cables/power supply. It's unisex. Mine's black, has both a carry handle on top and a shoulder strap.

Okay, looks like mine is the Domke F-802, Reporter's Satchel

Domke F-802 Reporter's Satchel Shoulder Bag (Black) 701-82B B&H

e.rose · Feb 3, 2014

Derrel said:
I have a well-made Domke laptop bag. It doubles pretty well as a camera equipment bag too. Not sure what the model on it is, but it's a messenger-style bag with a large, divided main compartment, two front pockets, and a rear, zippered compartment. It appears to me to be the typical "Domke canvas" material--tough as nails, water-proof, etc. The front pockets would easily hold a hard drive and cables/power supply. It's unisex. Mine's black, has both a carry handle on top and a shoulder strap.

Okay, looks like mine is the Domke F-802, Reporter's Satchel

Domke F-802 Reporter's Satchel Shoulder Bag (Black) 701-82B B&H

Thanks, I'll check it out!

vimwiz · Feb 3, 2014

Targus?

jaomul · Feb 3, 2014

Tenba Messenger. Loads pockets. Weather resistant. Strong. Removable lining for a camera. Look good. All in all a fab bag

pixmedic · Feb 3, 2014

Love my large tenba messenger bags

MGRPhoto · Feb 3, 2014

You can customize Timbuk2 bags with a bunch of different materials and colors. The Timbuk2 Classic Messenger is one of my favorite messenger bags. You can get a fitted DLSR insert for it as well. Pretty high quality for the price as well. My favorite laptop bags are Tumi though. They are a bit on the pricey side but they last forever and take abuse very well. Crumpler and Tenba are good choices as well.

e.rose · Feb 3, 2014

See... I'm not sure if I really want one big enough to carry a camera, as shocking as that may sound. :lol:

I feel like that'll be too big and bulky to carry around, and for any where I'm going to need both my camera and laptop, I have a rolling camera bag that will fit both.

I really just need a bag big enough for my laptop, tablet, and a hard drive, because I'll probably be dragging it back and forth from home to work a lot. Or a coffee shop to be one of those obnoxious hipster kids that sits a Crema to edit and sip coffee for 4 hours. :lmao:

I love the *look* of the Tenba messenger... but... it's bigger than what I want, I think.

e.rose · Feb 3, 2014

MGRPhoto said:
You can customize Timbuk2 bags with a bunch of different materials and colors. The Timbuk2 Classic Messenger is one of my favorite messenger bags. You can get a fitted DLSR insert for it as well. Pretty high quality for the price as well. My favorite laptop bags are Tumi though. They are a bit on the pricey side but they last forever and take abuse very well. Crumpler and Tenba are good choices as well.

Yeah, I saw that Timbuk2 were customizable, but as stupid as this sounds, I didn't like the shape of the bags, hahaha.

(I told you guys... I'm ridiculous with this stuff).

I'll check out Tumi!

Tiller · Feb 3, 2014

Who cares what your coworker thinks? If you like it, get it.

A fellow intern once made fun of me because I drank apple ale instead of beer. She said it was feminine. I just laughed at her in my mind and enjoyed the apple-y goodness.

e.rose · Feb 3, 2014

Tiller said:
Who cares what your coworker thinks? If you like it, get it.

A fellow intern once made fun of me because I drank apple ale instead of beer. She said it was feminine. I just laughed at her in my mind and enjoyed the apple-y goodness.

Oh... don't worry... if I am still in love with it by the time I get my computer, I *will* get it, haha.

It just made me kind of want to see if there was anything *else* that I'd like as well, since I hadn't really looked around that much.

So far I found:

Amazon.com : Runetz - BLACK Messenger Shoulder Bag for 15-Inch MacBook & Laptop Gabbro Collection - Black : Laptop Computer Messenger Bags : Computers & Accessories

and

Nuo Eco-Friendly Canvas Laptop Messenger Bag - eBags.com

in addition to the original one I posted.

I really like the stiffness of the denim and blue/grey bags, but I like the color and the idea of canvas of the red bag. The only downside to that one is that a few of the reviews spoke about the bag ripping in some inconvenient places after a short amount of use... so I'm a little weary of that one now.