One Bag to Rule Them All
I’ll admit it: I have a Bag Problem. I’m not one of those women who drop thousands of pounds1 on the latest tiny little chi-chi fashion handbag (“because beadwork is so hot right now, sweetie”), in fact I loathe and detest handbags and don’t own one. On the rare occasions when I go somewhere where even I would feel awkward carrying a rucksack, I colonise the pockets of my beloved. No, I’m talking about real bags. The kind you can carry all your geek kit around in, and which doubles as a mugger-felling projectile or an emergency seat. It must have pockets—-lots of pockets. My problem is that I want the perfect bag that will do it all, the One Bag to Rule Them All.
I dislike having to transfer stuff between bags (partly because I don’t trust myself to remember to transfer the right things), so I need something that will carry my ‘core essentials’ (keys, wallet, phone, iPod, travel pass, camera, Leatherman) for day trips, but also take my work gear (PowerBook, A4 document wallet, books, VGA connector, laser pointer, lunch etc.) for work. Because I walk home from the station (a 30 minute journey), and travel on a couple of different kinds of public transport, it also needs to be waterproof and comfortable to carry.
Leaving aside hand-held briefcase type bags which are impractical for my needs, there are two main styles of bag: rucksacks and courier bags. In the past, I’ve favoured rucksacks because they distribute the weight more evenly across your back, but they are a lot more awkward to get things in and out of. Courier bags, on the other hand, can be swung around to the front to quickly extract your keys, wallet or travel pass. I don’t like to be awkwardly rummaging in public.
My last bag was a [STM Small Sphere][1]—-purchased through work—-which was nearly perfect. It was great size for my 12” PowerBook, comfortable to carry, and very nicely designed. However, I had two gripes with it. First (and most importantly), it wasn’t waterproof. Despite the ‘waterproof zip’, I found that my stuff was getting worryingly damp in all compartments, and when you’re carrying an expensive laptop, that isn’t much fun. I could have messed about lining the compartments with plastic carrier bags, but I would have had to line every pocket, which wasn’t really practical. Lots of zips and seams on the top of a bag are a bad idea when you often have to spend 30 minutes in a downpour. Second, the padded compartments were great for carrying the laptop, but they didn’t leave a lot of space for other things when I wasn’t going to work. So, somewhat reluctantly, I looked around for a replacement.
In the end, I got a [Crumpler Cheesy Disco][2] with a generous discount at the MacExpo. Despite the stupid name and frankly terrifying website, it’s a very classy bag. It’s beautifully made, with very tough material, buckles and zips. It has also remained totally waterproof after some drenching walks home, and has some very thoughtfully designed features. For example, an extra lip of material2 folds over when you close the main flap, preventing any water from sneaking in at the edges. Chunky straps of fabric which lie flat against the bag make good loops for attaching camera pouches to, but don’t get in the way otherwise. Best of all, the padded laptop cell inside is self contained and totally removable. So when I take my work stuff out, I’ve got a very roomy courier bag. It looks as if it’s made to last, which is just as well because I really don’t want to set out on the One True Bag quest again.
1 And not just because I don’t have thousands of pounds.â
2 Bafflingly called the ‘Prince Charles Seal’—-“keeps dirt, water and corgis out”. â
[1]: http://www.stmbags.com.au/smallsphere “STM bags” [2]: http://crumpler.co.uk/2.0/site.html “Warning! Lots of Flash”
1
I use a Tucano second skin for carrying my powerbook in. They're made from a wet-suit type material so water proof and so far have stopped any scratches. Can't really use one on its own, but they are great if you want to put your laptop in another bag.----- Followed the link to the crumpler site. Never again. Lasted 2 minutes, didn't find your bag. Trying way way too hard to be cool to be anything other than embarassing :(
FWIW: I use a padded cotton pouch my girlfriend made for my 15" powerbook, all goes in a leather shoulder bag I've had for a while.
I like the look of the crumpler's, but I feel safer with a bag which doesn't look like it's got anything very expensive in it.
by Martin @ 24/11/2005 11:11 pm • Permalink •
2
Oops. Try "Lowepro EX 1200" - details at http://tinyurl.com/8lw8x
by ijw @ 25/11/2005 12:12 am • Permalink •
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Jonathan - neoprene is NOT waterproof! It actually soaks up water rather like a sponge - in a wetsuit this means that your body warms up a single layer of water rather than simply losing heat all the time - but it won't do your laptop much good against a cloudburst... great against scratches, not much cop against water.
I've been using a for awhile now. Probably not waterproof enough for BSAG due to zips on the top edge, but enough for me. Loads of pockets and sections including a padded one for the laptop, and for £20 (somewhere off Tottenham Court Road) it's unbeatable. A really chunky shoulder strap with proper padding is a definite bonus.
by ijw @ 25/11/2005 12:12 am • Permalink •
4
Do you think your choice of bag says something about someone? Personally I have a tatty old rucksack long overdue for cremation. The laptop lies inside a giant jiffy bag to cushion and waterproof. I've been using Jiffys for years. A colleague got me into the habit; she reckoned people wouldn't steal a large envelop but at the time muggers were very keen on targeting laptop bags. I also splashed on an ultraportable/notebook because I was sick of hauling a large laptop around.
by Ian @ 25/11/2005 8:12 am • Permalink •
5
Funny, I've just gone from messenger style bag back to a rucksack. Having to haul my 15" Powerbook around most of the time really strains your shoulders.
What's even funnier is that I recently posted something on my blog about what I think is the Ultimate Laptop Backpack.
by Jeroen @ 25/11/2005 8:12 am • Permalink •
6
I normally use a backpack for lugging stuff about. My laptop bears the brunt of this, and always likes decidedly "used" as a result. Up 'til recently the camera also used to rattle around in one of the backpack pockets, which was nice and handy.
Now, though, I'm having to re-think this. Simply slinging £1,000's worth of camera plus lenses into a backpack is not a wise move.
I'm thinking of a LowePro or Delsey camera backpack that also has room for other stuff like a laptop etc. (and as Ian said, I went for an ultraportable laptop rather than the desktop replacement beasts that everyone else seems to have) and anything else will have to get sorted somehow.
I've never understood the thing with laptop bags - I understand the theory, but you might as well be having a sodding great "MUG ME!" notice when you're carrying one. And so many people seem to carry them over just one shoulder - dead easy to slip off and run with, if you're a mugger... I'll stick with the crappy backpack that you'd never know held £3K's worth of camera, laptop, portable hard-drive etc. etc.
by Lyle @ 25/11/2005 11:12 am • Permalink •
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ijw- Thanks for that. Will have to be more careful with my laptop in future!
by Jonathan @ 25/11/2005 8:11 pm • Permalink •
8
I'm also very keen on hand luggage. My Crumpler McBain is pretty much the best bag I have, and I got it half price when Virgin here in Oxford cleared out their stock. Oh that I had bought another one with more pockets too. Really, really good bags. Mind you, my Samsonite messenger has a special place in my affections too...
by jim w @ 25/11/2005 9:11 pm • Permalink •
9
There just ain´t no cure for the carryin´stuff blues... Rucksacks: accessible to pick pockets, must be continually shifted for sitting, opening closing zippers & reshuffling, one shoulder carry causes aching - high nerd/sincere middle class academic factor Belly bags: dressing for the Jerry Springer show? High overweight american tourist image. photo vests: risk for bulky overloading, lots and lots of pockets to lose track of and fight to open and close. makes me (at least) look like one of the many many manly middle aged travelers who thinks that venturing forth enmasse from the holiday Inn and visitng downtown Madrid is a safari (god love ´em). Same for cargo pants. Straps across the chest strangle... too much bulk encourages, perhaps, too much curiosity from the natives. or authorities or airplane checkins or all 3. removable burdens have a tendency to remain stationary when the absent minded carrier moves on... etc. etc. etc. I´ve even (blush) have carried a "mans" shoulder bag during the seventies, not to mention all themany ethno hippie bags and stuff I ´ve picked up from spain to nepal. Nothing works and nothing works with STYLE. After 37 years of world travel i`m still trying to find a solution for my essentials BEFORE I leave for Malaysia and Borneo (monsoon anyone?) If anyone knows of a flexible, waterproof, small carrying bag for an old fashioned cannon camera w/macro, mucho mucho film, small notebook & pen, emergency poncho, some tablets, a map or two, maybe a guidebook and room for small purchases of the tourist or provision kind that can be easily carried (without continual sliding) on one shoulder and allows easy access to contents without massive struggle and strife, please let me know. There just ain´t no cure for the carryin´stuff blues.... renounce all desires and possesions before leaving your home.
by john(jc.) @ 26/11/2005 9:11 am • Permalink •
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Oh yeah my perfect bag has got to have room for a small calculator also. just mentioning
by john(jc.) @ 26/11/2005 9:12 am • Permalink •
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It's not the ultimate solution as a multi-purpose bag - but it does its job (carrying a laptop and work accessories) extremely well: the Incase Sling Pack - pretty much watertight - a rucksack cum courier back - comfortable to carry and not at all bulky - quite sleek actually - easy to move around - two generous but flat external pockets for papers/books/notepads. One accessible external padded pocket for ipod/phone. On the inside, a padded laptop pocket, two zippered pockets for accessories, two other 'elasticated' pockets for mouse / cables / etc. and the main internal pocket area.
It doesn't look too flash. It's secure. And there's nothing hanging off.
Major drawback: I don't feel comfortable putting bulkier objects in it - camera etc. It's the bag version of a 'snug fit'. Since I'm a carry the kitchen sink and spare bunsen burner type of person, it feels a little minimalist (and dare I say naked) to be travelling so comparitively light.
Apple Store: Incase Sling Pack Review
The incase website - lots of nice looking but expensive ipod / laptop carrying solutions
by Ger @ 26/11/2005 12:12 pm • Permalink •
12
Another vote here for Crumpler bags -- I've been using both a cycling messenger bag ('Seedy Three') and a laptop shoulder bag ('Wack-o-Phone') for a few years now. They're both extremely hard-wearing, completely waterproof, and brilliantly designed. Crumpler are clearly quite, quite mad as a company, but they make terrific bags.
Plus there's that whole nod-to-the-fellow-convert thing one does on passing somebody on the street who's also sporting the cute little figure cartoon up by their shoulder.
by Jonathan Sanderson @ 26/11/2005 5:12 pm • Permalink •
13
When my laptop was taken over by my son and I broke my cell phone. My bag is now my Carhartt carpenter pants and on busy days my old leather coat I bought at the height of my punk days (c.'77), which has held up fine and has more pockets than I ever need. I have become my own bag. Bill
by bill brovold @ 27/11/2005 3:12 pm • Permalink •
14
Though a bit pricey, Tom Bihn was my choice for the One Bag. Though it actually turned into two bags, as I also got a backpack for my iBook and its' peripherals. The backpack is rigged to hold a padded laptop sleeve, suspended from hooks inside the pack. The bags are all well-built and well-designed, and the plan is for them serve for quite a while, as everything from daypack to carry-on airline luggage.
by William Donohue @ 01/12/2005 7:12 pm • Permalink •
15
Try Booq?
I have one of thier BP3 systems (backpack with latop sleeve). Works GREAT!
by Mark @ 01/12/2005 7:13 pm • Permalink •
16
Billingham's Hadley Bag is a winner in my book, but if you are a bit paranoid it's not bad to "prep" it first. Cut off the Billingham label, leaving a usefully unsightly glue mark on the top, then lash to the bike of your bike, trailing along the ground and go up and down the street a couple of time, pref in rain. Then you're good to go.
It holds an amazing amount of stuff, even though it looks pretty small, and there always seems to be room to bung in something else. The two front pockets are bellowed as well, and there is a handy zip pocket running the length of the back which is good when travelling for tickets etc.
Also, though YMMV, I find the slightly smaller size a bonus, as I'm a "take the kitchen sink" type - the discipline imposed by the smaller format is handy.
At the other end, I have one of the giant Billingham pro photographer bags which is mostly for storage - the thing is so big that you cannot take it with you comfortably anywhere (unless it's empty...).
by Jolyon @ 03/12/2005 1:12 pm • Permalink •
17
Great post and excellent links in the comments. I'm super picky about bags too, and it took me forever to settle on the Eastpak backback I have now. However, my 15" Powerbook doesn't fit as snugly in the padded laptop section as well as my last laptop did. So, now I'm on the search for something new.
I drool over the Crumpler bags, but at that high of a price, I want to hold one in my hands before buying. Sadly, I haven't seen anywhere in Dallas that carries them. I like the look of some of those stm bags, though.
by Bill @ 07/12/2005 5:13 pm • Permalink •
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