Briefcases / Messenger Bags

Hi:

I've been carrying my work laptop/papers using a backpack I've had since school, and it's not only getting pretty dingy, it's also looking pretty unprofessional. Therefore, I'm looking to pick up a nice briefcase/messenger bag for use around the office and to home and back. It has to obviously have a laptop sleeve, and be extremely durable (I like to keep my stuff for many many years). I'd also not like to spend a lot of money.

I'm looking at LLBean because of the lifetime warranty and genuine like for their products, specifically:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/42872?feat=845-GN1&page=leather-messenger-bag-regular

or

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/49402?feat=848-GN1&page=maine-guide-briefcase-leather

but I'm willing to hear alternatives, so I call on the collectively wisdom of the community.

I use a Timbuk2.

It's hard to go wrong with LL Bean. The lifetime warranty is one of the greatest things on the East coast.

Define "a lot of money". Timbuk2 are hard to beat and they last a long time. How about a Vinted or Saddleback Leather? I hear nothing but good things about Chrome.

I can second the Saddleback Leather suggestion - I've got one, and it's beautiful and very durable (but, try not to have heart failure when you see the price).

What size of laptop do you have?

I usually end up carrying my 13" Mac in a neoprene zippered case and that goes into the padded pocket in my MEC backpack - it's plain black, not terribly pricey, and I don't care too much if it gets a little dirty from the office/bus/subway floor. If you're not in Canada, maybe REI has something similar.

www.sfbags.com are really nice. I also like timbuk2

Ever since I started work, I'm required to carry a work issued laptop (when always seem to be the thick business ones from HP) around with me everyday as I move around various sites often. The laptop bag I use comes from Skooba Design, the Skooba Satchel. I've upgraded to the current V.3 version of the Satchel late last year. I've also gotten from them one of the Tablet bags for carrying around my iPad. Love the look and the price but I will admit they are not the best in long term quality.

I picked up a http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/control-laptop-case not long ago, LivingSocial seems to occasionally give out coupons for Timbuk2. It is pretty decent for carrying around a laptop and a tablet or e-reader, but with the model I have at least you can't carry much more.

I have a friend who decided to design his own bag. It is a backpack, but designed to be non-annoying if you are carrying a small load, and can carry a ton without causing the back-strain I usually accustom to trying to carry a lot in a bag. I've been beta-testing for him and it is easily my favorite carrying device ever. Once he gets to the point of actually selling it, I'll try to remember to post it up here.

Edwin wrote:

I hear nothing but good things about Chrome.

I have a Chrome, and I love it.

Swissgear by Wenger are incredibly popular as contractor bags in the DC area. Very functional and durable.

I'll third Saddleback. I really love their products, they have been worth every penny I paid each time.

[quote=Mimble]I can second the Saddleback Leather suggestion - I've got one, and it's beautiful and very durable (but, try not to have heart failure when you see the price).

I use a Timbuk2 and am quite happy with it. Here's the one I have (different color). It's on sale even.

Hi, bag whore here.

I think the first LL Bean bag you posted looks nice. The second frankly looks like it should come with a Dell laptop. I think either should hold up pretty OK.

EDIT: Actually that second style looks way better in canvas: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/49403...

I can highly recommend anything by Tom Bihn, I just semi-shelved my Empire Builder in favor of a day-to-day bag that's smaller. But I have used the EB for....a bunch of years. I think it hits that sweet spot between professional ( I'm not a big fan of actual bike messenger bags unless you are one) and stodgy (like that LL Bean). Also, the build quality is top notch, and they guarantee their work well.

Timbuk2 bags are pretty nice (and fun to customize), if you like them, you might also want to look at Rickshaw bags. Similar concept, they can be custom made to order, but I find the materials they use feel a little more luxe. My wife has one of the Medium Zero tweed messenger bags, and it is super lightweight and has held up great.

My current carry is this, which is actually more of a man-purse size bag, and I love it to pieces. I made the switch because I found I wasn't carrying my laptop around nearly as much any more in favor of my iPad. This fits that plus all my day-to-day crap just fine.

As far as the stuff other people have recommended, Saddlebacks are gorgeous but even I have a hard time swallowing that price. They are really a luxury item. I'm sure they would be amazeballs if you took the plunge. Note: will probably be heavy as hell, and will look NEW LIKE NEW SHOES until it gets broken in a bit.

Chrome bags I think look unprofessional and possibly a little poser-ish. I have heard they hold up amazingly though, and it makes sense given their lineage. I just hate seeing that giant seat belt buckle.

tanstaafl wrote:

I use a Timbuk2 and am quite happy with it. Here's the one I have (different color). It's on sale even.

I have the same one, though mine is black on black. I also have the Timbuk2 Kindle Fire cover.

I just wish they made a padfolio.

I also have a Timbuk2 bag, but I've been thinking lately about getting something more professional-looking (i.e. less colorful and more leathery). A couple of Duluth Pack's offerings have caught my eye, but I have yet to pull the trigger on any.

Lately I've been thinking about getting a sling bag since they look more comfortable than messenger bags while not being as cumbersome as backpacks, however I can't seem to find one I actually like.

I'm also in the market for a messenger bag. I'd like one that could fit my iPad, Bluetooth keyboard with Origami case, plus cord, charger and, if possible, a notebook or two. Right now I'm looking at the STM Scout 2 Extra Small. Anyone have any experience with it or have any other recommendations?

Here I was going to just get a cheap bag at Target, but you herd of dirty enablers went and got me sniffing. Dammit.

I ordered a custom Timbuk2 commuter bag this morning. I've never spent over $150 on a bag. I'm going to be pissed if it's a Jansport with a fancy logo.

trichy wrote:

Here I was going to just get a cheap bag at Target, but you herd of dirty enablers went and got me sniffing. Dammit.

I ordered a custom Timbuk2 commuter bag this morning. I've never spent over $150 on a bag. I'm going to be pissed if it's a Jansport with a fancy logo.

You will not be disappointed.

Yeah, I just ordered a Timbuk2 bag a couple days ago because I got tired of using my laptop bag as my work bag.

trichy wrote:

Here I was going to just get a cheap bag at Target, but you herd of dirty enablers went and got me sniffing. Dammit.

I ordered a custom Timbuk2 commuter bag this morning. I've never spent over $150 on a bag. I'm going to be pissed if it's a Jansport with a fancy logo.

I've had mine for almost a decade and it's still in perfect condition even with near daily usage.

Gotta go with Crumpler

Although to be fair that's not going to win any briefcase-look awards.

So, if you are still on the fence. I saw you loved LL Bean for their "lifetime" warranty.

Saddleback doesn't offer that. They have a 100 year warranty.

Text is yoinked from their website.

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/Warranty

"If you or one of your descendants should have a problem, send it back to me or one of my descendants and we’ll repair or replace it for free or we'll give you a credit on the website (be sure to mention the warranty in your will). "

Just got my custom Timbuk2 bag yesterday. I was a bit disappointed at first at the size (I got a small), but after realizing my laptop fits quite nicely in it's assigned space, I began really evaluating it.

This thing is rugged as all hell. The interior is water resistant, all the stitching is incredibly heavy-duty, and even the zippers and clasps are much stronger than I expected. The quick access pouch is awesome, and the only thing I regret is not getting the shoulder pad, which I promptly ordered.

All in all, I'm pretty damn pleased so far. Now I just have to figure out what I should carry in my awesome new bag...

Yesterday I spontaneously replaced my beloved Timbuk2 classic that was lost in the Great Luggage Disaster of Ought-Twelve.

Medium again. My old bag was black/grey/silver, and this one is navy/eggplant, so I'm a tad less monochrome now. It's interesting to see how things have changed in the intervening six years... the few design quirks that puzzled or annoyed me before are all pretty much resolved now.

Plus, 40% off, shoulder pad was included, and it came with a free bike light. Woo!

trichy wrote:

Now I just have to figure out what I should carry in my awesome new bag...

Moleskine, iPod, black hipster glasses, Fisher space pen, fashionable reusable water bottle, Clif Bar, battered copy of On The Road, ironic political pins...

Check out What's In Your Bag too.

See how that inside is waterproof? Throw a 6 pack and some ice in there. BAM COOLER.

I thought about this.

IMAGE(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/UTG-Tactical-Messenger-Bag-Concealed-BLACK-Tactical-NEW-/00/$(KGrHqUOKjkE3)Fulvk7BOB6Nl!nWw~~_3.JPG)

There's a youtube video of a guy wearing if I can remember how I searched it out. I wanted to see how it looked on, and how bulky it would be for every day use. Turns out people like it as a concealed carry bag.

Maq wrote:

Gotta go with Crumpler

Although to be fair that's not going to win any briefcase-look awards.

I gotta Back the Maq. I've got a few Crumpler bags and I really like both the styling and the quality. But yeah, they aren't really going to blend in with corporate culture.

clover wrote:

Moleskine, iPod, black hipster glasses, Fisher space pen, fashionable reusable water bottle, Clif Bar, battered copy of On The Road, ironic political pins...

Hey, my custom etched Fisher space pen goes in my pocket, thank you. That's the [ball] point!

boogle wrote:

See how that inside is waterproof? Throw a 6 pack and some ice in there. BAM COOLER.

Mind = Blown.

I like the suggestions, but I really do want some contents that say, "Yeah, I'm a guy who spent disposable income on that just to see your reaction when I pulled it from my bag. What of it?"

Ugh, why do I look in these threads? I just spent 10 minutes customising a Timbuk2 messenger bag and now I want it...

Filthy enablers!

Hmm, I've been looking for a backpack laptop commuter bag for a while, and now I suddenly have a lot of options I didn't know about. Perfect.