View Full Version : Need a Powerbook/Schoolbook Messenger Bag
sonichart
2005-11-13, 01:40
Hoping that someone out there can recommend a solid, durable, perhaps waterproof Messenger-style carry bag for my Powerbook as well as school books. I'm a college student and shouldn't need a gigantic/enormus (ginormous?) bag, but something that is smart has compartments and is friendly with my 15" Alum. Powerbook as well as my schoolbooks. I've already looked into the Timbuk2 bags and they seem somewhat "flimsy" from the reviews that I've seen thus far (yes I know bags are to be flimsy, but, something with FORM to it)
Internal photos would be great! Thanks!
If protection is your number one concern, any backpack would be better than a messenger bag. I also find a shoulder bag kills the shoulder if you load it up enough (a laptop and a thick book is enough) and walk around for a couple hours.
Here's another thread (http://forums.applenova.com/showthread.php?t=6792) asking pretty much the same question.
I'm personally a fan of STM (http://www.stmbags.com.au/home) - an Australian company. Here are a few 'inline' photos for you to ponder.
Medium Loft (inside and out)
http://www.stmbags.com.au/img/site/ps_l_loft2.gifhttp://www.stmbags.com.au/img/site/ps_l_loft1.gif
Medium Curve (inside and out)
http://www.stmbags.com.au/img/site/ps_l_mediumcurve3.gifhttp://www.stmbags.com.au/img/site/ps_l_mediumcurve2.gif
Backpack - sports (inside and out)
http://www.standardtm.com.au/img/site/ps_l_sports5.gifhttp://www.standardtm.com.au/img/site/ps_l_sports2.gif
There are plenty of other options to check out on the site, so by all means head on over and have a browse. :)
Bumbakpaks offers only messenger style back packs that aren't that big or bulky and have come up with a pretty cool way to handle that problem that people tend to run into when carring messenger bag like Koodari pointed out
If protection is your number one concern, any backpack would be better than a messenger bag. I also find a shoulder bag kills the shoulder if you load it up enough (a laptop and a thick book is enough) and walk around for a couple hours.
http://www.bumbakpak.com/ (http://www.bumbakpak.com)
http://www.bumbakpaks.com/image/obj435geo444pg1p2.jpg The strap is versatile
http://www.bumbakpaks.com/image/bag_stuffed.jpg
http://www.bumbakpaks.com/image/snugfit.jpgcompartment for laptop
MacMan05
2005-11-13, 15:12
Hello,
Do you know of any online stores that sells STM's Medium Brink shoulder bags?
Appreciate your help.
sonichart
2005-11-13, 17:47
Thanks for the great replies-- Keep em comming! I'm still trying to find that 'perfect' bag for the job. I'm not concerned about the weight of loading up a messenger-style bag, but thanks for putting that out there! :)
I am currently looking at TomBihn.com and leaning towards and Empire Builder bag. Review of the bag can be found here:
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/tom_bihn_empire_builder_bag_review
I'll keep everyone posted on the final decision. Thanks again and keep the suggestions comming!
revolution
2005-11-13, 17:53
sonichart, one thing I have to say about that bag, having looked at the link, is that it look like a laptop bag. I wouldn't want one that looked like a laptop bag, makes you more likely to be targeted by thieves.
Check out booq (http://www.booqbags.com/index.html). They've got some pretty nice bags along those lines. Or at the very least take a look at their Vyper (http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=96) laptop sleeve. Sexy.
Electric Monk
2005-11-13, 18:59
Here is a list of messenger bags still actually made by bike messengers or ex-messengers personally. They're all tough as nails given that they're actually designed to be used on a day-to-day business by people who viciously abuse their bags. And yeah, waterproofing is pretty much automatic.
Additionally most of these will do custom work for you.
I've heard good things about all of them. Zo is arguably the best since Globe Canvas went bye bye and Timbuk2 went commercial. But Zo is also impossible to get unless you live in San Francisco.
Anyway, they're all good, and here's the list:
Bagaboo (http://www.bagaboo.hu)
BaileyWorks (http://www.baileyworks.com/)
Cocotte (http://wwww.cocotte-equip.com/english.htm)
Dank Bags (http://www.dankbags.com/)
PAC Designs (http://www.pacdesigns.com/firsts.htm)
Push The Envelope (http://www.pushtheenvelope.com/)
ReLoad Bags (http://www.reloadbags.com/)
Under The Weather (http://www.under-the-weather.ca/)
Zo Bags (http://www.zobags.com/)
sonichart
2005-11-13, 20:09
Welp, I finally found a bag that I like. It's made by Brenthaven (www.brenthaven.com) And it's the Fusion Flex Messenger style bag. Apparently I should be able to get this at the Apple store-- but it is no longer on the US site, nor is it on Amazon (no longer carried) but I did see that they have it at the UK Apple store. Which is lovely. Thanks for all the suggestions-- looks like all I really needed to do was check out Apple's (UK) website.
cheers! :)
Windswept
2005-11-13, 22:46
I bought a Brenthaven backpack with a removable sleeve for my 12" PowerBook in 2003, but I don't see it at their site.
I did notice mention of their wilderness backpack store in Bellingham, Washington. Hey! I've been to that store, and looked with great interest at their wilderness-type backpacks. Too rich for my blood at the time, mainly because I already had a fairly decent backpack (at home a few states away).
I had been thinking of buying a second backpack because I was just about to embark on the ferry a few blocks from the store for a two-week Alaska trip up the Inside Passage.
I had no idea the Brenthaven I bought for my PowerBook was from that same wilderness backpack company! Cool! :)
SledgeHammer
2005-11-13, 23:22
It seems you've settled, but I'll just through in what I've got. This bag (http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=601487724&uwb=uwbc10052) by Icon has done me well for more than four years now, hauling my PB and all its accouterments to and from class, back and forth from school to home, and through several European countries. My dad uses the same bag for one of his several work laptops.
If protection is your number one concern, any backpack would be better than a messenger bag. I also find a shoulder bag kills the shoulder if you load it up enough (a laptop and a thick book is enough) and walk around for a couple hours.
If protection is your number 1 concern a custom made messenger bag or backpack from one of the people Electric Monk is talking about is best. How many people make apple specific bags with protective laptop sleeves that are padded and waterproof? The people who instead of asking what machine you have ask what the dimensions of your machine are. If you can't measure it for lack of brain then they may ask and look it up themselves. Nothing beats custom for protection.
But you're right in one regard, messenger bags are only for riding and short walks off the bike. One of those companies (UTW) actually told me that instead of just selling me a bag! I'm commuting by bike so it was good for me anyway but really, how often do people treat a consumer like that these days?
I spent $325 bucks, but the bag is bombproof and perfect for my machine and me. Looks sharper than any of the pics up too!
BTW that assbackpack or whatever is horrible! It's no answer for a messenger bag! Your machine would be destroyed as the bags is eaten away by your back tyre! Plus in the attempt to be "messenger" (it's a backpack, a 2 strap) by lowering the place the load is kept they've reintroduced the lumbar problems that messenger bags do away with! So they took the advantage of the 2-strap (backpack) away from their product too! Double sucks for them!
Theres so many different bags out there, I have yet to encounter two people recommend the same thing.
Welp, I finally found a bag that I like. It's made by Brenthaven (www.brenthaven.com) And it's the Fusion Flex Messenger style bag.Brenthaven, yes. Good choice. Local company, very nice stuff.
rabbit ridge
2005-12-17, 17:03
i know its a bit late, but allow me to recommend Timbuk2 from san francisco
http://timbuk2.com/
they have a great pouch also
Franz Josef
2005-12-17, 17:11
This hoary old chestnut again :rolleyes: . I use a Tumi and a Brenthaven - both very good, one formal, one less so.
Well, I suppose its about time to put up a sticky about this? What do you guys think? Just a list of companies that have been recommended, and are proven to provide good products? Similar to this one (http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=178702) over at MacNN?
I just got a very nice Crumpler messenger type bag for my new PB. Lots of padding and protetion, laptop pocket built in and it keeps your notebook suspended so that it is as far away from the bottom of the bag as possible, I find that alone very reasuring.
www.crumplernyc.com
I've got the Very Busy Man, it's not called that in the States anymore and can't work out which one it is from the website, because I'm both tired and lazy. :)
If protection is your number 1 concern a custom made messenger bag or backpack from one of the people Electric Monk is talking about is best. How many people make apple specific bags with protective laptop sleeves that are padded and waterproof? The people who instead of asking what machine you have ask what the dimensions of your machine are. If you can't measure it for lack of brain then they may ask and look it up themselves. Nothing beats custom for protection.Waterproof is one thing, impact reduction another. Tight fit or custom work does not equal or guarantee good impact reduction.
A local technology magazine tested a bunch of bags and backpacks for PB 15", using a dead laptop (Powerbook?) which they drilled hollow on one side to fit an accelometer. They put this apparatus in each bag and dropped from a certain height. The G-forces measured differed heavily from bag to bag; some cheap bags had good protection, some expensive ones had bad protection, even two different bags from same brand could have totally different level of protection. The best impact reduction and by far the highest price tag in the roundup were on a Tumi bag. Crumpler fared so-so. One Samsonite was reasonably well protected, one was not.
Anyway, I submit that backpack is inherently much more secure than messenger bag because it won't experience as big impacts in the first place. Since it can't swing, it can only impact things at the speed the body is moving. Being closer to body additionally protects it. A failure like a strap breaking does not let a backpack fall freely whereas a shoulder bag would.
One more thing, I don't recommend the Brenthaven "Designed For Apple ..." backpacks. They are well built but I feel the layout, pocket configuration and looks are not worth the hefty pricetag. I sold mine and am currently going with just a Tucano Second Skin sleeve and regular backpack. Of the purpose-built computer backpacks I see on the net, Booq looks the best bet.
Strap failure? There is simply no chance of that with this bag. it's rated to 60kg however much that its it's more than I'll ever carry. the strap material itself must be rated to many hundreds of kg or even thousands, it's extrememly tough and manually bar tacked to the bag at an angle and with upholstry thread. The stabilizer strap does just that, there is 0 load shift even riding over rough construction. My PB is housed in a sleeve built to fit well but with a lip without making it hard to get in or out but the sleeve itself while attached does not reach the base of the bag. The sleeve is formed on all sides by closed cell foam 1/2 thick. This also forms the padded back of the bag. then there is the normal cordura and thisck water proof lining, then on the outermost base a protective layer even over that. it adds up to a lot of material between the PB and anything else, the ground, your back, the sides of the bag. i find when there is anything else in the bag at all that the sleeve doesnt even come into contact with the base of the bag when it is set down, i could fling it in a corner when i get home and it'd be fine (my PB in the bag i mean, nothing hurts the bag itself. I don't though cause its really nice. It's obviously designed with impact in mind even though it's not a hard case.
I spent 1600$ on my bike, and got a deal on my PB for 2G, so i figured a 300+ investment for an accesory to both would be cool. I did my homework, don't even try to say the mass produced things like the timbuk2 or crumpler sleeves/cases compare to this baby, the samsonite gorilla would cry if given this to abuse.
Personally I had a messenger-style laptop bag for awhile and eventually got sick of it. It was too heavy and awkward to carry around and barely fit all of my stuff. Eventually I got a laptop backpack by Swiss (the same people who make the Swiss Army Knife) and I'm very pleased. Sadly I can't find a link to my backpack but IMHO messenger bags are a little bit more trendy than useful.
Personally I had a messenger-style laptop bag for awhile and eventually got sick of it. It was too heavy and awkward to carry around and barely fit all of my stuff. Eventually I got a laptop backpack by Swiss (the same people who make the Swiss Army Knife) and I'm very pleased. Sadly I can't find a link to my backpack but IMHO messenger bags are a little bit more trendy than useful.
That's funny. I just switched from the Swiss backpack to a messenger bag. I don't have much stuff to carry, though.
why not take a be.ez LeBAG. they are very good, too...
I went to the girl's section of Target (yes, you read that right) and found, among all the pink "Bratz" backpacks, a very normal-looking tan messenger bag. It's comfortable, it holds a 15" PowerBook (or anything smaller), and it was only something like $15. I don't really get why people spend $100+ on laptop bags, unless you need something that'll stand up to especially rough conditions. I don't abuse mine and it's fine.
I did my homework, don't even try to say the mass produced things like the timbuk2 or crumpler sleeves/cases compare to this baby, the samsonite gorilla would cry if given this to abuse.What I was trying to say is when it's about impact dampening, you don't know until you see the numbers. It's unpredictable. You could put in five times as much protective material, but if you don't get the physics, the material and dimensions right, it could actually *add* to the impact. This from a head engineer at a plant that makes industrial computers that operate in heavy mechanical vibration 24/7.
i use a Tom Bihn (http://www.tombihn.com) Monolith case for my PowerBook, but regret finding out about Pakuma (http://www.pakuma.com) after recieving my Monolith!
the Tom Bihn case is increible protective and i love it, but the Pakuma backpack seems more practical and a lot nicer looking than most laptop backpacks
sonichart
2006-01-27, 04:15
Just thought I would followup this thread with what I actually bought and is working GREAT.
I ended up going with a Manhattan Portage "Dana's Bag" Messenger Bag with a booqbags.com Vyper sleeve for my PowerBook. The messenger bag is very comfortable, excellent size, and holds the PB well. I'll try to upload some action shots of it later. until then, here's the stock stuff.
http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/images/products/large/1690_big.jpg
http://www.booqbags.com/stores/booqbags/images/BillingSet/VXM-BLK-XXX_0003.jpg
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