buying a new laptop bag
Now that I’m commuting to my new office – and with SXSW coming up – I need a new laptop bag.
I’ve had a BOOQ laptop bag for years (here’s what mine looks like), and have loved it, but beyond holding my powercord, a magazine alongside my laptop & some smaller things like a mouse & headphones in the front pocket – it doesn’t have much space.
I’m looking to have a bag that can basically replace my having to carry a purse and my laptop bag separately. As, if I add any kind of snack and/or water bottle to the equation, I find myself juggling. So this afternoon I set out on an (internet) hunt for a new one. First, tweeting a request for recommendations, and then I started by going back to a great Laptop Bags list I had seen recently on Squidoo.
Within maybe an hour I had narrowed it down to approximately five favs & then narrowed that down further to the following three:
This photo (above) shows the following three:
- Zaum Portable Media, Orange: $170
I think these are all hand made – how beautiful is this!? All of theirs are amazing & quite honestly I’m coveting this baaad. I think I would have gone for it if their return policy wasn’t exchange only. Also I wanted a tad more accessibility to the stuff in the pockets. - Acme Made Clyde Messenger Bag, Lime w/ Gold: $180
Also *extremely* into this bag… loving all the pockets. Maybe too many? Also wasn’t sure if I wanted to go messenger style in the end. - Golla Festival Backpack: $70
I love the design on the outside & the red accents. I love that it holds the laptop more vertical AND that the top of the bag has a handle (the later two features are elements I love about my current BOOQ Bag). A lot of the photos online make this design look almost asphalt/gray, but apparently it’s more brown… which isn’t ideal, but I can definitely live with it. Note the link I used on the name above shows out of stock for this color, but I found one on eBay. Here’s a great review of the Golla backpack w/ larger photos & details from an enthusiastic owner of both the black Chapter style & the red one, and another post that has photos & details from Golla at CES.
Some others I looked at, that were in the running, initially:
- BOOQ Slimcase: $100
- Laurex, Gold Wave: $70
- Golla Messenger Laptop Bag, Orange Twist: $100 – Ooh, here on Amazon for only $30! Also see this Golla Squidoo article displaying several of their designs. I’m really loving this brand!
- Belkin 15-Inch Messenger Bag (Chocolate/Tourmaline): $30
- Slightly unrelated, but I found this adorable Bucklette clip-on hip wallet ($92) while searching & totally want one! I added it to my wishlist. :)
- Also, if you’re setting out to buy a new laptop bag, be sure to search Etsy, too!
So that’s my laptop bag roundup. Thoughts, feedback or your favorite(s)? I’d love to hear ‘em.
UPDATE: I also ended up buying the STM Loft Laptop Shoulder Bag (pictured below), but after having it for months I actually ended up never using it, so I’m selling it! See below photo for more…
~ For Sale: $40 ~
It’s a great bag, but just use my Golla backpack all the time instead. If you’re in SF, we can arrange a pickup, or I can ship it. Leave me a comment or contact me through my contact page if you’re interested. It’s brand new, never been used!
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I’d go with the Zaum. The design is just too slick for you not to have. It just says “art” all over it.
that orange bag is SO YOU – but as far as functionality goes, i think you chose the right one!
Oh man, now I totally want to spring for the Zaum! Alas, I gotta be frugal at the moment. Believe you me, if I could have, I’d have gotten both! :p