I have a lot of bags. I have several rolling briefcases for my powerbook (ain’t toting around no computer with my back, no sirree); I have rolling suitcases; I have a diaper backpack (that’s transitioning to an all-kids-stuff bag); I have a little sport sac type bag that serves as my purse, because it’s easy to carry on its own or stick into aforementioned diaper bag; I have a really nice Coach purse that I bought shortly before having kids and that has more or less sat there forlorn ever since, because I just haven’t had a lifestyle (did I just say that sans irony?) that allows me a big ol’ purse.
And yet: I need another bag.
I realize I need a bag to tote around my stuff that isn’t my powerbook. My drawing equipment (10″ by 7″ watercolor book, paints, water brushes, pens). My Alphasmart Neo, which is a great little device but I haven’t gotten to use it much yet because I never remember to take it with me. (it weighs a pound, my iBook weighs…7 pounds? No contest.) Maybe my Moleskine journal, maybe a paperback.
So, not a huge bag, but one big enough to carry these things around. Stylish is good. Lightweight even better. I have some bags that I’ve used, but they’re cheap and poorly designed to the point where I can’t find anything in them.
Pooks (an admitted bag-aholic*) has already suggested these manufacturers:
- SF Bags
- Crumpler Bags (Caution: world’s most annoying Flash splash page)
- Eagle Creek
Have any recommendations? Cautions? Testimonials?
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* Hey Pooks, I could have used “bag lady.”
I have a Crumpler messenger bag. I love it so much I got a camera bag from them too. But find a store that carries them and try some on for size.
Actually now that I realize how little you’d be carrying in it, I might go for something soft and funky looking, something paisley or … I dunno. Something fun. But you’re also talking to somebody how carries their life in their shoulder bag thus carries the ugliest stuff in the world around….
I use my SFBags Vertigo as a diaper bag when I’m not carrying my laptop as well (or when I’m carrying my laptop, a few snacks kid snacks, but nothing else bulky). When I need to carry more I use their Cozmo. I like it because I work part time and it looks good enough to carry to work too. The bags are basically bullet-proof, which works for me since I do the mom thing two days a week and that puts my stuff to the test!