[tictactoe]

Maybe I'm just picky...I don't know.

I'm looking for a black messenger bag with:

- Enough space for a 15" PB and a few books and maybe one binder.
- Space for some pens and a calculator
- Classy looking (read: no timbuk2 bag, but not professional by any means)
- Shoulder strap
- Nice padding where the PB goes
- A place to put a water bottle would be nice
- Not too big
- ~$100

I'm pretty sure a bag like this does not exist, but if any of you know of any that meet these specifications, please let me know. I read through the PB case thread until my eyes practically bled, but didn't really find anything I liked.

I went to the Apple store and looked at the Fusion Flex and I liked everything but the color (that brownish green is awful) and the lack of interior space for books. The Timbuk2 messenger bag was pretty nice, but it does not look classy enough (even the all black version). If there is a bag that has the Fusion flex's overall design with the Timbuk2's features, I'd be all over it.

Big thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out

[Randman]

A water bottle holder with a laptop case?!

[tictactoe]

Originally posted by Randman:
A water bottle holder with a laptop case?!

Of course . On the outside of course, the Timbuk2 case has one

[iREZ]

I don't know what to say....the Timbuk2 commute that I have is unbelievably well made and has everything your looking for (two water bottle holders at that). It looks plenty professional for me, but I am in design so people do tend to think I'm off the wall for being artsy in the first place. I'd go with the timbuk2 commute...it fits all your requests, and honestly where are you going to find a professional looking case that has a water bottle holder. If you really don't like the timbuk2, then check out the brenthaven bag's, little out of your price range but are really well made and look as classy as a notebook case could get.

[tictactoe]

The Timbuk2 Commute seems like a pretty good bag overall, but I don't think it will hold books as well (or am I wrong here?).

[iREZ]

It hold two textbooks and my PB just fine, not to mention a notepad or two, mouse, charger, waterbottle, ipod, firewire and USB cables along with a, what I call, seperate important paper sleeve... I'll take a detailed picture of the inside of the bag with some stuff in it so you could decide for yourself. I think it's the best bag I've ever had.

[tictactoe]

Originally posted by iREZ:
It hold two textbooks and my PB just fine, not to mention a notepad or two, mouse, charger, waterbottle, ipod, firewire and USB cables along with a, what I call, seperate important paper sleeve... I'll take a detailed picture of the inside of the bag with some stuff in it so you could decide for yourself. I think it's the best bag I've ever had.

A picture with it full of stuff is exactly what I'm looking forward to. Thanks a lot

[iREZ]

Here are some quick pics of the timbuk2 in action....I got 3 full sized textbooks in there, a notebook, few folders, ipod, wires, mouse
charger (forgot to take out while shooting), a deck of cards (forgot to shoot as well) and a few pens that weren't worth taking out to take a picture of. I'm telling you, you shouldn't have to move anymore stuff that this thing can't hold in it. Apple stores here in Los Angeles carry the bag in store....really worth a look if your looking for a messenger bag.

[tictactoe]

Originally posted by iREZ:
Here are some quick pics of the timbuk2 in action....I got 3 full sized textbooks in there, a notebook, few folders, ipod, wires, mouse
charger (forgot to take out while shooting), a deck of cards (forgot to shoot as well) and a few pens that weren't worth taking out to take a picture of. I'm telling you, you shouldn't have to move anymore stuff that this thing can't hold in it. Apple stores here in Los Angeles carry the bag in store....really worth a look if your looking for a messenger bag.

Wow...when I looked at it at the Apple store, it did not seem like it could hold that much stuff. One thing that really bothers me about it is the fact that it does not have a shoulder strap. Do you find that to be a problem?

Does it feel comfortable when you are wearing it with all that stuff in there?

How well protected is the laptop from the books and stuff when it is in there?

[iREZ]

What do you mean when you say it doesn't have a shoulder strap? It has a strap that goes over my shoulder. To be honest with you I've never carried more than one textbook, two notebooks, and two folders along side my PB. I'm a big guy at 6'3 190 and it feels fine. i wouldn't recommend using any messenger if your going to carry three text books along side a PB (just not a good idea for your back) like I have in my pic, I only took those photos to show you how much stuff the bag is capable of holding. My PB is well protected in there because I have my 12" in a sportfolio II sleeve/bag, and both the PB and bag slide perfectly in the notebook slot. I wouldn't hesitate to put my PB in there without the case but seeing how I have a 12" it just makes sense that I would go the route I'm using so that the PB doesn't bounce around in there (the commute is made for a 15" PB). Also, if you only put your PB in there without another sleeve, I'm sure you'll be able to fit another notebook or two seeing how my case give my PB another inch and a half of thickness. I really love this bag.

[TiUser]

This is what I got after using several other bags (Brenthaven, WaterField cargo, Incase, etc.)
<http://www.mountainsmith.com/store/?...b620cc5861ab57>

[cpac]

Originally posted by tictactoe:
Wow...when I looked at it at the Apple store, it did not seem like it could hold that much stuff. One thing that really bothers me about it is the fact that it does not have a shoulder strap. Do you find that to be a problem?

Does it feel comfortable when you are wearing it with all that stuff in there?

How well protected is the laptop from the books and stuff when it is in there?

You can build your own bag at Timbuk2.com - I did. You can choose the colors (or lack thereof) to make it as "professional" looking as you want, and the bags themselves are very well constructed.

FWIW I didn't go with the "commute" bag, but with a more generic messenger bag with an insert for my TiBook, and all the dividers/pockets and whatnot allowed by their options at the time.

The bag is very comfortable, even when fully loaded.

[MichaelSullivan]

You've described by bag nearly verbatum. I use it to hold a 15" PB, a couple books and a notebook. Has two water bottle holders (one on each side), a place for three pens, cd/disks/calculator, and the total cost including a very secure sleeve was about $100. Details below:

Swiss Army CS2 sleeve, $40: http://www.swissarmytravelgear.com/w...mp;category=59

Swiss Army Messenger Bag, $64.99: http://www.swissarmytravelgear.com/w...mp;category=49

[tictactoe]

Originally posted by iREZ:
What do you mean when you say it doesn't have a shoulder strap? It has a strap that goes over my shoulder. To be honest with you I've never carried more than one textbook, two notebooks, and two folders along side my PB. I'm a big guy at 6'3 190 and it feels fine. i wouldn't recommend using any messenger if your going to carry three text books along side a PB (just not a good idea for your back) like I have in my pic, I only took those photos to show you how much stuff the bag is capable of holding. My PB is well protected in there because I have my 12" in a sportfolio II sleeve/bag, and both the PB and bag slide perfectly in the notebook slot. I wouldn't hesitate to put my PB in there without the case but seeing how I have a 12" it just makes sense that I would go the route I'm using so that the PB doesn't bounce around in there (the commute is made for a 15" PB). Also, if you only put your PB in there without another sleeve, I'm sure you'll be able to fit another notebook or two seeing how my case give my PB another inch and a half of thickness. I really love this bag.

Sorry, I meant to say a "padded shoulder strap."

Michael, what does the inside of that bag look like?

[Westfoto]

See if these fit what you are looking for:

http://www.sfbags.com/index.htm

[iREZ]

Never seen Michaels bag in person but this was the other option that was on my tounge, but I just couldn't remember the maker. Looks identical to the timbuk2 but it might have that class factor your looking for. If I didn't get my timbuk2, I'd probably go with this route. Also if your looking for a padded shoulder strap, you could buy the padded part from timbuk2 as an add on, along with other accessories for your bag.

[MichaelSullivan]

Originally posted by tictactoe:
Sorry, I meant to say a "padded shoulder strap."

Michael, what does the inside of that bag look like?

I'll try to borrow a digital cam, might be a few days though. (I'm one of the few people on the planet without one...)

[Ruahrc]

I got my bag at my local Staples. It is made by American Tourister, and has a lot of room for extra books/pens/adapters, etc. I can put my PB in ( 15" fits perfectly) and there is a separate pocket for notebooks/textbooks. I liked this bag because it had separate pockets for the textbooks, and a separate pocket-area for pens/calculator, etc. Also it had a couple of external small pockets which I use to put cables and power adapters in. The area to hold the PB is nicely padded and has a strap so (in the rare case) that the bag is open and is flipped upside-down, the notebook will not fall out.

It looks pretty nice, it is dark blue and not flashy or anything- best of all it was $30. Also I liked it because it could hold a lot but was not overly large (not a lot of extra bulk space). Depending on what kind of water bottle you use you could easily clip or snap on a bottle like a Nalgene onto the straps somewhere.

Anyways I'd recommend just browsing your local office supply stores to see what they have, I saw a lot of bags there I had not seen after a lot of internet research and the prices I saw there were generally lower. Also the nice thing about buying from a B&M store is that it's easy to return to if you use it for a little bit and don't like it.

Ruahrc

[tictactoe]

I went to a few stores and finally ended up getting the Timbuk2 Commute. I'm actually very impressed at how much it can hold.

Thanks for all the input guys

[iREZ]

You wont regret it.

[wuzup101]

I have a crumpler bag and I'm pretty impressed... They make nice stuff and some of their messenger bags look "professional" enough... though mine doesnt