Recomendations for a larger bag or briefcase?

[ozmann]

I have, and love my Waterford sleeve, but I need a new larger bag or briefcase to also carry a lot of papers, as well as miscellaneous gear daily, in addition to my X60s in its sleeve some of the time.

I've looked at the Waterford Cargo and Cozmo bags, but they don't seem designed for academic types with loads of papers and files. Tom Bihn has an Executive Briefcase with removable file dividers: has anyone tried it? Any other suggestions or recommendations?

[smvp6459]

If you want a more rugged, outdoors look, Filson makes some amazing bags.

http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp ... AS_Luggage

[tomh009]

I have, and love my Waterford sleeve, but I need a new larger bag or briefcase to also carry a lot of papers, as well as miscellaneous gear daily, in addition to my X60s in its sleeve some of the time.

I've looked at the Waterford Cargo and Cozmo bags, but they don't seem designed for academic types with loads of papers and files. Tom Bihn has an Executive Briefcase with removable file dividers: has anyone tried it? Any other suggestions or recommendations?

Targus makes one specifically for ThinkPads:
http://www.targus.com/ca/product_detail ... ku=41A1537

Don't know whether that's enough capacity for you though!

[ozmann]

Targus makes one specifically for ThinkPads:
http://www.targus.com/ca/product_detail ... ku=41A1537

Don't know whether that's enough capacity for you though!

It's interesting that this bag only is on the Canadian Targus site; not the US one! A tribute, perhaps, to Canadian tastes.

It looks very nice. However, I've had so many Targus bags that I'm looking for something that feels a bit different!

[tomh009]

It's interesting that this bag only is on the Canadian Targus site; not the US one! A tribute, perhaps, to Canadian tastes.

It looks very nice. However, I've had so many Targus bags that I'm looking for something that feels a bit different!

What kind ofdifferent are you looking for? Or just anything that's different? Leather, lightweight, aluminium, casual, something else?

[ozmann]

What kind of different are you looking for? Or just anything that's different? Leather, lightweight, aluminium, casual, something else?

Good question. I'm looking for a lightweight, durable bag with a good shoulder strap and a handle. Water resistant ballistic nylon or Cordura fabric rather than leather or aluminium. Relatively soft is good, as is being able to stand up on its own. The Filsin bag is interesting, but I need somethinga bit more formal. I've wondered about the group's experience with the Bihn Empire Builder or the SF Bags Cargo bag.

I typically need to carry about 3" worth of papers; sometimes up to 5". Also sometimes a X60s in sleeve + AC adapter and misc accessories, and when travelling, paperback books, lunch stuff and more. Compartments are nice for organizing me. Front flap seems to add flexibility. Currently I have an old Port backpack that I use with one strap every day and several Targus classic cases.

[AnandC]

Have you considered Mandarina Duck's Work line of bags? They are pretty nice, ballistic nylon type but with a smoother touch. Still somewhat formal, but the lines have been softened so not as boxy. They are very functional and stylish, a bit different from the other "corporate" type bags, but sadly also very expensive if bought in the USA. (In Europe you'd pay about 30% less.) I recently bought one on a trip - ditched the gargantuan sleeve included in favor of the waterfield vertical, and have plenty of room for about 3" of paper, with some room on the side for a bag lunch, coffee thermos. And mine is not one of the biggest ones - I think it's the "briefcase with zipper" at the following link: http://www.unicahome.com/p18821/mandari ... -duck.html

also, my first post - have been reading for a while and am humbled by the generosity of the thinkpads.com community. i've learned a lot from all of you, and have been thoroughly enjoying my now 3-month old X60.

edit: this link is a little more informative - not my bag, but one that might be more of the OP's alley.....
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3064

[lfeagan]

Hi ozmann,
As one of the first people to post pictures of the WaterField sleeve, I guess I should update in the near future with pics of my medium Cargo bag. The Cargo is an excellent bag. Referring to the online dimension specifications, I see that the medium is listed as 16"x12"x3" and the large is listed as 18"x12"x5". Based on my experiences with a 14.1" T42p which is around 1.2" at its thickest, I would say that the 3" figure is overly conservative. In fact, I almost wonder if that is referring exclusively to the notebook storage compartment. The bag itself is quite nice. For starters, the rear pocket is very large and expands out nicely to accomodate two or more inches of hard covered books or magazines. Additionally, I often place a redwell folder with 6 or 8 dividers of 1.5" thickness in the interior along with my notebook. As I prefer to use redwells for my organization so that I might easily interchange working sets, I find this to be a most convenient solution.

I have previously had a Targus bag with multiple dividers and...well, I gave it away a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I found the three dividers to be a nuisance. I never felt their placement adequate and almost considered cutting them out simply because my old redwell techniques were superior. Anyways, food for thought.

I have no experience with the Tom Bihn bag, but it does seem like it also might prove versatile. As a last statement, the interior of the Cargo from WaterField is also excellent. I find the pockets to be wonderfully sized for holding all of the following: cellular tele, Olympus recorder, Palm T|X, HP 32SII or HP 28S, and iPod 60GB (in the WaterField iPod Video Case which is also quite nice). I can still then use the zipper pocket under the flap, the two "sleeve" pockets under the flap, and on the zipper pocket outside of the flap. In the zipper pocket under the flap I store miscellaneous cables, firewire, USB, etc. In the the two "sleeve" pockets I store an 80GB IBM hard drive with a R&R image, an inline surge protector, and my AC/DC ThinkPad power adapter. In the outer zipper pocket on the flag I typically carry various items I might need access to quick while moving throughout the day. So, I get all of that in the medium rated at 3". I can hardly imagine the beast that the large Cargo must be able to swallow at a 5" specification.

Hope this helps in your decision. As one last note, if you want a bag with a custom fabric, WaterField can do that as well. I wanted by Cargo in "checkers" (the red/black squares) and they made it up for me custom. It really hardly delayed the order at all, maybe a smidge over a week to get my order in the queue and processed. My iPod case, logically, is also in checkers. They were wonderfully helpful as usual. I didn't even formally ask for checkers but rather when placing my order for a cargo with the taxi pattern commented that it would be very nice to have it in checkers. They emailed back the next morning saying that it could be done. The woman who helped me even observed that my iPod case I ordered at the same time was also taxi and asked if I wanted that changed as well--which I did. Had she not asked I would have forgotten about my matching color desire. The level of support and care WaterField provides is truly stellar and should not be overlooked in buying a bag.

[rk62]

I have the large Cargo, it's a great bag, best I've ever used, and it is a beast with what it can swallow...I'm a consultant so I carry different things on different days, but always my T60, about a 2 inch portfolio of in progress projects, other assorted file folders and trade mags, AC adapter, various cables, and utility CD's. The things I don't need to access regularly I keep in the pouch under the flap, but I do find it annoying when I DO need to access them, and since I also tend to overstuff the bag, I'm thinking of the medium Cozmo may be a better fit for my day to day needs. But you can't go wrong with the Cargo, and as everyone else has said, Waterfield is tops when it comes to customer service.

[brupert]

FWIW, I also just purchased two Waterfield sleeves for two X60s notebooks (with extended cell batteries) here at the office - one sleeve with no 'D' rings and the other (mine) with 'D' rings which I have used to connect to my MountainSmith Day lumbar pack using a pair of 1" carabineers on either side of the pack. It works great!

As far as I'm concerned, these are the best built bags in the industry, and their customer service is the best I’ve experienced with any consumer product that I’ve ever purchased. Well worth the dollars that you pay. Hope this helps...

www.sfbags.com

-BJr
ThinkPad 755 | 770 | T22 | R40 | R60 | X60s

[deniro0311]

Brupert, thanks for the info on Mountainsmith. They look so good I think I may get one. What pack do you have. I was looking at the Day Lumbar Pack.

[brupert]

Brupert, thanks for the info on Mountainsmith. They look so good I think I may get one. What pack do you have. I was looking at the Day Lumbar Pack.

I have a black Mountainsmith "Tour" Pack (660ci) . It has small webbing hooks on either side by the water bottle holders where I've attached the 'beeners and then the sleeve 'D' rings to.

The Waterfield sleeve hangs a little low due to the length of the carabineers (I'm sure you could find shorter length ones), but I don't find it at all inconvenient when I'm shoulder slinging the lumbar pack. Mountainsmith also sells 'strappettes' which allow the pack to be carried on your back like a backpack for this particular lumbar. The "Day" pack is larger but I'm not sure if it has the webbing on the sides.

Hope this helps.

[deniro0311]

Thanks again for the info. Now I am torn between the mountainsmith bag and a bag I just came across while doing some research. Its called the Skooba Satchel. This looks like one mean bag, and I found it for as low as $65. Anybody in the market for a bag should check it out.

[deniro0311]

Here is a good review.....
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/roa ... ba_satchel

And don't let the pink color discourage anyone, it comes in many colors.

[jyl]

This is maybe not a very "exciting" choice, but you should look at the Tumi laptop bags. For example,

http://www.tumi.com/business_laptop_cas ... elid=57318

I'm in the financial industry, where these bags are often used. They are very functional and durable. Enough little pockets, not too many. Mine has lugged laptop, papers, even clothes all over for several years and still looks/works fine.

The laptop is carried in a neoprene sling, which provides a lot of protection without requiring bulky thick padding. I read a test of laptop bags, in which an instrumented laptop was dropped in various ways while zipped into various bags. The Tumi came out on top, ahead of the Brenthaven and the other bags.

5 year warranty, in year 1 covers any damage at all, even if due to your own neglect or abuse. But have to buy from authorized dealer.

[ansatzjp]

a question to OP. What bag did you get eventually? I'm in the same boat.