OK Oppos, Time To Look Professional
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Since I graduated college half a decade ago, I've been carrying my work laptop and my lunch to work in....a reusable grocery bag. There is no sense of organization involved, I just put everything in the bag and head out.
I figured I take a look at some actual laptop bags...and holy jeeze some of these are insane in price!
I also have no idea where to look. Don't really know any companies that make and sell "work bags". My go-to place for things like this is Duluth Trading Co. but all of their bags are either out of my price range, or come with sketchy reviews involving cheap zippers and dimensions being overexaggerated.
My criteria is fairly simple:
-Under $200ish
-Needs to fit my behemoth 16.5" laptop
-Side pocket compatible to hold a travel mug (not required, but a preference; see below for reference)
I mainly use the bag to transport my work things to and from. When I traveled with said laptop, I'd just jam it in to a backpack and call it a day.
This is the only bag in my range that has caught my eye:
Can even get my initials engraved! Nice!
So yeah, open to any recommendations. Or should I just stick with the trusty ol grocery sack?
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@i86hotdogs I'd say just go with a backpack and call it a day.
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@i86hotdogs There's a big space between a promotional tote and a fancy overpriced messenger bag. Honestly too big a space for me to provide a lot of suggestions
I use and like an STM shoulder bag:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FTEO1A ,but it looks like it is now out of production, though of course they have other bags (though none so small is this one).I also have a Case Logic backpack issued to me by work, which is fine, though not even slightly stylish:
https://www.caselogic.com/en/products/backpacks/case-logic-14-laptop-backpack--dlbp-114-_black -
@i86hotdogs Had an older version of this for 8 years and my dad has it and still going strong. 22 liters is a ton of space and it's rated to a 17" laptop, most importantly. And Timbuk2 makes solid stuff.
https://www.timbuk2.com/products/4620-especial-stash-messenger-bag?variant=31257361809450
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It depends on the type of company, but these days in tech companies everyone does backpacks. I have one that was dirt cheap ($30? $40?) on Amazon that has been fabulous. You can spend 5-10x as much on a slightly better name brand one, but I wouldn’t go higher. Shoulder bags are kind of 90s to early-00s.
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@eric I work in the auto industry, and have seen a mix of shoulder bags and backpacks. I honestly never considered a backpack for some reason. Time to do more research.
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@i86hotdogs This...
@spacekraken said in OK Oppos, Time To Look Professional:
@i86hotdogs Had an older version of this for 8 years and my dad has it and still going strong. 22 liters is a ton of space and it's rated to a 17" laptop, most importantly. And Timbuk2 makes solid stuff.
https://www.timbuk2.com/products/4620-especial-stash-messenger-bag?variant=31257361809450
I have some other Timbuk2 that is good and yet not a square ass black nylon "I am a business professional and my work gave me this bag" BUT get them Timbuk2 on sale yo, from whatever store has them on sale, mine was like $60 from ebags.
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@texturedsoyprotein Yeah I couldn't find the good colors! Mine was an irregular I think and like $80 but also custom print and really cool looking.
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@i86hotdogs get yourself one of these, they're waterproof, they last forever and also they are not too dorky.
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@i86hotdogs said in OK Oppos, Time To Look Professional:
@eric I work in the auto industry, and have seen a mix of shoulder bags and backpacks. I honestly never considered a backpack for some reason. Time to do more research.
In my circles the only shoulder bag users are really old and/or women (where it’s typically more like a purse big enough for a laptop).
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@i86hotdogs I’ve got a really nice canvas bag that I bought at Salvation Army for $5.
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@i86hotdogs If you can find a Jack Wolfskin Rushcutter backpack, I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend it. The link is to Amazon, and they are out of stock. It may actually be out of production at this point, I'm not sure.
Jack Wolfskin is a German outdoor brand, kind of like North Face, but actually good. I got mine in Germany, my old crappy Jansport backpack died on the way there, so my sister took me to a Wolfskin store and I got it there. It may be hard to find in the US, but if you can track one down online I think it's totally worth it.
I take my Rushcutter everywhere. It's been to Germany multiple times, Hungary, Thailand, Bahamas, Japan, and all over the US. Pre-pandemic I was traveling a week every month and this thing has held up like nobody's business. For this Japan trip I put 2 laptops in it - my 17" MSI Stealth and my crappy 15" work laptop, plus all the power cords, mice, etc. And snacks, and a change of clothes, and bunch of other stuff. This thing has room for days. It also has a built in safety whistle and it's own little stow away rain poncho.
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@i86hotdogs You could get a Rickshaw bag.
The biggest version starts at $120 and you get to choose all the colors (exterior / interior / piping) as well as other little options to go with (interior pouches, etc.) -
@i86hotdogs I've been using the same Ogio messenger bag every day for the last 6 or 7 years. While it has some scuffs and stains from all that use, it still functions perfectly. And as I recall, it was only about $60.
Browsing their website though, and it doesn't seem they offer much in the way of messenger bags these days. But this one caught my eye. Enough so that I might eventually retire mine and upgrade.
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@i86hotdogs I have a Targus bag that my work supplied. It's held up great to daily use for almost 4 years and their prices are pretty reasonable on their site
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+1 for Backpacks. I’ve never considered a shoulder bag but I have 3 packs: A 55L Patagonia duffle for work, a normal backpack from MEC, and a Ogio Mach 5 for playtime on the bike.
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@i86hotdogs I'd recommend a nice backpack.
After going through multiple swissgear bags that never looked great or lasted long I sprung for a north face bag. The model I got the router and it's held up extremely well and bought it 3 years ago. It's large enough for 2 laptops plus extras. I can even pack enough in there for a short 2 day trip.
I have a slightly older model that looks sharp in green with orange zippers.
It's probably flown with me 30 times (round trips), countless motorcycle commutes on my back and drug into the office every day for 2+ years (before covid). It's large so it's easy to overload, but I'm a fairly big guy so the tallness of the bag works very well for me. The straps are supportive and I LOVE the front handle on it too - makes it really easy to move around.
I spent $150 on it but can't see myself going back to a cheap bag when this one finally wears out (hopefully after many years).
The one thing that isn't perfect is the padded laptop section is a little small. I don't have a problem fitting a 15" regular laptop in it, but if you have a chonky gaming laptop or something it won't fit and you'll have to keep it in the regular compartment.
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My Targus laptop backpack/bookbag has been great. Definitely not super stylish or anything, but 11 years of daily to/from work with a laptop at least, numerous domestic trips and over a dozen international trips and it's been solid. The only knock against it really is since i bought a TSA-compliant one before pre-check was common, it's the kind that unzips to lay flat (sort of a butterfly opening). I don't really need that feature anymore and it's robbed me of some storage space.
The big plus for backpacks is maneuverability. both arms free and unlikely for it to slip off if you need to bend or lean.
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@i86hotdogs this is what I use for work and work travel. I can do about three days with this pack.
https://www.patagonia.com/product/refugio-backpack-28-liters/190696001228.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping - Equipment&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwOiE2smu7gIVkxmtBh2I9w9LEAQYAiABEgJlx_D_BwE -
@i86hotdogs
I have a high end soft briefcase/messenger/shoulder bag because expectations. There's tons of them and they have a million different names, so it's hard to find a decent one. I spent awhile looking for one. Use it as my carry-on regularly too. $200 is a hard budget, $3-$400 seems like a common range for a decent quality one.There are convertible backpacks that can be used as a backpack or a soft briefcase as well. Not sure on pricing though. Deuter and Osprey also make nice business backpacks that make excellent carry-ons. They should be in the $100ish range.
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Also the best solution is to work from home and never need to use a bag or even change out of your pajamas. Screw bags. Mine is... Somewhere?
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@beefchips I really like the layout of Timbuk2's products. Plus, some even have that exterior cupholder pocket I'm looking for. Decent selection on clearance too.
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@texturedsoyprotein Their clearance section has some good options. I think I've narrowed it down to something from Timbuk2 for sure
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@i86hotdogs I'm in the tech industry and I see about an even split between shoulder bags and backpacks. During normal times, I have to travel 10 - 16 times per year for business and family. I switched to a backpack primarily for it's travel advantage. I can throw in my laptop, power supply travel adapters, video adapters, spare thumb drives and a few other things that I don't need to take out after each trip and repack for a subsequent trip. I've got room for plenty of other stuff if I need to haul a slightly larger load. When I travel, I can live out of a small duffel bag for up to a week. I can wear the backpack and sling the duffel bag over my shoulder and get through the airport quickly.
During nice weather, I might also be walking long distance between buildings at work, up to 3/4 mile. The backpack is easier on the shoulders for the longer walks.
