Showing posts with label backpacking tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label backpacking tips. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

LRG Core Collection Group Backpack

LRG C.C. Group Backpack Black, One Sizereally great design roomy but not overwhelming. the grey camo is a nice difference from the usual camo colors as well. really nicely made with good graphics.. all in all, a solid backpack.

Backpack was awesome untill I saw a little blemish on the top left right near the zipper, it looks like there was a snag on it. Not to bad to make me want to return it; I can live with it. other than that it is a great backpack I feel confident it will protect my laptop and as well it looks great with the design and all. The backpack arrived on time actually one day earlier than expected.

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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Hiking Trail Pack with Chest & Hip Straps (Blue or Green)

Hiking Trail Pack with Chest & Hip StrapsThis bag was more than what I thought it would. Very comfortable to wear and you can pack a tone of stuff in this one. Would recommend for camp trips, hikes, and any day trips out.

It's maybe just a little more durable than a school backpack, but there's decent amount of space. My beef with the pack is that the way that it's built it doesn't take any weight off the back like quality hiking packs would.

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This is a good bag for the money. Perfect amount of inner and outer storage space and straps. Love it

Read Best Reviews of Hiking Trail Pack with Chest & Hip Straps (Blue or Green) Here

We purchased this for weekend Boy Scout camp outs. Although we have made it work, it's a bit small to carry what is needed for a 2 night stay. It is durable enough for an 11 year old boy. It seems to be designed for hiking day pack. It has small straps at the base of the pack that would be great to hook a bed roll but are 8 inches too short

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It seems you get what you pay for these days. If you were expecting a $200. pack that would haul your stuff up into the mountains for a two week adventure, look elsewhere. But it's OK for dragging a few books back to the library. At $30. it's just an item for general casual use. The material and the zippers are just so so. I bought it but wish I hadn't.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

19" Rolling Backpack with Side Padded Laptop Compartment in Red Black

19' Rolling Backpack with Side Padded Laptop Compartment in Red BlackThis bag is great. It is very strong. I am fulltime college student and have several books with me at all times. My first roller bag fell apart in 2 weeks. This one is very sturdy and easy to roll. My only complaint is that it is hard to fit all my books into it but the laptop area works for getting them in.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

STM BAGS Scout Small Laptop Shoulder Bag, Fits most 13-Inch Laptops, Olive

STM BAGS Scout Small Laptop Shoulder Bag, Fits most 13-Inch Laptops, OliveI needed a bag that had a minimal form factor but protected my MacBook Air well. This bag is almost perfect. It offers great protection for my Air, with enough space that I can put my MBA and iPad into the protected compartment with just the right amount of space. The two front pockets offer enough room for accessories, like a power cord or other cables. The secondary large pocket, between the protected compartment and the two accessory pockets is just deep enough for two Moleskines side by side. The bag seems to be very well made and durable. Very comfortable to wear as well I highly recommend it.

It's inexpensive, but the lines are clean and the design is refined. I use it to transport my 13 in Macbook Pro to and from work. It protects the laptop really well and leaves room for my kindle, a notebook, some pens and a file folder. I'm a huge fan of this bag, especially at the price!

Buy STM BAGS Scout Small Laptop Shoulder Bag, Fits most 13-Inch Laptops, Olive Now

I ordered this based solely on some results on internet searches for my 13" macbook pro. I have a great small Incase bag that perfectly fits the MBP and a few accessories very well, but now that I have some apps that turn my iPad into more than just a toy or a kindle replacement, I needed something that was still small, designed for a 13" laptop, but also had space to carry the iPad relatively safely. So some people gave this good word of mouth on a few boards, I liked the photos on the manufacturer's website, so thought I'd give it a try.

Online photos showed some decent storage, and clearly showed a space where they had an iPad stored as well, and after receiving it, everything is more or less as shown on the website. Laptop fits alright, the inner sleeve is soft to protect the finish of the laptop, and there's an inner flap with velcro that also covers the laptop sleeve in addition to the main flap. Inside the right side accessory pouch there's three sleeves for things like small screwdrivers, pens, etc, and one larger one that fits my Sony digital camera or a cell phone well. With those little holders filled, there is still space for a few other things like sync and charge cables, etc. The left side accessory pouch has no other storage options in it, only the larger pouch, works well for the power adapters.

Along the top edge of the "back wall" of these pouches is a zipper, where you can open up and put papers and such in, maybe 10" long.

This outer storage portion is the outside wall of the smaller space to store an iPad or paper notepads and such, which extends the full length of the bag.

The laptop sleeve itself is padded on all sides and the bottom by some pretty sturdy foam that's a little more than 1/3" thick. The top velcro closure is padded but thinly, probably because it will also have the large flap closed for a little more material protection. Strap is actually easily adjusted, with a quick release tensioner, something I wish other laptop bags did.

Padding on the strap is removable and slides the whole length to put it where you want. The issue with this is that it slides TOO easily, so every time I put it down, when I pick it up I have to reposition the pad again. It is not the softest padding, but since this bag won't fit one of the huge 17" laptops, the padding works well anyway. It's supposedly some non slip material, and while it is not as slippery as some others, it doesn't hold as well as a few of my other bags.

While it's squared off on the bottom, it doesn't stand on its own if there's accessories in it but no laptop.

My biggest gripe is that the accessory pockets extend all the way to the edge, and the way the main flap closes, the edges of those pouches are NOT well covered... So if you're out in the rain, water WILL get in those pouches, and, to a lesser degree, the other storage spot where I plan on carrying my iPad...

So good for most things, but the vulnerability of this to rain has me unwilling to give it more stars...

Read Best Reviews of STM BAGS Scout Small Laptop Shoulder Bag, Fits most 13-Inch Laptops, Olive Here

I have had a bag fetish for many years and have owned over 30 of them always searching for the perfect bag. As far as a messenger bag goes, this is the best one out. Its comfortable, looks great, high quality material and the strap is great. I just wish they had a version with a slimmer build for the laptop compartment as I have a Macbook Air that is very slim and the space is for a normal sized machine.

Want STM BAGS Scout Small Laptop Shoulder Bag, Fits most 13-Inch Laptops, Olive Discount?

I purchased this bag after looking around at many many bags. I wanted a bag that would hold the following without any hassle: A 13" laptop, the power adapter, a notebook, and a folder for documents. All of that fits great, I could probably squeeze some sort of tablet in there, too. On top of that, the construction & materials are solid, so I'm not concerned that something is going to break unexpectedly.

The cons are trivial. The main latch requires you to reach a little bit extra for it, and I do wish that the bottom of the bag had some sort of rubber or plastic so that I could just wipe it off if I set the bag in something messy. Yeah, those are honestly the worst things I can say about the bag. I love it!

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack

Timbuk2 Q Backpack, Gunmetal/Blue/Black, MediumI purchased the Timbuk2 Q in black (w/ neon yellow logo, not the black and pink version pictured here) and have been using it for about 1 month.

I am very happy with this purchase and will recommend others to purchase this bag for daily commute with a limited number of things to carry. If you need to bring gym shoes and other large items, consider the Timbuk2 H.A.L.

Simple Black with Neon Yellow Logo:

I have the black with neon yellow logo version in this version everything is black, inside/outside the only thing not black is the logo. Simple and no non-sense. The green combo looks pretty cool too, but I wanted something that can pass more professionally. I think the pink and black combo is new. For a limited time (December 2009) the brown version is on sale for $65 on the timbuk2 site.

Slim Size with Medium Capacity:

This is a mid size-slim pack. Does not look bulky at all and very comfortable even when stuffed. I generally use this pack for heading out to a coffee shop to study or general run around campus/school day. I generally only bring a laptop, power brick, personal items, a pair of large over the ear headphones, 2 novel sized books, and maybe a portfolio with some papers in there. It can hold more stuff, but if you have to carry a pair of shoes or large science text books this pack might be too small. Consider this pack a day pack where you can carry a laptop and some work with you but dont bet on bringing the text books from all your classes.

Laptop Compartment for 13" to 15" laptops:

13" laptops generally require medium size and up Timbuk2 bags. In this case I have a 13" intel macbook with room to spare in the laptop compartment. Once you zip up the compartment the laptop stays put so its doesnt flop or bounce around. I have read about people with 15" macbook pros and they say that its a bit tight but nevertheless fits in the laptop compartment. There is a "padding" at the bottom of the laptop compartment perhaps intended for extra protection but it shifts and moves I suspect when the compartment is zipped up it stays put. The zipper might be hard to get to when you swing the bag around, I still think its very convenient to get to the laptop and appreciate the swig around-ness.

Main Compartment:

Double zipper allowing you to position it for swing around access (positioned on the side) or at the top. This is a fairly deep compartment and will take to shoving of items pretty well. If you dont have much items or the pack is not very full things will fall to/bunch at the bottom.

Front Power Brick Pocket:

Fits a mac brick w/ or w/o extension cable and perhaps other small items as well. I use this pocket to hold an umbrella on rainy days so nothing else gets rained on as I scramble for the umbrella. The pocket tapers making for a "vertical" messenger bag feel and perhaps also for swing around access. Note when packing This pocket is not gusseted so it will take up space (although as a separate partition) from the main compartment.

"Command Center" Compartment:

This is the smaller compartment which is like the flap of a messenger bag. There are lots of organization pockets in there but I would like to see more organization pockets in the main compartment. there is a "divider" that separates about 1/2 the compartment holding everything else in this allows for more stashing and not worrying about things falling out when you unzip. This is usually the space I have the most stuff jammed in (I have many small items hence I dont place them in the main compartment). When stuffed this space will press against the main compartment and act as a compression to hold things in the main compartment in place.

Swing Around Access:

Start practicing! When on the go you can swing the pack and get to things you need without taking off the whole pack. One side targets getting to your laptop compartment and front pocket, swing to the the other side for the main, power brick, and command center compartments.

When holding this pack by the side it looks like a messenger bag and you can easily access the command center or main compartment (both equipped with double zippers). As you carry the bag on its side the back straps dangle and cannot be hidden (tripping over the straps might be of concern for shorter people like me).

Oh yes, and a water proof bottom, exterior and zippers (well as water proof as zippers can be) resisting water is a staple of Timbuk2 products.

*****************

Update Jan. 10th

Fabric update -

Timbuk2 started using the super light weight "Mission6 Nylon Fabric" for the newer color combos including the Black/Pink combo. The "first" gen bags like the Brown/Black combo, black & yellow swirly, and dark/light green are made of Timbuk2's signature ballistic nylon.

I love bags, and particularly Timbuk2 bags. My wife and I have four between us, and they get a lot of of use, as everything from diaper bags to briefcases. Recently, I bought a Q laptop backpack because heavy shoulder bags were making me sore and uncomfortable, and the Arc'teryx Blade 15 that I tried didn't work (see my review of that bag for why).

The size and design of the Q are great. It even passes decently as a briefcase, which is nice for a lawyer and frequent presenter.

The problem is in the laptop compartment. As you can see in the picture I uploaded, the pad that is supposed to cushion the computer slides out of the way. It's easy to see why. Balancing a cube on a cylinder is inherently unstable, like logrolling. The pad is too stiff to do anything but slide out of the way. The unfortunate result is an uncomfortable ridge across my lower back, and the bag fails at the main thing it is supposed to do: protect my laptop.

I contacted Timbuk2 about the problem, and they said they know about the problem, but don't have a revised backpack available. They sent a couple of strap pads with the idea that I could shove them in there and make it work. So far, they are just making the problem worse.

While I love this bag, the fact that it fails at its primary purpose is a huge disappointment, and nearly a dealbreaker. I'm not sending it back; instead, I'm learning to constantly readjust my laptop. However, I am hoping Timbuk2 will fix the laptop pad problem and exchange my bag for the fixed version.

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Commuting between NYC and Stamford, CT has really done a number on my shoulders as cute as my shoulder bags are. And while traveling, I finally twisted my right shoulder and said enough. I needed something that was still stylish but got the job done and would let my shoulder heal.

This Timbuk2 bag had exactly what I was looking for in a commute bag:

* stylish and sturdy

* small enough not to dwarf a 5'2" female

* big enough to fit my laptop, a couple of books, day-to-day gear and lunch (but if I bring breakfast and heels, I need another bag)

It was doing such a good job, that I decided to test it as my carry-on on a week-long business trip. Because some international flights back to the US are only allowing 1 carry-on/person, I was careful with what I packed. Result = fantastic!

* laptop compartment made it easy to pull out computer for security screening

* small pocket in the back was just the right size for my US currency and credit cards that I wouldn't need overseas but would at the US airports

* bottom compartment fit charger, mouse, and number pad

* main compartment fit 2 textbooks, a notebook, hat, mittens and some food for the plane

* everything else fit in the front compartment

Not to say there aren't any cons, but I think they're minor:

* there are certainly situations when I need more space (as mentioned above). also my duty-free purchases were not going to fit in the bag with everything else I packed

* lint also sticks to this thing like crazy, so be prepared.

* if you get the white/gunmetal/red combo, be prepared that things show through the white cover, so not a good place for sensitive materials/items

* the white material will obviously stain more quickly than some other colors. A Tide-To-Go stick in your bag might be handy if stains will bother you

Overall, I couldn't be more happy with how versatile this pack has been. It's more than worth the money.

Read Best Reviews of Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack Here

It's a good bag, it has a lot of pockets and different spaces that you can use. However, it is not very big or comfortable. If you have a laptop in the laptop section it kind of restricts what you can take in the book section.

If you are a college or high school student and you need to carry a bunch of books and things with you, there are probably better choices out there with more space and that are more comfortable. If you are just a day to day user who just needs a nice laptop bag with a little more space, then this is probably for you.

Hope this helps.

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I'm starting law school in the fall, so I needed a backpack that could withstand some abuse. I was looking for one that is relatively small, but with a large carrying capacity. I also wanted one with tons of pockets, because I love to keep things organized. I spent months (yes, I'm a huge dork) searching for the perfect backpack, and I ended up deciding on this. My final choices were a Dakine Prom Pack, The Brain Bag by Tom Bihn, Timbuk2 HAL and the Timbuk2 Q. Obviously, I chose the Q. It had the best reviews (I also went to Timbuk's website), it came in a color I liked--brown, and it wouldn't drown me in size. Once it arrived, I knew I had made the right choice. When I packed it full to capacity, it was still light on my back, because of the support strap across the front. It can fit everything I would need: all the contents of my purse, my laptop, my laptop cord, a huge textbook, a three-ring binder, three folders, and around a dozen pens/pencils. It might be a little small in size if you are a big guy. I had my husband try it on, and it looked tiny on him. But for a woman around 5'6'', it's perfect.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Belkin F8N157-001 Quilted Hard Drive Case 2.5" Pitch Black

Belkin F8N157-001 Quilted Hard Drive Case 2.5' Pitch BlackI'm a designer and really particular. I was drawn to this case because of it's simplicity, matte color and being familiar with Belkin products. This case would have been perfect for my 1TB WD My Passport Studio, but unfortunately the manufacturing standards must have been very poor and the case is sewn a bit lopsided. Because I am the way I am, asymmetrical things drive me crazy and this case was very asymmetrical, especially when zippered shut with the cable and hard drive inside. It was a bummer because the stock photos show this perfect oven mitt looking case but it's not an accurate representation. Aside from the asymmetricity (if that's a word), another thing to note is the zipper. Unlike most hard drive cases out there that unzip to allow all 4 corners of the case to open, this case unzips half way allowing only 2 corners, so it's more like a coin purse which makes getting the hard drive in and out a bit tricky. Not a big deal but worth mentioning. The zipper also is under a flap of fabric, like on a jacket so it easily gets caught. And finally, it's a tight fit. If you include the USB or Firewire cable inside (there is a mesh pocket for it), it gets a little bulky. I ordered a few cases at once and ended up keeping the CaseCrown. I thought it was best overall. Check that review if you're interested.

I was looking for a safe case for my Seagate FreeAgent portable hard drive, and one that was a little more stylish than the ones I had seen elsewhere. This one, with its quilted nylon exterior, fits the bill. There's a sleeve for the hard drive on one side, and a pouch for the USB cord on the other. Everything fits snugly.

Buy Belkin F8N157-001 Quilted Hard Drive Case 2.5" Pitch Black Now

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack Diaper Bag (Toffee Roll)

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack Diaper BagThis product is absolutely beautiful...so beautiful that I could not picture using it as a diaper bag for my rough-and-tumble little boy! Haha! I ended up sending it back because I knew it would probably get messed up and I would be upset. For a newborn, it would be a fantastic gift though. If I have another baby later on I will definitely purchase or ask for a bag like this.

Purchased this for my daughter. The only one we could find that has the diaper changing pad attached, but still able to take off and clean. Excellent!

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Love this bag... have had many compliments too!

Organized well and has just enough sections for the

too many things that I need.

Definitely worth the price!

Read Best Reviews of Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack Diaper Bag (Toffee Roll) Here

Monday, April 28, 2014

Incase CL55087 Nylon Compact Backpack for MackBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro up to 15-Inch, Grap

Incase CL55087 Nylon Compact Backpack for MackBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro up to 15-Inch, GraphiteEveryone comments on how cool this backpack looks. It's very functional as well and stores my laptop and many little items in well-designed pockets and pouches. I love this backpack I don't see how anyone can give it less than five stars!

I bought this Incase backpack and did not overuse ittook very good care of it. Within a year the stitching had come out in four places. One whole side of the inside had come undone. Incase refused to replace it even though it was under a 1 year warranty because I bought it from a reseller (TechNGnet). Incase said if I had bought it from their website they would have accepted it. TechNGnet refused to accept it since it was beyond their 30/45 day return policy.

Incase was recommended to me from another mac user. They're even sold in Apple stores. Perhaps this was just a lemon.

Buy Incase CL55087 Nylon Compact Backpack for MackBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro up to 15-Inch, Grap Now

Nice, held a 13" laptop securely, and the best part is how slim it is, keeping the weight close to your center of balance. The blue accents were nice, and went well to the subtle blue exterior, which looks better than the black imho.

Read Best Reviews of Incase CL55087 Nylon Compact Backpack for MackBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro up to 15-Inch, Grap Here

Love the color and how many pockets it has for all the plugs. Love the little zipper pocket at the top.

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Totally thought this bag would be an American one with the felt inside liner. But it was a surprising Japanese bag with a light blue interior. I put the bag on and found how comfortable the straps and bag felt on my back. I will never use a sidebag again after putting this beauty on. It's streamlined design and compact size made this the coolest and most talked about bag I have ever owned. I still rock my Northface Surge Bag but this is my everyday laptop to school bag and isn't as bulky.

PROS: small, lightweight, even shouldering weight, hook for hanging and stylish. Fit's 15" Macbook Pro with Case on perfectly. Hidden zippers to make it even cooler.

CONS: Well it's small, don't expect to carry more than one or two small books. Or other shoes, clothes, or toothbrush etc. The pockets are for gadgets not backpacking.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Meffort Inc 17 17.3 inch Laptop Sleeve Bag Carrying Case with Hidden Handle and Adjustable Shoulder

Meffort Inc 17 17.3 inch Laptop Sleeve Bag Carrying Case with Hidden Handle and Adjustable Shoulder Strap - Black White Flower Butterfly DesignThis is a very cute laptop case. The fit is accurate and my laptop fits just fine with a little extra space for other stuff. It looks just like it does on the picture and the material is nice and soft. This is a very stylish laptop case.

Really classy looking and provides great impact protection. Would be great for carrying to important meetings, especially while wearing a snappy black business suit!

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Case Logic Visor Organizer

Case Logic Visor OrganizerThis visor organizer has a unique feature which is not available by other product. It is the ability to use the built-in mirror without removing the whole thing.

Works well. Fits everything i need it to. Is not bulky. Wonderful to have everything organized and easy to find

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It's Case Logic and I have always been pleased with them. I found out that their company is out of Colorado too so that's cool. I also just bought their DSLR camera bag and it's sweet! Very pleased with anything from this company, keep up the high quality work!

Read Best Reviews of Case Logic Visor Organizer Here

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Thule Crossover 87-Litre Rolling Duffel Pack

Thule Crossover 87 Liter Rolling Duffel PackI agree with the other reviewers.

Highlights:

Durability The overall construction is very tough. I've used this bag on skiing and diving trips in rain, snow, and worst of all, international luggage handlers :-) and it's survived them all.

The dual-compartment design is AWESOME. I use the bottom compartment for hardware (ski boots, fins, gloves, etc) and the top compartment for clothes. Keep in mind that: (a) the top/bottom compartment divider is mesh, so that has pros and cons...on the one hand it means there is good breathability for damp stuff you put in the bottom compartment, but on the other hand if you put your muddy boots into the bottom compartment the mud is going to leech into the top compartment...you'll want to wrap your dirty stuff; (b) the bottom compartment is fairly shallow, about 5 inches (lay a ski boot on its side and it's about that height) but because the compartment divider is mesh there is some stretch to the compartment space.

Looks It's a really cool looking bag.

The big wheels are GREAT for lugging over tarmac, on boats, up stairs, etc, and the pull handle is SOLID. It also snaps/locks into the bag nicely so there is no danger of the pull handle slipping out while in a cargo hold and snapping.

The goggle compartment is excellent, although it does obviously take up some internal space in the bag that you have to learn to pack around.

The semi-hard back and bottom plates help the bag stay upright (this is a problem with a lot of other rolling duffels)

There are handles on the side, top and bottom of the bag which is GREAT since you will be pulling this bag out of trunk spaces, train overhead compartments, etc and a lot of duffel bags just don't provide enough convenient handles. The handles are well designed and pretty flush with the bag so still looks minimalist.

Other design elements: the adjustable straps on the outside are more form than function...they don't do much; all the zippers have lock holes so you can put a TSA-compliant combination lock on them which is good for check-in luggage

Cons:

Note that the outside fabric of the bag is black with small white dots. It doesn't come through in the product photos so don't expect the bag to be jet black. It actually looks very cool (it still looks manly and serious), but the white dots do get abraded over time so the bag will probably look worn faster than, say, a ballistic nylon Tumi or Victorinox bag.

The Thule logo is matt silver and looks very cool. However, it's like some kind of decal applied onto the bag...it looks pretty well bonded but you can take a look at it and know that it will start flaking off over time as the bag gets abraded.

Other notes:

The inside fabric is pale blue...it isn't cheesy but I think it will tend to show dirt more than a black or gray material.

The outside fabric is not as tough as the ballistic nylon that Tumi or Victorinox uses, but it's still pretty tough and the bag is WAY lighter than others as a result. I had it sit out in the rain for a while and my clothes stuff stayed dry. The fabric does absorb a bit more water than the Tumi/Victorinox though, because the fabric is thinner and lighter.

I am so pleased with this suitcase and evidently have raved about it enough that my boyfriend has also decided to buy one. Very very sturdy and good quality build I can't imagine the material ripping or starting to look used. For me, one of the best features is the fact that the wheels are huge, and therefore there's a reduced likelihood of the suitcase rocking or tipping if you go over a bump. The protective goggle section is extremely strong too and I would have no issues loading it up with fragile items (to a certain extent).

Overall a very good suitcase, which definitely justifies the price. I would so rather purchase a suitcase like this every 7/8 years rather than a lower quality one every 1/2 years!

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AWESOME DUFFEL!!!!!! Just received this bag in the mail, it came really quick considering I'm in the middle of the desert in Kuwait. This bag is sturdy, rock solid wheels and handle. This duffel rolls soooo smooth. Other bags tip over, fall sideways, or the handle bends. This duffel is QUALITY. I'm a professional scuba diver...I can fit my fins, boots, and BCD scuba vest all in the lower compartment. In the upper compartment I have plenty of room for clothes, shoes, regulators, wet suit, towels, etc. The crush proof compartment will be perfect for my scuba mask. I was so impressed with this bag that I am buying the Thule backpack for my laptop. I found this bag listed as used: like new, as it turns out this bag was brand new still in the plastic, it was a killer deal.

Read Best Reviews of Thule Crossover 87-Litre Rolling Duffel Pack Here

Great bag as far as size and usability. However, after less than 6 months, the top soft handle pulled out while loading it into a car trunk. It looks like the stitching wasn't done well.

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I travel internationally frequently, so I was looking for a yet another replacement bag that would last more than 10 round trips, which seems to be the life span of high quality bags when I check them. I bought Thule because of the aluminum frame. It was a choice between Thule or the ugly bags the flight crew purchase (they have replaceable parts, aluminum frames and curdura nylon).

This bag is light, it has smooth rolling, durable wheels. The buckles are actually made of the same aircraft grade aluminum (the plastic ones only last 3 or 4 flights). I think the handle is of great quality. The rails are also of the same aluminum. The layout of the two compartments seems to work better for me than the typical evenly divided 2 compartments. With this bag you have a shallower tray at the bottom half and the other side is a large duffle that you access from zipped panels inside or outside the bag.

The possible weakness is the material. It seemed a bit thin to me. Now after 2 round trips the is a small cut at the bottom of the bag. After examining the cut I see that the bag has two layers of fabric and the under layer seems to be more durable. I took a star away for this but it may be unfair of me. We'll see in a year

Another feature it should have is a D ring or something at the top to attach a strap to for a second roller. I've had to connect off the handle, which, not being rigid, isn't ideal.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Alex Peace Messenger Bag

Alex Peace Messenger BagThe development team at Alex Toys "gets" their tween market: they are too old for the ALEX® Loop N Loom Potholders, but young enough to still want to engage in independent creative projects.

The Messenger Bag is part of that older kid line that is "crafty" but still cool. This is a roomy bag with two large inside pockets, a smaller outside side pocket (for a water bottle or other gear) and a inside cover strap that clips the top flap to the main bag.

The canvas-type material is strong enough to be used as a school book bag. The adjustable shoulder strap provides a wide and comfortable fit. My daughter and I walk over a mile to school every morning and she finds this bag easy to carry.

In the bag alone, you are buying value; in the coloring portion, you have buying fun. And this bag was a lot of fun for my daughter to color. We printed off an enlarged picture (200%) of the uncolored image of the bag off the Amazon product page. She used this as her sloppy copy, before using that template to color the real bag.

She used the enclosed markers to complete the project. I would recommend selecting your own array of waterproof markers such as the Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers, 12 Colored Markersfor richer color coverage and saturation.

Kids this age want to be noticed. This bag gives them a way through which to express their creative sides and still be cool.

This bag is a great way for kids to be creative and have a usable keepsake. It comes with markers and a little pouch to store the markers so they can stay with the bag until it is finished.

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My daughter had a great time coloring her bag. She enjoyed that no one would have exactly the same bag. The colors were vibrate. She just loves this bag!!!

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This is a wonderful and fun alternative to the traditional school book bag. Colors easily and lots of fun to do this project with you'r kids. Took a few hours to color, the ink lasted and had plenty left over. More than big enough to use as a book bag for school. And My Kid Loves this bag. Highly recommend it to anyone who want a cool looking bag and is creative. I give this product Five Stars.

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i bought it for my daughter, and she very like it .so i Satisfied. thank for designr.so i bought it too, for my friend's daughter.

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Friday, January 10, 2014

STM Bags Convoy Laptop Backpack (15 in.)

STM Convoy Medium laptop BackpackWhen I first started looking I really liked this thing and all the features, but since I wanted it for when I ride my motorcycle I've experienced the downsides of the bag. I wish my experience were more positive, specially since I paid almost $80 for a backpack, but the features are all good-natured however they seem to have fallen flat.

When it was delivered it didn't have the attached key fob piece inside the front compartment, but I didn't think that made a big difference so I thought I'd try it out. The "fits most 15" laptops" claim is pushing it a bit. The 'hidden' compartment for the laptops has the same curve as the top outside of the bag, but is a smaller diameter, which means my 14" Toshiba felt as if it barely fit. Having the built-in rain cover is nice, but it creates some annoying lumps at the bottom of the bag which means a non-flat surface for books and laptops to rest on. I thought about taking it out to refold it, but I could tell it was so rigid I didn't want to even mess with it. The cell phone pocket looks like it would fit one of the old Nokia's, but I didn't even try to put my Droid in it as I knew there was no chance it's not very wide of a pocket. The side pockets might be able to fit a small 16oz. water bottle, but not much bigger. The biggest thing was that the chest strap broke on me the first day I tried to ride with it. I need that chest strap to help keep the weight spread evenly on the shoulders and it's not sewn onto the shoulder straps, it has a small piece that will let it slide up and down. It didn't take much pressure to make it pop off. I could try to put it back on, but I'd rather have my $80 back and keep riding with my rucksack. I can also see how the other person mentioned their buttons popped off. The way they're attached is really good, but potentially loose.

If you just want a nice backpack with great features for commuting to school or work by car, foot, or metro, this would be great. When I ride my bike I need to pack whatever bag I'm using pretty full, and this just doesn't seem to fit my needs, which is sad cause I thought it would give me what I needed.

Side-note: the description for this bag is vague (mentions olive in the title but black pic and describes it as black). I contacted STM and just so you know the model number ending in -1 is Olive and -3 is the black one. The title is correct in this case.

great backpack, really. Comfy, has awesome perks like a an anti-rain coat that you can pull out as needed. However, the buttons on mine, two of them, fell out within the first week of wearing it.

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This is a great computer bag. It has plenty of room to carry extras. It has plenty of padding for protection. Also, if you must carry it in the rain, it has a rain cover built in on the bottom of the bag. Just pull it out of the compartment and stretch it over the bag.... neat.

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I got the black one, back when it was $45 bucks. I took it through college and I beat the living hell out of this thing. It routinely carried my 16" laptop (said only up to 15"), 400+ page heavy text books, my food for the day, a hoodie, and my tech gadgets and cords.

This one day, I was having a bad day at college. Stuff was just going down hill all day. I locked my keys in my car, so I set down my backpack and dealt with that. I ended up running my backpack over with my car. Like I said... it was just a bad day. The pack survive without a scuff, but my Cheetos were crushed. Luckily, I had forgotten my laptop that day as well... *oi.*

I was only able to use the built-in rain poncho thing once. It worked, but what am I supposed to do with the thing when its wet? Stuff the wet covering back in the bottom? That's unpractical, it will soak through the bottom and get my stuff wet. It doesn't go back in that easily. Also, when I have some weight in the pack, maybe it's just me, but the shoulder straps cut off the blood circulation to my arms. I can't wear the full pack for more than 10min. without having to put my thumbs between my shoulders and the straps. The tops of the shoulder straps need to be wider and softer or something maybe. (I do carry a lot of stuff. lol.) Another thing; the iPad Org Board thing it comes with is pointless for me.

I love the two pockets on the sides, they hold 2 water bottles very nicely. There are literally pockets for everything! The zippers and snaps are mega industrial too.

Oh yea, let me tell you this one; the so called 'hidden' laptop compartment, must work very well indeed. The darn thing got me in trouble at the airport because I emptied out my pack before I went through baggage check, and I, myself, forgot to take the laptop out of the hidden part, because it was hidden! They sent it through the x-ray conveyer and were not to happy about that. Good or Bad? I don't know.

Anyways, this pack is super convenient for day trips and vacations. The downside is that my wife won't be seen with me wearing it, because she thinks it makes me look homeless...

...so I still have the backpack after about 2 years. It's still as tough as it ever was, and I'm quite happy that I purchase it. I have since stopped toting around my laptop and got myself an iPod Touch and downsized my pack to the "Mossimo Supply Co. Maya Twill Backpack Olive" backpack from Target, which this new pack is nice and stylish, but keeps ripping at the seems, unlike my reliable STM pack.

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I jsut got this bag today and its pretty slick. The pull out rain cover is awesome and pretty snug, and there is a tuck away waist belt in the back lining. Its also pretty rugged, the laptop portion (the large back one) is lined with what feels like plastic sheets, the rigid kind, so that makes me feel pretty good when i put computer or xbox stuff in there.

only thing though is it says the laptop thing is hidden... well it sorta is but don't count on someone going through your bag and missing it. Its pretty obvious where it is, but it can kinda tuck away under the zipper flap. Other than that the pads are thick and its an overall rigid construction. thanks stm.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Tenba Discovery Mini Photo/Tablet Daypack

Tenba Discovery 637-321 Mini Photo Daypack - Black/GrayThis is exactly what I was looking for! Not too big, not too small. Perfect for a day trip. I was looking for a smaller camera backpack for hiking, festivals, amusement parks, etc. It fits my Nikon D3100 camera with lens attached, extra lens and excessories, flash, tripod with plenty of room for personal items. Also room for water and snacks. Light and comfortable to wear as well as being a nice looking backpack. Packed well and arrived promptly.

Thisnis an incredible bag. Compact, perfect for biking and carrying a lighter load of camera gear. I have a couple cameras on me at all times, as well as my iPad and is is exactly what I was looking for.

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This is a nice backpack, and seems to be made really well. I am new to photography, and just a hobby. So I don't have a lot of equipment. This is perfect for what I need.

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Ogio Midtown Women's Laptop/Tablet Messenger Bag

Ogio Midtown Women's Laptop/Tablet Messenger BagThere are several things about this bag that I really love:

1. It's spacious. Fits my laptop, iPad, chargers, wallet, and do-dads without being bulky.

2. It has a back pocket so you can attach it easily and safely to your carry on luggage.

3. It's adorable. The styling is really cute and makes for a nice ladies messenger without being too frou frou.

After a month of use, here are the things I feel need improvement:

1. The front flap only has a Velcro closure. When you have things in the front pockets or if it's heavy, the Velcro easily comes undone. If the bag fell over, all of your stuff would spill out. It would be nice to have a buckle for security.

2. The buckle on the strap is uncomfortable and digs in. Could use padding.

3. The strap itself gets easily twisted and is difficult to un-twist. I gave up on mine after two weeks.

In all, it serves its purpose and it's cute. But it still needs a few tweaks to be really good.

3.

I replaced my regular backpack with the Ogio Manhattan Messenger bag (in the blue "Tide" color) for college. The surprising thing is, ALL of my stuff fits! This bag has alot of room! It's definitely a well made bag toothe shoulder buckle is sturdy, the strap is like a seatbelt, and the pockets for electronics are lined with a soft terrycloth like material. The bottom and back of the bag are padded (the back is a black quilted panel). The only complaint I can come up with for this bag is that the little flap pockets on the sides are shallow, and can't fit a pen or pencil without the flap remaining up. The buttons on the front of the bag are super cute! Also, the zipper pockets on the front are two separate pockets -one small and one large that overlap inside. Overall, the bag is great quality, spacious, and lovely to look at!

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I have a 17" Mac Book Pro laptop that is hard to find covers and bags for. It fits perfectly (with room to spare) in this messenger bag. The color is so fun and I get tons of compliments on it. The way the strap is designed, it stays so nicely on my shoulder. It's not bulky and doesn't add weight to my already hefty laptop. Love the button design! Great job, Ogio!

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I've been using this bag for about a week now, and I am close to saying I love it. It is surprisingly easy on the shoulders considering there is no strap-guard (the kind that pads the the straps as it weighs down on you). The compartment for your laptop is nicely padded, and the insides all feel very smooth. The back pocket for your tablet is also perfectly lined; you won't feel anything hitting against your hip as you walk (I didn't put a tablet in the back, I placed my wallet there and didn't feel it digging into my hip when I walked or sat). It also has plenty of other pockets on the front of the flap (the two zippers you see in the image lead to two different pockets, one on the right being smaller than the one on the left).

There are 2 problems with this bag. As another customer has mentioned already: you cannot overload this bag. This bag has no clasp, it closes by the sole power of two velcro patches on the bottom corners. If you over-stuff this bag, your bag will not close and the contents of your bag can come spilling out easily by just tipping over on the floor. I never overload my messengers (I'm lazy, why carry more when you can carry less?) so I don't have this problem, but it can be an issue.

Finally, my biggest problem with this product is that the "compartments" on the left and right sides of this bag are not compartments at all. They are more like slits with a bit of wiggle room if you poke your fingers in. It's hard to put anything in there. My previous bag had extremely roomy compartments on the sides for things like a water bottle or an umbrella which this product doesn't seem to have. I guess you can put both the water bottle and an umbrella INTO the bag, but bottles can spill and umbrellas after use are wet. You wouldn't want that kind of mess within the interior of your comfy bag.

For these reasons, this bag gets a 4/5.

By the way, the lining within the interior are polka-dotted. This is true for most colors of this line of messenger bags (I know because I saw most of them in my university bookstore). The preview pictures on Amazon show no polka dots on the lining, but I'm pretty sure most of these OGIO bags have polka dots. Just a heads up for people buying this, if polka dots bother you.

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It's a nice bag it holds most of my stuff that's only because I have a lot of stuff. But it's very sturdy. I just wish I got the larger one because my lap top doesn't fit. But, this one was cuter. I really like the bright colored polka dots it makes it a more fun bag. received a lot of complements on it. I also received the bag very quickly in about 2 days of me ordering it. That really surprised me since I just used regular shipping

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sonic The Hedgehog 16" Large School Backpack & Insulated Lunch Bag

Sonic The Hedgehog 16' Large School Backpack & Insulated Lunch Bag
  • Officially licensed product

Very cute bag my son loved it, however for the price should all the characters starting peeling off couldnt even fix with glue. Probably wouldnt buy again.

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my son love ot and the very good condicion came fast and on time . my son was and is very happy on school, thank you

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I ordered this backpack for my son for kindergarten in the middle of August. It is now the middle of October, 2 months later, and there is a hole in the bottom and both of the sonic designs have fallen off. What a waste of money!

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School started August 27. The book bag is broken by September 29th. I gave it 2 star only because of the joy it brought my kindergartner when he received it.

This was a great looking backpack. Bought it for my first grader.. Within 2 weeks it started to rip on the seam week 3 torn to shreds returned to amazon order another one from another seller. This looks great but is not thick or durable for the "tiny" terrors...

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Aqua-Quest `The Himal' Waterproof Ultra Light Backpack Dry Bag - 20L Red & Black Model

Aqua-Quest `The Himal' Waterproof Ultra Light Backpack Dry Bag - 20L Red & Black Modeli got this bag to help when going grocery shopping in nyc. i wanted something that was durable and that i didn't have to worry about messes or spills (if they happened). the bag seems very well-made, and i'm sure the next time i go hiking or jump in a river, this bag will be great. it is kinda ugly, tho. just saying.

The Aqua-Quest is just the right size for our accessories and for our passengers phones, keys, and other stuff that we want to protect from the water.

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We'll see about water proofness, but really a very nice package. Shrinks to a nice handi bag that can be stored easily

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hello Kitty SANBK0052 Backpack

Hello Kitty SANBK0052 Backpack,Black/Pink,One SizeSo I ordered this backpack for my girlfriend she is just insanely crazy over HELLO KITTY. I was expecting this order to not come until 10 days after I purchased it however it only took 4 days to get to me! Big plus and when my girlfriend opened the package everything was in mint condition just like how it would be as if you bought it from Sanrio (the Hello Kitty store). I saved a lot of money and you get the very same quality and material. If you are looking to buy this bag I say go ahead, worth it.

This is an awesome backpack & well made. The only thing is I paid to much for it. I found it today at our local mall for $19.99 & I paid $33 on here. I will be shop around more next time! All in all my daughter loves it, so I guess that's all that matters!

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Have been looking for a beautiful, cute, stylish, rare hello kitty back pack. I've seen some cheap ones but fell in love once I saw this one. I Purchased this back pack for my daughter who will be in the first grade. My fear was it might be a little small but nope she can use this all the way thru high school even college. This bag is ageless. Materials are very well made. Not a cheap backpack. Worth every penny.shipment came way before estimated date. Would purchase again. Keeping this a secret. I know no one would have my daughters backpack

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I have used this every day since i bought it and I am going to work not school! Its awesome very cute!

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Excellent just I was looking x my 8 years old daughter she's happy I'm happy and my wallet is happy as well

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Belvah Quilted Floral Paisley Backpack Purse

Belvah Quilted Floral Paisley Backpack PurseThis backpack is very good quality for the low price. It is all quilted on the outside but not on the inside. The inside has a hanging cloth that has a small zipper section and in front of that are two slip pockets, one has elastic on the top of the pocket and other one does not. The front outside zipper section is very big. Comparing this to a Vera Bradley no it is not quite like a Vera but the price is also not as high. I think it is probably the best buy for the money for a quilted backpack. Also the straps on this backpack are microfiber not cloth like on a Vera. Overall this is a pretty and very functional backpack. I have a Vera backpack and wonted another one so I bought this one because it was alot less money. I was very pleased with it and glad I saved my money. I still love Vera but this is just a little different. I hope this helps for those of you who are Vera lovers But want to save some money and try this one. I think you will not be disappointed.

My daughter had seen this bag in Ohio and really wanted it. It was $45. I felt like it was too small for a backpack and a little expensive. We came home and tried to find it again on Amazon. THANK YOU! What a find. The bag was $24.95 and so we took the leap of faith and got it. It arrived on time and was PERFECT. All her supplies for school fit inside and she LOVES the bag. THANK YOU!

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I use it as a diaper bag; I love that I can put it on my back and not have to worry about toting bags on my shoulders while wrestling with a baby in my arms. LOVE the colors and style--I have received a lot of compliments!

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perfect sized backpack; bigger than a purse but not as big as a regular backpack. fits nicely on my back.

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My daughter asked me to buy this backpack and she loves it. It is just like the picture, but a little small. The fabric is durable and the colors are beautiful.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Built NY 12" Laptop Sleeve - Stripe

Built NY 12' Laptop Sleeve - StripeExactly what I needed for my Lenovo X61s. Fit is snug but it is still easy to slip in and out. Then this will fit easily into any carry-on, no need for a special laptop bag!

The product looks great and I think it will serve its function. However, my 12 inch tx1000 did not fit in the sleeve. I bought this one because I saw several reviews specifically saying this model laptop would fit in the sleeve. However, that was not the case!

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This is a great product but do not believe the sizing information. My 12" x 10.5" HP tx2000 barely fits and I have to force the zipper. If I had known, I likely would have gone up a size. I'm am keeping and using the 12" in hopes it will eventually stretch to fit.

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The color of the item as shown on amazon was different than what Adorama sent me. I ordered the laptop sleeve in Stripe, but Adorama sent me Soho Stripe. Even the shapes and sizes of the stripes are different. The item I wanted and thought I was ordering had bright colors (such as purple, red, orange, pink), whereas the item I actually received had darker, less bright colors (such as brown, dark green, tan). I asked them to resolve the problem, but they said they sent the correct color. But clearly, what they sent me was NOT the same color I actually ordered. They said I could send it back for a partial refund. So I would have lost money for something that was not my fault. I had to contact amazon directly to get full refund. BEWARE of ordering from Adorama; get from different seller who will send the correct color. Notwithstanding my problem with Adorama, the sleeve would have fit my 13" Macbook Pro laptop perfectly.

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Looks sassy and keeps the electronics dry and safe. Besides it is bright and stands out enough to remind you not to leave it behind.