Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: bags and cases
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
Santa may be able to toss a few thousand laptops in his bright red sack with nary a scratch to be seen -- but you sure can't. You'll want to keep those goods sparkly and new for as long as possible, and that's what today's gift selections are all about - getting your tech from A to B in the safest, most stylish way possible. There's plenty of choice for transporting your goodies, ranging from the bland to the bizarre, from rucksacks to courier bags, silicone to silk -- there is literally something for everyone. Finding a one-size-fits-all solution is going to be nigh-on impossible, but we're hopeful that what we've got here will be just the ticket to re-wrap what you just unboxed.
Rucksacks
Thule Crossover 25 liter
Years of making tough auto roof-boxes means Thule knows a thing or two about shifting your valuables. When you're high-tailing it across town, be it to a meeting, school or just to a friend's flat, the Crossover Backpack is your guy. Built-in Macbook and smartphone pockets keep your vital gear safe, while the capacious main compartment and uncompromising quality make it a great all-rounder, that should last for many more holidays to come.
Key specs: 25 liter capacity, crush-proof SafeZone, integrated laptop compartment.
Price: $99 on Amazon
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Kata KT D 3N1-30
An Engadget favorite for some time, if this bag doesn't have a compartment for it, you don't need it. Slide round and wear the Kata in its sling position for quick-fire grab-and-go access to your gadgets.
Price: $102.99 on Amazon
OverBoard 25 liter backpack
If you're the adventurous type, or just like to feel like you are, this waterproof rucksack from OverBoard will at least keep your pressies dry while you enjoy the great -- but wet -- outdoors.
Price: from $49.95 on Amazon
Messenger bags
Timbuk2 The Snoop
Part camera bag, part messenger, we love the versatility of The Snoop. We find the numerous compartments to be ideal for packing in your phone, PMP, batteries, cables or whatever else you might be hauling, without resulting in a chaotic mess just five steps into your journey. The tough nylon finish and padding where it matters make this light and comfortable, even on long treks across town. All this function doesn't come at the expense of form either, as in our opinion, The Snoop is as handsome as it is useful.
Key specs: Available in different sizes and colors, camera bag storage with messenger bag looks.
Price: from $108.95 on Amazon
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Lowepro Sling bag
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, with this bag, you'll be slinging... Small, tough and generally better than our carol singing, this nifty option from Lowepro somehow lets you cram a lot into not a lot of space. Slash pockets keep your around-town essentials close at hand.
Price: $55.95 on Amazon
Rothco Battlefield Messenger
Sometimes a high-tech problem requires a low-tech solution, and we love the idea of this medic bag 'coming to the rescue'. The canvas finish adds a little analog flavor to your digital world, and that's not the only thing that's classic - at just $18, so is the price.
Price: $17.99 on Amazon
Gadget cases
Otterbox Reflex series
We've had our eye on Otterbox for sometime, and their Reflex range is doing it for us right now. When you've just peeled off the cellophane from a shiny new smartphone, you don't want it looking worn after a few thigh-rubbing trips in your pocket, do you? We find the Reflex range gives all the protection of a rugged case, without the need for a can-opener to get it out again. Just slide the bottom half off and your phone is dock-friendly again, clip it back on once you're done. Perhaps above all else, we've seen many gadget crises averted thanks to the toughness of an Otterbox, so it's no surprise that these are pretty high on our 'must-have' list.
Key specs: Easy to install/uninstall, allows for easy docking, rugged style protection.
Price: From $24 on Amazon
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Nixon Horween Edition
Sometimes we like to enjoy the finer things in life, and this luxurious leather iPad satchel from Nixon feels as good as it looks. If Bond carried a tablet, he'd probably roll with it in this. Will you spy it under the tree this year?
Price: $90-100 on Nixon
Verso Prologue for Kindle Fire
Nothing like a good book makes a Kindle look like a good book. Make sense? No? This smart case from Verso brings that leather-bound feel to an otherwise digital tome. Ron Burgundy would be proud.
Price: $39.99 on Amazon
