waterfielddesigns
Latest
What we’re buying: Laptop bags (and an iPhone case) edition
We're back with another edition of "What we're buying," which focuses on gadgets and apps that our editors use in their everyday lives. This time, we're looking at the bags and cases that we put our valuable gadgets in. Deputy Managing Editor Nathan Ingraham sings the praises of his leather and canvas laptop bag, Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar fawns over a leather iPhone card case, and Senior Editor Nicole Lee loves the flexibility of her neoprene backpack.
How I nearly became hooked on a $335 laptop bag
When I was first approached about checking out the WaterField Designs $335 Rough Rider messenger bag, it occurred to me that I've never written about something as decidedly non-technical before. Let's face it: When I plop down my case and begin unloading my work stuff, my focus has always been on the contents, not the vessel. But once the bag arrived, I realized this San Francisco outfit doesn't just peddle any old type of gear; its handmade leather goods (crafted in the US, to boot) are something truly special. Still, coming from a world of ultra-padded messengers, I was worried if it would be quite good enough to do the job. So I broke up with my cushy day-to-day bag and switched to this all-leather interloper to see how I'd fare.
Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack carries your gear, looks awesome doing it
One of my favorite computer bag companies is Waterfield Designs of San Francisco. Its bags are not only stylish, often mixing leather, waxed canvas and ballistic nylon in ways that please the eye, but they also just plain last. A case in point is the Waterfield Travel Express bag I purchased years ago for a MacBook Air, which is still going strong as an iPad bag (it can carry two easily) and still looks like it did when I unboxed it for the first time. Well, Waterfield has introduced an amazing backpack -- the Staad BackPack (US$319-$329) -- that carries on the tradition of design and function that the company is known for. Read on for a review and a chance to win one of these beautiful backpacks. The Staad BackPack, like people, comes in two sizes -- slim and stout. The slim model is perfect for those situations where you want a backpack for carrying your laptop (up to 13 inches) and accessories hands-free, but don't want it to be so huge that it's constantly bumping into other people. The stout model is $10 more, and provides a bit more capacity for your stuff, including a laptop of up to 15 inches in size. As Gary Waterfield notes in the video that's embedded below, the idea behind the Staad is for it to be a backpack that can easily fit into a more formal working environment. The bodies are made of one of two materials -- waxed canvas or ballistic nylon. An oversized leather flap covers the top of your gear, and comes in one of three colors -- black, chocolate or grizzly. On top of the bag is a large grip handle for picking up the backpack that's made of the same flap material. Two large padded straps are used to distribute the load on your shoulders, with neoprene inserts helping to make for a comfortable ride and a moisture-wicking material on the side that's closest to your shirt. That same wicking material is used on the back of the pack, perfect for making sure that you don't get the dreaded sweaty back from carrying the bag in warm weather. On the inside are a number of smaller pockets surrounding two larger cushioned pockets -- one for your MacBook and another for your iPad. There are two angled, zippered side pockets (one on either side) for your phone, wallet and keys. Holding the big leather flap in place is a World War II-era buckle that opens with a quick pull. Like all of the other Waterfield Designs products, the construction of the Staad is first-class. You may pay a lot more for this than the typical backpack, but it's going to last for a long time. And let's face it; it also looks incredibly classy. Conclusion If you want the hands-free convenience of a backpack, but want something that will be at home in the executive suite, then pull out your wallet and buy the Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack. Using the time-honored credo "You get what you pay for," the Staad is more costly upfront, but will serve you for years to come. Pros Extremely well-constructed, and made of top-grade materials Separate padded pockets for MacBook and iPad Vintage closure buckle is surprisingly handy, and it looks great, too! Cons Not TSA-compliant, will require you to pull your laptop out of the bag during security screening Who is it for? Anyone who wants a laptop backpack that looks great and will last until they slide you into your grave Video Giveaway Oh, how I envy TUAW readers, who get a chance to win some of these amazing products. In this case, one lucky reader is going to be opening a box in the near future containing a slim Staad BackPack in black ballistic nylon with a chocolate leather flap and trim. It's valued at US$319, and I will weep to put this guy onto the FedEx truck. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 5, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack valued at $319 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Just in time for Father's Day: Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet
Waterfield Designs makes some of the nicest computer, tablet, and smartphone accessories out there, and by nice I mean customizable, good-looking, and durable. I've had a Waterfield Designs iPad Travel Express bag for about three years now, dragged it all over the world, and it still looks like it did when it was brand new. Well, that same durable design is now showing up in your pocket with the delightful Finn Wallet (US$29), which can be used either as a wallet (duh!) or to house a naked iPhone. Let's take a look! Design The Finn Wallet actually comes in two different sizes: Size 25, which is intended to be a "wallet wallet", and Size 27, to clothe your iPhone 5. As for the lovely leather exterior (no, it's not Corinthian Leather), it comes in black, camel, grey, red, forest green, and cowboy brown, and is "naturally tanned to feel like a deer (but it's not from a deer)." On the outside walls of the Finn are a pair of matched pockets. Gary Waterfield, in the video below, says that he puts credit cards and business cards on opposite sides, cash in the middle. For me, I'd put an iPhone 5 in the middle, credit cards on one side, ID cards on the other. Waterfield Designs says that the Size 25 will hold more than 20 credit cards and a "nice wad of dollars" while the Size 27 holds your iPhone, about 15 credit cards and a "nice stash of bills." I think I need to get to know these guys better, since I never have cash on hand... The zipper locks shut, keeping the Finn Wallet from spilling its contents, and the bottom and inside of the wallet are made out of the same durable ballistic nylon material used on other Waterfield cases. %Gallery-190733% Functionality For my test, I took my unusually thick wallet and tried to transfer it and my iPhone 5 to the Finn Wallet Size 27 (see the gallery above). Surprisingly, it worked. Instead of having a wallet, my keys, and my iPhone all piled up in my pockets, now it's down to keys in one pocket, everything else in the Finn Wallet in the other pocket. The nicest thing about the Finn Wallet is that it slides easily in and out of your pocket -- which is why I added a pocket chain for travel security. The leather exterior is just going to get a nice weathered look on it and will become better looking with age. I'm not worried about the iPhone 5, either -- it's got plenty of padding on both sides thanks to the leather exterior and those pockets full of credit cards. Conclusion Does your Dad need a new wallet for Father's Day on June 16? If the old man totes an iPhone as well, get him a Finn Wallet (Size 27) -- if he's not a fan of those newfangled devices, the Size 25 ought to keep him happy. Pros Beautifully made from leather in six different finishes Durable interior and bottom construction using ballistic nylon, locking zipper Very reasonable price That wonderful leather smell! Surprising capacity for turning a George Costanza wallet into a thing of beauty Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who carries a wallet. If you carry an iPhone (up to the size of an iPhone 5), like the feel and look of leather, and want something that truly organizes your life, you're going to love the Finn Wallet.
Waterfield's CitySlicker is a luxurious home for your iPad mini
The iPad mini hit at the perfect time. There are a growing number of cases available for the holiday season, and after an initial dearth of decent iPad mini cases, many are now available. Waterfield Designs' CitySlicker falls on the high end of the spectrum. It's a luxurious sleeve that can easily be customized into a shoulder bag and look professional and stylish. Design The CitySlicker is styled like a small messenger bag, with a butter-soft leather flap that secures to the sleeve with two snaps. The main interior pocket is made of three layers: impact-resistant plastic, high-grade neoprene and a padded liner. There are two mesh pockets in the front of the sleeve and a zipped mesh pocket that shares the liner with the inside of the case. Additional options from the Waterfield Designs' site allows you to customize the color of the leather flap, add on a carrying handle or strap or just have the D-rings installed so you can use your own strap. %Gallery-173137% Functionality The CitySlicker does one thing really well, and that's hold an iPad mini. Once you start loading items in the pockets, then you start adding issues with bulk. Waterfield's site suggests that you can put pens, your iPad charger and iPhone in the pockets. You can, but the iPad mini's wall charger creates a noticeable bulk when the case is closed. Depending on the case on your iPhone, you might have to remove it before stowing it in the CitySlicker or the bag won't snap shut. Because of the tight sleeve, you can't keep a regular case on your iPad mini in case you fancied a stand for your iPad. Filling the pockets makes the CitySlicker pretty heavy quite quickly, and you might find you want to add that carrying handle or strap if you're using it on its own. It easily tucks into larger bags, such as my backpack and messenger. Still, you're not going to be able to get a lot into the CitySlicker without creating unsightly bulges or a lot of weight. At the most, I'd suggest adding an iPhone (sans case), the Lightning USB cable without the wall charger and a couple of pens to these pockets to save on weight. The protection for the iPad mini is fantastic though. This bag can easily survive an accidental fall off the desk -- kids, don't try this at home. The liner is plush and very soft. You won't have to worry about the front or back of the iPad mini getting scratched up in this case. Conclusion The CitySlicker is a beautifully built case, and you can't dispute the quality. All of Waterfield's bags are made in San Francisco, so nothing is outsourced. The CitySlicker is the Rolls-Royce of iPad mini sleeves. However, if you plan to pack a lot of accessories, it's not the right sleeve for you. You might want to check out Waterfield's iPad Travel Express, which is more geared toward carrying a lot of accessories with your iPad. Or, if money isn't an issue, check out a Muzetto. The CitySlicker for the iPad mini is $89. A model for the third- and fourth-generation iPad is available for $99. Given the materials used and the fact that it's produced in the US, I think this is an excellent price for what you're getting. Pros Extremely high quality. Built in the USA. Looks fantastic. The sleeve for the iPad mini is plush and provides a lot of protection. No worries about getting scratches while using this case. Easily fits in larger bags. Cons Have to carry a separate stand if you need one for your iPad. Not a lot of room for accessories. Creates a lot of bulge and weight if you add too much. Who is it for? People who want a stylish iPad mini sleeve with a lot of protection. Giveaway And now, you get the chance to win a Waterfield CitySlicker for the iPad mini! Please be sure to read the rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before December 14, 2012, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a CitySlicker iPad mini case valued at $89. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
WaterField Designs: Protecting your 15" Retina display MacBook Pro with panache
As an admitted computer bag fanatic, I have a special affinity for the creations of WaterField Designs in San Francisco. I personally use one of their bags (the Travel Express) to carry either my MacBook Air, two iPads, or the MBA and an iPad. That bag has gone through a lot in the last three years, but it still looks like it just came out of the box. When Heidi the PR lady at WaterField Designs told me about the line of new bags that they've specially created for the Retina display MacBook Pro, I decided to jump on getting some review products to try out and to give away to TUAW readers. In this review, I'll talk about both the Smart Case (US$99.00) and City Slicker ($149.00) for the 15" Retina display MacBook Pro, and then at the end you'll have an opportunity to win one from TUAW courtesy of WaterField Designs. Smart Case Let's start with the Smart Case. While it's not a total "bag" for your Retina MBP, it's designed to offer protection to your baby while you toss it into a briefcase, backpack, or any other larger bag. What's great about the Smart Case (as with all of WaterField Designs' products) is that it has padding everywhere you can imagine. There are high-impact rigid plastic inserts to keep your MBP safe from bumps and bangs, and it's cradled inside an Ultrasuede liner. The outside of the case features water-resistant nylon in a choice of six colors -- black, pearl, pine (dark green), green, flame (orange), and copper (tan). There's no stitching visible on the outside of the case, and the sides are encased in distressed brown leather trim. On the back side of the Smart Case is a stretchable pocket for carrying your power adapter and other cables. %Gallery-161878% The Smart Case is designed to hold your machine so snugly that it won't slide out, yet it's easy to pull it out for security checkpoints or doing work. While the video below shows the version of the Smart Case that's available for the 11" and 13" MacBook Air rather than the Retina Display MBP model, it still provides a comprehensive look at the features of the Smart Case. City Slicker A case is supposed to be something you buy after you get a new MacBook or iPad, and the City Slicker almost makes me want to go out and buy a new MacBook Pro just so I can get the case! The top and front of the case are nicely protected by luscious leather. The sample case I received used distressed, naturally tanned dark "Chocolate" leather -- you also have a choice of black or lighter tan "Grizzly" leather. What's nice about any leather surface like this is that it gains character over time as it is bumped, spilled on, and otherwise abused by life. The City Slicker comes initially without a handle or strap. The handle (a $10 option) is a rather tight fit, even for my small hands, but allows you to carry the bag just like a briefcase. You can also get D-rings ($5) attached if you have a favorite strap already, purchase a "Simple Strap Mini" for $12, or go all out and get the "Suspension Strap" for $22. My suggestion? Go with the high-end strap -- it's very comfortable and allows you to juggle papers and iPhones with your hands while you're carrying the bag. %Gallery-161879% The protection built into the City Slicker is awesome. Just under the outside later is a hard plastic insert, then a layer of spongy neoprene, and then the interior lining of the bag. There's extra padding in the bottom, since that's the spot that gets the most abuse when you place the case onto tables, desks and other surfaces. For all of the other things you'll want to carry along with your $2,200 laptop, there are two pockets. They're made of a stretchy material that lets you see what's in the pocket while ensuring that the contents aren't going to fall out. The video below once again shows the features of the MacBook Air version of the City Slicker; just scale this bag up to the size of a Retina display MacBook Pro and you have a perfect idea of how it looks. Conclusion Sure, you can buy less expensive computer and tablet bags elsewhere, but wouldn't you rather purchase something that is going to last and also looks great? (Also, did we mention that $2,200 sticker price for the Retina MacBook Pro? Skimping on protection seems short-sighted.) WaterField Designs bags do exactly that; they're cases that protect your investment in Apple equipment for years and that will gain the envy of anyone who sees them. If you need a way to keep your Retina display MacBook Pro safe and protected inside another bag, the Smart Case is perfect and is also reasonably priced. But if you need a new case for that beautiful Retina MBP, seriously consider the City Slicker. It's a gorgeous bag that offers unparalleled protection as well. If you're not impressed with either the City Slicker or Smart Case, I suggest that you take a look at the other designs that are available for the MacBook Pro with Retina display. Pros Distressed leather highlights on both the Smart Case and City Slicker are both beautiful and protective WaterField Designs' multi-layer protection keeps your Retina display MacBook Pro safe from impacts and scratches The bag and case are surprisingly thin considering the protection that they offer Made in the U.S.A in San Francisco Cons The handle on the City Slicker is a bit tight on your hand; I'd recommend forgoing the handle for the top-of-the-line Suspension Strap. Who are they for? Owners of Apple's new MacBook Pro with Retina display who want the best possible protection while exhibiting some style Giveaway We're kind of in a giveaway frenzy this week, and the first two items we're giving away are these wonderful cases from WaterField Designs. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 9, 2012 at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One will receive a WaterField Designs Smart Case for MacBook Pro with Retina display valued at US$99.00, while the other will receive a WaterField Designs City Slicker (with optional handle) valued at $159.00. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
iPad 2 case and stand roundup
Last year at the launch of the iPad, there were very few accessories available. Sure, you could pick up an Apple Case for the iPad, and I think there were a handful of third-party cases, but the variety wasn't exactly overwhelming. After the wildly successful first year of the iPad, everyone in the accessory business is going out of their way to make sure you have a choice of goodies at launch or shortly thereafter. In this article, I'll tell you about some of the cases and stands we've heard about so far. Targus 360° Rotating Stand / Case for iPad 2 This is the first iPad 2-specific product that I've actually received, and it's a beauty. The Targus 360° Rotating Stand / Case (US$59.99) features a unique design with a 360° swivel that allows the iPad 2 to be displayed in portrait or landscape orientations. Unlike other swiveling stands and cases, the Targus 360° is remarkably thin. The center of the swivel mechanism is open so that the Apple logo is clearly visible, there's a soft velour lining to gently caress your iPad 2 screen, and the exterior is a very attractive black faux leather. To hold the case closed while in transit, there's a wide elastic band similar to that used on Moleskine notebooks. The plastic "tray" that holds the iPad 2 has a hole in the proper spot for the rear-facing camera, although the device has to be swiveled into portrait mode for the camera to be able to "see." You can buy one now through Amazon, and Best Buy stores will have the cases available on March 11. Targus will also have the thin Protective TPU Skin for iPad 2 ($29.99) and Vuscape Cover and Stand ($39.99) available to protect that new iPad 2. Click the read more link to see more upcoming iPad 2 products.
WaterField cases are another reason to buy a new MacBook Air
I need a new MacBook Air like I need a third eye (in other words, I don't need one), but when the first press release we received after the announcement on Wednesday was about some MacBook Air cases from WaterField Designs, I could feel my resolve slipping rapidly. This company is based in San Francisco (Go Giants!) and is known for making nice looking and rugged cases for a variety of devices. Their iPad Exo SleeveCase, for example, is a customizable bag that can be trimmed in leather, outfitted with a choice of straps, and will even fit an iPad that's already wearing an Apple iPad case. Well, the object of my desire is their Laptop SleeveCase, which comes in new sizes to snugly fit the new MacBook Air models. The cases are available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled for October 29th. The price depends on what accessories you get -- just the bare SleeveCase will put you back US$37, while one that is outfitted with leather trim, a closable flap, a suspension strap, and a piggyback pouch with leather trim will run up the cost to $111. I must go lock away my credit cards before I end up buying one of these and a MacBook Air. Sigh. [via Macsimum News]
WaterField serves up Magic Trackpad cases: because your old sock just won't cut it
Look, we get it -- it'd be fairly easy to slice up the surface of a Magic Trackpad if thrown haphazardly into a bag full of apartment keys, ink pens and syringes, but aren't there more economical ways of protecting your investments than this? Not that we blame WaterField Designs -- who happens to make some of the best cases and sleeves in the industry -- but the Trackpad Slip and the Trackpad Socket are most certainly tailor made for a slaying on "Really? with Seth and Amy." For those who can't find a free padded compartment in their existing briefcase or laptop tote, the Socket is a dead-simple padded pouch, while the Slip is a slim ballistic nylon case with a soft, lightly padded liner and a half dozen trim options. Shipments start today, with pricing set for $12 / $25, respectively. Don't count on getting any support from fellow tree huggers should you skip over your monthly Sierra Club donation in order to get one, though.
