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IRL: The Phorce Freedom is a bag that trades space for versatility
At CES -- the world's largest tech show -- the intrepid reporter faces many challenges. Most of them involve sleep (lack of), nutrition (lack of), human beings (abundance of) and coffee (usually lack of, but often, taste of). As such, it's very important that you don't go and add to that list of problems with some form of self-sabotage: the wrong cables, poor coffee choices, no backup power and, crucially, a P.O.S. bag. You and your bag are going to become close friends over the week, so it pays to get one that'll do the job, with a minimum of fuss.
IRL: Could a custom laptop bag be worth the splurge?
I've always thought it's better to spend more on something once than to buy cheap and replace time and again. Because of this, I've owned exactly two bags in the last nine years: a Wenger Soho backpack and now a custom, $184 Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger. Last spring I decided it was time to retire the trusty Wenger that got me through college and my first three E3s for something a little more modern.
Waterfield Designs Rough Rider leather messenger bag: Review and giveaway (Updated)
Over the past year or so, we've seen a trend emerging from high-end laptop bag manufacturers like Waterfield Designs and Pad & Quill -- use of leather as a primary material in their products. This not only provides a beautiful finish to the products, but also ensure that your purchase of a quality bag is going to last well beyond the expected lifetime of your laptop. Waterfield Designs recently introduced the US$335 Rough Rider leather messenger bag, and as you'd expect from this San Francisco manufacturer, it's functional, durable, and downright delicious to look at. Check out the review, then have a chance to win a Rough Rider. Specifications Dimensions: 15 x 10.5 x 3.5 inches (38.1 x 26.7 x 8.9 cm) Weight: 2.9 lb. (1.32 kg) Materials: premium naturally-tanned distressed leather Accent colors: black, copper, pine, green, flame, pearl Design Highlights The best way to describe the look of the Rough Rider is to quote some of the verbiage on the SFBags.com website -- "the clean professional look exudes a 'already been around the world a couple of times' masculine confidence". The accent areas are made with what appears to be ballistic nylon, but the primary material used is leather. The inside of the Rough Rider is unlined, but the leather shouldn't cause any abrasions on that nice aluminum finish of your MacBook Pro. Also inside are two large pockets that you can stuff with accessories -- they are lined with waxed canvas. On the outside are two more large pockets into which you might want to place your iPhone or even an iPad mini. Those outside pockets are covered by the large leather flap that snaps closed to keep your stuff inside. I've always liked the way that Waterfield Designs makes shoulder straps, and the Rough Rider's strap is no exception. It has a wide padded center that has a pebbled surface on it so that it doesn't slip off of your shoulder like some competing bags. Anyone who is upset by the least little mark on something they own will obsess over the leather on the Rough Rider and should probably stay away from it. If you like your possessions to have that comfortable worn-in shoes look, then you and the Rough Rider are going to get along famously. Update: We received information from Waterfield Designs that after this review ran, they received a lot of requests for a 15-inch version of the Rough Rider. That bag is now available for pre-order. Functionality Highlights What can I say? You can pretty much stuff a lot of equipment into the Rough Rider. While writing the review, I tossed my 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, its power adapter, an iPhone 5s, and an iPad mini into the bag, and still had plenty of space left. Some folks might bemoan the fact that the four individual pockets lack any sort of closure (zipper, for example), but I find in most cases that those closures get in the way of searching for stuff in a bag -- something I find I'm always doing! Case in point, one of the bags that I use on a regular basis has leather straps that go over two interior pockets. While I love that bag (not from Waterfield/SFBags) dearly, those straps drive me bonkers and I find myself looking for a pair of shears to cut them off. The shoulder strap is comfortable, adjustable, and best of all, will not slide off of your shoulder. My other bag has a tendency to slide off, forcing me to either readjust the strap often or shrug my shoulder to get it back in place. Not so with the Rough Rider, which stays in place. Conclusion Gary Waterfield got his start as a San Francisco bike messenger, and he obviously put some of his practical experience into this classic and durable messenger bag. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- you get what you pay for. The Rough Rider might not be inexpensive (that's my only beef with the bag), but it is going to outlast a lifetime's worth of Apple laptops and accessories while looking better with age. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Wow, this bag is nice enough that I almost wish I didn't work for the site so I could be eligible to win it! You don't have that problem, so all you have to do is enter for a chance to win a Rough Rider messenger bag. 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 April 21, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Waterfield Designs Rough Rider leather messenger bag valued at $335. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
iBackFlip TabKeeper 360: The adaptable carrying case for every tablet (Updated)
Two things that keep people from buying protection for their iPads are price and the inability to use the case with a different model of tablet. With iBackFlip's new TabKeeper 360 (US$54.95), both of those barriers to entry have been demolished. Be sure to check out iBackFlip's discount pricing on the iBackFlip Somersault, as well as our giveaway of a TabKeeper 360 at the end of this review. Update: It helps when you actually remember to add the giveaway form... it's now at the end of the post Florida-based iBackFlip first caught our attention a while back with their totally innovative Somersault iPad case. What made it innovative? The fact that it could be used as a backpack, a briefcase-like carry case, or as a hands-free "table" for holding an iPad in front of you while standing or walking. Well, the TabKeeper 360 improves on that design in several ways -- it's less expensive, it can be used with just about any tablet with up to a 10.1" diagonal screen, and it's usable as a sling-style backpack, messenger bag, or carry bag. How does this all work? The bag itself is quite small, measuring in at 12" x 9" and about 2" thick. One half of the case features a snap-closed spot for carrying accessories, pens, business cards, and even small notebooks. The other half of the TabKeeper 360 is a padded space where the iPad, iPad mini or other tablet resides. In the bottom of that space are four large Velcro® pads that are used to hold the tablet into place. No, you don't glue Velcro onto the back of your iPad as the other part of the installation -- instead, iBackFlip comes with two universal adapters that each consist of four Velcro-backed paddles that have a elastic band that goes around a corner of the tablet. Those paddles are connected with other elastics in a crosswise fashion. Simply slip those bands over the corners of your iPad, then slap the Velcro pads onto their counterparts in the case, and it stays put. One of the adapters is made for large tablets, the other for smaller models. As with the other iBackFlip products, it's the mounting system on the outside that adds a huge amount of versatility. When you first get your TabKeeper 360, you don't see the straps or the connectors. The straps are in an plastic bag inside, and the connectors are tucked away neatly into four small pockets on the back of the case. You can use the TabKeeper 360 in this configuration, carried with a handle just like a tiny briefcase. Now, pull out the shoulder strap and connect it to any two of the connectors for a really adaptable bag. The following video, featuring iBackFlip's CEO Ryan Chavis, shows you exactly how versatile this bag really is. Starting for a limited time on December 18, 2013, iBackFlip is offering a 20 percent discount off of the Somersault series of bags. You can also like company on Facebook, tweet them, or share your purchase on Google+ for an additional 10 percent discount. Or you can choose to enter our giveaway and have a chance to win an iBackFlip TabKeeper 360 of your very own! Conclusion For about half of what you'd pay for a good iPad case, you can get something much more versatile and useful -- the iBackFlip TabKeeper 360. This well-built carrying case not only provides protection, but a variety of carrying modes and a way to work on an iPad easily while standing up. Pros Inexpensive, yet extremely well-constructed Fits just about any tablet you may have now or in the future Waterproof zipper keeps the rain and snow from harming your iPad A number of different carrying modes for different folks Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who changes tablets about as often as they change socks and wants a case that will last for years Outdoor workers who need to work on an iPad or iPad mini while they stand Giveaway Yup, we're giving our review sample away, dang it. 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 December 23, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a iBackFlip TabKeeper 360 valued at $54.95 Click here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Ask Engadget: best carry-on electronics bag?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Ben, who needs a stylish way to carry around his electronics haul. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hey Engadget, I'm looking for your help in picking a new travel bag. Ideally, I'd like something that's in a messenger format, but I'm open to other options if you can suggest them. Currently I've got a 13-inch laptop (and charger), iPad, noise cancelling headphones and the various bits and bobs that go with them. Any help you can provide would be great, thanks!" This week, we're revisiting a topic from January 2010, but given how much has changed since then, it's well worth keeping it up to date. We've heard good things about the Timbuk2 Commute Messenger that we gave away as part of our Back to School sweepstake, but your humble narrator is still toting around a cumbersome (and less useful) Lowepro Fastpack 250, which the TSA doesn't take kindly to. Still, that's why we'll open this up the floor and find out what you're all rocking when it comes time for that gadget-laden cross-country jaunt.
Booq Python courier bag protects your DSLR, lenses and iPad in style: Enter to win
Booq makes some amazing bags for laptops, iPads, and the like. Now the accessory manufacturer has introduced the Python courier bag ($179.95), a fine-looking bag for photographers who want to also have room to slide in an iPad. Read on for a review of the Python courier and enter for a chance to win this sweet piece of equipment. Design Booq's bags and cases have always had a sleek, modern look to them, and the Python courier is no exception. The exterior of the bag is made of a gray water-repellent 1680 denier ballistic nylon that should hold up to healthy abuse. On the top of the case is a well-padded handle, but the real attraction for photographers will be the wide shoulder strap. That strap comes with a removable pad to keep your shoulder unbruised when you're lugging a DSLR body and a couple of big lenses. %Gallery-150443% The Python courier features a flap that can be used to secure the case to the handle of a rolling suitcase. But it's "what's inside that counts" with this bag. To protect your delicate camera equipment and lenses from the rigors of travel, the Python courier has a removable padded camera compartment surrounded by two contoured dividers. Booq refers to this compartment as being "densely padded," and that's an understatement. The bag itself has good padding in the front and back walls; the camera compartment adds even more protection to the mix. If you're wondering what you can carry in terms of camera equipment, Booq says that a DSLR and 2 to 4 lenses can fit into the Python courier. Now remember, the bag also has room for an iPad -- or a laptop with dimensions up to 10" x 7.5" x .5". A quick look at the specs for the MacBook Air shows that even the 11" model isn't going to fit, so you'll have to look at another of Booq's bags if you want to carry a laptop with you. The zippered iPad pocket doesn't provide as much protection as the cameras get, but of course you're getting AppleCare+ for your new baby, aren't you? Like many of the Booq products, the Python courier has a Terralinq serial number tag affixed to it. Should you lose your bag and have registered the serial number, the Terralinq service might help you get that valuable stuff back to you. By the way, if you don't have a DSLR or have suddenly decided that all of your future photography will be done with your iPhone, iPad, and Lytro, you can pull the camera compartment out to turn the Python courier into one big messenger bag. There are a number of other little pockets here and there on the Python; I leave it to our giveaway winner to count them for us. Functionality The Booq Python courier has room to spare. As you can see from the gallery images, I was able to stuff two Canon PowerShot IS cameras (sorry, I don't own a DSLR) into the camera compartment and had plenty of room to spare on top. My iPad 2 slid into the back pocket with ease and I filled the interior pockets with all manner of electronic gadgetry. With the shoulder pad attached and the bag slung across my body as all good courier bags should be, I was impressed with how comfortable the Python courier was even when fully loaded. It's also damned good looking, nice whether you're outfitted in a three-piece tailored suit or wearing jeans and a photographer's vest. Conclusion and Giveaway Booq did good work on the design and construction of the Python courier. For digital photographers who want to protect their equipment and take along an iPad for note-taking or editing work, the bag is perfect. A quick look at several photographic equipment store websites shows that the bag price is right in line with or actually lower than a number of camera-only shoulder bags by Billingham, Arri, Crumpler, Domke, and other camera accessory manufacturers. We'd like to give this bag away to a loyal TUAW reader. To win, check out the rules and then fill in all the blanks on the entry form below. The rules are as follows: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, click fill out the form below completely and click the submit button. The entry must be made before Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: A new Booq Python courier bag worth $179.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Good luck! Thank you for your entries - this giveaway is now closed. A winner will be named soon!
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.
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: bags and cases
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're walking around with new bags in tow -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Cutting a bag free from an oversized cardboard container isn't nearly as exciting as unboxing the latest, well, anything else -- but you're probably gonna need one, unless you don't mind biking around campus with a laptop under your arm. We've rounded up some of our perennial favorites that are sure to keep your gadgets safe on any budget. And see that messenger bag up above? It's stuffed full of some of this season's hottest gadgets -- and we're giving one away to 15 of you. Simply leave a comment below and at each of our other back to school guides to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.
Ona Union Street DSLR / laptop messenger bag review
Ever heard of Ona? Up until last week, we hadn't either. Turns out, Ona's a purveyor of "fine" camera bags and accessories, and given that it's the holiday season, we figured it prudent to have a gander at the outfit's latest and greatest -- you know, just in case you've a camera lover in your family who you've yet to buy for. The all-new Union Street ($279) is quite clearly an upscale messenger bag on the outside, but the internals are arranged in a way that the amateur photog / gadget lover would appreciate. There's room for a few pens (of the lens and / or ink variety), a smartphone, a navigation system, a 15-inch (or smaller) laptop and -- according to Ona -- a DSLR along with three lenses. The other notable aspect is the waxed canvas exterior (dubbed Waxwear), which is generally more rugged and weather resistant than your average patch of suede or leather. How's it all shake out? Join us after the break for our pair of pennies. %Gallery-109233%
New Club Nintendo rewards will hold your old Club Nintendo rewards
Nintendo has added three lovely new items to the North American Club Nintendo catalog. The "cheapest" of the trio is a Super Mario Galaxy 2 screensaver for ten coins. It's the second Club Nintendo screensaver to be released -- a Mario 25th anniversary version is also available for the same price. Moving up, for 250 Coins, you can score a canvas tote bag with colorful polka dots and a Super Mushroom silkscreen. And for 550 Coins, there's the black messenger bag, featuring a Super Star design. Based on the options, we suspect a lot of people are going to show up at E3 with the same messenger bag next year. That'll be embarrassing.%Gallery-106508% [Thanks, Dogs of the AMS]
Engadget's back to school guide: Laptop bags
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we have laptop bags in our sights -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. By now you should have had enough time to decide what on our laptop buying guide takes your fancy, but, as Apple will tell you, the protective case is sometimes as important as the precious hardware itself. You'll notice that this year we have a good number of bags that include padded camera sections as well -- to the point of perhaps being described as camera bags with laptop compartments -- but we feel that's justified by the massive proliferation of DSLRs into the mainstream market. Entry-level interchangeable lens shooters have grown cheap enough even for non-photography students to consider owning one, but we can think of no good reason why they should require a separate bag of their own. So, on with the recommendations.
First Look: Tom Bihn Ristretto bag for iPad
I blame Steve Sande for my newest iPad-related purchase. Well, there's a lot of things to blame Steve for, but it was his reviews of the Tom Bihn Western Flyer and Checkpoint Flyer that had me checking out the company he bought the bags from last year. Tom Bihn is based in Seattle and has the distinction of being among those rare companies that still makes its products in the U.S. using mostly U.S.-produced materials. Only a few components are sourced from overseas, but those parts are fully disclosed. Tom Bihn was also had gear designed specifically iPad right off the bat, announcing its offerings -- The Ristretto and the Cache for iPad -- just hours after the original iPad announcement. The US$110 Ristretto, which also comes in a larger size designed to hold a MacBook, is a vertical messenger bag with a padded area that is large enough to hold a netbook or an iPad. After having my iPad and accessories bounce around a larger bag for a few weeks, I caved and placed a Ristretto order to see if it suited my needs. I could have gone cheaper, I could have used a regular netbook case, but I'm glad I held out for the Ristretto.
Razer announces line of 'tournament-grade' StarCraft II peripherals (and also a bag)
Serious StarCraft players know the best way to play: using peripherals that have the StarCraft logo, of course. Razer has announced that it will cater to these hardcore gamers with a line of StarCraft II peripherals, including a mouse, keyboard, and headset. According to the press release, the devices will actually be a little more than cheap USB peripherals with the logo on them: Razer is working with Blizzard to develop the line, which will have "unique exclusive features to cater to the StarCraft II community." They should be really good thanks to the extra time the two companies have to work on them. Razer is also releasing a StarCraft II messenger bag, which may or may not also be "tournament-grade." Lucky ticket buyers and Ozzy Osbourne will be able to get a look at the bag at BlizzCon.
Preparing for BlizzCon: What to pack in your backpack
BlizzCon approaches! Preparing for BlizzCon is your regular source for tips on how best to prepare for Blizzard's gaming extravaganza. These helpful hints are particularly suited for convention rookies. But if you are a con veteran, we'd love to hear your advice and wisdom in the comments as well.Backpack, messenger bag, extra large purse -- whatever you are toting into the Anaheim Convention Center should be filled with a few basic things in order to get the most from BlizzCon. The catch is that it cannot be any bigger than 10"x20" and it cannot contain any of the following: Desktop computers, laptops, electronic storage devices (unless you have a press pass) Glass bottles, cans, large containers (this limits some of your food options should you choose to carry-in) Alcohol (leave your cool flask or teeny airplane booze bottles in your hotel room) Weapons and fireworks (Captain Obvious is making giggle noises.) Join us after the break for what you can and should stuff in your BlizzCon-bag.
$130 Mirror's Edge includes Timbuk2 messenger bag
Quick. Grab your wallet, remove a crisp $100 bill and light it on fire. Actually, don't. But if you were reaching for that Benjamin, this edition of Mirror's Edge might be for you. Deciding that the $150 edition of Dead Space wasn't enough for the holiday, EA has signed on with bag maker Timbuk2 to offer and exclusive Mirror's Edge branded messenger bag with the game for a collective total of $130. Sure, it's much nicer than GameStop's pre-order bag but do you really need that $130 strapped to your sholder when so many great games are hitting by years end? Well, if you do need it we guess it could be worse ... at least it isn't priced at Timbuk200 dollars! Amirite?
Fanswag: Get some gear for your Wii
Click for larger image The fine folks at Atlantic sent us over some free stuff from their Wii line-up of products and you know us. We don't like free things. In fact, we hate them. Why? Because sharing is caring! That's why we love to give them away to you all! Up for grabs in this latest giveaway is a Wii bag ($30) and 2 sets of velcro wrist straps ($10 each), which will go to one lucky winner via random drawing. With this gear, you shouldn't have any problems sharing the fun of Wii with others.How do you win? Well, how about you tell us how many Wii games you have in your library! Simple enough? You can enter once per day, up until Sunday, August 3rd at 11:59pm ET, which is when this giveaway concludes. Also, you must be at least 18 years of age and a current and legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec)! Official rules can be accessed here.Best of luck to you all and thanks to Atlantic for sponsoring this giveaway. If you'd like to check out some more shots of the goodies up for grabs, then check out our gallery below.%Gallery-28644%
House of the messenger bag
Earlier this week, we informed you lovely readers that House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return was super cheap at Circuit City. Now Amazon also has the game listed at the irresistible price of $19.99. We really don't mean to keep shoving this game down your throats, but how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat? Yet, if you didn't buy House of the Dead earlier, there's probably nothing that would motivate you to get it now except an even bigger price drop. It's also worth noting that Amazon's "Deal of the Day" is the Wii messenger bag pictured above. If you geekified hipster types were looking for a way to lug around your Wii, this bag for $19.99 isn't too bad of a deal. But, to be honest, there are probably better means that you can use to transport your console. That's just our opinion, though. What do the rest of you Wii aficionados think? Gallery: House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return [Via CAG]Read: House of the Dead 2 & 3 ReturnRead: Wii Messenger Bag
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Eleksen slaps SideShow on a messenger bag
SideShow ain't just for laptops anymore, Eleksen just grabbed a few of its nifty "ElekTex" fabric controls, a 2.5-inch LCD, and some SideShow functionality and pasted it all onto a hip little messenger bag. The SideShow module can communicate with your laptop via Bluetooth or USB, and the unit supports MP3 playback, photo albums, videos and more, beamed straight off your laptop's on-board memory cache. We spotted a non-working prototype of this thing last night, so be sure to check out those pics after the break.[Via Carrypad]
G-Tech kicks out iPod-controlling Messenger Bags with integrated speaker
'Tis the season for iPod controls on every piece of wearable kit possible? Apparently you stand a decent chance at being given some form of iPod-enabled clothing / gear this holiday season, as a swarm of manufacturers are jazzing up their apparel with built-in controls for Apple's cashcow. On deck is G-Tech's Messenger Bag, which sports your average selection of handy compartments in which to store your notebook, cellphone, PDA, or other portable gadget, as well as coming in black / chocolate brown colors. This knapsack boasts Eleksen's ElekTex smart fabric controls -- a "unique five-layer laminate of electrically conductive materials that transforms fabric into an electronic touchpad" -- to handle the play / pause, volume, and track operations of your dock-connected 'Pod. If that weren't geeky enough, the bag also sports an integrated speaker (no word on wattage) and a 3.5-millimeter "extension jack" in case removing your DAP from the snug confines of the Messenger Bag proves too time consuming. If Monster's iEZClick lacked that dual functionality you yearn for, G-Tech's shoulder bag / iPod boombox hybrid is available now for $129.[Via Playlist]
