Laptop case for mobile office

Daniel L

Daniel L

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 2, 1998
Messages
1,983
Hi all,

I'm going to be leaving the corporate working world shortly to be a full time markets dealer / investor working for myself.

I won't be based at home and I won't have an office (yet) but I will be doing my "work" (i.e. trading shares etc online) so I need a decent case for a 17" laptop.

Not too tactical looking and not too laptop-case-like (hey gotta have some style right?). Needs to carry the 17" laptop and powerpack, a large paper notepad, pens and a water bottle. I might carry a multitool but this is NOT a BOB, and I do not want to carry the kitchen sink - so slim is good :)

Must have a grab handle at the top, and I might even be convinced of going backpack style... but not likely.

I don't mind spending $100+, after all this is my office!

So far I've seen:
www.timbuk2.com
www.sfbags.com

and leather style bags from LL Bean and Filson

Any feedback on the above or suggestions would be appreciated!
 
Duluth Trading Messenger Bag

My wife highjacked mine to carry her 17" laptop so I just ordered another. It looks like they may be on clearance at $24.99 because the only color they have is mil. green. They are a lot nicer than they appear in that artist's rendering.

Edited to add new info: Does not fit 17" laptop - it fits up to a 15" laptop. My mistake, sorry.
 
I don't like the idea of a water bottle in the same case as electronics !
 
mete said:
I don't like the idea of a water bottle in the same case as electronics !
Click to expand...

I figure that I'm going to have to carry it externally - I don't want to have to buy bottled water when I'm out. Unfortunately it means that bag is going to be a lot bulkier....

Oh the decisions.... certainly not as much fun as buying knives :)
 
Actually re water carrying - since a bottle is going to be a bulky solution, perhaps a Camelbak-type flat container with tube?

At least it will be flat, but I don't know how leakproof those types of hydration containers are...
 
I have a Duluth Messenger Bag.

It carries a water bottle externally.

It has a padded laptop comparment, and one small and two large zippered compartments inside, and two small zippered compartments outside under the flap.

The strap and hardware are excellent. Overall construction is quite solid and empty it's almost weighless.

You could use it as a BOB and a mobile office at the same time. :D
OK, not quite that big, but I crammed four full grocery bags in it the last time I took it shopping, and it had a lot of gear in it already.

As a mobile office, you could fold the flap back, slip the strap over the back of the passenger seat, and drive off with the bag open and everything available beside you.

For other sources: Packs & Bags & Boxes

Check out the "Talmid" at Jandd. It's similar to my old Eagle Creek Convertabrief -- it's a briefcase with a shoulder strap that converts to a backpack with hidden packstraps, and Jandd has laptop sleeves available, too.
 
Congratulations and welcome to the tribe mate (the self employed tribe that is).

My system (evolved over 14 years of self employment) is

One of these

http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetail.php?Code=WEFLASH

with one of these inside

http://intranet.tatonka.com/infosys/infocgi/artinfoe.dll?2178

with one of these inside

http://www.filofax.com.au/distribut...ZEID.7/RANGEID.52/DSIZEID.7/SFE/organiser.htm

My reasons? Backpack looks classy but subdued and doesn't scream COMPUTER HERE STEAL NOW! This model is a bit of a classic here in Oz and I know people who have had them for 20 years.

Modular system means that when I'm travelling I can slip the portfolio out for a meeting so I don't turn up to boardrooms with a back pack. Similar with the laptop case - it can be carried independently if needed. Both items can be left in the hotel safe and the back pack can be used as a daypack if I want to do a day-walk.

I travel to a huge variety of sites - from dusty mine sites to ultra modern plush offices and I've found this system works well for me. YMMV.
 
I like Timbuk2 as a brand and if you can get one with a bottle holder outside, go that way. Their "commute" model does that.

I like Eagle Creek as a brand too.

REI and The North Face have in house models.

If you're loaded, Haliburton and Tumi make nice cases. They do both scream STEAL ME. On a hard case, add biohazard stickers :)

Victorinox and Wenger both have techy looking briefcases and backpacks with laptop sleeves.

I'll second on the quality of Duluth Trading Company's products and service.
 
This is the bag you want for a big fat 17inch notebook like the Dell E1705, 9200, 9300, HPs, or Compaqs:

Roadwired Skooba Satchel
http://www.roadwired.com/store/Product.cfm?Productid=88

weighs 44 ozs!

or if you want bigger:

Roadwired Mega Media Bag
http://www.roadwired.com/store/Product.cfm?Productid=6

Roadwired Leather Mega Media Bag
however, it weighs 5lbs while empty.

I pulled this company's name from an ad in Laptop magazine. Out of all the names mentioned there, I liked the roadwired offerings. However, if you have a mac notebook, there are companies making really cool looking, high tech carrying cases.

I like the skooba bag listed above because of its weight.

PS. Congrats. I haven't worked for corporate since 2000.
 
Thanks guys - will check out those sites.

Yep - sure is liberating to not be tied to corporate. I do feel very blessed to have found my niche (market trading) which gives me back time and easily replaces / surpasses my current income.
 
I have carried a timbuk2 for about 8 years through hell and highwater and it shows little to no signs of wear.

Quality product.
 
Timbuk2 makes great bags, as does Eagle Creek. EC has nice organizational stuff inside. If you want something a little more dressy, then look at Ellington's bags. Their nylon is GREAT stuff and they make something around $150 that is awesome. I have one of their leather shoulder bags that I think was probably $250-ish and it's great, too. Really high quality leather and Ellington stands behind their products 100% should you have any problems. I like the leather bag I bought because it iis quite limited on what it can hold, which makes it perfect for someone who tends to cart around too much stuff. I can comfortably carry my laptop, cables, a "ditty bag" for iPod, cell phone and Palm Pilot cables, a small Moleskine, a large Moleskine, a few pens, some business cards, and a book/few magazines/few files. Lots of zippered pockets to keep everything in place and organized.

My internet is going REALLY slow and someone is about to come and feed me a giant money sandwich for my x-ray machine, so I can't give a URL. www.ellingtonleather.com is what you should look at...Then Men's bags.
 
OK - I finally went out and got the case today.

It's a Crumpler Cashmere Blazer - you can see a review (not mine) and some pics here - I got the same colour:
http://www.powerpage.org/2006/08/review_the_cashmere_blazer_from_crumpler.html

It's not as "tank tough" as the Timbuk2 Commute XL, which was my second choice, and the Crumpler doesn't have a carry handle or external water bottle carrier.

It's also slightly larger than I wanted, but hey, I decided to try something different for once :)

It is exceptionally spacious, and I'll be giving it a test run on a work trip to Australia tomorrow.

FYI Crumpler is an Australian company, and I managed to pick this bag up for around $USD130 from a local NZ online shop.

Thanks for all the help!
 
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