Geek Bag

[Dudbolt]

I've just come back from a 5day trip to Riga in Latvia. I have to carry
some gear with me onto the plane and also when touring around the city.
I could really do with a small bag to carry all my gear...phone wallet
mp3 player, diary etc etc. My pockets arent big enough and i'm tired of
having to check all my pockets for everything all the time.

Could anyone recommend a day-sack? I have been looking at something
like a large camera case but i wouldnt be able to carry a large diary.

Cheers

Garrett

[Lisa_Williams]

I've often admired the RoadWired Pod (you can see this at eBags.com) --
it has little loops and compartments specifically for cables and spare
batteries. It's square, like a camera case. (Here's a link. Be sure
to click on the "inside view" pictures)

Lately I have been using a small sling-type bag more and more. I
wanted a bag that was smaller than my large Courierware bag for when I
wasn't carrying my computer. I got a very small bag that held all my
gadgets but then I always ended up carrying a book in my hands. The
sling is large enough to carry my gizmos and a book, but not my
computer or, say, an 8X11 rigid item.

If anyone does want a bag that will fit a laptop, Courierware bags
(http://www.courierwareusa.com) are amazing. Indestructable, water
resistant, and you can select for more or fewer pockets. You can throw
the whole bag in your washing machine. Great for everyday use *and*
bike commuting. They also have a series of scaled-down "walking bags"
but I suspect these may be still a bit large for what you're looking
for. But maybe not.

[Neil Ford]

I'm a big fan of Crumpler[1] bags. I have a Whack-a-phone[2] as my
day to day work back (I'm freelance, so it's my office) and one of
their Ben's Pizza[3] camera bags for when I don't need to carry all
my kit (which is housed in a Lowepro Stealth Reporter 650AW[4] for
the record).

Crumplers aren't to everyone's taste, but they are very well made and
very tough. And they sure don't come in boring colours! ;)

- Neil.

[1] http://www.crumpler.com.au/home.php - uses Flash and sound, you
have been warned!
[2] http://we-sell-crumpler.co.uk/v1/Products.asp?ID=12 - much less
offensive site
[3] http://we-sell-crumpler.co.uk/v1/BensPizza.asp
[4] http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Shoulder_Bags/allWeather/
Stealth_Reporter_650_AW.aspx

[Schorsch]

Check out your local Army Surplus store. I got a WWII British gas mask
bag, which fits a book, phone, and quite a but more, but is small and
easy to carry around. I haven't had anyone call it a "man purse" yet,
but then I do wear it across my shoulders instead of over one shoulder.

[Joe Ganley]

Whenever this subject comes up, I'm obliged to plug my "Man-Bag Buying
Guide" at http://ganley.org/bags/bags.html.

[Paul]

I like Eagle Creek and Timbuk2 bags, and I've heard good things about
Tom Bihn's bags as well.

[Nik]

Tom Bihn sells a lot of great quality bags with laptop inserts
that'll fit your geek toys.

The Buzz might be a good one for you to try out. Very small, but hold
a surprising amount. They've got a ton of other bags as well. Browse
around.

<http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/200/TB0151>

--Nik

[Brian Short]

The Tom Bihn bags are great. I have a medium Cafe Bag that I use on my
daily commute.

-Brian

--------------------
Photos - http://www.bshort.org
Blog - http://www.bshort.com

[Kevin Wood]

I've recently switched to a Mountainsmith Day lumbar pack. It's a bit
pricey, but very well made and has plenty of room for all of my gear.
It will take 8.5" x 11" folders, but not my PowerBook, so it gets used
on the days when I'm not carrying the Mac.

http://www.ebags.com/mountainsmith/day_pack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=3148

[Paul]

These are pretty cool looking bags too, they're made out of actual
truck tarps.
www.freitag.ch

[Harvey Simmons]

Kevin,

I've been half-hartedly searching for a bag to carry my school stuff in, and I think you may have found it. I usually carry a Targus laptop backpack, but the thing probably weighs 12 lb. all by itself. Since I don't carry a laptop anymore, I'm looking to downsize. I'd considered a messenger-type bag, but I have been overcome by the geek-lust for the Mountainsmith lumbar pack.

I had also considered this one:

http://www.maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_fatboy.htm

but it won't hold my books. Besides, it looks like a concealed carry bag. I don't need that kind of attention when I'm walking at night. Maybe I'll buy one to build a jumpbag.

[Paul]

Maybe if someone sees you carrying that at night, they'll think twice
about messing with you!

[Harvey Simmons]

hmm.... perhaps I've been too hasty in ruling out the fatboy. Although, since I'm a pretty big guy (6'2"/250lb.) most people don't mess with me anyway. :) There have been a couple occasions when I've slipped my boning knife into my jacket sleeve. (with a blade guard) That was last fall (on a train that runs near the state fair) at about 10:45pm.

[S. William Schulz]

On 9/18/05, Harvey Simmons <hscat...@gmail.com> wrote:

hmm.... perhaps I've been too hasty in ruling out the fatboy. Although, since I'm a pretty big guy (6'2"/250lb.) most people don't mess with me anyway. :) There have been a couple occasions when I've slipped my boning knife into my jacket sleeve. (with a blade guard) That was last fall (on a train that runs near the state fair) at about 10:45pm.

I have carried a fatboy for two years now.... and I know a whole bunch of folks who do as well.. The things are bombproof, and they just work! 

I carry a timbuk2 laptop messenger to and from work daily, but at night and on weekends, I move my wallet and moleskine, etc to the fatboy, and it becomes my manpurse of choice.  It's also perfect for geocaching, as I can carry a PPC, water, basic first aid supplies, etc.   And the etrex fits in one pocket perfectly for storage. 

I cannot speak highly enough of the maxpedition products.