Messenger bag recommendations for a 13" MBA?

Hey everyone! This is my first thread, I've been lurking these forums for a while, and finally bought a 13" MBA earlier this week. I recently made the switch to macs (was a long time Linux user) with a Hackintosh a month or two ago. Anyway, now that I've got my new MBA, I need a bag for it. I have a messenger bag and a backpack that I've been using for a while for my old Thinkpad, and need to replace both, but am focused on the messenger bag at the moment, as I need it the most. Hopefully I'm posting this in the right forum.

I was wondering what bags you guys had or would recommend. Here are my requirements:

• Needs to fit a 13" MBA (obviously)
• Should look somewhat casual, and not be damaged by a little rain. Given those requirements, I've been looking a lot at canvas bags.
• Should be as small as possible. It needs to fit my MBA, the power adapter, some pens, maybe a few papers or a pad, and that's basically it. A pocket for a bottle of water would be nice, but not a requirement.
• Preferably one buckle/strap to close, two is annoying.
• Cost isn't really a concern, preferably under $200, because I don't think a bag should cost more than that lol.
• Should be durable, I don't want this to break in a year. I don't put very much stress on it, though, and it will not be used daily, maybe two or three times a week.

Here's a list of bags I've found and liked, some may not conform to all of my requirements above, but had the general style that I liked, so I figured I'd include them to give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

• http://www.ebags.com/product/fossil/octane-ew-messenger/143423?productid=10000209
• http://www.ebags.com/product/stm-bags/scout-medium/144097?productid=10002035
• http://www.ebags.com/product/fossil/rallye-ew-messenger/210698?productid=10127053
• http://www.ebags.com/product/case-logic/canvas-messenger-bag/96834?productid=1246891
• http://www.fossil.com/en_US/shop/me...0||p_weight|0&rec=9&pn=c&imagePath=MBG5819020

Even just recommending a brand or store/site would be really helpful. Or any input on a backpack would be great too, as I'll be looking for one next.

Thanks!

Jim

IngerMan said:

I have had 2 OGIO messenger bags for over 7 years. They still look new, and the shoulder strap pad is a big plus when you carry it for a while. They do not make the same bag that I have but I like this one. Size seems good for a MBA, I would stay at our under the 4 inch width. I have a 4 inch width and a 6 1/2 inch. The air swims in my larger bag. I carry my laptop, bi-fold tablet case, cables, pens, memory sticks,plenty of room in the 4 inch width. After using these bags for years. I would not buy one that did not have a good padded shoulder strap.

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Thank you! I had never heard of this brand, but I'm looking at their product lines, and I like it. They all have a casual/professional look, and seem well built - exactly what I was going for. Thanks again!

artivideo.nl said:

i don't understand why buying a very portable laptop like a MBA and than want a big messenger bag !!!

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How else is one supposed to carry it to work?!

IngerMan said:

You are welcome Jim. I learned of them from the quality of their Golf Bags. Gym Bags.

Art, not everyone can get away with a laptop in a sleeve. I use mine for sales calls at my customer locations. I keep all my product literature on the laptop but I also need other items with me as well. Not to mention a few pieces of fruit

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Yup, exactly. I'm a web developer and an IT consultant. I may be able to squeak by with a sleeve if I'm going to a meeting, but if I'm spending the day on-site at a customer, I need a power adapter, pens, paper, maybe a bottle of water and a snack, etc. Personally, I have uses for a sleeve, messenger bag, and a backpack.

I've been stuffing my MBA in my current messenger bag - and I have to say, my only complaint about this macbook thus far is that I can't tell if it's in the bag or not!

IngerMan said:

That's true. I have only had mine for about 3 weeks. Prior Macbook unibody. I was in with a customer on week one of the new machine. I had it out looking up some product for him when a call came into his office and I got rushed out.

I did not notice any thing different but when I was putting my bag in my trunk I did not recall putting the MBA back in the bag. I looked and sure enough I left it on his desk in the big rush out of his office. lol. You gotta look because the weight is not there.

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lol exactly! Glad you didn't forget it somewhere else, where you may not have gotten it back!

oakie said:

i use the Booq Taipan Shadow S.

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Great recommendation! I think this bag is at the top of my list now, it'll fit my MBA perfectly without too much room, it looks nice, casual yet professional. Thanks!

J&JPolangin said:

I have a Targus "unoffical" messenger bag that fits up to a 14.1" laptop so it gets used for my whitebook, my HP DM4 and either of the MBA's I've had

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I really like Targus, I wasn't crazy about that bag though.

slapguts said:

You have good taste, I like pretty much everything you've posted. I'm looking for a backpack in a similar style, post up what you find.

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Thanks - will do

DeusInvictus7 said:

Check out the Incase Coated Canvas Shoulder Bag.

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I found this, which is similar, but for 13" MBPs, which are I think almost exactly the same size as 13" MBAs, except they're thicker. http://www.goincase.com/products/detail/nylon-sling-sleeve-cl57736 I really like this.

jazzbo said:

I have one of the Case Logic Canvas bags like the link you posted, but mine was from before they started putting the graphics on the flap (which I don't really like the look of, personally). I really like it and it has held up well as I carry my 2008 13" Aluminum Macbook back and forth to work. Plenty of room for the power supply, and there is a zipped pocket where I keep a thumb drive and an adapter for hooking it up to a projector.

For a MBA the laptop slot will be plenty roomy, and might even slide around a bit as it holds up to a 15". Not sure you would want to go with just the bag without some type of sleeve too.

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That was my major problem with these bags, they hold much larger laptops, and I'd like my MBA to fit snug in the bag, if possible. I really do like the canvas though...


So currently, here are the bags I'm considering:

1. http://www.booqbags.com/All-Product.../Taipan-shadow-S-black-laptop-messenger-bag_2
2. http://www.goincase.com/products/detail/nylon-sling-sleeve-cl57736
3. http://www.ebags.com/product/fossil/octane-ew-messenger/143423?productid=10000209
4. http://ogio.com/work/negotiator

I'm still hung up on the canvas bags, but I think the booq really suits my needs while looking the best, but it lacks a handle, which the incase has. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Jim

I went over those bags again, and ended up getting the booq (http://www.booqbags.com/Taipan-shadow-S-black-laptop-messenger-bag_2), I think it's the best balance between style and function. They're also giving away first-gen iPad folios for essentially free. When you check out, it'll tell you about the offer, which is $40 off and free shipping if you add one of four iPad folio cases. Their "Boa Folio" (http://www.booqbags.com/All-Products/Shopping-Cart/Boa-folio-black-red-iPad-folio) is $49.95, and shipping for just the messenger bag was $9.95, so adding that folio gave me $40 off and free shipping, so I was paying the same $9.95 I would have been paying for shipping without the folio. Cool deal!

Thank you all for your input!

Jim

alexandero said:

It might be too late for Jim, but here are two casual looking bags from Timbuk2 that fit the MBA 13":

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/laptop-messenger-style/d-lux-bondage-laptop-messenger
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products...ger-style/d-lux-racingstripe-laptop-messenger

And there' always the Muzetto, but it's quite expensive:

http://sfbags.com/products/muzetto/muzetto.php

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Yep, I had come across the Timbuk2s before, and wasn't crazy about them. I ran through a custom one, and designed one that looked pretty nice, but I still didn't like it as much as some of the other bags. The Muzetto is very nice, but I was looking for a horizontal bag.

cleric said:

Fits perfectly in my Jack Spade bag, not sure if they make that size anymore though.

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Those are some very nice bags! They're quite pricey though. I'll keep that brand in mind for the future. The materials on those bags are beautiful.

DeusInvictus7 said:

I have one of those as well. They're very nice, I just like the styling of the Coated Canvas better, and I like flaps better than zippers. Of course all of that is just personal preference. Either one is great though

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I didn't realize that the one you posted had coated canvas, that bag is gorgeous! I wish they made one that fit the 13" MBA perfectly, although I don't doubt that it would protect it just fine.

edoras said:

I prefer the Solo Vintage leather Bag.
I can carry my MBA, iPad and the rest of the accessories. Such an awesome leather quality.

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Nice bag! I'll put that on my backpack list, which I'm just getting started on.

alexandero said:

I guess by now it's safe to say that if you dislike black bags, you're options still are pretty limited.

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Sort of. I ended up getting a black bag, but came across many that were not. Timbuk2 will let you customize their bags, so you could build a bag that has almost no black on it whatsoever. I came across a lot of green (canvas), tan (canvas), and brown (canvas/leather) bags.