Great iPad bag: Wenger / SwissGear Vertical Boarding bag, $19.99

[eTip]

Available at Target and Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/SwissGear-Ver...1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1273803755&sr=8-1-fkmr0

It's in the luggage dept in Target; the model # is SA1092. Despite the dimensions listed on the Amazon and Target site, the iPad fits fine in either of the 2 pockets - even in my Kensingon neoprene sleeve. The BT keyboard fits will fit as well - thought a little snugly.


In think this is a great bag for daily use. The price is reasonable, there are plenty of extra pockets, it looks nice and not too "murse"-y. ;-)

I will try to post pics and/or a more detailed review when I am feeling less lazy, bit that may be a while. .

On a related note, I saw a few net book sleeves (~ $10) at Marshalls and a Phillips bag made for a DVD player ($9.99) that would hold an iPad nicely so it may be worth checking there if you are in the market for either.

 

[eTip]

Some crappy (sorry) pics ...that don't really do the bag justice but hopefully you can see how well the iPad & BT keyboard fit. I have to say, I am pretty happy with this bag - pretty much has everything I was looking for (size, style, pockets galore, etc.) and being able to fit the BT keyboard in there as well was just a bonus. One of the best features of this bag is that both main compartments have the flap of material on each side that prevents the bag from opening completely (and iPad from falling out!) even when unzipped completely. It's a minor detail in some ways but has been a lifesaver (or rather laptop saver) for me in the past when accidentally picking up a bag that I thought was zipped.

If I had one complaint, it would be that the shoulder strap seems somewhat cheaper than the rest of the bag and is not removable. It can be tucked into one of the pockets on the back of the bag when you want to carry it by the handle, though.

 

[JonnyIreland]

Nice post (& bag!), thanks.

I would probably buy this if amazon UK sold it, but they don't seem to. I have been looking for something that carries the iPad + BT Keyboard combo.

 

[Galley]

I actually tried one a couple of weeks ago, but my iPad wouldn't fit when it's in my Slip Case. I never tried it naked as I was worried about scratches. It's too bad, because $20 is a steal.

 

[Davydd]

I bought a similar design boarding bag by Eagle Creek. It is more expensive but is much better quality. The iPad snug in its Apple Case will fit in the larger pocket with no room to spare. The outside side pocket will house the charger plug and cords. The second pocket with inner sleeves will be for my iPhone and a small digital camera.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M0NYJQ/ref=cm_rdp_product_img

 

[eTip]

I bought a similar design boarding bag by Eagle Creek. It is more expensive but is much better quality. The iPad snug in its Apple Case will fit in the larger pocket with no room to spare. The outside side pocket will house the charger plug and cords. The second pocket with inner sleeves will be for my iPhone and a small digital camera.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M0NYJQ/ref=cm_rdp_product_img

Not bad but I don't like the way it looks (not my style, i guess). It's definitely more expensive - and in that price range it seems there are a LOT of iPad compatible bags. Also (and no offense here) but it's not clear to me what make it "much better quality". I have a Wenger backpack that I used nearly daily for a couple years and it continues to hold up great. In fact, has been a better backpack than a Columbia backpack that I paid twice the price for and recently got rid of. IMHO, just because REI etc. carries it doesn't make it good quality and just because Target etc. sells it doesn't make it junk or of inferior quality.

Again, I don't want to start a "battle of the bags" (nothing in it for me) or anything but maybe you can provide some more detail that will help others that may like that style understand what makes it worth 2 1/2 times the price of the Wenger.

 

[RoarinRow]

I just bought the same bag for my trip to put travel documents. I should try to put my iPad in there too. I have the Apple case so it might be a tight squeeze.

 

[touchmonkey]

Nice find. Waiting for the store to open.

 

[Davydd]

Not bad but I don't like the way it looks (not my style, i guess). It's definitely more expensive - and in that price range it seems there are a LOT of iPad compatible bags. Also (and no offense here) but it's not clear to me what make it "much better quality". I have a Wenger backpack that I used nearly daily for a couple years and it continues to hold up great. In fact, has been a better backpack than a Columbia backpack that I paid twice the price for and recently got rid of. IMHO, just because REI etc. carries it doesn't make it good quality and just because Target etc. sells it doesn't make it junk or of inferior quality.

Again, I don't want to start a "battle of the bags" (nothing in it for me) or anything but maybe you can provide some more detail that will help others that may like that style understand what makes it worth 2 1/2 times the price of the Wenger.

I'm not starting a "battle of the bags". Just that I saw and bought the Eagle Creek first and saw the Swiss Gear at Target later. I was a longtime Target architect so do have some loyalties to them plus I could have gotten the Swiss Gear bag at a 19% discount had I wanted to. That's moot. I bought the Eagle Creek and determined the iPad with Apple Case would fit before I saw the Swiss Gear bag. They are pretty much identical in concept design as a "boarding" bag. I didn't even know such a thing existed. I wonder if the manufacturers know it is now a defacto iPad bag?

The Eagle Creek bag looks a lot better than the photo that looks to me the photographer "botoxed" it. It is better material, construction, trimming, stitching, zippers, and detailing such as the inner cell phone pockets with velcro cover flaps. Is it 2-1/2 times better based on price? Probably not for most, but then again everyone has a different taste right down to people buying $325 leather satchels for the iPad.

The Eagle Creek comes in a variety of colors. So my wife bought a different color than my manly all black one. Style matching is fine but we learned from buying matching backpacks once that it could be confusing. No chance of grabbing the wrong bag.

 

[eTip]

I'm not starting a "battle of the bags". Just that I saw and bought the Eagle Creek first and saw the Swiss Gear at Target later. I was a longtime Target architect so do have some loyalties to them plus I could have gotten the Swiss Gear bag at a 19% discount had I wanted to. That's moot. I bought the Eagle Creek and determined the iPad with Apple Case would fit before I saw the Swiss Gear bag. They are pretty much identical in concept design as a "boarding" bag. I didn't even know such a thing existed. I wonder if the manufacturers know it is now a defacto iPad bag?

The Eagle Creek bag looks a lot better than the photo that looks to me the photographer "botoxed" it. It is better material, construction, trimming, stitching, zippers, and detailing such as the inner cell phone pockets with velcro cover flaps. Is it 2-1/2 times better based on price? Probably not for most, but then again everyone has a different taste right down to people buying $325 leather satchels for the iPad.

The Eagle Creek comes in a variety of colors. So my wife bought a different color than my manly all black one. Style matching is fine but we learned from buying matching backpacks once that it could be confusing. No chance of grabbing the wrong bag.

Good points - and no offense intended. Let's not tell the manufactuters how well their "boarding bags" work for the iPad or they will all double in price.

 

[touchmonkey]

Had to go to two stores to get it. (The Target one)
Sweet bag, but as noted above, double zipper would be much better.
A little tight getting mine in with the Apple case, could stretch out a bit.
Nice all purpose case, with slightly less of the "manpurse" factor.

 

[eTip]

Had to go to two stores to get it. (The Target one)
Sweet bag, but as noted above, double zipper would be much better.
A little tight getting mine in with the Apple case, could stretch out a bit.
Nice all purpose case, with slightly less of the "manpurse" factor.

Good to know that it fits with the Apple case. I like the single zipper since I find it easier to tell if the zipper is closed - but it seems like I am the exception here.

 

[touchmonkey]

Good to know that it fits with the Apple case.

Tightly.

 

[w4rmk]

I went to Target today to check out the Swiss Gear bag and found that it wouldn't fit my iPad in the Mareware Eco-view case. It will really only fit the naked iPad or with a very close/form-fitting skin type case. So unfortunately it won't work for me.

 

[SamMiller0]

I bought this bag at Target as well, it does not fit my iPad with the Waterfield Designs ultimate sleeve case. I'll be returning it unfortunately. It's a nice bag for $20.

 

[eTip]

I went to Target today to check out the Swiss Gear bag and found that it wouldn't fit my iPad in the Mareware Eco-view case. It will really only fit the naked iPad or with a very close/form-fitting skin type case. So unfortunately it won't work for me.

Hmm, I now have a TPU case on mine & the iPad still fits with the Kensington sleeve on top of that. I guess it's probably the corners on the other (folio etc.) cases that stops them from fitting. Good to know though!

 

[mtwilford]

Some crappy (sorry) pics ...that don't really do the bag justice but hopefully you can see how well the iPad & BT keyboard fit. I have to say, I am pretty happy with this bag - pretty much has everything I was looking for (size, style, pockets galore, etc.) and being able to fit the BT keyboard in there as well was just a bonus. One of the best features of this bag is that both main compartments have the flap of material on each side that prevents the bag from opening completely (and iPad from falling out!) even when unzipped completely. It's a minor detail in some ways but has been a lifesaver (or rather laptop saver) for me in the past when accidentally picking up a bag that I thought was zipped.

If I had one complaint, it would be that the shoulder strap seems somewhat cheaper than the rest of the bag and is not removable. It can be tucked into one of the pockets on the back of the bag when you want to carry it by the handle, though.

Great Bag, I noticed that in one of the picture looks like you have you iPad in a neoprene case and one shot of the iPad naked. Am, I correct in assuming that it does fit with case as well?

 

[swy05]

Available at Target and Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/SwissGear-Ver...1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1273803755&sr=8-1-fkmr0

It's in the luggage dept in Target; the model # is SA1092. Despite the dimensions listed on the Amazon and Target site, the iPad fits fine in either of the 2 pockets - even in my Kensingon neoprene sleeve. The BT keyboard fits will fit as well - thought a little snugly.


In think this is a great bag for daily use. The price is reasonable, there are plenty of extra pockets, it looks nice and not too "murse"-y. ;-)

I will try to post pics and/or a more detailed review when I am feeling less lazy, bit that may be a while. .

On a related note, I saw a few net book sleeves (~ $10) at Marshalls and a Phillips bag made for a DVD player ($9.99) that would hold an iPad nicely so it may be worth checking there if you are in the market for either.

How's the padding on this? You think it would offer some protection for a minor fall?

Thinking about picking it up.

 

[eTip]

Great Bag, I noticed that in one of the picture looks like you have you iPad in a neoprene case and one shot of the iPad naked. Am, I correct in assuming that it does fit with case as well?

Yes it fits with the iPad in the neoprene case.

 

[eTip]

How's the padding on this? You think it would offer some protection for a minor fall?

Thinking about picking it up.

There is a thin layer of padding on the bottom & the back that would provide some protection for a minor fall. I would recommend having the iPad protected by a case or sleeve as well, though.

I now have a TPU case which is always on the iPad & I usually put it inside the Kensington neoprene sleeve before putting it in the Wenger bag - but that's probably an abundance of caution.

 

[londontenant]

Shoulder strap

Some crappy (sorry) pics ...that don't really do the bag justice but hopefully you can see how well the iPad & BT keyboard fit. I have to say, I am pretty happy with this bag - pretty much has everything I was looking for (size, style, pockets galore, etc.) and being able to fit the BT keyboard in there as well was just a bonus. One of the best features of this bag is that both main compartments have the flap of material on each side that prevents the bag from opening completely (and iPad from falling out!) even when unzipped completely. It's a minor detail in some ways but has been a lifesaver (or rather laptop saver) for me in the past when accidentally picking up a bag that I thought was zipped.

If I had one complaint, it would be that the shoulder strap seems somewhat cheaper than the rest of the bag and is not removable. It can be tucked into one of the pockets on the back of the bag when you want to carry it by the handle, though.

Shoulder strap - yes it is too narrow - I removed it, but left about 4" to make a loop on the side that did not have a loop, and sewed it together to make a loop & insert a key-chain ring thru. Same with other side, just insert a key-chain ring. Then you can attach a wider strap, the kind you get with luggage & duffle bags.