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Reviving an old thread, I carry an Oakley messenger bag. It fits my 15" Macbook Pro(It claimed to fit most 15" laptops, though it fits very snug here), and iPad 2 fairly nicely. That's about it really.
 
I usually use my Nike backpack for carrying anything more than what is usually in my pockets. Simple black, really comfy, and surprisingly durable.
EDIT: This is it. It's almost flat when empty too (and waterproof).
Nikecore.JPG
 
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My go to bag is my Coach OP Embossed Leather Slim Messenger. I've had it since I got my MacBook Pro in April 2010, and use it more or less every day. It looks just as good as the day I got it; I usually carry my 13" Pro, Coach Zip Leather Zip Portfolio, my agenda, G2 pens and my Dr. Grip Ltd. Pencil, TI-83/89, and some other various junk.

I paid around $400 for it(which is actually pretty cheap; I recently received a Gucci leather messenger bag as a gift, which I believe retails for around $1k and I much prefer my Coach bag); the leather is durable and thick, but still soft, the stitching is perfect, and it's modern yet classic. It's got the perfect amount of space and pockets for me, and it doesn't have all kinds of goofy looking external pockets or "features" like straps or whatever (that all IMO look stupid).
 

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I carry one of these http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/LAST-RESORT-TACTICAL-ATTACHE-13p66.htm . It fits my iPad2, charger, a notebook, work stuff, and some food. The sides carry water and usually a bottle of Coke Zero nicely. The front pull away compartment stores a Smith and Wesson 642 and flashlight easily. There are various tools and cords along with gloves and a CPR Shield in the small compartments. But the middle one with a tab holds two speed strips of .38 special nicely.

edit to add: Just tried it with my 13 inch MBP. Fits great!
 
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I wish North Face made a smaller maybe medium backpack ... more suitable for a 13" MBP or the Air's and a few essentials.

Their quality is good, lot's of padding and pockets but all their backpacks are big.
 
I usually throw the MBA in a Campomaggi laptop-style bag.

Hand-made in Italy and every one is cut slightly different.

I really like it much better than this ridiculous Coach bag leather bag I got as a gift. I've had quite a few bags in my days and this is the highest quality (and highest priced) one I've ever had.

More photos here: http://www.wardow.com/campomaggi-aktentasche-c00519vl-1701.html
 

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I'm using one of these,
p-AJUZ-F11!NORTH.jpg


It fits anything I need to carry, but it's still a nice light bag when I don't have much on me. It is big, but I don't see how the height could possibly be a problem since it doesn't take up any more space than anything else I'd carry around.

I had a messenger-type bag for 5 years. NEVER AGAIN! Having a bag hanging on one shoulder feels so awkward when I'm walking.

(that, and I had a big bubble-shaped Jansport in the late 90s that was bigger! FUNNY THING about those jansports everyone had in the 90s? The puffy pocket in the back was super easy to open without the owner noticing [if they had it on their back!]. If you still use one of those, please don't carry valuables in that pocket lol
 
I feel very secure with my manhood, but I don't think I could pull that one off.

I find that almost all COACH stuff looks poor. Just like that bag. I'm honestly amazed at the lack of quality as well. We have a pair of boots (sister-in-law is a store manager for COACH) and for the money, they're much lower quality than italian boots of the same price.

lol
 
Weak arguments, imo ...

I've wasted a lot of money on messenger bags only to find our backpacks work far better. A messenger bag banging off your hip as you walk all day long, feeling lopsided just isn't fun.

For your arguments about banging into people etc., most backpacks have a top carrying handle, no problem there.

People have been using one-strap bags for the reasons I mentioned for thousands of years.

IMO, if you've got a physical problem with one strap bags, what's weak are your shoulders. I suggest some pushups and pullups.
 
I wish North Face made a smaller maybe medium backpack ... more suitable for a 13" MBP or the Air's and a few essentials.

Their quality is good, lot's of padding and pockets but all their backpacks are big.

I have a North Face HotShot. It's anything but big.

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People have been using one-strap bags for the reasons I mentioned for thousands of years.

IMO, if you've got a physical problem with one strap bags, what's weak are your shoulders. I suggest some pushups and pullups.

Oh please. Constantly adjusting the strap of a bag and switching shoulders is just not comfortable. I'm back to backpacks myself.

BTW, what do pushups and pullups have to do with shoulders ? Pushups mostly work triceps and pectorals while pullups work the biceps and back. I think you meant either military press or shoulder presses. ;)
 
Oh please. Constantly adjusting the strap of a bag and switching shoulders is just not comfortable. I'm back to backpacks myself.

And I'll bet that you don't do a lot of vehicle ingress/egress and you don't access things in your bag that often. Backpacks don't work for me for a number of reasons because I want access to the things IN my bag without having to take it off my back.

If you're constantly adjusting, maybe your straps just suck. Or maybe if you had decent back musculature, your back would naturally rest in your lower back. ;)

BTW, what do pushups and pullups have to do with shoulders ? Pushups mostly work triceps and pectorals while pullups work the biceps and back. I think you meant either military press or shoulder presses. ;)

The way you do them, maybe. Wide-arms, diamonds, dippers, elevated, one-armed armed and medicine ball.

Anyway, I was joking about TS's lack of upper body strength and conditioning if the weight of a laptop and a couple books were too much for him to handle.
 
I use a Swiss Gear Scansmart backpack. It fits my 15'' MacBook Pro along with my textbooks and a bunch of school work very comfortably.

swiss_scansmart_17_1.png
 
And I'll bet that you don't do a lot of vehicle ingress/egress and you don't access things in your bag that often. Backpacks don't work for me for a number of reasons because I want access to the things IN my bag without having to take it off my back.

I have good flexibility, don't need to get the bag off to grab things in it (and anyway, not like I'm taking out the laptop or my gym clothes more than 2-3 times a day). Stuff I need access to quickly is in my pockets. That includes my phone, wallet and keys.

And yes, I do a lot of vehicule ingress/egress (what a fancy way of saying it), it's just my vehicule well adapted to backpacks being on my back. ;)

If you're constantly adjusting, maybe your straps just suck. Or maybe if you had decent back musculature, your back would naturally rest in your lower back. ;)

My back musculature is just fine, 5 days of gym makes darn sure of that. My straps are also fine, went through quite a number of shoulder type bags. The NorthFace backpack just fits right, sits high on the back and hardly feels like it's there at all.

There's just no real support holding the bag in place on a shoulder bag. It will move around. And it will put all the weight on one side of your body.

The way you do them, maybe. Wide-arms, diamonds, dippers, elevated, one-armed armed and medicine ball.

All those are again mostly triceps/pectorals as far as push ups go. Haven't talked to a Kinesologist in quite a while have you ? ;)

Really, if you want to target the shoulders, hit the free weights.

Anyway, I was joking about TS's lack of upper body strength and conditioning if the weight of a laptop and a couple books were too much for him to handle.

As much as I can lift at the gym, moving to a lightweight backpack and a MBA instead of a Pro did wonders for me. Carrying around stuff is not a weight lifting competition.
 
I have good flexibility, don't need to get the bag off to grab things in it (and anyway, not like I'm taking out the laptop or my gym clothes more than 2-3 times a day). Stuff I need access to quickly is in my pockets. That includes my phone, wallet and keys.

And yes, I do a lot of vehicule ingress/egress (what a fancy way of saying it), it's just my vehicule well adapted to backpacks being on my back. ;)

Like I said, you're not accessing the bag's contents too often. Backpack's fine for that.

I'm trying to cover getting in and out of cars, trucks, boats, aircraft and armored vehicles while working around them. Do you have a better term?

My back musculature is just fine, 5 days of gym makes darn sure of that. My straps are also fine, went through quite a number of shoulder type bags. The NorthFace backpack just fits right, sits high on the back and hardly feels like it's there at all.

It was a joke, son.

There's just no real support holding the bag in place on a shoulder bag. It will move around. And it will put all the weight on one side of your body.

That's the entire point - to be able to bring the bag easily around front.

Once the bag's slung, it should stay in the back and most of the weight should be across the chest.

Also, next time you bend over to pick up something, try bending at the knee. ;)

All those are again mostly triceps/pectorals as far as push ups go. Haven't talked to a Kinesologist in quite a while have you ? ;)

You keep coming back to this like I'm making a serious statement.

Really, if you want to target the shoulders, hit the free weights.

As much as I can lift at the gym, moving to a lightweight backpack and a MBA instead of a Pro did wonders for me. Carrying around stuff is not a weight lifting competition.

Meh. On and off, I'll be required to carry 25-35kg over terrain where there's no motorized transportation available. I'll pull the shoulder bag around front, where it will stay. Heavier items (laptop, batteries) will go into the ruck, immediate access items such as commo gear (VHF set, satphone plus regular phones) and the like will stay in the shoulder bag. I've done this for weeks at a time in the Sudan. All fairly light and easy compared to the amount of crap I used to regularly haul around as an infantryman.

Anyway, somebody who complains about the weight of a MBP hurting his shoulders = weak. There's no getting around that.
 
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