Laptop bag for B-School

I posted this topic within the laptop thread, but it might be best to have a separate topic to get some ideas flowing. I've been looking at bags to carry my laptop around during school and want to get away from the super formal soft briefcase. How much stuff do you typically have to carry around on a day-to-day basis? Would one need to attend recruiting events with his laptop, and therefore need something ultra professional looking? Here are a couple that I've been considering:

This one's leather, but a little more casual looking:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/pr ... =375296002

This one is a bit more casual, and would require the laptop to be inserted and carried on its end:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/pr ... =586792002

Even more casual, perhaps a bit too much:
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?ci ... =625156012

Whatcha think?

I highly recommend this one for the daily grind of classes etc. I know it comes from a yoga apparel store...but don't laugh just yet. My wife got one for me for Christmas, and I have to tell you it is the most functional do it all bag I have ever owned. If there is something that you carry it on a daily basis (water bottle, sunglasses, wallet, blackberry, wet gym clothes), there is a pocket for it. It also has a lifetime warranty, and there is a Lululemon store in Evanston. Its way more than a laptop bag!!!

http://www.lululemon.com/products/acces ... er_bagpack

Whoa, that bag does look like it has tons of compartments! I thought you were going to say, "It's way more than a laptop bag...it's a part of the family!"

One of our cats does cuddles with it like it is

Most people use backpacks. A few use huge laptop bags and some use rolling bags. The best thing to get would be a baxcpack that has a dedicated laptop spot and is pretty big.

If you want a rediculously long lasting backpack, go with a JanSport. I know it's a normal looking 'college' backpack, but my first one lasted 5 years and my current one has been all over the US and the world with me over the last 4 years. They can hold anything (laptop, gym clothes, and books all at the same time). So they're great for everyday classes. Then just get a formal messenger bag or briefcase for interviews and presentations.

A store like TJ Maxx has messenger bags and briefcases for really good prices. I've seen Kenneth Cole and other fancy big name brands there. They might be last years model but if you can get over that, I'm sure you can find something you like.

Edit: after looking through your top 3 choices, I don't think my recommendation will fit your tastes, but it still stands.

I am not a fan of backpacks, so I have this one: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... 7MMy4BtE1g

Beware that it is larger than you think and a number of reviewers complain about it

My favorite part is the dedicated charger compartment in the bottom of the bag. Also a multitude of pockets make it nice, though when I have travel out of the country and cross multiple borers after sleepless nights and can't remember which one holds my passport, it turns into a hunt. Works great for short trips - fits under the airplane seat or into the overhead.

The strap is also nice - I pack it heavy and it does just fine, but the bag is larger than almost any strap bags I have seen.

I also own this one - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014K ... B0014K4YOI
Complete opposite of the other one - minimalistic sleeve. It pretty much just fits a laptop and a book/charger/water bottle - nothing more.

Thanks for the recommendations everybody, this is really getting some ideas flowing. My wife ended up getting this one today, although I haven't been able to look at it in person yet.

http://di1.shopping.com/images/pi/9b/43 ... 50-0-0.jpg

I'm still not sure whether I'm down with having leather, since I want something somewhat casual in appearance. But, she did say it looked somewhat more rugged in person, so perhaps it'll work out. Now to make sure it'll properly hold a laptop... I also like the backpack idea, which would probably be a bit easier on my back if I have to lug around a couple books along with the computer. Decisions, decisions.

Looks very nice - good taste.

I am surprised, however, no one recommended Tumi - i stay away as I think it is not worth the money, but many swear by these bags:
http://www.tumi.com/business-and-laptop/laptop-cases/


They have sales every 3-6 months and with travel industry in the toilet, a big one should be behind the corner.

i use the same jansport backpack ive had since college. not even a special laptop one, but the plain 1 main compartment/1 small pouch model. combined with a neopreme sleeve for my laptop, it gets the job done pretty well.

I bought this last week -
http://shnoop.com/product_info.php?products_id=940

Dedicated side entry for laptops upto 15" & a sturdy padded handle besides padded straps. It was on sale only for a day but if you lookout on deal sites, you might find similar deals on lowepro bags.

The bag I bought is on sale again (for a day).

http://www.shnoop.com/

At $12.99, it is an awesome deal.

Thanks svrider!! I just bought one! They are going for $60-80 on other sites and the Amazon.com reviews are really positive.

RF

I got myself a SwissGear laptop bag from amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/SwissGear-Compute ... 11&sr=1-13

Incredible value with the amazon pricing, and the backpack is great with tons of useful compartments. Here are a few other designs and colors.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search- ... iss%20Gear

I'm a consultant so after some undesirable cube or conference room the client forked over, my laptop bag is the closest thing I have to an office. Which would partially explain why I've tried so many different bags over the years (the remainder is just me liking bags and gadgets).

Here's my top 4 in reverse order:

4. Booq - had an older model laptop backpack, not bad at all. Not as durable as those that follows--some good ideas, but sort of flimsy construction and more neat than trusty.
http://www.booqbags.com/

3. Brenthaven - I have a leather one and a ballistic one. I wish I hadn't bought the leather one, it wasn't as nice as I'd hoped and it was expensive (and now gathers dusk to my #1s below).
http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-cyc-leather-sc.html

2. Crumpler - everything they make is awesome. Well put together, extremely durable and innovative. I have a laptop backpack and a messenger bag. Both are a little colorful for work, so they're for casual use only, but they're some of my favorite bags otherwise.
https://www.crumplerbags.com

1. Tom Bihn - I have an Empire Builder and a matching Zephyr. I find myself taking both on the road with me more often than not. These bags are well thought out and amazingly built. They have a ton of nice little touches and features and they're deceptively large. I also love that they're conservative enough for my job but they're not as boring as the Cobi and Tumi's everyone else totes around. (Btw, both of those brands suck for what you pay... they do not last and zero ergonomics, relatively speaking.) I love Tom Bihn and Crumpler, for my money (and I've put way too much of it where my mouth is in this department) they're worth the incremental dollars if you live on the road and need your bag to work hard for you.
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0730

Bump -- any more suggestions on backpacks?

I've been looking for backpacks that don't look like typical laptop bags or advertise that a laptop is inside (i.e. not Targus bags, etc.) -- especially since I'll be traveling around on the Tube in London. I've had good experiences with Dakine bags in undergrad -- but are some of their more conservative designs still too "unprofessional" for b-school?

Hold off on buying a bag before orientation. They might give you a school one. I wasted $90 buying a bag before school only to be given one by CBS during orientation that became the one that I use on a daily basis.

I am going to opt for a laptop sleeve and use it with a messenger bag/backpack of my choice.

There are several reasons for this,
1) it's cheaper.
2) you have more options for bags.
3) your bag usually does not end up screaming "LAPTOP BAG!" which tends to attract a lot of unwanted attention.

Lastly, come on. It's a bag. I think you'll make do even if you don't find that "perfect" bag of your dreams.

I use a sleeve and a bag of my choice, whatever I feel like that day.

Sometimes I carry the sleeve alone.

Sometimes I put the sleeve in my Filson 240:



Sometimes I use my cheap ugly laptop backpack from ebags which came free with luggage I bought

Sometimes I use a leather document case:

I use the following with a neoprene sleave: http://www.rei.com/product/778463

It got me up Mt. Whitney, so I figure it will get me to class and back as well!!