OQO gear bag for women?

[Guest]

[sandydlc]

I've been searching absolutely everywhere and still have not found a bag to carry my OQO and accessories when I travel.  For now I'm using a Briggs & Reilly backpack which is the same one that I use when traveling with my MacBook Pro.  It's a nice bag with lots of pockets and a protective laptop sleeve, but it's too bulky when just traveling with the OQO.

For everyday it works fine to just carry the unit and stowaway keyboard in my purse, but for those times when I want to carry my power supply, docking station, etc, I need something bigger, but still protective.

Any ideas?  Suggestions?  According to my demographics poll there is at least one more female on these forums!!   

Thanks,
Sandy

[sandydlc]

<sigh> Since there were no replies to my post  , I thought I would keep everyone up-to-date on my gear bag search!

I stopped into my local Tumi store and probably totally exasperated the salesperson there.  I tried to explain my criteria (see last post), and ideally identifying something that will look good enough when I'm wearing a suit for a business meeting and that won't look too manly or briefcase-like.  Oh, I also need to have a bag that will have enough room for my Bose headphones too (quiet-comfort 3).

Here are my top two choices:

http://www.tumi.com/products/index.cfm?modelid=93884

http://www.tumi.com/products/index.cfm?ModelID=93875&ModelID=93875&productID=1235106&ItemID=18931370

If you wear the bags over your shoulder instead of messenger style/across the body, then they look a little less casual.

Tumis are pretty spendy though so I'm going to keep looking, but at least I've narrowed down about what size I need.  I'm seriously tempted to toss all of my gear into my backpack and go shopping with it to be able to test each bag.

I'll post again with links to pictures when I make a decision.

Sandy

[sandydlc]

I have an update - If you're looking for a more casual or economical bag, Targus has some good options:

    http://www.targus.com/us/cases_notebook_womens.asp

Again my complaint is that they are too big (15" width - too much!).  However, if you're looking for economical, even the guys might like this option:

    http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TCG213T

$29.99 and it appears to have plenty of pockets for all of our OQO accessories.  This one even has a cell phone holder on the side.

Here is another option in a vertical messenger for $59.99:

    http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TSM043US

This one appears to be a bit flat, but if all you're carrying is the OQO and the docking station, I think it would fit.

I finally have some time to return to the Tumi store tonight and they have both of the bags that I was interested in.  Wish me luck!   

Sandy

[Opus]

I'm a guy and not into messenger bags or those man purses but thought you might like this bag I saw at Circuit City. Was going to get for one of our daughters but wife didn't get it, not into tech stuff. It is a bit spendy though... (edit-whoa, those Tumi bags a bit spendier)


http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Mobile-Edge-Maddie-Powers-Cutebug-Laptop-Sheba-Bag-MP-CSB01/sem/rpsm/oid/198584/catOid/-13025/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Definitely not my cup of tea but I know my daughters like the trendy girly stuff even as tough as they are!

[xarope]

Hmm, my wife just throws her oqo (executive case'd) into her hand bag, together with an iGo stowaway keyboard.  The whole point of buying her the oqo was so she wouldn't need to carry another bag (like she used to with her fujitsu P7000).

[xarope]

My apologies, I glossed over the part where you wanted to carry everything when travelling.  Again, my wife just throws everything into whatever carryon she happens to be taking with her.  I feel that buying a bag specifically designed to carry laptops or other electronics is asking for trouble, especially in Asia.

[sandydlc]

My apologies, I glossed over the part where you wanted to carry everything when travelling.  Again, my wife just throws everything into whatever carryon she happens to be taking with her.  I feel that buying a bag specifically designed to carry laptops or other electronics is asking for trouble, especially in Asia.

Well, most of my travel is within the US and I agree with your wife - I just carry a regular handbag on a daily basis and put the OQO inside of it.

The two carry-ons that I own are a computer backpack and a small rolling carry-on bag that fits under an airplane seat.  What I want is a bag that doesn't look like a laptop bag but still holds the OQO and all my accessories.  I stopped at Tumi tonight and picked up the vertical messenger (yes, I'm still in sticker shock).  After I get my son to bed I'm going to do a test and put everything OQO-related that I have inside and I'll take some pictures.  I'm pretty hopeful about this one.  It's actually a beautiful bag and looks very professional.  I just hope that everything will fit.

Sandy

[sandydlc]

I'm a guy and not into messenger bags or those man purses but thought you might like this bag I saw at Circuit City. Was going to get for one of our daughters but wife didn't get it, not into tech stuff. It is a bit spendy though... (edit-whoa, those Tumi bags a bit spendier)


http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Mobile-Edge-Maddie-Powers-Cutebug-Laptop-Sheba-Bag-MP-CSB01/sem/rpsm/oid/198584/catOid/-13025/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Definitely not my cup of tea but I know my daughters like the trendy girly stuff even as tough as they are!

My daughter would love this bag!!  I like it too but it's a little casual for what I'm looking for...

Thanks for the link!

Sandy

[Kenrick]

How about this one?
http://www.pocketables.net/2007/12/vaja-announces.html

Jenn has other bags reviewed on her site too...  I think the Tumi has better features than the Vaja, though. 

[devGOD]

i'm a male. I think i might get this one http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TSM043US since its not a gender specific bag.

[Dave P]

As a man, I can't see myself with any of the bags mentioned but as a loyal reader of Gear Diary, I do notice some of the bags that Judie finds attractive. If you've got money to burn, Violet May makes some bags that look stunning.

http://www.geardiary.com/2007/08/01/violet-may-make-your-heart-race/

In a more reasonable price range, she just reviewed the Skooba:

http://www.geardiary.com/2008/01/19/the-skooba-design-skooba-satchel-20-luxe-review/#more-5534

As far as the other bags mentioned here, I will just say that I had a Vaja case for my PDA and I was very impressed with their quality.

As for myself, I'm leaning towards a camera bag.

[sandydlc]

I wanted to wait until I'd had a chance to thoroughly test it before I posted, but I'm going to return the Tumi.  For that much money, it had better be a nearly perfect bag.  It's just an awkward size and is too narrow in depth to carry all of my items.

For one thing, a vertical messenger would only work if you have long things to carry.  I found that all of my OQO items were floating around the bottom of the bag with the top portion of the bag unused and in the way.

Secondly, though the leather is buttery soft and supple (I'm a huge sucker for soft things..I can't lie), it actually made the bag itself weight quite a bit.  Now I realize why so many laptop bags are made of nylon and other lightweight material.  Not nearly as stylish, but doesn't give you a backache either.

So, I'm back to square one.  I will definitely check out the links provided by people who posted on this thread (thank you!), and I'll also do some more thorough shopping around tomorrow at the mall and a local travel store.

I'm realizing that a softer bag also means less structure and less protection for my expensive OQO and accessories, so I will probably have to compromise on that front.

<sigh>

Sandy

[Opus]

I've found stores like Circuit City have some real cool bags in every type of style online, but when you get to the store they usually have the tech or "green" type bags & backpacks. I think the same go's for the othe brick & mortar stores like Office Depot, Best Buy, & Staples.

I have looked at non-PC bags for cameras, HD's, even athletic bags & day planners. Problem with any bag looking like it holds electronics is it might attract thieves but we are at the point in these times they will steal about anything if you leave it in plain sight.

What I like about a place like Circuit City is they have more than just the traditional, even have some interesting takes by Microsoft, Kensington, Belkin, Franklin Covey, Kenneth Cole, OGIO, some interesting designer bags, and of course Targus who have responded very well beyond their original laptop cases to about every style in trend now. The reviews are also very valuable!

I do like seeing products in person, it is a matter of finding the stores that not only carry them but have them in stock.

[sandydlc]

Thanks - that really helps.  I agree that you really can't choose your bag based on whether or not it's going to look attractive to thieves.  My daughter's car was broken into *in our driveway* because she left her school backpack on the back seat.  Sadly she lost her new iPod nano (with video) and her wallet.  It was a difficult lesson to learn, but she now brings in her backpack every night, or leaves it out of sight in the trunk.

I'll definitely include Circuit City in my rounds today.  I already checked out my local Office Depot and all they had were traditional laptop briefcases.  Fry's had a huge selection of bags, but they were either briefcases/laptop cases or backpacks.

I do think that a bag with a wider bottom than the Tumi bag I bought (it was 3") would accommodate more of the accessories without making the bag bulge.

Sandy

[sandydlc]

Well, I finally found a bag.  Actually it's a purse, so this post won't help any of the guys (sorry!).

It's a new line by Fossil called FiftyFour.  http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=12052&catalogId=10052&categoryId=30005&parent_category_rn=30000&productId=1002690&Ne=17&N=4294959678

The bags are made of a gorgeous Italian leather, so they're very durable and have no problem handling the weight of the items I listed in my original post.

There are two small pockets inside that are perfect for my camera and my blackberry, but I have to put my docking station on the bottom of the bag.

I will most likely have to buy some foam padding for the bottom of the bag when carrying all of my accessories, but I'm also checking on some options for the docking station.  Ideally I'd like to find a neoprene sleeve that it would fit it and protect it from scratches and bumps while my in bag.

I found this one, but I think it might be just a little too small (but oh so close!):  http://www.ebags.com/maccase/premium_leather_accessory_case/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=93723

The salespeople at OQO gave me the dimensions of the docking station as:  5.8" W x .8" thick x 6.8" long

If I find anything suitable, I'll be sure to post.

Sandy