Need The Right Bag For College Student

[blemt]

I'll +1 the Timbuk2 bags. I have 4. They last forever and depending on the make you have a great deal of customizing options available.

 

They have a few vertical options. The one I liked that seemed to match most criteria best is the Eula Mini Messenger. It starts at $49, and the X-small bag has the right dimensions. Only issue is that it's horizontal, not vertical.

[rhaynes74]

check out crumpler bags - very well built - I went for the bigger "Part and Parcel", so more money than you want to spend, but there are smaller versions for less money.

 

Best,

R H

Edited July 31, 2011 by rhaynes74

[traderdude01]

Try looking at Tom Bihn bags. They're pricy, but they're extremely well built and have a lifetime warranty and excellent customer service.

 

www.tombihn.com

 

A messenger style style bag:

Large Cafe Bag

 

A backpack:

Synapse backpack

Edited August 1, 2011 by traderdude01

[Uncle Red]

+1 to crumpler for quality, we sold them at the camera store I used to work for and the quality is very good.

[JefferyS]

This Crumpler seems to a good fit from the OP description.

[FLZapped]

You've given us a lot to look at. Thank you and I'll let you know what we come up with.

 

Heh, heh....how about a little more piling on. Here is a place you can really knock yourself out with selection:

 

Bags Buy

 

-Bruce

[farseer911]

http://s.stpost.com/eccStoreFront/product_images/2933M/f_2933M_2.jpg

ALSO COMES IN BLACK...

$57 using the 25% discount coupon from Sierra Trading post

 

Heck use it to pick up some other gear while you are there too....

[altair]

I have a Tom Bihn Large Cafe Bag that I really like, $65 here.

http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/images/lgcafe1.jpg

[ExcaliburZ]

Jansport

[StyloBug33]

This Crumpler seems to a good fit from the OP description.

 

And......that is the one we ordered! He chose to get the black, which looks great. I will post some photos when it gets here. Thank you, everyone!

[Vulcan1066]

I carry a Jansport Big Student. I have worn out 4 of these but thats because of the roung and unusual nature of my life. If he is going to be a normal person then one should last a ligfetime.

None of mine have failed from factory errors but from me carrying heavy/sharp objects/rusty mertal objects in them day after day

[bogiesan]

Try ebags and search for "vertical." I have two different vertical leather messengers from David King. Unfortunately, neither model is available as I write this (August 2011) from If you are seriously considering Timbuk2 products, be sure to expand that search because there are at least a dozen bicycle messenger-style bag makers and each has an attractive range. While searching, also try refining the list by filtering for iPad.

buying a student bag is complicated by the conflicting desires for practicality, protection, fashion (or anti-fashion), capacity and cost. Leather lives forever. Cordura is durable. Canvas is hip at the moment.

 

david boise ID

[NateB]

This Crumpler seems to a good fit from the OP description.

 

And......that is the one we ordered! He chose to get the black, which looks great. I will post some photos when it gets here. Thank you, everyone!

 

Nice bags. I carried a Crumpler daily for two years. It looks brand-new.

[davidjs]

Why don't stores that sell bags online take better pictures? One of my big complaints is with Tom Bihn bags - they go through a several paragraph verbal description of all the neat pockets, doohickeys, and widgets, then all of the pictures are just of the bag closed, in different colors. Why can't you take pictures with the bag open!?!?

[dizzypen]

They do include pictures of the bag open.

[traderdude01]

Why don't stores that sell bags online take better pictures? One of my big complaints is with Tom Bihn bags - they go through a several paragraph verbal description of all the neat pockets, doohickeys, and widgets, then all of the pictures are just of the bag closed, in different colors. Why can't you take pictures with the bag open!?!?

 

 

They do include open bag pictures of almost all their bags. If you mouse over the little squares under the main picture, there are various color combinations and pictures of the bags in various open and closed settings.

[wallylynn]

This Crumpler seems to a good fit from the OP description.

 

And......that is the one we ordered! He chose to get the black, which looks great. I will post some photos when it gets here. Thank you, everyone!

A bit too minimal for my taste. When I hear the word "bag" I envision something a bit roomier. Looks more like a laptop sleeve with straps to me. (Maybe it's roomier in use)

 

I used a Manhattan Portage messenger bag in grad school and after that for commuting to/from work. I think it's this one:

https://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/Shoulder-Bags/DJ-Bags/70

 

Fit my clipboard and papers snugly because it would "sag", but still let me carry a textbook inside when needed. Later textbook was replaced with laptop. I liked how the plainness didn't say "laptop inside!"

 

I don't use it much anymore because now I carry just my phone (i.e. no bag at all) or a large backpack for groceries.

[aj3537]

I have had the same backpack for 5 years and it is great.

 

Swiss Army or SwissGear Maxxum. You can't get them in stores anymore, but they are all over the internet. It is a large backpack with a padded compartment for a 15.4 laptop and can easily hold 2 large textbooks and 4 5 subject notebooks plus the side pouches are perfect for fountain pens. There is even room to hold all cords, adaptors, and lunch too.

 

And best of all, on ebay, new with free shipping is less than $70 and it comes in blue or red.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SwissGear-MAXXUM-Computer-Backpack-GA-7303-06F00-/400226184920?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2f56eed8

[Rogue07]

I've personally had great luck with Patagonia's messenger bags, the tumi t-tech stuff, and, of course, filson (for something more off the beaten path). They all offer various models in a vast array of sizes and I can speak to their quality from personal use. Also, the Jack Spade stuff is of a high quality (albeit very expensive and without the warranty of the other bags mentioned). Good luck.

[davidjs]

Why don't stores that sell bags online take better pictures? One of my big complaints is with Tom Bihn bags - they go through a several paragraph verbal description of all the neat pockets, doohickeys, and widgets, then all of the pictures are just of the bag closed, in different colors. Why can't you take pictures with the bag open!?!?

 

 

They do include open bag pictures of almost all their bags. If you mouse over the little squares under the main picture, there are various color combinations and pictures of the bags in various open and closed settings.

 

No, I see that, I guess I just get frustrated by something like their Aeronaut bag, which has 40 pictures, and in a grand total of zero of them are the end zippered pockets shown open. :hmm1: Especially for what is (as far as I know), an online only company that advertises based on innovative and user friendly design, I'd like to know what's in there...

 

Or the Empire Builder, this is the only image of the organizer pocket...

http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/images/eb08/eb08underflap.jpg

 

I know it's picky (and tough to photograph!), but I'm not impressed with bag photos on lots of sites, and that's why I'm still lugging my 7 year old work backpack...

Edited August 4, 2011 by davidjs