Bags

Ok, yes, I have a weakness. Computer bags, whatever the style. Backpacks, messenger bags, briefcases, sling bags, whatever. I like them all. Heck, I probably like styles I haven’t heard of yet too!

One of the first computer bags I had wasn’t a computer bag at all. It was a soft sided, leather briefcase. It worked but wasn’t all that protective. I mainly used it for carrying a laptop back and forth to work.

After that I graduated to one of those “school style” backpacks that hold everything along with having a padded compartment for a laptop. I had several of these over the years as well as several models of inexpensive leather bags, all from the local office supply store. They all worked but they all were not that well made and none of them had much in the style area. Eventually I didn’t carry a laptop much so the bags slowly left the building.

Well, that all changed when I started using a laptop again due to travel. By now there were several companies making nice bags so I decided to invest in one of those.

What is a nice bag though? For me, it usually needs to include leather and / or waxed canvas and maybe ballistic nylon. It also needs to have the right storage for what I need to carry and way back when, it needed to be able to be easily checked through airport security.

A Tumi laptop briefcase served me well for several years. It was my first really nice computer bag. But then the waxed canvas and leather look won me over and I switched to a messenger bag from Pad & Quill. I loved that WWII style look (think Indiana Jones) and so did many others as I received many complements on this bag when I traveled. It wasn’t perfect though as the compartments weren’t quite what I wanted and it was a little “fiddley” to get in and out of. Plus, the style just wasn’t quite right. I’ll admit I missed the Tumi and probably should have kept it. I did learn from that mistake though!

Then one day I discovered WaterField Designs (SFBags.com) from reading a review on one of their bags. I ended up buying that bag, the Sutter Slim backpack. Waxed canvas and leather. Made in San Francisco. I had decided a backpack worked better for travel vs. a field style bag. I gave away the Pad & Quill and I still have the Sutter many years later.

Over the years I wanted different style bags for different devices or uses or just wanted a different material or something a little bigger, or smaller. Included in this list, all from WaterField, are the Compact Executive Backpack, the Muzetto Leather Bag, the Executive Leather Messenger and the iPad Sleeve Case. I purchased all of them and still have and use them all.

I also purchased the Tech Folio (yet another bag) for an iPad but ended up giving it away after a couple of years as it wasn’t quite what I wanted. The Sleeve Case, mentioned above, eventually took its place.

Then, there were a couple of misfires. Bags that I thought I would like but for various reasons didn’t and so I returned them. They included the Shinjuku Messenger and the Vitesse Messenger. Again, both from WaterField.

What I learned from all this is computer bags are very personal and one style may work better for going to a coffee shop where another may work better for air travel and another may work best for a road trip. Do you need more than one bag to do all these things? Not really, but it is nice!

I think though, at least for me, it is less about the utility and more about the art. The Tumi that I had so many years ago had exceptional build quality but was all about utility. The bags I have now are as well made but they are art and utility. They are hand made with a lot of thought put into the design and material selection.

I’ll admit I get real pleasure from just admiring each bag when I use it. The feel of the materials, the smell of the leather, how the compartments and pockets are arranged, the feel of those pockets and how the clasps open and close. Art. These bags bring as much pleasure from their beauty as they do from their use. They are lifetime bags, for me.

Will I add more to the collection over time? Maybe. Maybe not though as I find I am very happy with the collection I have. Will I ever go back to just one bag? Probably not.

In the end, I think it is all about finding art, finding beautiful things, whatever they are, that can fill you with joy and contentment. Something that can take you away, for a moment, to a place of joy. People and nature do this, of course, but paintings, sculpture, architecture, music and more can all do the same thing. Even lowly computer bags. If you haven’t already, find some form of art that brings joy to your soul and take time each day to let that joy in!