Targus Laptop Bag
- Choose the pocket-laden hyper-organized Topload (the grey one) or the slim, light, ready-for-whatever Pewter (the blue one)
- That’s right, the one called “Pewter” is not pewter-colored or, obviously, made of pewter, because apparently words don’t mean anything any more
- Each holds laptops up to 15.6" (diagonally)
- And also other things of roughly the same size and proportions as a laptop
- Originally much more expensive, which is always the case around here, but sometimes we feel like we need to point it out
- Model: TSS63102US, TBT25304 (Presumably that “US” means “United States”, which raises the question, are there different bags for Canada? Europe? Japan? What would the difference be? Metric, maybe? Now that we think of it, we’ve never heard of a 40cm laptop - but whoa, Google says that is indeed what metric users call them. Thanks for the lesson, model number!)
Over-the-shoulder computer holder.
Maybe this is us showing our age. But when we were in grade school, there were the backpack kids and the gym-bag kids. The split ran roughly along nerd/jock lines although there were always a couple of anomalies on each side and a big gray area in-between. (The less said about the troubled briefcase minority, the better.) Then, in high school, when some of the kids developed the courage to be open weirdos (like us), a third faction sprung up: messenger bags, usually military green or black canvas, or maybe weathered brown Indiana Jones leather.
Partially through the march of technology, partially through the onset of adulthood, by the time we grew up the gym bags were fading from daily use. They’re not well-suited to carrying laptops. If you’re interviewing for an office job, you don’t want to plop a yellow nylon COUGARS JV HOCKEY bag on the table. Gym bags have gone back to the gym, where they do their best work. The day-to-day work bag field is open for backpacks and messenger bags to fight it out.
You know we like, even love backpacks. But come on, messenger bags are just classier. Easier to get to your stuff while it’s on. Less mussing your clothes. And yes, while you can find “grown-up”-looking backpacks, a typical adult wearing a backpack has a more middle-school vibe than the equivalent adult carrying a messenger bag.
Like these two. Nothing too swank, just a couple of shoulder-strapping young bags about town, ready for work, travel, and 15.6" laptops. One, the Topload, is of the office-in-a-bag variety, with pen loops, a key fob, a phone pouch, and a business card holder along with a few larger pockets for less specific purposes. The other, the Geo, travels lighter, with just one inner compartment and an outer zipper pouch, for when every extra ounce is a drag on your go-go lifestyle.
You wouldn’t be embarrassed to carry either one into a work meeting, but you won’t look like you’re putting on airs at the coffeeshop. Whether you’re a reformed backpacker, an aged-out gym-bagger, or a messenger bag OG, these bags send the right message - unless the message you want to send is “I played hockey in high school.”
