Recently I was on travel and wandering through the airport in San Francisco when a sharp pain ripped through my lower back. I cursed aloud and stumbled to the nearest bench to sit down. What was the culprit you might ask? Simple. The weight of my backpack pulled down on me to the point where my back buckled under the pressure. So, let’s examine what I was carrying in the backpack
- 13″ MacBook
- 15″ Lenovo Thinkpad
- iPad
- Apple Airport Express
- Blackberry Bold
- An old school notebook
- Various wires and tools
No wonder why my back gave up in protest. Such is the lament of the IT road warrior. So, how does one better address the situation? This evening I threw out the question to the twitterfolk as to what would best suit their travel needs. Here are the top picks in no particular order…
The Ogio Epic (Insert your favourite joke)
This entry was submitted by Al (aka Twowheelgeek)
- Uber padded side entry laptop compartment with mouse trap and file sleeve
- Posh media and valuables pouches
- Tricked out organization panel and accessory pockets
- Quick access travel essentials sleeve
- Battery and cord organization front pocket
- Insanely padded ergonomic shoulder straps with digital media neoprene pocket
- Air Flow System (AFS) Technology premium back panel
Next up we have the makers of some very fine bags, Timbuk2.
This manufacturer received a lot of votes. These bags are very rugged and I have to admit that I have thought about getting one of these on more than a few occasions. But, this brings me back to my original problem.
My back.
These bags are great but, they don’t do much to alleviate the weight issue. That brings me to the roller bags.
First up we have this submission courtesy of Martin McKeay for Targus’ Rolling Laptop Backpack.
This has the best of both worlds (for me at least). A roller bag that converts to a backpack. Great for long haul trips. Also, had a couple people chime in about the Eagle Creek laptop bags. I must admit I’m not familiar with them but, I thought I would share the link. Now, for the shorter excursions like the basic daily commute I would have to agree with the majority of folks who voiced their love for the Timbuk2 product lines. I would definitely get one of those for the shorter/daily trips. For the road warrior trips that require two laptops I’d definitely have to pick up something along the same form factor as the Targus roller bag.
This is just my first stab at this subject and I will endeavour to put some more work into it and share the results. I just wanted to dash this one off before I hit the sheets.
Got a bag that you swear by for carrying two laptops and gear? Let me know in the comments section.
Cheers!
(Image used under CC from traffic sounds)