Funchico.com - Funky, Chic & Cool Laptop Bag News

Amazing Laptop Bag Sale from Melissa Beth

Good news, laptop bag lovers! The ever-stylish Melissa Beth is having a sale on her laptop bags. A crazy amazing sale!

Her "Pocket Full of 'Puter" bags were one of the first designer bags on the market and one of the bags that got me started n this crazy "writing about laptop bags" journey.

She's a Toronto-based designer and is working on all kinds of great bags (not just laptop bags) for ladies and moms.

And she's having a crazy sale on her "Half Pocket Full of 'Puter" bags!

The "Half Pocket" bags are perfect for smaller laptops - like the 13" Macbook (I'm still amazed at how many people have these) as well as tablets (I know my iPad likes to be cosseted in small, cosy bags).

Specifcs about the "Half Pocket Full of 'Puter":

• Felt outer body material
• Stain resistant outer body material
• Detachable and adjustable shoulder strap
• Genuine Leather Trim
• Foam interlining
• 13.6 L x 2.8 W x 9.5H
• Fits up to a 13 inch laptop (Original Pocket Full of 'Puter fits larger sizes)
• Note: Blue and Orange do not have a printed outer pocket.

The bags are regularly $149. She has them on sale for $75. But then you can use the code 50offHalfPocket and get another 50% off. That makes these bags $37.50!

Offer expires Jan 31, 2014 or until quantities are gone.

New Laptop Bags from Alesya

Almost two years ago, I wrote about the amazing laptop bags from Alesya Opelt, a new laptop bag designer from Charleston, South Carolina. Well, Alesya is back with Version 2 of her bags! In addition to some delightful new colours (with great names like Technically Green, In the Cloud and Hot Spot), Alesya has also made improvements to the zippers (one of my pet peeves for Version 1) and the leather.

Take a look - they are beautiful bags and a smart design! They retail for $289 USD and are available at alesyabags.com.

Recharge with an Eco-Chic Tablet-Sized Bag: The Jen Powered Crossbody from Urban Junket

Urban Junket's new bag for tablets (in indigo)

I haven't had an Urban Junket bag in my hands since I reviewed the Urban Junket Laptop T.O.T.E. three years ago. I LOVED the T.O.T.E. - love the materials it was made from, loved the bold magenta colour and I loved how many organizational options it offered. After my glowing review, I wanted to keep it - but I get a lot of laptop bags and I reluctantly ended up gifting it to a friend. "As least she lives close by," I thought "so maybe the T.O.T.E. and I will still get to visit!" And then she moved to Newfoundland. HA ha! I was bereft.

So when Tracy from Urban Junket asked if I'd like to review the new Jen Powered Crossbody Rechargeable Bag, I jumped at the chance to get another one of these sporty chic bags. This time, I got it in violet. So pretty!

The Jen Powered Crossbody is part of Urban Junket's new PowerTrips Rechargeable Bags line. It's a tablet-sized bag, perfect for your iPad or…whatever other tablets there are. The interior lining of the bag is made from Urban Junket's signature "bottles to bags" material - each Jen bag is made with 36 reclaimed plastic bottles, which makes the bags chic AND eco-friendly. Like the T.O.T.E., the exterior fabric (coated 100% cotton canvas) is water resistant, which makes it less stressful to travel with here in rainy Vancouver.

For smaller bags like this, I prefer the messenger style and the adjustable crossbody strap on the Jen fit my larger frame nicely. The front of the bag has a separate zippered pocket, for things you might need to access quickly - bus pass, smartphone, etc. - and it also has a handy slot for pens or my ever-present lip gloss.

Next is the second exterior zippered pocket which runs the width of the bag. This pocket contains a pouch for your smartphone and also a slit that allows you sneak a cord through and charge whatever's in that front pocket. Plenty of space up front here - enough room for your wallet, e-Reader or paperback for that morning commute.

While we're chatting exterior pockets, there's also a small pocket at the back, which could offer quick access to keys, etc. This back pocket is open, however, so if your bag gets turned upside down (or is stored in an overhead bin), you might lose whatever's in there.



The main compartment of the Jen has another two smartphone sized pouches (one open, one velcroed) and a large removable clutch with a business card holder in front. You can use the clutch as a bag for your gear or, if you don't have a lot of gear, for snacks! Yay snacks! The main compartment always has the velcroed pouch that holds the battery pack.

And now for the main event of this bag - the battery pack that allows you to recharge your devices on the go. I like the idea of having a way to recharge my phone, iPad or e-Reader while I'm out and about - it would be great for travel, or for keeping your phone charged during a power outages (like the ones we've been seeing lately in these crazy fall storms). Apparently, the battery pack is also TSA friendly and doesn't need to be removed from the bag when you're going through security.

The battery pack is actually really easy to use. It comes with an accompanying micro USB to USB cord, which is a must for those of us whose devices don't use a micro USB to charge (like my iPhone). You plug the micro USB in to the battery pack to charge it - it was very quick to get fully charged. You don't have to take the battery pack out of the bag to charge if you don't want to.



Once the battery pack was charged, I had a dilemma - what to charge first? I could have charged my iPhone (the "out" on the battery pack is a standard USB) but I decided to try recharging my e-Reader instead, to see how long it would take. My e-Reader was fully out of battery and generally takes a very long time to recharge. I plugged it in to the battery pack at 10:00 a.m. and an hour and forty five minutes later, it was fully charged. Not bad for the Kobo! The battery also full recharged my half-charge iPhone very quickly and looks to still have some juice left. Pretty cool.

As with all Urban Junket bags, the Jen also features super sturdy construction and great hardware. It's pretty lightweight, even with the battery pack - and the battery pack can be removed if you prefer. Fantastic, functional design, eco-friendly materials, rich, bright colours and a great way to keep your electronics charged on the go - the Jen Powered Crossbody is pretty rad.

I learned my lesson with the first Urban Junket bag - this one will not be leaving my house unless it's with me. You can get your own Urban Junket PowerTrip bag at urbanjunket.com - the Jen retails for $228 USD.

A bag for your laptop AND your shoes

Ibnia knows that a modern lady loves her laptop AND her shoes. And they created a fun bag that takes care of both. Presenting, the Joyheel Laptop Backpack from Ibnia.

From my review ...

I admit it.  I judge. For example, I'm on the morning train into downtown, and I see women in their twenties clinging to the railings, teetering in ridiculously high heels.  Why on Earth do they commute in those shoes?  Teetering is not sexy. But then I think, why do a lot of us wear the same shoes all day?  Whatever happened to bringing a change of footwear?

The designers at Ibnia have answered this question. Their Joyheel backpack is specially designed to stow a change of shoes and securely carry your laptop. Huzzah!

Designed in the Netherlands and produced in Korea, the Joyheel's international fusion can be seen in the modular and minimalist design aesthetic.  The soft-shell backpack maintains its cool, curvy shape, and I love the candy apple red. I feel compelled to get a matching Dutch cruiser!  Riding around town, I'll stow my espadrilles in the Joyheel backpack's unique shoe compartment.

Read the full review of Ibnia's Joyheel Laptop Backpack over at Squidoo.

Does your laptop bag shout SPRING?! This one does!

Bright. Cheerful. Summer in a Bag.

April showers bring May flowers. What do May flowers bring? The Cool Laptop Backpack from Hadaki, that's what. The folks over at Rainbrooke kindly sent over the backpack-style laptop bag, and I am in love. How could I not be - it's called "Paradise Aqua". Its bright aqua and hot pink floral pattern has hints of citrus colors and is a divine addition to my spring wardrobe.

From the pink topstitching to the little feet for it to rest on, the Cool Backpack's details had me at "hello". However, as a *totally* scientific laptop bag reviewer, I put the bag through rigorous testing:

The outside of the bag features two netted side-pockets. One fit my water bottle and the other, a compact umbrella (for any unexpected meteorological conditions). The front of the pack features a deep zippered pocket with a pretty zipper pull. I've slipped in a makeup bag for easy access. My cherry blossom gloss is a must-wear with this backpack!

The Cool Backpack boasts two roomy, top-zippered sections. Each is lined with hot pink, water-repellant fabric. As my tests confirmed, contents are easy seen contrasted against this hot pink lining. Furthermore, hot pink stimulates the pleasure centres of my brain.

The front section has pockets for my iPhone, earbuds, pens. There's also a key ring so I don't have to rummage around like an idiot at my front door. Of note: there's no interior zippered pocket, which is where I would want to put my wallet. Instead, I'll just stow it in the bottom of the section. There's plenty of room for leftover Easter candy and a romance novel a healthy snack and a book, too.

The back section of the Cool Backpack houses the padded area for my laptop. My MacBook Pro slides right in and is secured with a strap and buckle. The backpack should fit most laptops up to 15.4", and my 11" MacBook Air stows away nicely, too. This zippered section is very roomy and easily fits my cords, power adapter as well as notebooks and documents. The Cool Backpack maximizes its use of space so the pack remains very streamlined.

As part of my research, I performed an impromptu test: ten minutes ago I spilled half my coffee on the pack. The Cool Backpack's coated fabric repelled most of the coffee, and the residue easily wiped clean.

In terms of comfort, the padded back and adjustable straps are extremely comfortable, and they are backed with a breathable mesh to get me through a hot summer.

Here's some more science: HADAKI products are AZO free. They don't use Phthalates/DEHP, DBP, or BOP. I'm wondering if their eco-friendliness is why the bag doesn't have an odour. Even right out of the packaging, there wasn't any plasticky smell. Instead, I was only overwhelmed by how adorable this backpack is. (I took lots of pictures. You can see them all here.)

This backpack is my must-wear spring and summer accessory.

The Cool Backpack from Hadaki is available for $70 USD from Rainbrooke in six(!) different patterns and color palettes (including some adorable pink patterns, Rainebrooke's signature colour), each bright and fresh. I may have to "test" another one... or two...

Geek Girls Love Bags that Hold Their Laptop AND Tablet!

I have a laptop and a tablet (iPad). And what's driving me crazy these days is that I often have to have a separate case for my tablet since most of my laptop bags don't have a secure spot for it.

But those days are over, baby, thanks to Sumo from Mobile Edge. The Sumo Combo Laptop/Tablet Backpack is the answer to my prayers.

Yeah. See that? A laptop and a tablet. In separate soft fuzzy compartments.

I review the Sumo Combo Laptop/Tablet Backpack in detail over on Squidoo.

A lovely touch of pink in the Tuscany Leather Laptop Bag

The Stylish Pink Tuscany Laptop Tote

Everywhere I look, spring seems to be here early. I swear there were cherry blossoms the first week of February. This is definitely a sign that spring fashion should come early, too. And thanks to Steve from Rainebrooke Bags, I have a gorgeous bag to start the season off with flair: the Tuscany laptop tote by Nunzia Design.

 

A black leather tote with a touch of pink happiness, the Tuscany tote is exactly what I need when I find myself wearing too much black. The tote gives me something less austere as the weather begins to warm: something professional that offers a bit of bloom.

The Tuscany tote is punctuated with clean, pink lines at the exterior seams and soft, light pink suede at the top, zippered opening. And inside? Light pink lining!

Here are the deets:

The Tuscany tote has several pockets to keep me organized. The exterior has an easy access pocket for slipping in my lipgloss and my glasses. It's just big enough for everything to be at my fingertips.

The interior of the Tuscany tote has several pockets. One side has two large pockets. Ahem, pockets large enough to handle my overstuffed wallet. The other side has spots for business cards, pockets for my iPhone, keys, tissues, and a long, zippered mesh pocket for whatever technical gadgetry I desire.

Unlike other bags on the market, Tuscany's padded laptop sleeve is an insert and completely removable from the tote. The sleeve fits a laptop with up to 15.4" screen and is made of light pink quilted fabric. My MacBook Pro easily slides inside and is secured with a velcro & elastic closure. A thicker PC would definitely fit, too. I then tucked it away into the large primary storage area of the bag with room to spare. But wait! There's more!

The Tuscany tote comes with a quilted make-up bag, which I plan on using for my AC adapter and cords. The kidney-shaped bag is large enough to hold even the bulkiest power adapter. See detailed photos of the Tuscany over on my Flickr account.

If you've read my other reviews, then you know that I like to test a bag for comfort. The Tuscany's straps allow the bag to rest partially on my hip, helping to distribute the weight of my laptop so that it's not just my shoulder carrying the load. Fantastic. The handles, which are well-secured to the bag, are rounded and are also comfortable to carry in my hand or on my shoulder.

It doesn't have little feet on the bottom, but when I set the tote on the floor, the wide oval bottom allows the tote to sit up straight. (Dear people, never put a great bag like this on the floor. Have you seen those TV news shows where they test the floor for bacteria? Gross.)

In sum, the Tuscany tote can carry and organize all I need for a day of meetings and lets me flirt with colour. If the pink accent isn't your cup of tea, the sleek Tuscany also comes in black with three other accent colours: olive, red and tan.

The Tuscany laptop tote by Nunzia Design will put spring in your step and is available for $119 at Rainebrooke.com.

The Alesya Laptop Bag - a Sure-fire Southern Charmer

The Lovely Alesya in Eggplant

When I think of the contemporary Southern Belle, I think of a sophisticated woman with grace and style. I think of a woman who's crafty -- in all senses of the word. I think of Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women. I grew up watching Julia simultaneously shatter, embody and ameliorate all Southern Belle stereotypes: smart, fashionable, clever, outspoken, polite, enigmatic.

I adored Julia.

When Alesya Opelt from Aleysa Bags sent me her new bag for review, I knew I had found a bag that Julia would embrace. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Aleysa Bags embody the style and charm of modern Southern culture.

Plus, there's definitely more than meets the eye with this laptop bag.

First, Alesya's Southern charm actually starts BEFORE I even get to the bag. The packaging is delightful. The bag is cosseted in its own bag which came with Alesya's standard card as well as a personal card and note to me. And the whole kit-and-caboodle was packed in a sturdy, stylish box.

Below is a pic of the card as well as the initial impression upon opening the box; you can see a full slideshow of the unboxing on my Flickr.

When I first examined the Alesya bag I thought, "Wow - a gorgeous shoulder bag. Wait... it's a laptop bag?"

Yes, it is.

A shoulder bag, in supple leather with well-appointed hardware and careful stitching, is designer Alesya's disguise for toting around a laptop. The laptop sleeve is hidden under the bag's front zippered flap, at the widest part of the bag. Fully secured under an adjustable velcro strap, my 15" MacBook Pro is fully protected and concealed. Out for sushi with friends after work? No one will ever know I'm toting a laptop.

Clever, right? Really smart design. Now, the hidden sleeve is a tight fit; my Macbook Pro 15 cinched her girdle (ahh, the price for fashion) as I slid her in. An Air or a smaller Macbook would be perfect. If you have another laptop model, you're going to want to measure it and check w/ Alesya to make sure it will fit. And I was super-careful when I zipped up the bag to make sure it wouldn't scratch my Macbook - the zippers are very close to the corners and edges of the laptop when you're closing it. This is necessary to make the design work and keep the bag a reasonable size. I think this will get a little less dicey once I use the bag a bit and break in the leather and the zippers. (If you want to see this in action, there is a great video on the Alesya Bags site.)

The front flap of the bag provides storage with its own zippered compartment. Inside are pockets made specifically for pens and my iPhone. These are easily accessed, even while wearing the bag on my shoulder. The bag's back zippered compartment provides access to a large storage space. Books, work documents, notebooks, all easily stow away for me to take home.

My fav smart feature of this bag is the zippered top pocket - Alesya explicitly designed it to avoid "the black hole syndrome." Oh, yes! No more rummaging around in the depths of your bag! While at first glance, the bag's top compartment might appear to be the main pocket, it's actually a clever shallow space for storing keys and lipstick. It fits my small wallet, too.

The strap on the Alesya has an 8" drop, and the width of the strap (1.5") means the strap doesn't dig into my shoulder when I weigh my bag down with stuff. I packed the Alesya bag full, and it sat comfortably under my arm. There are some great pics of the Alesya stuffed full on her site.

Other great things ... The colours: my bag is purple - called Exquisite Eggplant; it also comes in Equestrian Tan and Kelly Green Girl - year-round colours for a year-round bag. The feet: there are little feet on the bottom of the Alesya (you know how I love little feet!). I had trouble standing it up with how I had packed it, but, at the same time, I'd never put this baby on the floor. It's a bag that needs to be shown off.

And shown off, it is. I've taken my Alesya to meetings, workshops and dinner dates over the last few weeks and got all kinds of compliments. Like a Southern Belle, the Alesya has style and sass, and as a newcomers to the laptop bag scene, offers some is stiff competition.

You can purchase your very own online at Alesya Bags for $265 USD (remember, it's leather!). You can also find Alesya Bags on Facebook; and you can follow the designer on Twitter or check out her personal blog.

Fresh laptop bag design from Mamtak Bags - the Aya Laptop Tote

Every once in a while, a laptop bag comes along that makes you shout "Yes! YES!" Most recently, the Aya from Mamtak Bags did that for me.

Maybe it's Mamtak's design roots (Amsterdam and Tokyo - it doesn't get cooler than that)? Or that these folks know how to use the colour green on a laptop bag (both inside and out!)? What ever it is, the Aya has that je ne sais quois that made me fall in love at first sight. And then even after I put her to the test, I still love her.

The Aya is, quite simply, a beautifully designed laptop bag - it would be at home at a café in Paris, in a conference room in Brussels or on a runway in Milan (or even here in North America). The very best of European design is embodied in this one bag. Sleek and modern, stylish and functional, it makes me want to give my laptop a cool European name like Alessandro. Made of leather with a soft cloth interior, the Aya comes in four colour combinations - I have the Green & White combo, which has a fresh, flirty feel.

The front and back of the Aya are identical - each side sports a zippered document pocket, ideal for storing your travel documents, work papers or the latest copy of Wallpaper* magazine. The zipper pulls are covered with leather, which is a nice touch - makes it easier to grip and open any of the zippers on the bag. I always appreciate outer pockets on a bag for easy access - but I also appreciate that these pockets are zippered to keep my valuables from spilling out, in case my Aya gets knocked over on the train to Zurich.

Inside, the Aya keeps it simple. The interior is lined with a soft celery green fabric - makes it very easy to see what's in the bottom of your bag. There's a zippered slot for storing your valuables or smaller items (lipgloss, keys, card wallet, etc.) The middle of the Aya has a nice open area for files or reading material. There are two separate open pouches perfect for power cords or other big gadgets, or even a slim notebook. Finally there's the laptop sleeve, which fastens with a soft, thick tab of cloth with velcro. My 15.4" MacBook Pro fit nicely. The laptop sleeve isn't super padded but the bag itself is very structured and durable, so I'd say it's relatively safe to stash it in the overhead compartment.

The Aya's two handles are perfect for carrying over your shoulder. They're a good length and the slightly padded leather doesn't cut into your shoulder, even with a full bag - no Hunchback of Notre Dame here! And the bottom of the Aya has five silver feet to keep it up off the floor while you're enjoying your café au lait and croissant near Montmartre.

Whether you and your laptop are jet-setters on a European tour or you just want a durable, stylish, eye-catching laptop bag for your every day business, definitely consider the Aya. Allessandro will certainly thank you.

The Aya Laptop Bag is available from the Mamtak online store. It retails for 139.95 Euros (approximately 200 USD). You can also connect with the fine folks at Mamtak on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Kicking Some Serious Laptop Bag Ass - the KIKEN from Slappa

Not a lot of laptop bags make me want to pull some awesome jujitsu moves or break out my light sabre for a wicked Jedi vs Sith takedown.

But get a load of the KIKEN Laptop Shoulder Bag from Slappa.

Maybe it's the clever marketing from Slappa. Or maybe it's the name of the bag (KIKEN!). Or maybe it's the feature-laden bag itself. In any case, the KIKEN laptop bag from Slappa is a force to be reckoned with.

First, check out the cool marketing ...

Second, check out this excerpt from my review ...

I knew the minute that I unboxed the SLAPPA KIKEN laptop bag that it was a pretty bad-ass piece of business. Puncture-proof ballistic nylon - customizable front flap options - checkpoint friendly AND roomy enough for a 17" laptop? It was enough to make me yell "KIKEN!" and karate chop things. And I did! Good thing only the dog was watching.

First, let's talk aesthetics: thanks to SLAPPA's patent pending M.A.S.K. technology, you have a choice of flaps to customize the look (and functionality) of your bag. SLAPPA sent me three to try out and they easily zip on and off. (Think Karate Kid style: Flap on. Flap off.) I'm a fan of the Lime Blast (I likes a punch of colour). The monochrome P-Tac Matrix flap is very cool looking, and there is also a woven flap called Jedi Mind Trix, which has velcro straps to let you carry more gear (including a yoga mat, if that's your thing. Jedis love the yoga).

You can read the full review and see more pics of the KIKEN Laptop Bag from Slappa over on Squidoo.