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

Get your city chic on with the AVA urban laptop backpack from Ice Red

Oh, winter. In theory, a beautiful season with a crisp clean blanket of snow, sunny skies, and friendly smiles from pedestrians and drivers alike. The reality, especially in downtown Vancouver, is wet slushy streets, constant drizzle and pre-occupied drivers and pedestrians just trying to get where they are going. Plus, there is only like, what, 8 hours of daylight? This is why cycling in the winter isn't my cup of tea. But then Alan from Ice Red Bags sent over his new laptop backpack, the AVA - designed for urban dwellers like me. And I thought, hmm .. maybe this could improve my commute.

The first thing you notice about the AVA from Ice Red is the bright colour palette. Alan sent me the yellow - and it is BRIGHT. Just the thing for early morning cycling commutes - it wakes you up AND helps you be seen by drivers, pedestrians and fellow cyclists. I also appreciate its slim silhouette. I'm often tempted to take more stuff than I need with me. The AVA encourages me to keep it tight - no lugging around my Game of Thrones novels.

The interior of the AVA has a padded laptop sleeve which holds my MacBook Pro 15". I can also fit my power cord, a notebook, a magazine and some files. The interior side opposite the laptop sleeve has slots for pens and various electronic gadgets. Oh, and there is one of those handy dandy key chain clips, so I don't have to go digging through the back for my office keys.

The AVA is a vertically-oriented bag which I like very much. There are two straps on the back which can be configured in a few different ways: traditional backpack, cross-body plus waist strap or simply cross-body (best when you're walking). The hardware on the straps is high quality and good looking. But here is another reason to not stuff your AVA full - the straps are not padded. So, in the winter, when you're wearing a coat, you don't notice as much - but in summer, if you overload the bag, you will notice the straps pulling a bit.

There are two pockets on the outside of the AVA. On the front, there is a deep non-zippered pocket. It is perfect for my ereader - not so much when I'm cycling but when I'm on transit. I don't have to dig around for my book - it's super easy to get to. My favourite pocket is the one on the back of the AVA - a clever zippered little side pocket where I can stow my mobile phone that I can reach if I need to when I'm on my bike. So handy!!

I think the AVA is a good choice if you are a light-packing commuter (or have a new year's resolution to reduce your bag clutter!) And if you're not into the sunny yellow, the AVA also comes in a royal blue, bright red and chic black. The AVA retails for $70 USD and is available via Ice Red's website.

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.

The Dallas iPad Easel Case - High Fashion Meets Function

"Treat Yo Self" with the Dallas iPad Case

I love my iPad. And I'm pretty sure everyone who has one loves theirs too. So here's what I don't get: why, when Apple designed the "smart cover" did they just make it for the front? I want to protect the back of my iPad too! Especially if my iPad is engraved. So that's why I'm a big fan of any case that protects the back and front of my precious tablet. And if it can do it in blinged-out faux glittery snakeskin? Bonus points.

Enter the Dallas iPad Easel case. The good folks at Kolobags sent over the Dallas as an example of the cases they carry. It is quite fancy on the outside (I wasn't kidding about the glittery faux snakeskin); the Dallas case comes in other high end faux materials: leopard, snow leopard (I'm sensing Apple fan boys), metallic tiger and, well, plain black leather (for the Audrey Hepburn in you).

One of my fav things about the Dallas is that it is small and streamlined - like the iPad itself. I've used some other cases that are much bigger than an iPad, adding bulk ostensibly for protection. But I say if you can't protect the iPad while maintaining its slim physique then what's the point? I don't want my iPad to look like it is wearing a parka!

The Dallas case opens like a book and the iPad slips into place on the right side - held in place by four subtle elastic corner bands. The interior of the Dallas is a very soft black felt - it feels very nice to the touch. I'm confident it will keep my iPad scratch-free.

The Dallas fits all generations of iPad. And there is a hole in the back of the case so you can take pictures if you have the gen 2 or later iPad. The case is held closed with a small magnetic flap closure.

The Dallas also has its hidden charms. A number of cases provide easel functionality by bending the cover. Not so with the Dallas. It turns out there is a clever interior easel panel that you fold out and anchor into grooves on the interior of the cover.

And while this design is subtle and smart there are two challenges. The first is in regards to the angles the easel provides. I was able to set up the Dallas comfortably for movie viewing and magazine/book reading. However, the third angle that is supposed to be for typing activities (email, etc) is too high to be comfortable or practical.

My second concern is one that may actually be solved over time. When I set the easel up for movie viewing, the closure flap naturally falls down onto the iPad. So you're watching your movie with this flap in the way. However, I was able to bend it backwards to keep it off the iPad. I think this will ultimately solve itself as the case gets more use, the flap will become more supple and will fall back naturally.

All in all, I found the Dallas to be a fine iPad case. It has slim sleek lines, doesn't add a lot if bulk, makes your iPad look even hotter than when it's naked and will fit into most purses. I also think the interior easel design is very clever. And if you mainly use your iPad as a hand held or movie-viewing device, you're golden. But if you do a lot of typing and need your case to support that activity, the Dallas may not be the best choice.

Thanks again to the folks at Kolobags who sent the Dallas over for review. You can find the Dallas iPad Easel Case on their site in a variety of materials where it retails for $98 USD.

Review of Altego's Messenger Bag from their Coated Canvas Cyan series

Geek Chic Triumps in Altego's Messenger

Try saying “Coated Canvas Cyan series” three times fast. Did you start saying “Cylon series,” too? No? Hmm, maybe that’s just me. Is it possible to have a Battlestar Galactica speech impediment? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a sci-fi geek like me in order to adore this messenger bag, part of the Coated Canvas Cyan series from Altego. Though it IS really out of this world (ha ha .. see what I did there?!).

The Coated Canvas Cyan series is made specifically for MacBooks, and the series includes a laptop sleeve, slipcase, messenger bag, and a backpack. All of these are constructed from black canvas with cyan accents. (In case you need reminding, cyan is blue with a hint of green.) The canvas’s natural texture is subdued with the water-resistant coating. It has a nice feel.

The front of the bag has a covering flap, which features a pocket with a cyan-colored zippered closure. It’s a great place to store my transit pass and some moolah for my cafe latté. The flap fastens down with twist buckles--that’s right, twist buckles. Easy to use, the twisty part goes through the buckle and twists to secure. Twist it the other way to release. I bet Starbuck never had buckles as nifty as these.

What’s under the flap? A large open storage area for books, my lunch tote and my MacBook adapters. There are netted pocketed areas to one side making it easy to scan and grab my gear. The other side of the compartment has a pocket just for my iPad. It’s soft and padded. There’s also a large, flat zippered pocket at the rear of the compartment where I stow away documents and notebooks.

The compartment housing my MacBook is accessed from the outside of the bag. A double zippered closure seals away my MacBook Pro and makes it easy access my laptop in a pinch. The back of the messenger back has a rad padded grid, which echos in the interior of the Macbook compartment. The grid cushions my MacBook, and it also makes it comfortable when I’m walking around with messenger bag. (A friend thought the grid looked “cybergoth,” but I don’t know what that means.)

The adjustable shoulder strap and streamlined, non-slip shoulder pad are *extremely* comfortable. The strap measures approximately 52” at its maximum extension. There’s also a handle to carry the messenger bag like you would a briefcase. The handle is sturdy and utilitarian, but not as comfy as the shoulder strap. Besides when you’re battling Cylons, you need your hands free.

The Coated Canvas Cyan messenger bag fits both 13” and 15” MacBooks and retails for $69.99. The bag and the rest of the series are available from Altego.

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.

Keep Your Knitting Needles Organized

Nothing is cooler than being organized. Really. Especially for crafty-types - I know what a drag it is to what to dive right in to a project and not being able to find the tools you need.

Well, knitters rejoice, there is a great new case for you to keep your knitting needles organized: the Crafter's Tool Butler from Jordana Paige. 

I wrote a little review of these over on my Funky, Chic and Cool Knitting Bag page. From the review ...

The Tool Butler features two zippered compartments. The one at the front opens to reveal six different sized slots for your double-pointed needles, crochet hooks and scissors. It also features a little mesh pocket for notions - your darning needles, cable needles, etc.

I particularly love the knitting needle inventory chart in the front compartment - what a great idea! It's happened a couple of times now that I've accidentally purchased the same size needles just because I couldn't remember if I had them already (or worse, couldn't find them among my huge piles of yarn).

Check out the full review of the Jordana Paige Crafter's Tool Butler - there are some more detailed pics and more info.

The Akiko Laptop Bag for Men - Another Hit from Mamtak

Mamtak Bags already holds a special place in my heart with their lovely Aya laptop bag. Well they've done it again - this time with a bag for the gents. Behold, the Akiko Laptop Bag for Men.

Like the Aya, the Akiko bag's style immediately conjures thoughts of Amsterdam. The bag's familiar pannier shape references cycling in the Netherlands: delightful jaunts past tulips, windmills and those special Dutch cafés where you can get more than just a coffee.

Even with its roots in Amsterdam, the Akiko's style and edge easily fit into any North American metropolis, well, any metropolis really: Vancouver, New York, Tokyo, Paris, or Berlin. (Hmm, maybe I should test the bag on a world tour? That's reasonable, right?). It has a sophisticated yet casual look, something that I would expect from a unisex bag; however the design remains unexpected and simply modern.

The Akiko's pannier shape means it holds my laptop vertically. It's also tapered, wider at the bottom than the top, letting me carry a lot while it remains rather slim overall. There are two options for carrying the Akiko: you can use the sturdy, well padded hand grips or the generous detachable shoulder strap.

Akiko is Japanese: aki, "sparkle" and ko, "bright". The review bag I received is the Blue Zodiac version. Its exterior is a rich, bright blue tone. And while the bag may not sparkle, the water-resistant canvas does have a nice sheen, giving it a cool waxy appearance. The interior lining keeps it simple with a subtle charcoal and black pattern. The Akiko also comes in Umber and Ochre - both with the same cool sheen.

Under the Akiko's top flap, there is a zippered main compartment for my laptop and other storage. My MacBook Pro (15.4") slid into the interior sleeve and is secured with a velcro strap. There is definitely room for a thicker PC. The other section of the main compartment has a pocket that fit my cords and AC adapter, and there's plenty of room, too, for books and documents.

The front of the bag has an exterior pocket, which has a covering flap secured with snaps. Now, this part's brilliant: The front pocket snaps are on little loops so I can EASILY snap them! When I first saw the loops, I thought, sure, they look cool, but then I put my shiz in the front pocket and tried to snap it. It was then I realized what those little loops do: using the loop, you can snap the pocket shut between your finger and thumb. Smart!

The back of the Akiko features a slim zippered pocket, designed specifically for personal items: my wallet, keys, and Eurorail pass.

From the adjustable shoulder strap - with swivel hooks! - to the magnetic clasps and sturdy zippers, the metal hardware is simple, handsome, and high quality. After using the Akiko, you really can't help but admire Mamtak's attention to detail. A lot of thought has gone into this bag's function. The folks at Mamtak describe their bags as beautifully designed, but emphasize they're also made for "intensive daily use". From what I've seen, their products hold up to their promise, and demonstrate that style need not be sacrificed for function.

The Akiko Laptop Bag is available from the Mamtak Online Store for 89.85 Euros or around 120 USD. For more news and their latest designs, find Mamtak on Facebook or Twitter.

And ladies, lest you think this bag isn't for you, fret not. Even if it doesn't suit your personal style, take a gander at the model they used in their recent photoshoot.

Photo Credit: Mamtak Bags - from their Facebook Page