bag

While I know which camera I should recommend to my friends, I find it hard to suggest which camera bag they should get since I own only two. Don't get me wrong. I love bags, and camera bags in particular. But for those who must get a new carrier every month, there's Bag Exposure.

This is the first site I've came across that has a comprehensive library of camera bags. The portal doesn't offer in-depth reviews of the carriers, but lets you know what's special about the bag and how much it can hold. There … Read more

Last year I slipped on the ice and landed on my back, with my iPad in an over-the-shoulder canvas bag between me and the hard surface. The device was damaged, but thankfully I got it fixed. The experience, though, has me eyeballing new cases to keep my tablet safe from the elements and myself, and a new line from Assero Industries might be just what I was looking for--except I'm not sure I'm ready to go around looking like a cyborg kangaroo.

The company has a pair of pouches, or "frontpacks," that it plans to unveil this week at Macworld, where you can expect to see many, many iPad cases. They are basically backpacks worn around the belly that feature quick-release clasps so a mobile iPad owner can walk around iPadding while standing up.

Honestly, it's not a problem I've found myself in need of a solution for, but I could definitely see construction workers, architects, sports coaches, and others out in the field using them. … Read more

I hate how carry-ons have made flying even more unpleasant than it already was. More and more passengers aren't checking their luggage, creating chaos in the aisles as cabin space evaporates.

I welcome any solutions. One might be slimmer carry-on luggage. Balanzza's Truco is a three-in-one piece that comes apart to fit space over and under airplane seats.

Known for its handy Digital Luggage Scale, Miami-based Balanzza's latest offering is a suitcase, laptop bag, and tote bag that clip together to form one carry-on.

Many travelers already sling smaller bags over their carry-on handle bars; the clips take it a step further. The Travel Utility Carry On is a full 20 inches long (airline limits are often 22-24 inches) when the three bags are attached with clips. When you board your flight, you un-clip the components to fit the available storage. … Read more

Despite the emphasis on convergence for certain tech categories, the sheer number of gadgets many of us continue to schlep around can be rather astounding. I can tell you from experience that carting devices around in bags specifically designed to organize and protect them makes the whole task less daunting (the Built Travel Organizer has saved my sanity on more than one trip). Plus, if you're a woman who has been using a standard purse to carry a vast array of heavy items, I'm sure you've had your fair share of visits to the cobbler.

But hey, … Read more

Fans of Timbuk2 bags need no longer hack together camera bags out of third-party padding materials. The company is now offering its own camera bag dubbed the "Snoop."

The limited edition messenger bag, which from the outside looks just like any other bag, features a padded camera and lens compartment that can be fully sealed with a top zipper and removed when not in use. It then locks back into place with velcro. Other features include a clear front pocket for stashing memory cards, and a padded compartment behind the camera zone for a laptop.

In a blog post … Read more

The iPad's a great device: useful, portable, dare we say revolutionary. Unfortunately, it's a tough gadget to find a good bag for. The problems are myriad: the small size and slim design seem to lend themselves to tiny bags. Tiny bags, however, are often both impractical and unappealing to a lot of people, myself included. Over the summer, I began a quest to find an iPad bag that wasn't too "murse"-like, too awkwardly small and useless. I started with four that had their ups and downs, but in the end none of them was perfect.

For the second round, we've found a few other manufacturers and designs that up the ante a little more. Are they as cool and useful as the iPad itself? We've rated each on an informal Style Index and Humiliation Index; a perfect bag should aim for 10 in style, but 0 in humiliation. Not only did we find a few good bags, but we may even have found a perfect one, too: the Ultimate iPad Man-Purse.

Booq Boa Push ($89) Booq wins the prize for pure style in an iPad messenger bag, crafting an immediately eye-catching slim leather-and-Twylon over-the-shoulder bag that looks like it's made to go with $300 designer jeans. The problem is, the whole bag's too slim for its own good. An inner iPad compartment makes up nearly the entire bag, and it's a tight fit for iPads in cases (although Apple's slim case works narrowly). The pocket has exposed corners on the top and bottom, leaving a naked iPad at risk to a sudden downpour. Similarly, a stylishly sewn front iPhone pocket leaves smartphones too exposed on a subway, and the two slim pockets--one inside, one on the back--are barely large enough for a Moleskin notebook. Forget about carrying any power adapters. It is comfy, though: the seatbelt-nylon strap rests nicely on the shoulder and lies flat on the sides of the bag. Make the Push slightly bigger next time, and we have a winner. Style Index: 9 Humiliation Index: 5… Read more

We're not going to lie. The backpack is a tough look to pull off, especially if you're a both-straps-on type. Anytime we see an adult wandering the streets or coffee shops of Manhattan looking like a harried high schooler, we cringe a little bit. That said, the one place you can get away with it is when you're actually in school--hence our perfectly timed collection of back-to-school laptop backpacks.

We may mock the backpack a bit, but despite years of bag evolution, they're still the best way to carry a laptop, books, and other assorted gear … Read more

Ever wanted a grilled cheese sandwich but didn't have time to do anything but stick some bread in the toaster? That simple act can translate into a grilled cheese sandwich if you're willing to put cheese between your slices of bread and find a way to keep it from dripping into the toaster. The NoStick Toast It Toaster Bags can keep your cheese contained, along with other sandwich fixings. The bags are made from a heat-resistant material that can be reused up to 50 times and works well with any type of toaster.

The NoStick Toast It Toaster … Read more

Some years ago, a friend of mine dropped my compact into the sea and all I could do was watch my poor camera sink into the embrace of Davy Jones' locker. Sometimes, that memory prompts strange thoughts of falling into the sea with a camera, and then wondering if I would have enough time to throw my point-and-shoot back onto land before it suffered a dunking with me.

When I stumbled on the Kata ABS-HD Air Bag system, I knew this was one indispensable piece of carrying gear that any adventurer/photographer ought to own. When deflated, the case is … Read more