Work(ing Title)

I have been in search of a proper bag for the last 10 years. I am obsessed with luggage, and as with all my obsessions, this search for a carry-all has bred with my gadget fetish. It’s a question I have been wrestling with for some time now: What bag is the right bag for my paperbacks, notebooks, pens, sunglasses, PowerBook, iPod, headphones, Hiptop, camera, hard disk, batteries, as well as the transfer and power cables for…the paperbacks ;)

Needless to say this is a considerably difficult task for any bag, and thanks to the engadget community, which posed the very question a few days ago, I have found a host of new options in my lap. Below is my personal selection from both previous experience and my newfound options:

First is Maxpedition, who have gone to the trouble of publishing their entire catalog as seperate JPEG files (apparently web databases are just too much trouble for some folks). These offerings are have a couple of defining characterisitcs, which can be summed up by saying that they appear to have come from the Predator movies. I do like the Fatboy quite a bit, though it’s not quite large enough to carry a PowerBook.

Next on the list, and a far departure from the survival-inspired Maxpedition bags, are Freitag bags. They fall much more into the stylelab universe, as they are made from Swiss semi-truck tarplans and can be custom cut. They are, aside from their unique construction and personalized design, essentially basic messenger bags.

This next entry comes from on of my managers at Apple, whom I share the same principle on how to chose a bag–MAS POCKETS. Courierware are out of Vermont, and while their basic construction and design comes again from the bike messenger community, they have addressed the critical pocket issue. Their Super Deluxe Courier Bag packs as many pockets into the traditional messenger design as I could imagine possible. A great execution I feel, but perhaps not ‘techie’ enough.

To answer that techie desire for compartments and 22nd century materials, Booq enters the fray. Both the Cobra.XM and the PowerSleeve12 ooze appeal from both construction and materials. However, similar to the Courierware bags, I feel that infinite interior compartments is just a half-step behind–what about ’superquick’ (you’re welcome IZM) access? For that I need external pockets.

Finally, the tried and true favorite, Waterfield Designs. This awesome San Francisco crew represent probably the best equipment I’ve had the pleasure of using. Their proper Cargo Bag is fabulous, and my SleeveCase and Gear Pouch have both been brilliant purchases. Their style is understated and elegant, though I feel their product design is beginning to show age, as little if any revision has been made to their offerings.

So there’s my list. I always leave a back door open for late entries, though I feel I should be able to find the right choice from here. Leave me some comments, particularly you ladies, as I need to look manly, but not for men ;)

As I said to my coworker last night as we stood briefly next to the iPods, “Brian, it’s time to retire this hat.”

This BMW.Williams team cap has served me well for a couple years now. It’s deep blue color is lo-key, and the Reuters siderunners are a great conversation starter.

However, a couple of things are pointing towards the big hat rack in the sky. First, Ralf Schumacher has been wholly underwhelming as a driver, and I don’t know that I respect him enough to wear his signature on my brim any longer. Second, my love of Formula One has been invaded by MotoGP and World SuperBike, so it may be time to give the two-wheelers a shot at my crown.

The other hat in active rotation has been the John Deere, or as Anna so lovingly dubbed it, “The Rapist Hat.” While I definitely enjoy that moniker, I wonder if it’s time to look for another, more elaborate redneck symbol. Perhaps something made of the skin of an animal?

In closing, does anyone else enjoy the word wardrobe as much as I do? It’s got the word ‘war’ built right into it, and it’s that sort of tacit violent imagery that gets me out of bed in the morning.