Ladies and Gentlemen, I come back to you for a shoulder bag recommendation.

Some of you familiar with my tastes for the more ludicrously priced luggage may remember that I commissioned a ground-up custom bag.

It had quite a fraught gestation, and as it turns out, a just as frought in-use period. I've had multiple problems with it, mostly in terms of how the bagmaker worked around the central core of the bag. So to skip a long story, in the end we agreed that they'd bitten off more than they could chew, they did their best to patch it up - but IMO it remains borderline unusable as the same problems will clearly rear its head again - and I've had a partial refund. I think I can put the bag in storage and consider this one of my bigger purchase mistakes.

So I'm looking to return to the 'somewhat near sane' bag fold.

Here are the requirements:
- Light. I therefore realise it won't be a full leather bag but I'd like to avoid rough fabrics, especially on clothes-facing sides - e.g. I had an earlier Knomo 'fluff up' more than one of my tailored trousers through rubbing and I'd like to avoid that.
- Variations on the flapover style in general, but I'll welcome other practical designs
- Tasteful, immediately noticeable quality, stylish
- Everyday-durable. i.e. not going to give up after a couple of years or a few minor accidents
- 15" notebook accommodation with adequate protection
- shoulder strap and handle
- Under $5000 (to an extent, the lower the better as I'm feeling very burned at the moment over this whole affair)

I'd rather not bother with sleeves so it will have to be a properly laptop-compartmented bag, not a regular bag which can accomodate a sleeved machine.

I invite your suggestions!

 

Holy Ford, do any laptop bags even cost $5000? I personally like the quality of Timbuk2 and Chrome bags, but they don't exactly scream good looks. Booq is known for functional bags that won't hurt the eyes, but won't turn heads either. Ultimately, I don't think there's a need to spend anywhere close to $5000 for a stylish durable bag.

 

You clearly don't know Vogelbung

 

I clearly have a different idea of what qualifies as "somewhat near sane".

I know for a fact that my parents (and many of my friends) would defecate bricks at the idea of spending more than $100 on a bag.

 

I guess I should quantify 'light'. ~1-1.5Kg (2-3lbs) area ideally.

 

I don't know how these fellows are in the weight compartment, but they're quality, they come with a 100 year warranty.

Saddleback Leather Co. : Leather Bags, Leather Briefcases, & Luggage

Perhaps this also, although, it might not fit your tasteful criteria

GEAR — Catalog Products — GR 2

Here are two more that are good cases, plenty of variety and well under the $5000 mark.

http://www.goincase.com/
http://www.solocases.com/


They're durable, and look good, I use a solo case and incase bag all the time, and I am 100% certain I am tougher on my bags than you.

 

The key is weight as well as aesthetics / manufacture.

I have heavier all-leather bags for example. I have a travelling case. I have backpacks, both weird and conventional. I even have a cheap & cheerful casual messenger.

Light, premium, shoulder + handle (which can be pretty minimalist - I just like having a handle on a flap-over even though it may not get used often).

 

so you want a satchel for the most part? really only to hold your laptop and maybe a pad of paper and some pens and a phone?

ie: Wholesale messenger - Product Picture from GingerGinger's store

In that style but not so much leather?

 

The amount of leather (especially decent leather) is dictated by my weight target - i.e. there's probably not going to be that much of it - I don't mind an entirely synthetic product as long as it looks appropriately classy.

I'd also be looking for a classier spin on a plain flapover satchel. I have one of these for example - which is such a classy variation on a satchel, but it also lacks laptop stowage and is also more substantial than I'd like with a laptop - so while using it as a laptopless day bag is fine, I'm looking for something that I can use as a 'real' all-day laptop bag.

 

Checkpoint Friendly - the Checkpoint Flyer Laptop Bag by:: TOM BIHN
A Sling Bag That Carrys a Laptop | The Buzz by: TOM BIHN
SFBags - WaterField Designs - Racer X Bags - Laptop Bag - Laptop Case - Briefcase
Crumpler Messenger Bags & Laptop Messenger Bags <---not as classy