Recommend a backpack for the toughbook...

So i'm looking for something to haul this thing in. I love to carry it around with the shoulder strap but I still need to carry a bag for books and school. I'd rather go w/a two shoulder bag and am looking at wenger and victorinox. There are however some requirements....

It doesn't need to be laptop type...I chose the toughbook for a reason, and would like something that's light and doesn't require the padding (which take up real state in the bag).

Dual or triple bag (compartment) preferred.

Straps have to be comfy.. (i've gotta carry up to 30 lbs in books and notes sometimes.

that's pretty much it. I'm guessing many fit the bill, but if you've got favorites, put them up.

 

The best, most comfortable backpack type bag I ever owned was a hardshell pack made by BoblBee; the model is discontinued, but the Executive is very close.

Bags, Backpacks, Rucksacks, Computer & Laptop Bags for Motoryckle, Bike, Sports and Traveling | ALL PRODUCTS | BOBLBEE OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE

It had a compartment for EVERYTHING, and it protected everything inside (laptop, CDs, Discman, even my headphones) even during a 60mph spill on my CB750. It got scarred up pretty bad and suffered a cracked shell, but the stuff inside survived unharmed.

Another one I've tried on is the Oakley; It's very comfortable, but it doesn't place the center of gravity as low as the BoblBee does. I especially like the pockets for everything important right on the straps; but the hardshell panels attach with velcro so they're really not so much good for protecting your special stuphs.

mnem
Nuked.

 

a acu backpack is good

 

Ha Ha mnem

Reminds me of this
One for the Misses

 

You see, that's where we differ. I've used dozens of different kinds of tactical packs and MOLLE harnesses; they ALL place the center of gravity too high and make my back and arches ache in no time at all. The only one I ever had that didn't was my BoblBee; plus, the concave for the bedroll is PERFECT for a 2L bottle of Dew or a BIG thermos full of coffee.

In retrospect, it would also be perfect for one of those tarp-type solar arrays, and there's space at the very bottom inside that would handle a good 100w/hr LiPo array EASILY.

mnem
Solar Backpackery...

 

Or the old school Olive Drab/ Black Bug Outs. I would stuff like 7 bags of groceries in it when I went from commissary to dorms via bus.


*edit* aw mnem ninja'd that post in before me.

 

Hey; when we had Merry Maids out for our spring cleaning, they used one of those... I think it was an Oreck.

Scary efficient they were; more like a sparkly hurricane than a cleaning crew. 2 hours later they'd done everything we couldn't get to in months; plus it all smelled Pine-ey fresh.

mnem
Spic N Span-ity!

 

Here's the bag I use for that purpose:

ABU Digital Camo Kit Bag

Or; for the "lazy" in us all:

ABU Digital Camo Wheeled Deployment Bag

How about this for the laptop?

ABU Digital Camo Laptop Backpack

 

Those prices are cheaper than then the BX/PX clothing sales.

 

That deployment bag is nice; though I'd still rather use my granddad's WWII era footlocker... that is, if I weren't afraid it'd get smashed or stolen.

The funny thing... you can't buy that quality of manufacture any more; solid hardwood body, every corner and seam protected with steel reinforcements, and the tray inside made of solid cedar.

You'd have to pay a cabinetmaker a small fortune to custom make it today; back then, they made these things by the hundreds of thousands and considered them a "consumable" item.

Nowadays, everything is consumable; especially people.

*SIGH*

mnem
*Suddenly feeling very, very old...*

 

That cedar tray is just a place to line up your socks and underwear nice and neat so the sargeant can throw them all over the barracks
CAP

 

Yeah, but if you didn't have them all nice & neat, he'd throw YOU all around the barracks... :wink: Nowadays he wouldn't dare; get Court Marshaled for damaging Govt property...

mnem
*Remembering when Beetle Bailey was only slightly out of touch*

 

I'm still thinking of a solar poncho. Or for the Western types a solar serape (Clint Eastwood). ♫ de de de de de. There would still be room for a bottle of Dew or Old Crow.
Speaking of Western. I made a set of saddle bags for a shootist one time to carry his gear over the shoulder to CAS events. A pair of .45s and holster rig in one side and all his ammo in the other. They were cut to fit over the shoulder rather than on the back of a saddle. A Toughbook would have fit them well.

Jeff
musing ♫ (get it? a play on music) :laugh:

 

I have been very happy with this one:

Amazon.com: SwissGear Wenger 3200 ScanSmart Black Laptop Notebook Comupter Backpack 17 Inch: Electronics

Fits the TB in its laptop compartment, Leaving a main compartment for w/e.

Feels very comfortable.

 

i'm looking at some along those lines. For a 17 inch laptop bag, is it a little on the large side?









I'm kind of partial to these last two:

 

I've got a bad taste in my mouth with the Wenger baggery; they look rugged and they have a bazillion pockets, but my wife wore the wheels off a $130 bag of theirs in LITERALLY one semester. Of course the wheels are made to be non-replaceable, so pretty much a non-starter for me buying anything else from them except pocket knives.

mnem
"That'll be 5,000 gold pieces for a medium Bag of Holding sir; can we add a lifetime Whatever you need is always at the top enchantment for only 500 GP more?"

 

*Takes a few potshots at a rolling tumbleweed*

My granddad had an old set of saddlebags like that he used to keep his tools in for fixing the haybaler; when he needed em, everything was right to hand and the rest of the time they just hung over the three-point hitch...

mnem
*Suddenly missing the old man*

 

I just bought Case Logic bags for the kids. I had some of their stuff in my car and was impressed with the quality, as in "looked new after years of use." Time will tell, but so far the backpacks look to be similarly rugged. My kids can kill a backpack in a couple of months.

 

I have wheeled bag where the wheels have lasted me about 10 yrs. Only around the handle does it show wear. Wish they used rollerblading wheels so they aren't as loud on the tile floors. Thinking about replacing it with the ABU one up top in that link. Being on a army base they only have the ACU ones.

 

Your base AAFES Clothing Sales Store can order in anything you want from their distribution centers here in Dallas or Waco (or others).

Alternatively, you can order from AAFES Online.

 

here is the bag I have been using for the past 6 years. I special ordered it through the AAFES customer service desk at the local clothing and sales on any military base. I am sure that is not the only place to get this bag though.

 

Motowheels - Quality Motorcyle Parts and Products

Don't know anything about it other than what I read here

 

Straps look comfy

 

Case Logic 17 Professional Laptop Backpack > Backpacks & Messengers > Case Logic

My 15 year old son has this one. Still looks new after months of abuse. Caselogic builds their stuff to last. It's $30 at Frys.com.

FRYS.com | Caselogic (BBP-17)

 

I see alot of bookbags here that simply can't fit the TB.

I bought a new bag because my old Targus (made for 17 in laptops) did not fit my TB-31.

The TB is simply too thick, its hard to find a bag where it fits.

So have you guys actually had your TB in the bags your recommending and if so which one.

I suppose it is important for OP to tell us what TB he has... did I miss that?

 

The Case Logic bag holds the laptop in an adjustable pocket. It will easily hold a 31.

 

I'm having a hard time finding a bag that works with the CF-30. At almost 3 inches thick, these beasts fit in NOTHING. You'd think that there would be plenty of mil options out there, but I can't find anything that really works. I'm currently squeezing it into a LEAF Blade 24, but it's a tight fit and once I get the charger, car charger, 1/2 dozen cables, spare battery and other accessories, there's barely enough room for a pen, let alone some files.

I was looking at the brain bag from Tom Bihn, but none of the support sleeves are sized for this monster. Maybe I should just keep papers in the bag and carry the laptop around by the handle? There's an idea.

 

Check this bag out PROVANTAGE: Panasonic TM30-P Infocase Bag Exclusively for CF-30 This bag will hold your power cord,mouse and extra HDD . This is the bag I use when I go on any trips. It's held on by velcro. I picked mine up on fleabay for $78.00 .

InfoCase.com

 

This will work
NEW GENUINE PANASONIC COMFOLIO LAPTOP CASES. - eBay (item 200557481192 end time Jan-21-11 10:14:42 PST)

 

you can get a dcu assault pack for 35.00

 

the one I posted above holds my CF-30 just fine with room to spare for a Dell XPS 17".

 

I like the Condor urban go pack
Condor Urban Go Pack
has worked great for me, toughbook fits nicely in the laptop slot, so much room I tend to overload and gets too heavy, but the quality is great, big heavy zippers, comes in black, tan,digicam, multicam and olive drab.
Has a detachable waist belt and chest strap for serious packin too. Well thought out pack.

 

I should also add that this case also fits the CF-29,30 and 31. At one time I carried a backpack but never again since I got this one.

 

I love my red Boblbee Sport.

Older model, got it on sale for $99.

 

Just my two cents worth I am using a code alpha back pack. It fits my cf 29 like a glove. I could not have had a pack custom made fit this good. It has plenty of room for extras. You can even pack two cf 29 in it just in case you can't decide which toughbook to take with you for the day not to mention the great work out. I picked mine up in digital camo local for $49 but have seen them online in the $45 to $65 range. I also notice that all the buckles have made in the USA on them. After further research these are made by Mercury Lugguage but I am not 100% if the entire pack is made in US. Bag is very durable and has many options for carry. Backpack, handle, and shoulder strap. Bag seams to be water resistant with plenty of padding. Hope this helps.

 

Ooh, ooh; adamwest436, Silver Trooper, did you see this? It's available ABU camo! Gotta get me one of these! :yes:

Code Alpha™ Laptop Computer Backpack

 

I bought a Marmot Gunnison for my CF-29. It works well and has room for other equipment.