Travel Products - Need a small companion bag for my Sky Train

Hi,

I'm looking for a laptop bag that complements my Sky Train and just know that you guys will provide me with some good options.

I've been travelling with my Sky Train and a Dell laptop bag that came with my E6420 laptop. This bag is rugged but it is quite heavy. The laptop itself is compact. I'm willing to give up some protection for the laptop in exchange for less weight. With the Sky Train in backpack mode the added weight of the laptop bag on one shoulder gets pretty uncomfortable.

I'm wanting a smaller, lighter laptop bag that will make long walks around town or through an airport more comfortable.

Perhaps there is something that I can somehow attach to my Sky Train?

Any suggestions?

Tom Bihn has the Checkpoint Flyer.

You can also just get a laptop sleeve and stick the laptop in the Sky Train.

I've looked at the CF but am not looking for something that large. I'm really looking for something more minimal.

The RO Gator is just a tad too small otherwise I would get it. My laptop measures 12x10. I'm looking for something just large enough for it and a magazine or two, my Kindle, and my Passport/travel docs.

I've looked at the CF but am not looking for something that large. I'm really looking for something more minimal.

The RO Gator is just a tad too small otherwise I would get it. My laptop measures 12x10. I'm looking for something just large enough for it and a magazine or two, my Kindle, and my Passport/travel docs.

Have you looked at some of the laptop sleeves? They offer some protection, but not as much as a real bag, but they can be slipped into the big bags. Some of them come with straps so you can carry them outside.

this is nice

http://www.amazon.com/Tumi-Alpha-Organizer-Laptop-Cover/dp/B004AM5QQ2

I have a Red Oxx Metro which is quite nice.

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-VNA214-14-1-Inch-Attache/dp/B002SU4ED4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1343350628&sr=8-3&keywords=case+logic+netbook+vna

I've looked at the CF but am not looking for something that large. I'm really looking for something more minimal.

Did you look at the cadet (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/700/TB0740)?

I've been a big fan of Waterfield's (sfbags) sleeves. They are probably a bit small for what you want but they have some smaller bags that would work for what you describe.

1) Your small laptop will fit a Gator. I've fit my 14" laptop in its sleep in my Gator when it angled it a bit. Will definitely fit a 12" laptop.

2) A Red Oxx Metro or CPA (I use a CPA as my regular briefcase) will easily fit it and will go well with your Train.

RedOxx has several nice briefcases, as mentioned by the poster above. I always like my luggage to "match," or coordinate in color, it looks more professional.

I didn't think the Gator would be large enough. You certain it would fit my E6420?

Looking at the measurements of your laptop and the Gator, I think you would be pushing it since it would have to fit at an angle. Not worth the hassle to me personally. Check out the TB Cadet (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0740) The measurements of your machine from the Dell site are

Dimensions & Weight5

Width: 13.86" / 352mm
Height: (front/back) 1.06"/26.90mm to 1.28"/32.40mm
Depth: 9.49" / 241.00mm

You could easily fit that in the larger cadet and might be able to squeeze it into the smaller one that measures 13.5x10.5. Give the folks at TB a call and they could let you know for sure. Please note, I love my Gator and take it on almost all of my trips. I just don't think it will work like you seem to want. Good luck! :)

Thanks, all.

I've looked at the Cadet and the Gator. Based on some online reviews which speak about how much the bag holds, I've ordered the Gator hoping that it will accommodate the laptop.

If it doesn't fit I'll just give the bag to my daughter so that she can use it as a diaper bag.

The TB bags look nice and I read nothing but good reviews but I've got a problem with their politics and I'm just not sure I want to give them my money. I support their right to speak their minds just as I'm sure that they support my right to not buy their stuff because of it.

The TB bags look nice and I read nothing but good reviews but I've got a problem with their politics and I'm just not sure I want to give them my money. I support their right to speak their minds just as I'm sure that they support my right to not buy their stuff because of it.
Tom Bihn politics? I read their company blog and website forum and don't recall any political comments or remarks. Pray tell, what are your objections?

Thanks, all.

I've looked at the Cadet and the Gator. Based on some online reviews which speak about how much the bag holds, I've ordered the Gator hoping that it will accommodate the laptop.

If it doesn't fit I'll just give the bag to my daughter so that she can use it as a diaper bag.

The TB bags look nice and I read nothing but good reviews but I've got a problem with their politics and I'm just not sure I want to give them my money. I support their right to speak their minds just as I'm sure that they support my right to not buy their stuff because of it....the label "incident"? But he is an idiot.... ;)

Tom Bihn politics? I read their company blog and website forum and don't recall any political comments or remarks. Pray tell, what are your objections?
Hi, Dianne47. Google 'tom bihn treason tag' for details.

snopes on TB labels (http://www.snopes.com/business/hidden/tombihn.asp)

Well, TB deflected it by saying it was targeted at the company president. I guess we'll never know if this was political or not, but it sure generated a lot of sales.

The tag said 'we are sorry about our idiot president, we didn't vote for him'. For them to claim they were referring to their company is a lie. Company presidents are not voted into office.

Like I said before, I totally support their right to free speech, but let's call a spade a spade. They said what they said and then they didn't have the guts to stand up for it.

OK, "Materdei," thanks for the pointer and I hadn't heard about these so-called TB "treason labels." Personally, I think the use and care labels were a clever piece of marketing and garnered publicity for the company. You don't often see such unusual washing instructions! Reading the snopes write-up made me laugh.

I happen to have no issue with the sentiment expressed in French, and I'm certainly and absolutely NOT a traitor to my country. There is no way for a reader to know what president the label is referring to: Bihn, Bush, Chirac, Putin? I don't want this thread to drift off-course, then it might get kicked to Omni or closed by the moderator...

It's a great country isn't it, we're free to vote for whom we wish and buy or not buy products for any reason whatsoever.

Agreed, Dianne47.

When the Gator arrives I'll post an update.

Sweet Mother of God, what a good laugh. I'll look at my care labels more closely from now on. :D

I agree that it was certainly minted on then Pres. George W.

a) TB is to my knowledge not distributed in Europe but only in USA and Canada. Especially back then. Canada is bilingual in English and French. The Canadians were (like the rest of the civilized world) not super fond of W.
The worldwide sentiment was to the point where some Americans felt it best to "disguise" themselves as Canadians with Maple pins and the likes when traveling abroad. So it is an apology about the US president to the Canadians.

b) "We didn't vote for him" is a double entendre. Not only did TB probably not vote for him but there were also (in my view very tenable) allegations of electoral fraud, where in reality he should not have been in office.

So I agree with MaterDei that this was definitely a shot at W. But I agree with TB that it was a good shot, even if I am not the greatest fan of TB's quirky niche product designs, e.g. making a great bag like the Co-Pilot but not make it big enough to fit a 13" Macbook which would have taken about a 1" bigger bag diagonally.

MD, if the Gator doesn't fit, try out any of the sleeve bags with a handle from Incase. Very good quality. I got one myself and it does precisely what you'd like of it. It is slim enough to be inserted into an ordinary briefcase or shoulder bag but is also big enough to work as a slim standalone laptop/briefcase. And it has attachments for a shoulder strap as well as a carry handle.

Till

This thread makes me like TB even more than I do already. I only have one TB piece (three Red Oxx pieces); I'll need to figure out what new piece to sneak by Ms. Phillychuck

This thread makes me like TB even more than I do already. I only have one TB piece (three Red Oxx pieces); I'll need to figure out what new piece to sneak by Ms. Phillychuck
^ ;) ^

Till,

Thanks for the suggestion. I went to check out the Incase bags. They look nice but all of their sizes are in another language that I don't speak; Apple. Don't have the slightest idea which bag I would need.

Thanks for pointing out that political message. I might add some fantastic, American made TB to my collection of excellent, American made Red Oxx travel gear. Despite their libertarian-leaning, gun toting image, the Red Oxx people also embrace lots of "liberal" causes, like on-shoring, fair trade, community-based growth, energy efficiency and the like. Perhaps the OP should avoid their products as well?

I didn't think the Gator would be large enough. You certain it would fit my E6420?

Like I said, it fits my 14" laptop in its sleeve when angled. A 12" laptop should actually not be a problem at all. The bag has quite a bit of give, which allows it to swallow more than its dimensions suggest.

You're welcome, MD. :)

The thing is that these bags (any bag really) do have some leeway to play with. For example mine is a so-called Incase13 fitting for 13" Macbooks. The Mac is hardly an inch thick but the bag could stomach a computer that's 1.5" thick.

Besides this "try it" approach you could also give the company a call and ask if your computer fits. Easiest and safest approach. Perhaps best done by email. Or compare the specs of your computer to the specs of an Apple machine close in size.

Certainly, my 15" pc laptop does not fit in the sleeve but I could almost fit two 13" Macbooks in there.

I also just took the specs from your computer (posted by DARBS) and checked with a ruler if it would fit in my bag. Yes it would. It would be a very tight fit especially in width but all the other dimensions would fit easily.

Interior width of my bag is 355mm.

Till

Till,

Again, thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to measure your bag for me.

While I have been an "observer" here for quite some time, I felt the need to register just to give my feedback in this thread. This is my first - and perhaps my last - post on this forum.

First of all I want to thank Materdei for bringing the issue of Bihn's "politics" to light. While I never purchased any of his products, I will now make sure I never will.

I agree that he is taking the coward's way out by not acknowledging the obvious content of these tags and the message being sent and not owning up to what he obviously knew.


Thanks for pointing out that political message. I might add some fantastic, American made TB to my collection of excellent, American made Red Oxx travel gear. Despite their libertarian-leaning, gun toting image, the Red Oxx people also embrace lots of "liberal" causes, like on-shoring, fair trade, community-based growth, energy efficiency and the like. Perhaps the OP should avoid their products as well?


I own many Red Oxx products and while I happen to agree with many of Jim Markel's opinions and life choices, you cannot equate his supposed embracement of "liberal" causes with the outright disrespect for an American President that Mr. Bihn and his company obviously promote and condone.

As an American, you may disagree with a the views and actions of a sitting President, but you do not disrespect the individual or the office. Sorry Jack, but it is "Un-American".

It's interesting to say the least. I thought the Tom Bihn, Red Oxx and the Made in USA chanting bunch of people were all sort of pro USA, pro America, pro Red, White and Blue and sort of liberty and freedom for all types. I guess W didn't fall into the true "USA" team?!?!?!

Going back to the Tom Bihn bags I don't like like them so much cuz they seem overly nice for what it really is - an unstructured nylon bag that falls over like a freebie bag you get at conferences.

See this video review....

http://vimeo.com/17333701

I

See this video review....

http://vimeo.com/17333701

"i'm glad I bought it, it's a nice bag" is how he closes the video. Nothing during the video made me think he was glad he bought it with his 'inheritance'. Another few seconds of video and I would expect to have seen him chucking that Empire Builder at the wall or out the window.