Are any of these "TSA Checkpoint Friendly"?
That would be a criteria I would consider.

Could be hard to find in a backpack? Would TSA apply their own rules or just require the laptop to be pulled out anyway?

Some of these brands do make tsa-friendly bags, but my guess is the tsa is still gonna make you pull them out.

For me, that wasn't a concern given how infrequently I fly now. If it was like some years past where I was flying every week, it would be different.

And a Bihn update. Heard back from one of their folks. They did have my size of a laptop holder in a horizontal orientation, so I went ahead and ordered it.

One thing that concerns me about the Brain Bag is the size of it. Does it have enough organizational structure that things don't get lost in that cavernous space? We'll see. One thing I love about my Tumi briefcase (when it's not decomposing) is while it can hold an immense amount of stuff, it has exceptional organizational qualities.

My ideal bag needs to strike a happy medium between having plenty of space for those times when I need to load it up, along with being usable for those times when it's just normal day to day stuff. All in the design.

I would say the B&R "backpack" I have as I described have a more square line so it looks less like a backpack, which is the look I am after. I want to look less like a student and more like a career professional. :)

As to another question, my B&R backpack came with a TSA-friendly sleeve. I have always kept my laptop in this sleeve through security and I have never received any flack about it.

Fair concern about the Brain Bag. It probably means choosing the right add ons is even more important, to ensure everything doesn't just sink to the bottom of the bag. And if you choose the wrong options, it's a PEBCAC. :) But on the plus side, once you have removed all your removable options, you probably have a very flexible leisure bag.

There has to be a happy medium between too much and not enough organization. My bag now has too many pockets and things get lost. It also doesn't sit well on my carry-on. I am defiantly looking forward to your final decision and may be making a new purchase soon.

Tikboy...what bag are you using now?

Yeah, the more I think about this and look at it, it's all about matching need and organizational style with the product's respective strengths and weaknesses. No product is perfect, but some products are great fits for certain people's usage requirements.

I like the flexibility and adaptability of the Brain Bag, but that likely comes at the expense of really strong organizational features. Could the right add-ons mitigate or remedy that? I'm about to find out.

And might some of the bags with strong organizational structure lack flexibility? If I say "hey, I need to throw these 4 large books in there as I'm going to a conference or a meeting", can the bag handle that?

I've also been thinking about how the heck I compare 5 bags. Best I can come up with is it's kind of like one of those battle of the band things. The first two bags that arrive go head to head with each other. Of those two, If I had to use one for the next year, which would it be? Then that 'winner' moves on to go against the next arrival, and so on until I've gone through all 5. Hopefully by that point I have one bag I'm excited about giving a new home.

I often use a Costco backpack that my son decided he didn't like. I also have a Wengle (?) briefcase that I like, but it doesn't hold all the stuff I need for my current job. I also have one of those rolling bags, but it's too big to go under a seat so I only tend to use that when I am not flying. I'm ready to get a new backpack and look forward to your feedback. Good luck.

OK, the first bag arrived today, the Briggs & Riley Verb Live.

Now first, one note. I could get all professional about this and give you a ton of pics showing the entire process from opening the box and showing packaging to showing the different compartments, etc... Frankly, I've never found those to be useful and it takes a ton of time to do it. If you want to see what the bags look like, go to the links above. I'm just too lazy (and crazy busy) to take the time to photo-document this process. My apologies. Also, what would probably make the most sense would be to take the time to write structured, repeatable reviews in a set format. That's not gonna happen. This is basically going to be me rambling about whatever comes to mind.

So this is my first encounter with a B&R bag, and I now get what people have to say about it. It's obvious the materials, design and construction are first rate. This is a handsome bag that looks better in person than in photos. When I ordered it, I thought it looked too plain and boring to work for me, but the quality compelled me to give it a try. I could absolutely see myself using this bag.

On the continuum of organizational versus flexible and cavernous, this is definitely an organizational bag. It's got room and places for all my stuff, and some places for things I'll never use. For example, it's got little places designed for memory cards. Maybe I could put a usb thumb drive in there or something.

So the bag is well made and feature rich. I'm not going to take the time to document all the things it has. You can read and see that at the websites. My thought is that what's valuable here is my personal experience or encounter with a product, what can I add to what you can commonly read online about the respective product.

With this bag, I can comfortably move all my stuff from my Tumi case to this with no issue. I can find a home for everything and be reasonably content I know where it all is and access it with minimum hassle. It's a well designed bag, to be sure. And when I interact with it, putting stuff away, opening and closing zippers, etc...., I get the distinct feel I'm working with a piece of high quality gear.

I can put all my day to day stuff, my laptop, half a dozen files, a few magazines, and then I took 4 relatively thick paperback books and it accommodates them just fine. I could put a lot more in, but nothing like the Brain Bag where I posted that link to a review where they put 22 books in the thing. This is NOT that kind of bag.

Styling-wise, if you're a professional that is tired of lugging around a briefcase and you want a backpack but don't want to look like a student who just stepped off the city bus for class, this is a nice selection. It looks professional and upscale. It doesn't look like a 'backpack'. It's a mobile office that fits on your back. For many, this will be a good thing. For me, it's fine, though I don't mind something that looks like a backpack.

This is probably a good point to share a personal note. I own a small business, The Egoscue Clinic of Austin, TX. Basically, we do exercise-based postural therapy, working with people who are in pain and have tried 'everything else' and still hurt, along with people who don't want to hurt and want to preserve their ability to run or play tennis or golf, or are looking to improve performance. But our typical client is someone with pain issues. I'll be 51 in May but I don't look a day over 52. I typically wear athletic wear to the clinic, so a backpack is fine. I agree with those who say that suits and backpacks aren't a great look. But this pack would probably be about the best of the bunch in that regard. So all this to say, I'm typically hauling my laptop, a set of files, maybe a book, and then assorted sundry stuff to and from the office every day. Business cards, brochures, pens, food bars for snacks, plus all the minutia so many of us get accustomed to having with us.

The interior orange lining is attractive and kinda fun, and it makes it easy to find stuff.

For those who want to be able to slide it over a wheeled suitcase, it has the capacity for that. It has the obvious backpack straps and a handle on the top, as well, though the handle has a bit of a cheap, flimsy feel to it.

So, there's a lot I like about this bag.

Is there anything I don't like? Yes. The main thing I noticed was the computer compartment. You slide your computer in vertically, which is fine, and then you pull a velcro loop over the top to secure it. The problem is, the loop connects high in the compartment so for my 15" MacBook Pro, it doesn't come within 4 inches of creating a snug fit. The bottom and sides are padded, albeit lightly. The bottom is suspended, but I wish the top would loop snugly over my laptop. But instead, the computer absolutely can bounce in there. To me, that's the one glaring design issue I'm seeing with this bag, and it's not a trivial one. I don't know if that's a deal breaker for me or not, but it's disappointing in what is otherwise a well thought out bag. Basically, when I slide my precious laptop in there I get the feeling it's reasonably well protected, but not exceptionally so.

Also, there is no cross strap linking the shoudler straps together, you know, the kind that goes across your chest? So when walking, if there's a lot of weight in the bag you're going to get some side to side sway.

The bag does not appear that it will stand on its own. Not sure how annoying I'd find that. Probably no big deal, just pointing it out.

This is not the kind of bag you're going to use to get to your destination, and then probably be comfortable taking out for a day of sightseeing. The straps are padded, but not plushly so. And the lack of the cross strap would be an issue for extended wear. For getting from my car to my office and back, no big deal. Going through an airport, changing terminals, etc....? Might not be the most comfortable of the selections I've got.

If you're looking for something where you can easily attach something like an umbrella or a water bottle to it, not going to happen with this bag unless I'm missing something. You'd have to stash that stuff inside the bag somewhere. There's room for it, but there you have it.

So I guess my bottom line is this is a quality bag that is largely designed well, but has some issues, and those issues may be enough to disqualify it in my mind. I'm definitely concerned about the way the laptop is stored. If I had to rank priorities for a computer laptop bag, it would be to make me feel like my laptop is unquestionably protected, safely encased. I wish this bag's laptop enclosure had more padding on all sides, and a secure fit on top. When I had the laptop in there, I can press on the outside of the bag on the sides and feel it through the relatively thin padding. There is much thicker padding on the front and back of it, but the sides, while padded, are not nearly as thick as the front and back. The more I think about it, the more this could be the factor that disqualifies this bag. Every time I put my laptop in the bag, I don't want to have a negative thought about the design, and I think that would be the case here. As it stands, this is a nice baseline and I'm looking forward to seeing the next ones arrives, but B&R should've done a better job on designing the laptop enclosure portion of this bag.

The one from eBags should be here tomorrow, then the Victorinox on Thursday. The Bihn bag arrives Monday, and the Brenthaven bag ships on Monday. So there you have it.

More as I get it.

One idea I had just now in the shower (where I do most of my best thinking). Let's say someone absolutely fell in love with the B&R bag and loved everything about it except the way it encased and protected the laptop. One option would be to get the Tom Bihn Vertical Brain Cell that fits your laptop and then just plop it in there. From what I can gather on their website, those things protect your laptop about as well as anything can. And there's plenty of room in the B&R bag for it. I don't think I'd have any problem dropping a 17" macbook pro into that space.

I had another thought. Here's one criteria to quality or disqualify the bag. Let's say that for whatever reason I had to stow the bag in an overhead compartment instead of under the seat. Then upon arrival, the luggage up there shifted and when someone opens up the door to the compartment, by bag (with my laptop inside) falls out, lands on an arm rest, then bounces off it to the floor. How confident would I be that my laptop is still safe and secure?

With the B&R bag as is, I would be nervous. If the blow was to the side, it could absolutely dent the laptop, and the excessive room in the compartment that allows the laptop to wiggle around would not be good, either. But with the Bihn Vertical Brain Cell, there would be no issues.

Just a few thoughts.

Ok, today I received the eBags and Victorinox models. I was most excited to explore the Victorinox, but checked out both. Here are initial impressions.

The Victorinox is a no-go. It is a really small bag, surprisingly so. I'd say it's maybe 2/3 the size of the Briggs & Riley, for example. The main problem with the size is the lack of width. Honestly, I can't believe they designed it this way. If you have file folders you want to put into this case, you cannot put them in horizontally, you have to put them in vertically. Well, now all the papers are free to fall out. That's not going to work. Just on that alone, this case is going back.

It seems to be a very well made case, no issues there, but besides the small size, the design is a bit funky. Tough to explain, but just going through all the organizational features, I kept thinking "why are they giving me more of those kinds of slots? Where would I put x?"

Re the laptop enclosure, it's no more padded than the B&R bag, and maybe less so. And it has no fastener of any kind at the top. You just slide it in and zip it up. But because the case is so small, that laptop isn't going anywhere.

Also, it's more cumbersome to take on and off than the B&R. No question I like the B&R bag better than this one, not even close.

On to the eBags model.

I'll say this straight away: if you're ok with the styling of this bag, it's a GREAT value. This is a very well made bag, less than $100, and it's rich with features. Like the Victorinox, the laptop enclosure also has nothing on the top to secure the laptop. It's bigger than the Victorinox so there are probably a few inches between the top of my laptop and the top of the bag. But I put my laptop in and shook it a bit and it seemed pretty secure.

The organizational features are good. Maybe a little gimmicky, or maybe that's just me. Watch the product video for it and it gives a great description of the bag. Files fit no problem, and it has plenty of organizational features to stash your stuff.

My problem with this bag is aesthetics. First, it just looks like a very standard run of the mill backpack. Second, and I read other reviews mentioning this, the eBags label is big, and it's front and center on the bag. Just a horrible design and placement, in my opinion. I'm not sure if looking at that damn label every time I pick up my bag would drive me nuts or if I'd stop seeing it over time. Just not sure, but my initial reaction to it is not positive. Just adds, in my mind, to the aesthetic impression of it being a student backpack. Now, it absolutely has the functionality and build quality to be a professional pack, but it just lacks a cool factor.

I know that probably sounds shallow, but if I'm going to use it every day, I want to enjoy the experience. I want to feel good about picking it up and using it. To me, it's not like a shovel. "What color do I want? I don't care, it's a shovel. It's just a tool." For me, this is a tool, but I'd like it to have a nice aesthetic, and in this, for my tastes, it's lacking.

I'm glad the other two bags won't be here for a few more days. That gives me time to get used to seeing these two sitting in my home office. But if I had to decide this moment on one bag, I'd go with the Briggs & Riley. Those who already own one of their pieces can probably relate, it just exudes quality and character. It's not a flashy bag, but it's well designed not just from a functional standpoint but also an aesthetic one. And I like the organizational capabilities of it a lot.

If I were to keep the Briggs bag, what I would probably do is just use it as is for day to day stuff, and then maybe get the Bihn Brain Cell unit I mentioned above for traveling, where it's going to be subjected to more potential abuse and jostling.

So to summarize, the Victorinox is out. Too small, and kind of funky organizational features. If ignoring aesthetics, the B&R and eBags bags are very close, but I probably give a modest edge to the B&R bag. I don't think it's necessarily a 'better bag', but for my needs, I think it's a better organizational fit. If including aesthetics, it's no contest, at least right now. I may wake up in two days and think "you know, that eBags bag is growing on me." When I ordered it, it looked pretty plain on the website, but then, so did the Briggs & Riley bag. When I got the B&R bag, as I said above, it pleasantly surprised, aesthetically. When I got the eBags bag, well, it looks pretty much exactly like what you see on the website. I was hoping it, too, would pleasantly surprise in that department. Nope.

I'm very much looking forward to receiving the Brain Bag and the Brenthaven bag, but as of now, if I had to live with the Briggs & Riley bag, I could be happy with it, I think.

More as I get it.

side note: my 19 year old son walked in, he knows about this little project. He asked which ones I liked. I showed them to him and asked him which he liked in terms of styling, the Briggs and Riley bag, or the eBags bag. His response?

"I like that one (the ebags model). It looks more like a backpack."

TSA has been pretty consistent about permitting my computer to stay in a travel-friendly backpack. Can't say the same thing about the Europeans.

So you said you were trying to avoid over analysis, but here's my thread from my search for a similar backpack.

The Targus has proven to be a nice choice. The material feels a little plasticky, but it stands up by itself, even when empty. There's a strap over the laptop to keep it in place, with enough velcro that it would probably secure all computers. It works for both my 10" netbook and 15.6" computer. The zippers for the travel-friendly section fasten at the top, so that pocket will hold papers and folders, especially handy it you have something that would otherwise get mushed in a backpack. There's enough room in the main compartment for a fleece jacket, book, prescription medicine case, both toiletry bags, and lunch, with a little bit of room to spare. The front pocket is one space, without all of the little pockets for flash drives, pens, business cards, etc. Personally, I like using my own little bags and organizers for my little stuff, since those are easier to move from bag to bag, so the front pocket suits me well. It's large enough to hold a paperback sized organizer cube and my Sony reader. No sternum strap, but the padding on the back and straps makes it surprisingly comfortable.

Thanks Megn.

Honestly, I discounted Targus from the start of my search. My perception of them has been that they are kind of a "discounted/cheap" type of brand, that they make bags with nice features but not ones that are particularly well made or that use high quality materials. I had an employee with a Targus bag and I thought it was a really crappy, plasticky bag. Wasn't impressed at all.

Now, that's a whopping sample size of 1. Perhaps that was an insufficiently sized sample to draw meaningful conclusions, lol! But with so many choices, I want to ensure I end up with a bag that is functional, well made, and is a pleasure to use every day.

Maybe I'll go to amazon and see if any of their bags catch my eye.