I need help w/ FF''s b-day present!!!

[FrekeChild]

Ok. FF''s birthday is June 7th (next Saturday) and he wants a shoulder/messenger bag for school.

Basically he''s asked for a bag that he can fit a regular size laptop in, as well as a few notebooks, pens and a pouch or pocket for the laptop cord thing. Essentially something he can carry his school stuff in and not look like an undergraduate. He''s also asked that it not be bulky or specifically made for a laptop. And he wants it to be black (I tried to talk him into pink or purple, but that didn''t work!).

Super nice is not necessary because he abuses his bags, and I''d like to keep the budget under $150, but that could be negotiable because it''s the only thing he''s getting unless it''s really cheap and then I''ll get him some clothes as well.

So I''m asking for help-suggestions for stores or if you''ve seen anything like that on the internet.

Why couldn''t he have asked for blue high heels?! (JK!!)

 

[pennquaker09]

I was going to recommend this bag from L.L. Bean, but it looks like they don''t make it anymore. It''s a really great bag, it can be carried like a traditional bag or as a messenger bag and you can fit an amazing amount of stuff in it. Anwyay, they do have another bag that I also have that''s great a messenger, plus it''s on sale.

Heatwave Messenger Bag

The second option is a design your own kind of thing.

Design Your Own

 

[FrekeChild]

Thanks a lot Pennquaker!!!I actually found the Timbuk2 website last night, and that create your own bag is so awesome. I asked him a little bit more about it this morning and he was saying that he really doesn''t want me to spend a lot because he treats his bags really badly. So he said under $50 which I''m not really comfortable with, but I''m just going to try to see whats out there.

I really like the LLBean one, but I''d have to get it in blue, and I''m not sure if he''d like that, but dangit, it''s still on the list, because it''s a great price and looks like a nice bag. (Plus LLBean is awesome, so that helps too!)

What do you think of this one: Bag link The Jansport description is here: Link

 

[Dreamgirl]

What about the black Eddie Bauer messenger briefcase? It''s on the top right of the link. Too big?
http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Bags--Gear/Backpacks--Messengers/index.cat?viewAll=y&referringurl=http%3A//www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Bags--Gear/index.cat#ppl=%7Btype%3A%22hide%22%7D

 

[baby monster]

Check out ebay - you can find a new bag under 50 there.

 

[FrekeChild]

Dreamgirl-I''m really liking the EB one you posted, right now that''s what I''m leaning towards. I had an EB backpack in high school and that thing is still kicking-twelve years later. Plus, it''s over what he budgeted for me (

) but not by much. And I think it''s pretty much ideal. So thank you!!!

(I still want to custom make one of those TimBuk2 ones, but I think he''d kill me if he found out how much it would cost.)

 

[Dreamgirl]

Your welcome. I thought of looking at their website because I have a bag similar but smaller that is black. I bring it to work as my sort of briefcase type bag. No laptop though. I got mine at the EB outlet store near my house.

I was on a long search for a bag like this myself. Im talking MONTHS looking for something that was smaller than your usual laptop bag (cause again, no laptop.) lol I only wanted something for papers, a bottle of water, flash drives, mp3 player, work keys.

If you go to the store, they may also have some other marked down ones too.

 

[FrekeChild]

Ok so I went to the store because my mom called it for me (she''s a rock star) and they had one of them left-so I checked it out and bought it. Going to the dang store saved me $20 in tax and shipping fees, so I''m a happy camper. I just hope he likes it!! Thanks again Dreamgirl!!!

(And what did you end up buying to hole your stuff?

 

[Dreamgirl]

Your welcome! Glad you go the last one. I love helping others, it makes me so happy!

Its a black bag about 12in long by 9in high. It has a top flap that goes over it with a strap to put across my shoulder. I didn't want it to look like a back packy/school child type bag since it was for work. So I think it looks like something someone would take to work. It works pretty good. My boyfriend even gave me a coupon to use so I ended up with quite a good deal on it too.

 

[kcoursolle]

This one will fit a 14in laptop, but probably not a 15 in laptop: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod91914161&catId=cat303113

This one is leather and really professional looking, but slightly out of budget: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod70636161&catId=cat303113

Here is a similar leather one: http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/product.do?cid=30847&pid=375296&scid=375296002

A few other messanger bags from BR: http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/category.do?cid=30845

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/1/2008 1:10:48 AM
Author: kcoursolle
This one will fit a 14in laptop, but probably not a 15 in laptop: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod91914161&catId=cat303113
This one is leather and really professional looking, but slightly out of budget: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod70636161&catId=cat303113
Here is a similar leather one: http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/product.do?cid=30847&pid=375296&scid=375296002
A few other messanger bags from BR: http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/category.do?cid=30845

Wow those are beautiful bags!!!I ended up getting him the Eddie Bauer one, because he told me that he didn''t want me to spend more than $50, but I ended up "splurging" on the $68 one. He is really really hard on his bags (his backpack has been torn, highlighted and pretty much destroyed) so what I''ve decided is that when he finishes his PhD, I''m going to go ahead and buy him a fabulous leather one and I''m definitely going to need help finding that one-and the ones that you posted are absolutely gorgeous!!! I certainly hope that he can make this one last that long (2-3 years). But thank you for your help!