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Madbaker of Bag End
Sep. 19th, 2019 09:04 amIt seems appropriate to be discussing this around Bilbo and Frodo's birthday. When I started working at my current company, I bought a trendy vinyl messenger bag for my laptop, book, and other commute stuff. I had been using a reasonably nice leather briefcase bag, but it got caught in a BART turnstile and ripped to un-usability.
Well, that was nine years ago. The bag is nearing the end of its lifespan - it's already ripped and worn in places. When I went through grad school they gave me a reasonably nice backpack that resurfaced during Project Reorg; I thought that might make a good short-term replacement while I figured out what I wanted and what price range I was willing to pay. (It's much easier to find the perfect item if money is no object.) So I took everything out last night and reshuffled into the backpack.
I don't like it. The weight carries differently, obviously; instead of a padded shoulder strap, it all weighs on the two back straps. It feels much heavier for the same volume of stuff. (I think the backpack itself is heavier than the bag as well.) Since the backpack is significantly smaller it feels much more cramped and stuffed. And I can't get at things as easily (envelopes to mail in the morning, the newspaper to read on the way in, a book on the way home). Also, at my age (and corporate status) I'd now rather have a leather bag than either a vinyl messenger bag or a student-looking backpack.
I'm going to repackage everything back into the messenger bag tonight and start looking for a leather bag. A very quick search last night makes it look like the price range isn't as bad as I feared, so I may be able to find something acceptable more quickly.
Well, that was nine years ago. The bag is nearing the end of its lifespan - it's already ripped and worn in places. When I went through grad school they gave me a reasonably nice backpack that resurfaced during Project Reorg; I thought that might make a good short-term replacement while I figured out what I wanted and what price range I was willing to pay. (It's much easier to find the perfect item if money is no object.) So I took everything out last night and reshuffled into the backpack.
I don't like it. The weight carries differently, obviously; instead of a padded shoulder strap, it all weighs on the two back straps. It feels much heavier for the same volume of stuff. (I think the backpack itself is heavier than the bag as well.) Since the backpack is significantly smaller it feels much more cramped and stuffed. And I can't get at things as easily (envelopes to mail in the morning, the newspaper to read on the way in, a book on the way home). Also, at my age (and corporate status) I'd now rather have a leather bag than either a vinyl messenger bag or a student-looking backpack.
I'm going to repackage everything back into the messenger bag tonight and start looking for a leather bag. A very quick search last night makes it look like the price range isn't as bad as I feared, so I may be able to find something acceptable more quickly.
