Bags for fun, bags for function

With the proliferation of gadgets that working professionals cannot seem to do without, a simple briefcase or handbag is no longer enough.

But every individual has his own idea of what a perfect bag is. What is right for one person may be too big or too small for another. Or it may have too few pockets, be absolutely the wrong colour or just wrong for the occasion.

But some general rules can still be applied. Here are some guidelines you may find useful in hunting down that perfect bag in which to stuff your tablet, laptop and camera.

Size

Small is not always beautiful. Bag size is relative to your physical stature and the size of the gear that you simply cannot do without.

You do not want to look like a primary school kid lugging an oversized bag. And if you have downsized from a 15-inch laptop to a 13-inch model, you will not want the smaller laptop to be doing a jig in your bag during your commute.

Style

Some prefer the convenience of a sling messenger bag which allows easy access to one's things. But a backpack is kinder to your shoulders and back. Perhaps the solution is one that can do double duty such as the Qwstion Office (For Laptops).

A bag with wheels will also take the weight off your shoulders. This is suitable for people who carry plenty of gear, such as DSLR bodies, lenses and a laptop. A good example is the Think Tank Photo Airport Navigator (For Camera Gear).

Protection

Ultimately, you have to feel that your precious and pricey gadgets are secure. More protection equals more padding, which means more bulk.

Does you bag need to be just splash-proof or totally waterproof? Leather looks great but it will not resist a dunking, while waterproof materials, such as tarpaulin, look more industrial, trading sexiness for protection.

Pockets

Are you a pocket addict? Must you have a special place for everything, from your ez-link card to your water bottle?

Or perhaps, you are the sort who is content to chuck everything into the bag and do a "lucky draw" each time you need to find something.

Pocket fiends should take a closer look at the Nomadic Classic 2-Way Tote (For Tablets ). While others can consider the Chrome Bravo Night or Cote&Ciel Isar Rucksack California (For Laptops ).

There are those who will not hesitate to spend thousands on a designer laptop bag, while others flinch at paying more than $100 for a daily holdall.

If you plan to use the bag every day, you may be prepared to invest in something more durable.

Buyers on a budget can always look to more affordable bags such as Targus' $79 Citylite II Ultra laptop backpack (For Laptops ).

What is certain is that you need to visit the shops, such as Cumulus, Slurplife or Cathay Photo, and try on the bags for yourself. Think through what you need your bag to hold and take your gear with you when you test drive the bags.

To help you get started, we have rounded up a good selection of tablet, laptop and camera bags.

trevtan@sph.com.sg

FOR TABLETS

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Moleskine Reporter Bag / $171

This bag is not made for tablets. However, its delicious design is just too exquisite to exclude from this round-up.

The bag features the signature elastic strap found in Moleskine's legendary notebooks, which you use to close and secure the main flap. The bag may look delicate but it has a rigid base which allows it to stand.

The interior easily fits a 10-inch tablet, notebooks, a 500ml water bottle, a compact camera and still have room for a few small items. There is also a zippered pocket for you to put your keys and valuables.

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Bluelounge Bonobo iPad Sling / $89

The Bluelounge Bonobo iPad Sling is a good-looking bag that happens to be environmentally friendly. Its fabric is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.

Its main compartment easily accommodates up to a 10-inch tablet and a big notepad. Its flap has magnetic snap closure which makes it easy to open quickly and quietly.

A front pocket can accommodate a charger, cables or other accessories. The bag's skinny and sleek profile makes it a breeze to carry around, even in a crowd. It comes in black, rust and grey ($90).

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Manhattan Portage Woolrich City Lights (Buffalo Check) / $109

This 30th anniversary edition of the Manhattan Portage bag features the Woolrich signature buffalo check wool fabric which is made in Woolrich, Pennsylvania, United States.

This beautiful fabric is paired with hard-wearing Cordura, which is made to be resistant to tearing, scuffing and abrasion.

The bag has a large compartment that is big enough to hold your tablet, a paperback novel and other accessories. A small zippered front pocket provides quick access to your keys and ez-link card.

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Nomadic Classic 2-Way Tote / $199

Although this is called a tote bag, you can also sling it. The Nomadic Classic 2-Way Tote is the biggest tablet bag of the lot here and offers all the features you could want.

Its main compartment will happily store two broadsheet newspapers. Here, a padded pocket easily fits in a 10-inch tablet. In addition, there is a zippered pocket which can accommodate A4-sized files and documents.

The 2-Way Tote has a rear sleeve and a smaller front sleeve. Two side mesh pockets come in handy for a foldable umbrella and a slim 750ml bottle.

It is available in camel (above), blue or black.

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Defy First Class mini / $289

If ruggedness is what you crave, you should look at this bag. It uses military-grade water-resistant tarpaulin vinyl-canvas. The bag's two brass AustriAlpin Cobra Quick Release buckles are the kind used by US Special Forces. The bag's maker claims that the bag is virtually indestructible.

Inside is a main pocket that fits an Apple iPad Air, with three small pockets that are each suitable for a 5.3-inch smartphone or small battery pack.

On the bag's front are two small pockets which are just right for slotting in your ez-link card, credit cards or business cards.

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Cambridge Satchel 11-inch Satchel / $249

For the fashion- conscious, this bag is a timeless accessory you can take anywhere.

Handmade using high-quality leather, it features a double buckled-strap closure on the front flap and an adjustable shoulder strap with a nickel-plated buckle.

The main compartment will fit an Apple iPad Air nicely with space to spare for your purse or wallet. There is also a front pocket which can hold your smartphone or accessories.

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Booq Cobra Courier XS / $178

This all-black tablet bag will not look out of place in a conference room or at your favourite cafe.

It has a leather flap with a nylon exterior that is water-repellent and its base is rubberised and water-resistant.

Inside, there is a snugly padded pocket for your 10-inch tablet and slip pockets for your 4.5-inch smartphone, wallet or pens. A zippered pocket in the front has room for your charger and cables.

At the back is an open pocket which is wide enough to hold a magazine. There is also a detachable key ring.

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Monofold Tablet Sling Bag / $149

This sling bag, which is made in South Korea, has hidden handles which you can use to turn it into a tote.

The main flap has a zippered opening but you can also close it down using the front hook. Inside the main compartment is a pocket which can hold a tablet of up to 9.9 inches.

Two front pockets and a rear zippered pocket will hold the rest of your daily necessities.

You can get it in camouflage print, purple and black.

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Hellolulu Harper / $99

This bag is perfect for carrying your tablet and other life essentials for casual outings or weekend escapes. Its nylon and polyester fabric is lightweight and water-resistant.

The bag's flap has a zippered opening and a quick-release stud for access to the main compartment.

Inside, there is space for your headphones, a 500ml bottle and even two paperback novels. It also has a fully padded pocket designed to fit a 10-inch tablet. It is available in charcoal, blue or pink.

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STM Blazer for iPad / $49

Despite being the cheapest bag in this round-up, it is no slouch in terms of features.

The bag has a main padded compartment which can fit up to a 10-inch tablet. In the front is a zippered pocket for cables and a slot for your 4-inch smartphone.

On one side, there is a comfortable quick-grab handle. If you want to use it as just a tablet sleeve, just remove the adjustable shoulder strap and slip it into a bigger bag.

FOR LAPTOPS

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Chrome Bravo Night / $319

If you ride a bicycle or motorcycle to work, this backpack will make you more visible.

It has a full 3M reflective panel which can be seen from as far away as 100m at night, boosting your visibility when you are on the road after sundown.

This versatile roll-top backpack can expand from a compact 20 litres to a put-in-everything 40-litre giant.

The bag's front has an easily accessible padded laptop sleeve which can fit anything up to a 15-inch laptop, leaving your main compartment free so you can stuff in a change of clothes or your gymwear.

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Marc By Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Gamma Ray Print 13-inch Computer Commuter / $200

Looking to fit your 13-inch laptop into a fashionable bag?

This designer bag's mesmerising graphics will surely spice up your daily commute, while its zippered and padded laptop compartment will ensure that your laptop survives any knocks from fellow commuters.

It also sports an exterior flap pocket with hook-and-loop closure.

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Jack Spade Field Canvas Backpack / $770

Inspired by World War II bags, this backpack is equally suitable for the office as well as a weekend road trip. Its coated cotton body resists water and abrasion.

It has three easy-access external zippered compartments - one in front and two at the sides.

The main compartment sports a top opening with a leather loop drawstring closure. Inside, there is a pocket for a laptop of up to 17 inches.

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Cote&Ciel Isar Rucksack California (Sonoma Pink) / $359

Stylish and practical, this great-looking backpack can accommodate your 15-inch laptop and daily necessities.

Designed with a unique shape, asymmetrical lines and vibrant colours, its water-repellent waxed cotton-based canvas makes sure the contents of your bag stay dry.

There is a big compartment in front which you can expand by adjusting a side buckle. The bag's rear is the laptop compartment. It opens towards you like a clam's shell, allowing easy access.

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Mission Workshop The Monty / $229

Made in the United States, this weather-proof messenger bag has a roll-top compartment in which you can stuff all your daily essentials.

A front zip pocket is large enough to fit a 13-inch laptop. A separate pocket in the main compartment will accommodate a laptop of up to 15 inches. Two quick access cargo pockets in front are each large enough to hold a 5.5-inch phablet.

It has an internal double-zippered pocket for securing your valuables and features a detachable cross-chest stabiliser that allows for a better fit and lightens the load on your shoulder.

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Targus Citylite II Ultra Backpack / $79

This affordable backpack might look nondescript, but it offers an anti-theft system.

Its main and secondary compartments each have a safety hook tucked inside a pocket to secure the zipper when closed, making it difficult for a pickpocket to open the bag.

A secret pocket in the back panel stores your valuables.

The main compartment has a pocket which fits up to a 15.6-inch laptop and a separate pocket for a 10-inch tablet.

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Qwstion Office (Washed Grey) / $369

The Qwstion Office is probably the most versatile bag in this round-up. It looks professional and elegant, like a normal office laptop bag. But it can also be used as a backpack and transformed into a messenger bag.

The main compartment has sleeves for your documents, Apple iPad mini, pens and battery charger.

It has a dedicated zippered laptop compartment which fits up to a 17-inch laptop. It is available in washed black, grey (above) and navy blue.

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Porter Yoshida Kaban Heat Canvas Messenger Bag / $874, from mrporter.com

Black, sleek and stylish, this messenger bag will resist heat, tearing and friction because it is made from a material which is also used to make air bags and bulletproof vests.

Its base is made of an industrial-grade tarpaulin that allows the bag to stand wherever it is placed.

On the front runs a band that is stitched to the bag at regular intervals to create neat loop-like holders to which accessories such as a key ring and a Maglite flashlight can be attached.

Zippered pockets on the flap and in the main compartment provide easy storage for a 4-inch smartphone and accessories.

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Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag 2014 / $139 (small), $155 (medium), $169 (large)

Timbuk2 has updated its Classic Messenger Bag with a new refined look, updated fit and smarter organisation.

Inside the main compartment are two water bottle pockets, in addition to a laptop pocket. In front is a zippered pocket with a hidden key ring.

The bag has a new shoulder strap with a curved air mesh pad for increased comfort. It comes in a multitude of colour combinations and sizes. The small holds a 13-inch laptop while the large can hold a 17-inch one.

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Tylt Energi+ Backpack / $299

The Tylt Energi+ Backpack is the ideal bag for a road warrior who needs plenty of juice. It features a 10,400mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery with two 1Amp USB ports for charging smartphones and a 2.1Amp USB port for charging a tablet.

You can route cables to any one of the five external pockets or two internal pockets to charge devices while you are on the move.

The bag has a dedicated compartment for a 17-inch laptop and a separate tablet compartment for a 10-inch device. It also has a nearly hidden band that can be slotted over the luggage handle. It has a hidden pocket for a 500ml bottle.

FOR CAMERA GEAR

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Vanguard Up-Rise II 33 / $209

This messenger camera bag is probably the most versatile one in this round-up.

Its main compartment has padded inserts and can be configured to hold a DSLR camera with lens fitted, a flash and two additional lenses. A separate pocket allows you to store a 13-inch laptop.

A zipper on top of the front flap lets you access your camera quickly to capture life's fleeting moments.

On the bag's front, there are zippered pockets which can hold 4-inch smartphones, name cards and smaller ones for memory cards.

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Lowepro Passport Sling II / $65

Travelling light? This bag is designed to carry only the essentials.

The main compartment has room for a DSLR camera with a lens attached, plus an extra lens or a flash. Or it can fit in a mirrorless camera with attached zoom lens and two extra lenses.

The side sling means you can access your photographic gear easily. Plus, it has external pockets to fit a 500ml bottle, your passport and air tickets.

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Think Tank Photo Airport Navigator / $329

This rolling camera bag will lighten the load on your shoulders and back.

Its main compartment can hold two professional DSLR camera bodies with lenses fitted, with room for three or four more lenses. There are also dedicated pockets for a 10-inch tablet and a 15-inch laptop.

Yet, the bag meets carry-on requirements for most international flights.

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F-Stop Millar Smokey Mountain Backpack / $178

This backpack has a simple vintage look, but its modern zippered clamshell design allows you easy access to your photographic equipment.

The lower compartment can hold a DSLR body and as many as three lenses. To access this compartment, just unzip the mid-section. The padded camera insert can be removed so the backpack can be used as an everyday bag.

The upper compartment has room for other stuff, including extra clothing and gym shoes.

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Kata Bumblebee UL-222 / $549

This bag will not transform into a robot, but it has double compartments for your camera and personal items.

The lower compartment has enough room for a professional DSLR with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached, an additional DSLR body, three lenses and flash. The upper compartment lets you stuff in a change of clothes, while a front pocket can accommodate a wallet, passport and batteries.

There is a rear slot for you to insert a 17-inch laptop. In addition, there is a sling for your tripod.

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National Geographic P5090 Medium Backpack / $335

Made from high-quality suede and canvas, this backpack has a top flap secured by a custom aluminium magnetic buckle.

A lower padded main compartment holds a DSLR camera fitted with a lens, three additional lenses and a flash. The main upper compartment holds personal items such as clothing, while two side organiser pockets can hold smaller items such as a wallet, batteries and a 4-inch smartphone. On the bag's rear, there is a padded zippered compartment which can hold a 15.4-inch laptop.

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Domke F-2 Shooter's Bag Ruggedwear / $344

Many photojournalists use this bag. It is designed to hug the hip and allows easy access to equipment.

The new Ruggedwear series - available in black and brown - is made of water-resistant canvas.

There are six pockets, including a four-pocket padded insert in the main compartment, while two side pockets and two front pockets allow easy access to flash and memory cards.

The bag is large enough to hold two professional DSLR camera bodies.

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Aide De Camp Camera Bag (Elvie) / $279

This stylish bag might look like a handbag, but it is actually a camera bag at heart.

It has padded compartments for a DSLR camera body, a lens, a flash and other camera accessories.

If you remove the padding, it works like a regular handbag.

This is great when you are travelling and want a bag which can hold heavy equipment and be used for a shopping trip.

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Manfrotto Bravo 50 Backpack Dove Stile / $199

Manfrotto may be more famous for its tripods, but its camera bags have been making inroads recently.

Its Bravo 50 looks minimalist but it is a full-service multi-functional bag.

It will hold a professional DSLR camera with lens attached and an extra lens. There is also a slip pocket that will hold a 15-inch laptop.

In addition, there are internal zippered pockets for your keys and wallet. A quick-draw zippered pocket on the main flap provides easy access to a 4-inch smartphone or an MP3 player.

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Brady Lei / $499

Brady was founded in 1877 in Britain, and its bags are still handmade today in Walsall, England. Skilled craftsmen cut, sew and bind leather using traditional methods and its bags are made to withstand years of use.

The Brady Lei Camera Bag, however, was designed in Singapore. It is produced in extremely limited quantities for only the local market.

The Lei can accommodate a DSLR camera body with three or four lenses.

This article was published on April 9 in Digital Life, The Straits Times.

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