Briefcase Bleg

This post from Carl at LITGM reminded me of something. Below is my briefcase. I have had it for the better part of a decade now and it is shot.

Time for a new one. I prefer the soft sided type as I don’t carry a ton of stuff back and forth anymore – typically some papers from work and my checkbook if needed, magazines occasionally, my new Samsung Note pad computer, phone, etc. I also carry a copy of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in there (pocket sized) and a few business cards. I don’t mind paying more for something that is a little higher quality. Any brands you can recommend are appreciated. I like leather but am not opposed to some other material. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

14 thoughts on “Briefcase Bleg”

  1. I recently bought one of these bags, I think the Legacy 17″ Laptop Sleeve. They have smaller models of similar design. It’s pretty good for what it is, has decent padding for the computer and plenty of pockets and sleeves. But leather it’s not.

    One thing that I like about it is that the shoulder straps are securely attached to the body of the case rather than attached with swivels that will dump your computer if they fail.

  2. I prefer a briefcase with hard sides. Placed on my lap it can be used as writing desk. I prefer a brief case large enough to carry 3 bottles of bordeaux wine (which was possible before TSA). Also, hard sides makes it good footrest; it can stop elevator doors from closing and it can be used in self defense. These cases can be both very light and very strongly made.

    The stethoscope rule applies here. If you have a pink one, nobody will take it by accident.

  3. I have a nylon shoulder bag made by JANDD Mountaineering. http://www.jandd.com/

    It has provided me with 15 years of service. It cost less than 100 dollars. It has lots of cool useful side pockets and zippered compartments. It also weighs a lot less than a leather bag.

  4. I’ve always been partial to Coach, because of the customer support and the fact that their classic leather bags last nearly forever. I had a black leather shoulder bag that was authorized as part of the AF uniform, which I carried every day for 23 years, even after I retired from the military. Alas, their leather bags are a bit on the pricy side. They do have some nylon and leather commuter bags which are a bit more reasonable.

  5. Dan from Madison — If you want a really nice leather bag, or possibly might settle for something in cloth, have a look at the bags from Filson of Seattle. Their stuff is horribly, fantastically expensive, but it is also very, very tough, and I would think would last the rest of your natural life, and possibly your children’s and grandchildren’s lives, even if SENS and longevity enhancing medicine come along faster that we think.

    Also, look at the “Tactical Briefcase” from Blackhawk. It is also expensive, but I have actually looked at them in a local Gander Mountain retail store, and they appear stout enough to outlast me.

  6. @Kirk – my smartphone has dramatically decreased the amount of crap I have to lug daily but there are some things that I just have to carry with me, especially when on sales calls, doing spreadsheets, etc.

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