Like a lot of people I occasionally fall under the spell of a consumer product and have to obsess over it. Most of the time I don't end up getting it, but researching and finding the best price at least give me something to do with my boring life.
I recently went through this with the new iPhone 3GS. I didn't get it, which I am glad of because now I am over it.
My new thing is a desire for a man bag, murse, call it what you will. I usually carry everything in my coat pockets, such as work badge, phone, change, mail, book, etc. But now that it is summer I am jacketless. Also hobbling around with a cane due to my back issues complicates matters, as I only have one hand free much of the time.
It is also coming on to my birthday, so that gives me the perfect excuse, right?
I have narrowed it down to a couple of choices from
Timbuk2.
The first is the
Hacker daypack:
See? It will make me a Japanese hipster, too.
The next is the Timbuk2 Covert Reflective Messenger Bag - Medium:
The best price I have found on the Hacker is $69.99, normally it runs $100-120. The messenger is $89, and normally runs about $150.
The Hacker is probably more practical. It has a laptop pocket (although I don't have one right now), has lot of pockets, has a back pad and can be used as a shoulder bag or backpack. It is a vertical format type of bag, which I like also. My only concern is that it might bump my cane hand, which my current bag does sometimes. Of course, hopefully I won't be using that too much longer.
The Messenger is less so. But it looks hella cool. I looked at a similar model at
Alpine Experience on Saturday. It was also a medium messenger, but was the ballistic nylon, not the Covert reflective, which means it is reflective when lights-like headlights-hit it, but is not shiny other times. The yellow panel has special reflective thread woven into it. The colors were reversed on that one, gold on the outsides, black in the middle. It is just a bit too flashy.
Another negative for the Messenger is that it has no top briefcase-type handle. But it does wrap around the back better, which would keep it out of the way of the cane.
Of course it is unlikely I will get either, but I had a lot of fun checking out the different models and options, making a chart of best prices, etc.
Yes, I am a nerd.
And a follow up:
I got the messenger, extra small, in three shades of blue I found it at my local Marshall's for $14.99. The regular price is $65, so what a deal, huh?
So far I am loving it, it holds all my stuff for everyday without being too big, I can get a book and my camera in there no problem.
This is my new thing I want. A Victorinox Explorer Plus Swiss Army knife. I carried a Swiss Army knife on my belt for years and years when I was in a more technical field, but haven't for about 6 years now. Darn workplace rules!
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