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The Perfect Bag: It does everything but make you fly.
One of the things that I have always been a huge fan of is the idea of "the perfect bag." It's like my personal quest for the Holy Grail.
As many of you know, if you carry around a handheld gaming device as well as your other stuff (wallet, keys, cell phone, etc), it can be impossible to find something that does this without being horribly bulky, ugly as sin, or prohibitively expensive. And I've had my share of a lot of these types of bags.
Seeing as many of the people who frequent this site are male, you may protest, "But aren't those PURSES?! MEN DO NOT WEAR PURSES!"
The truth of the matter is that Indiana Jones, adventurer extraordinaire was a proud owner of a so-called "man-bag." Guys can not only look stylish, but they can minimize the possibility of their favorite smart phone going through the wash by keeping all their best stuff in a nice, stylish bag.
Now, I'm not really interested in girly bags all that much (although the Googims bag shown at the top of the page is a marked exception), but I would like to post a couple of bags that I personally think would be great for the average gamer on the go who enjoys gaming without having to buy some huge bulky messenger bag.
I'll be posting sources too, so if there is anything you really like, you can click on the link to be redirected to the site I found it at.
#1 on my list is a bag that I really want to get, but it's kind of expensive, so I'm saving up for it.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/tumi/t3-top-zip-cross-body/201792?productid=10102526#%23
The best part about this bag is that it clings to your body and is made out of some of the most durable material ever (I have a Tumi bag that looks slightly different that I was able to get at Ross for a discounted price and it looks amazing even 5 years later). It has a ton of pockets, which is perfect for if you have an iPad, smartphone, handheld gaming system, etc. The best part is that everything seems to get secured because of the organizational pockets inside of each zip compartment. Tumi is best known for great travel accessories and they have a patented barcode on the inside that can help you get your bag back if it is lost.
For someone who wants something a little more feminine, I suggest this variation:
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/tumi/sumatra-crossbody/130929?productid=10126438#%23
The pockets on front are a little different, but it also hugs the body really well and the lighter color is perfect for the summer.
Googims Mini Cross Body Bag
Source: http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/105201769/GOOGIMS_313_J_FLY_Mini_Cross.html
A good style for a carefree look. Googims is based in Korea, so you will probably be one of the only people in the Western Hemisphere with this bag if you decide to get one. The semi-leathery look is very professional!
Googims Fly Cross Body Bag
Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/GOOGIMS-307-BL-FLY-TOTE-CROSS-BAG-27-15cm-ORIGINAL-NEW-/220718108468?pt=US_CSA_MWA_Backpacks&hash=item3363d30f34#ht_3757wt_1189
I own two of these in two different colors (blue and black) and they are amazing. They are water-resistant with a really high quality material that you can literally wipe off ink with little to no work, have both an extender for a cross-body look or a shoulder bag/handle that you can use. Plus it comes with a free change purse (I use it for my digital camera), and a hook for your keys. I got one in red for my sister and she uses it a lot, especially when she goes jogging. I can fit my wallet, my game system (PSP or DS), cell phone, keys, and a couple of other small items without it being too overly full.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/mobile-edge/mini-messenger-gadget-bag/83786?productid=1088659
I own one of these and I bought my husband one as a gift. He uses his more than I do (almost every day at some points), but it is big enough for a laptop while also being compact enough to carry around without feeling significant back strain. This also has an insane amount of pockets, including a couple hidden pockets and a padded large pocket for a large piece of electronic equipment (laptop or ipad). I like how it has a compartment for pretty much anything you could ever think to carry, including a zip pocket on the front that you can put a music player in and a special hole for your headphones to come through it.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/timbuk2/minnie-rae-shoulder-bag/210738?productid=10127244
This is another smaller bag that would probably be more "feminine" than the average guy would feel comfortable wearing, but it's still got a lot of pockets, and I'm kind of thinking that I want to add this to my list of owned bags. It would probably be perfect for my GBA micro and cell phone, and I might even be able to fit my DS in the larger pocket area.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/derek-alexander/northsouth-top-zip-shoulder-bag/83720?productid=1087635
This one is another multi-pocketed bags that would be pretty good for anyone. The inside of the bag appears to be lighter in color, to help you see inside when you're looking for your stuff. I'm not one for name brands, but this bag is fairly well priced for the quality of the material used.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/caribee/large-global-organizer/136195?productid=1353137
This bag is made out of extra strong weave material and it has a top handle as well that makes it easier to maneuver the bag. In this model, the inside is a light golden color, which makes finding the stuff you put in all of those many pockets much easier indeed. This one looks a little fatter than the other ones, but for those of you who like to carry around manual cameras and camcorders (apparently there's a huge movement in the film camera movement right now, especially among hipsters), this would be the perfect bag.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/ben-sherman/canvas-commuter/146698?productid=10008352
This is a lot lighter than most of the other bags (can you tell that I like black?), but this bag looks so very masculine and stylish. When you open up the big flap, there's a smaller flap right in front that would be perfect sized for a handheld gaming system or smartphone. Plus, the lighter color would probably be better for your electronics in the hot summer heat as well, because the light canvas color keeps things cooler.
Source: http://www.ebags.com/product/ameribag/healthy-back-bag-tote-polysuede-extra-small/72777?productid=908379
I own two of these (one in distressed nylon and one in polysuede). I love to wear them VERY MUCH. They're a total back-saver, and have a silver inside lining on each bag so you can really see inside. You can also carry all sorts of stuff inside-I had enough pockets in there to carry my PSP, DS, wallet, and still have a bunch of extra room! The outside pocket is what I used for my cellphone for easy access, and the inside zipper is pretty much theft-proof. It has an outer side pocket, which I use for my daily planner and a zip pocket below that. The strap has a slip-proof part on it, so it doesn't slip sideways or off the shoulder when you're wearing it. All in all, a great bag for wearing a lot of stuff with a minimal amount of back pain from the weight displacement.
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Anyway, so I was wondering, what sort of bags do you carry (if any)? Do you have any recommendations for a gamer girl on the quest for the perfect bag?
Are any of these bags something that you think you'd wear if you were carrying around a handheld?
And, finally, which one of these bags is your favorite?
As far as I'm concerned, a different sort of bag is useful for different situations. For example, I like to wear my Tumi cross-body bag because it sits at my hip and has a velcro pocket in the front that is perfectly sized for my video game system. This is especially helpful since I often have a small child in my arms and it can be difficult to reach my keys unless they're attached to my bag on the outside.
Your thoughts as always, are much appreciated!