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Geeky messenger bag!
Corak
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Okay, this may be an odd topic, but I am looking for advice on a messenger bag. I need some kind of bag to carry around to classes (in college), books, laptop, etc, as well as something to carry around at cons and other geeky gatherings.
I was given the idea to get some sort of canvas messenger bag and cover it with geeky patches, now... which bag? And which patches?
At the moment I am looking at L.L. Bean, Sunwashed Canvas Bag, but I am open to suggestions... I know plenty of you carry these things around, I saw you at PAX! So speak up!
Then of course... what sort of geeky patches to put on? This is mostly up to me, of course, but I'll show you what I've gathered thus far as options, feel free to give me more ideas (I'll even update the OP)
Star Wars: Either Imperial or Rebel Logo
Star Wars: Boba Fett's Mandalorian Logo
Lost: Dharma (Swan, Pearl, etc)
Transformers: Autobot or Decepticon
WoW: Warlock (in my case), Alliance or Horde
Aliens: Some sort of Weyland-Yutani patch
Those can all fairly easily be found on Amazon and such... I would also LOVE to find Half-life related patches (Combine, Black Mesa, Aperture, etc), and love even more to find Bungie's Marathon related (you know, that pre-Halo game they made).
I was given the idea to get some sort of canvas messenger bag and cover it with geeky patches, now... which bag? And which patches?
At the moment I am looking at L.L. Bean, Sunwashed Canvas Bag, but I am open to suggestions... I know plenty of you carry these things around, I saw you at PAX! So speak up!
Then of course... what sort of geeky patches to put on? This is mostly up to me, of course, but I'll show you what I've gathered thus far as options, feel free to give me more ideas (I'll even update the OP)
Star Wars: Either Imperial or Rebel Logo
Star Wars: Boba Fett's Mandalorian Logo
Lost: Dharma (Swan, Pearl, etc)
Transformers: Autobot or Decepticon
WoW: Warlock (in my case), Alliance or Horde
Aliens: Some sort of Weyland-Yutani patch
Those can all fairly easily be found on Amazon and such... I would also LOVE to find Half-life related patches (Combine, Black Mesa, Aperture, etc), and love even more to find Bungie's Marathon related (you know, that pre-Halo game they made).
I live!
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I'd totally wear a Lost messenger bag. Something with one of the hatch logos like you describe. It looks like a cool design, but Lost fans will get it. I think that's the safe route to go. If you wear a WoW messenger bag with lots of pins, you'll probably get the really annoying guys that you don't want to talk to hanging around you.
I also agree that Half-life patches/pins would be cool. The logos tend to be really cool looking, not just for the geek factor. Those would go with anything.
It's really more of your comfort level wearing stuff like that in public. You might think it looks cool, but then you get lots of stares on the train and you might have second thoughts. Just think it through what level of geekiness you want to display.
for your wow patches:
http://www.jinx.com/world_of_warcraft/patches?tcid=1
Rebel symbol:
http://tinylink.com/?uvoTVdxRqb
For the browncoat in all of us:
http://www.minotaur.com.au/site.asp?action=detail&ID=712614&area=movie
I'd actually be interested in acquiring something in the Aperture colors, but apparently I'm incapable of actually creating this with the creator. Halp?
-edit-
Except that buckle looks annoying on the front, hard to get into.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Edit: And for the record, I totally agree with what Raere said. I have the "You Never Forget Your First Doctor" shirt from Thinkgeek, which I guess everyone here (at school) assumes is some band or something, but which always gets awesome comments from other Doctor Who fans.
I like Jandd bags I have used the same one for five years.
Timbuk2 does make a bag with pads for your laptop and room for other stuff.
For the record (I've actually seen OP in person), the front buckle is not, in fact, a buckle. It snaps right in, the buckle is just for show. The buckle on the STRAP, however, really is, but that doesn't seem like it would ever get used.
As for the public display, well... for the most part, yeah, I'm totally cool with it. And honestly I have other bags for when more professional displays are needed. This is mostly a con bag.
I will start updating OP with links and such... but has anyone actually found Half-life patches? Links would be appreciated... if they exist...
I sure as hell know I'm gonna use it.
Its a pickup with purchase item (while supplies last), and very... very limited quantity
we have around 10 preorders but are only getting 3-5
personally I think the screen printed inner flap looks awful, but the outer logo and red is pretty decent. plus, Timbuk2 bags are awesome.
Oh, then I kinda want it again.
I need to go to the Timbuk2 store and check theirs out one of these days, I've really been meaning to get a messenger bag.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Is it just me, or is Mirror's Edge suddenly missing from EAStore.com?
I can't find it either.
If you're looking for a con bag and want something really custom, just get a regular plain bag. Then go to the con and buy patches/pins/etc to put on it. With the help of some pins, patches, a small plushie, and a pirate-ninja headband, I turned a $15 Wal-mart sling bag into my favorite piece of geek swag. This way, you can choose a bag based on the merits of bag-ness (size, comfort, useful pockets, etc) rather than on design alone.
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/11/26/handsome-leather-sol.html (the best in term of style)
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/08/25/noon-logan-solar-lap.html
http://www.voltaicsystems.com/index.shtml
I like the wordnerd stuff, though. I'm not sure if you're into that.
That bag is kinda sweet though.
Now I'm torn between that and the green canvas one.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Yeah that's my plan this weekend. At least check out the sizes before I order one. (Unless I get that canvas one)
-edit-
Actually after some thought, I want that canvas one.
Now to decide what color...
God I'm picky.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
www.chromebags.com
I've been through a few different kind of messenger bags, and let me tell you something, this bag is fucking awesome. I use it for everything: shopping, camping, going to musical festivals, Cons, Schools, riding my bike, you name it it can do it. It's waterproof, super heavy duty (seriously, I fucking abuse the ever loving shit out of mine and you would never know it) which doesn't really matter because it comes with a life time warranty. I got the metropolis, which is the second biggest one they have, and I just cant seem to be able to throw enough stuff at it to kill it. I could fill the entire thing up with every single textbook, binders, and my notebook, and still have room for lunch. Hell it's big enough to hold a case of beer! The big problem with it? People (sometimes random strangers) will walk up to you, and press the button to see if it works, and the buckle will swing out, smacking them in the body and sending the bag crashing to the ground. Be prepared for this, use the support strap. It's also pricey, but you cant beat the quality. It's got your basic organizer on the front for a pen and stuff, and one big compartment on the inside. You can purchase a padded laptop sleeve from them, and there's also a hidden pocket built right into the seam that is impossible to find (not a bad place to store a DS, etc etc).
For Aperture, I'd probably do a Silver-Black-Slate Blue bag, with Black inside, and Blue logo. Black-Blue-Black for a more refined look.
For Black Mesa, I'd go with Orange-Black-Black, Black inside, Black logo. Or flip, and give it an Orange logo. The Black-Orange-Black looked too much like a pumpkin for me.
Aperture Science:
Or Black Mesa options:
Then just find a corporate logo patch to go on each, where the swirly is.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Well, there seem to be a ton of custom patch places online, and the Black Mesa and Aperture Science logos are pretty simple.
You might have to make a small batch instead of just one or two, but I'd be willing to bet forumers would chip in to make them if they got one too.
I kinda want one now myself.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Wow, I was messing around with customizing bags, without the intention of making a video game themed bag, and all of the ones I liked turned out EXACTLY like that.
I'm seconding the subtle logo stuff. A big WoW patch can be cool, but it's a good way to meet people who you might not want to actually meet.
I've always wanted a Lost (Dharma initiative) Messenger bag, but have never found one. I found this here:http://buzzsugar.com/242162 And think having that logo on a messenger bag would be great. However I dont know where to get something like that.
(http://bagaboo.hu/)
It costs about the same as a timbuk2 bag, but you can specify a exactly the design and colors you want for the bag.
(see this picture for example: http://bagaboo.hu/pictures/messenger/extra3.jpg)
They're really nice bags, and I prefer it over my older timbuk2 bag.
She got it in black.
It's more simple, probably wouldn't hold as much as a college student needs (hundreds of books/laptop/carefully hidden porn mags, etc.)
Hell yeah I'd chip in for that. My bag is an amalgamation of geek, so it would fit right in. Now I just need a place for all the stickers I got.
anywho, just throwing another endorsement for timbuk2, though it is an admittedly shortsighted one.
For stickers I suggest the back of a laptop.
Hmm... maybe I just have a weird thing for covering surfaces...
In college, I got a new dark-gray Gateway laptop.
So naturally, the first thing I did was to make cow spots with white Contact-Paper.