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Cocoon Bags: For the OC in All of Us

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:30:06 +0000

So totally into Cocoon Innovations’ offerings. From all appearances, they mix distinctive minimalism and practicality, and these bags promise infinite customization through the marketed GRID-IT system. Basically a weave of elastic cloth bands, GRID-IT allows the owner to arrange their entire gadget arsenal—and the accompanying cords—neatly, in apparently any way they want. You just pull a band up, place the gadget or cord underneath it, and let go. Think of it as the portable version of the decluttered setup, but much easier to change on the fly.

Cocoon’s CPS400 messenger bag easily catches my attention, thanks to its laptop container designed to hold 15.4″ portables. I’m a bit worried about my smaller XPS M1330 sliding around inside, but the manufacturer confidently assures that the “non-slip design” will keep everything in place. At a relatively low price of $70, the CPS400 comes in Black, Jet Black, Brown, Red, Gray, Light Gray, and White, from cocooninnovations.com.

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$44.50 Laptop Backpack Seems Better Than “Steal-Me!” Counterparts

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:30:29 +0000

Yes, we’ve already shown that expensive cases like camera bags have their very affordable alternatives. Here’s something we found through Philippine affiliate Technograph.

Yes, this humble offering from Hawk features the usual padding and compartments that characterize its pricier counterparts, including a hanging pouch for a 13.3″ laptop and space for secondary gadgets like the iPod and the PSP. On top of that, this backpack also has a waterproof sheath, connected to the bag itself by a garterized strap, that tucks away into a zipperized compartment at the bottom when not needed. Definitely a plus for the commuter!

Another mass-transit-oriented amenity is the hidden compartment, just below where the backpack straps meet the top of the bag. There’s no quick and easy way to open this pouch while the bag is worn properly.

Looks like the third-world economic model of cheap labor and low cost of living have worked for Hawk, the manufacturer of said bag. Why can’t companies in developed countries emulate the same economics, at least at a scale lower than the current average set by flashy branding and marketing?

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Finally! A Compact Crumpler! Still Expensive Though…

Rico Mossesgeld — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:00:26 +0000

Once upon a time, I got duped into buying a Crumpler for my 15″ laptop (the somewhat appropriately named Dreadful Embarrassment). No doubt, a Crumpler is trendy, but my experience with them so far is all bulk and barely any function. It didn’t help that the aforementioned Dreadful Embarrassment has no padding: during a sudden auto stop, the bag flew from the seat, with my laptop bearing the brunt of the impact as everything landed on the floor.

In any case, maybe my stance on Crumplers can change, because the Gadgenista recently featured the Albert Crunch, a more compact-looking bag the seems to offer ample padding. Check out the rundown here, and worry with me about the $160 price tag!

Photo credit: Crumpler Bags

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