Comments on: Dear Gear Diary… http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: n0dozhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27173 n0doz Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:50:35 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27173 You're welcome Alison. Think Lowepro sling bag with a computer pocket on the back and 2 shoulder straps instead of 1, and that's the Fastpack. You’re welcome Alison. Think Lowepro sling bag with a computer pocket on the back and 2 shoulder straps instead of 1, and that’s the Fastpack.

]]> By: Alsicolehttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27152 Alsicole Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:23:55 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27152 n0doz, thanks for that recommendation. I've actually got a Lowepro sling bag at the moment which I like but which doesn't have a proper pocket for my laptop. I'll definitely check this one out as it's quite a bit cheaper than the Crumpler leather one I've seen (although the Crumpler one is very pretty). Oh! Decisions, decision! n0doz, thanks for that recommendation. I’ve actually got a Lowepro sling bag at the moment which I like but which doesn’t have a proper pocket for my laptop. I’ll definitely check this one out as it’s quite a bit cheaper than the Crumpler leather one I’ve seen (although the Crumpler one is very pretty). Oh! Decisions, decision!

]]> By: n0dozhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27110 n0doz Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:31:56 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27110 Those bags are nice but I have the perfect laptop-camera-gadget bag: the new Lowepro Fastpack 250. The 250 accommodates a 15.4" laptop, 1 or 2 DSLRs with a couple of lenses, and has a huge pouch for other gadgets....at $89.95 over at B&H Photo, it's a steal. I looked for months, purchased all sorts of bags, and was generally disappointed with my daily carry combinations until this bag became available. I carry a laptop, a Targus AC/DC power source, Nikon D50 with 2 lenses, extra battery and extra SD cards, several packs of filters, a full-size flash unit, mini tripod, 2 portable hard drives, Creative X-Fi, SanDisk Sansa, GPS, Uniden scanner (all with cables,) FM transmitter, XM radio, Radio Shack 3-socket 12v adapter, misc connectors in a bag, and a couple of space blankets....and still have room for more. According to my bathroom scale, it weighs 22 lbs fully loaded. The camera section has the same huge opening as the Lowepro camera sling bags, which open from one side and go all the way across the entire camera compartment. It has the re-configurable dividers. The computer section zips top to bottom on one side. The gadget pouch zips over the entire section; the flap folds over for easier access. There are 2 covered pouches and a mesh pocket on the back wall. There's a cell pocket on one shoulder strap (too small for my Moto Q) and a mesh pocket on the side for a water bottle, etc. I love this bag. I carry all this stuff and sometimes more every day for work, and the bag is ideal. Lowepro also makes the Fastpack 350 for laptops up to 17", a bag that has an even bigger camera section, that B&H sells for $112. (I mention B&H because at the time I bought mine, they were the only store that carried the product in the US.) Those bags are nice but I have the perfect laptop-camera-gadget bag: the new Lowepro Fastpack 250.
The 250 accommodates a 15.4″ laptop, 1 or 2 DSLRs with a couple of lenses, and has a huge pouch for other gadgets….at $89.95 over at B&H Photo, it’s a steal.
I looked for months, purchased all sorts of bags, and was generally disappointed with my daily carry combinations until this bag became available.
I carry a laptop, a Targus AC/DC power source, Nikon D50 with 2 lenses, extra battery and extra SD cards, several packs of filters, a full-size flash unit, mini tripod, 2 portable hard drives, Creative X-Fi, SanDisk Sansa, GPS, Uniden scanner (all with cables,) FM transmitter, XM radio, Radio Shack 3-socket 12v adapter, misc connectors in a bag, and a couple of space blankets….and still have room for more. According to my bathroom scale, it weighs 22 lbs fully loaded.
The camera section has the same huge opening as the Lowepro camera sling bags, which open from one side and go all the way across the entire camera compartment. It has the re-configurable dividers.
The computer section zips top to bottom on one side. The gadget pouch zips over the entire section; the flap folds over for easier access. There are 2 covered pouches and a mesh pocket on the back wall. There’s a cell pocket on one shoulder strap (too small for my Moto Q) and a mesh pocket on the side for a water bottle, etc.
I love this bag. I carry all this stuff and sometimes more every day for work, and the bag is ideal.
Lowepro also makes the Fastpack 350 for laptops up to 17″, a bag that has an even bigger camera section, that B&H sells for $112. (I mention B&H because at the time I bought mine, they were the only store that carried the product in the US.)

]]> By: disamuelhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27106 disamuel Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:36:38 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27106 I've spent my life looking for a perfect gadget bag that will let me carry all of my tech gear, but most bags seem to come up a bit short. I've been using the Swiss Gear Maxxum backpack for the past three years, including several international flights, and I've never had an issue with size. I just purchased a MacBook, and it is a bit small for the laptop compartment. However since I'm such a fanatic, I keep the Macbook in a Civilian Labs case, and then it fits into the backpack perfectly. You can see the backpack here: http://www.amazon.com/MAXXUM-SwissGear-Wenger-Computer-Backpack/dp/B0007QCT0G And you can see the Civilian labs case here: http://www.amazon.com/Civilian-Radiator-Laptop-Sleeve-Shoulder/dp/B0010SHT7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206632120&sr=1-1 Enjoy your vacation! David I’ve spent my life looking for a perfect gadget bag that will let me carry all of my tech gear, but most bags seem to come up a bit short. I’ve been using the Swiss Gear Maxxum backpack for the past three years, including several international flights, and I’ve never had an issue with size. I just purchased a MacBook, and it is a bit small for the laptop compartment. However since I’m such a fanatic, I keep the Macbook in a Civilian Labs case, and then it fits into the backpack perfectly.

You can see the backpack here:

http://www.amazon.com/MAXXUM-SwissGear-Wenger-Computer-Backpack/dp/B0007QCT0G

And you can see the Civilian labs case here:

http://www.amazon.com/Civilian-Radiator-Laptop-Sleeve-Shoulder/dp/B0010SHT7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206632120&sr=1-1

Enjoy your vacation!

David

]]> By: Judie Lipsetthttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27102 Judie Lipsett Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:06:56 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/26/dear-gear-diary-11/#comment-27102 This morning I had an email from Alison with a Crumpler bag she had found that's available on their UK site - feast your eyes on this: http://www.crumpler.co.uk/?product=Limited_Leather_Daily&colour=dark_red/white&page=details&product_id=DALEALTD-003&size= <blockquote>External: 38x29x23 cm; Laptop pouch fits 12'', 13''W, 14'' & some 15'' W. Photo pouch: 2 camera bodies+4 lenses & accessories</blockquote> There are several delicious color combinations to choose from; I like the off white the best, but the dark red is probably more practical. ;-) This morning I had an email from Alison with a Crumpler bag she had found that’s available on their UK site – feast your eyes on this:

http://www.crumpler.co.uk/?product=Limited_Leather_Daily&colour=dark_red/white&page=details&product_id=DALEALTD-003&size=

External: 38x29x23 cm; Laptop pouch fits 12”, 13”W, 14” & some 15” W.
Photo pouch: 2 camera bodies+4 lenses & accessories

There are several delicious color combinations to choose from; I like the off white the best, but the dark red is probably more practical. ;-)

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