a completely frivolous post

[glass_icarus]

Since I am having bag trauma at the moment, you guys can perhaps benefit from my headaching?

The trouble with me and bags is that I am well-indoctrinated by my mother, who believes that having many pockets is THE BEST THING EVER, and I happen to concur. While you may have noticed that I'm not the most organized person (I mean, just look at the contents of this journal!), I am a sucker for good organization systems when it comes to things what I carry around all the time. The 30+ year old leather bag my mom handed down to me is still my favorite and it has set my standard for "reasonable/practical design" pretty high. The thing has DIVIDED SECTIONS in addition to various useful pockets, okay? I can put books and my laptop and umbrella and wallet in there and still have room for all kinds of random stuff! And I can find everything I need in it in 10 seconds or less!

The only downside to it is that it's heavy (I don't so much mind the beaten-up), and I've become accustomed to the more lightweight cloth bag I've been toting around. Which... I'd keep using, but NOT ENOUGH POCKETS. I already hate digging around in the un-pocketed clutter for everything I'm looking for, and school will definitely exacerbate that problem. Also, I am lazy when it comes to switching bags love multipurpose things and would prefer to have a fairly durable (& if non-waterproof, washable) bag that will serve equally well for school, dance practice, grocery runs, various goings-out in the city, and random short-period travel adventures/overnight stays. *g* I am demanding, I know! And this isn't even getting into my aesthetic preferences!

Anyway, I am still trying to decide on something that meets my criteria, but here is a brief rundown of several makers of (what I consider) nice bags on etsy:

» sineminugur: really nice & practical designs, cute fabric choices; okay budget-wise & shipping-wise
» ikabags: ecofriendly, practically designed, cute fabric choices; not low-budget & awful shipping costs
» namu: I like the shinkansen designs, but not so practically-pocketed; pretty good budget-wise & shipping-wise
» CrazyBoy: nice practical bags; less okay budget-wise & shipping-wise
» tippythai: stylish and practical (some designs more so than others), water resistant fabrics available; okay budget-wise & shipping-wise

Alternate suggestions/thoughts would be more than welcome!

eta; I has achieved a satisfyingly-pocketed solution! \o/ (I still think the etsy ones win on style, though.)

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

I heard of Tom Bihn on a fashion blog a while ago -- their bags look amazingly useful & durable (I actually want some of their luggage) but HOLY MOLY EXPENSIVE. Every time a fashion blog does a giveaway of something I am so there but never win.

[surpassingly]

Some of those tippythai bags are so gorgeous!

/n-not a very helpful comment, sorry ;A;!

[kate_nepveu]

Le Sportsac makes very lightweight, durable, water-resistant bags that I love, but they may not have enough pockets for you and may be too expensive. (You can browse them at Macy's.)

[musesfool]

Ooh, I really liked the bags at the first and last links. I am a sucker for a good bag, but I end up using the same one (olive canvas messenger bag from the Strand) all the time.

[ursamajor]

YOU UNDERSTAND WHY BAGS NEED LOTS OF POCKETS. <3

My daily bag is an older version of Haiku's To-Go Bag, and it *understands me*. The main compartment has a half-size zip pocket where I stash keys, pens, and lip balm, and a velcro front pouch where I stash additional toiletries as necessary. The actual main compartment is quite roomy for an average-size purse, but most of the space gets taken up by my headphones (full-size). I do stash a foldable reusable bag in there, though. Two side pockets fit water bottles (I use one pocket for my water bottle, and the other for a compact umbrella or sunglasses depending on the weather), two front pockets under the flap (one for my wallet and transit pass, the other for my tiny notebook and phone). And the back zip pocket is for whatever book I'm reading at the moment.

(Haiku also sells last season's bags at half-price, which seems to put it into your "okay budgetwise" price area.)

I freely admit I may have a bit of a bag addiction, though - I've had dreams about this camera tote and this gym bag (which I almost missed a flight over, pawing over it in the airport luggage shop). And I also like Baggallini; I used their Bon Voyage bag as an oversize travel wallet for awhile. Hi, my name is ursamajor, and I'm a bagaholic?

[starlurker]

A friend of mine has a Lockheart Woody bag that I wish came in a black, messenger style men's version because I would buy it in a second. I love that it has 5 interior pockets, which is so awesome! However, they're horrifically expensive and she would never have bought it without a huge discount, so it's not really a practical option, but should there be a sale on them in your area, it might be worth it. Sort of? Anyway, the (luxury) brand is built for pocket fiends.

Have you tried Overstock.com yet? They have some good deals on bags there too.

I know you have your candidates already, but from a pure aesthetic POV, I'm loving this one.

[crossedwires]

Ooh, bags! And pockets, yes. I have no helpful suggestions, but I have been bookmarking some of your suggestions. I like the pumpkin bags in the first link, possibly because they're named pumpkin bags. :D

*needs icon of Sokka with his new bag b/c it matches his belt!*

[azuire]

tippythai looks the best from here! Alas I am not a bag person - my coat has alternate dimensions in its pockets, so ;)

[woldy]

Aha, so it's you that's been clamouring for all these pockets in bags! I'm one of those people who is basically anti-pocket - I just want one pocket to contain my keys, tissues, transit pass and gum, and then everything else goes in the main compartment.

Nearly all my bags are either vinyl (excellent if you want something light, waterproof and colourful) or secondhand / recycled leather ones. Some types of leather can be waterproof, especially if you spray them, & I find it smarter, but the funky colours of vinyl bags are hard to resist.

Like half of Vancouver, I'm a huge fan of Astrosatchel, because the bags are amazingly cute and extremely hard wearing - I've had my wallet and phone in their D-ring wallet for like 7 years, and it's not even damaged - but that might be more than you're looking to spend. I guess something like this wouldn't have enough pockets for you? :-/

[oyceter]

Just saw this, but wanted to say OMG POCKETS!!!! I hate those fashionable bags that are just one giant bag-space and obviously not made for people who haul around more than two things in their purse, because otherwise how would they find anything?!

[staraflur]

oh man bags are the worst cause they're such a personal choice

I LIKE THESE THOUGH

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72233808/morris-shoulder-bag-everyday-bag-mustard (seems kind of enormous though)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62772450/dynamic-gray-canvas-with-yellow-lining

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72689794/brick-color-sackcloth-handbag

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70156887/messenger-brick-color-sackcloth

i am far too lazy to go through all the color options

[fly_to_dawn]

I'm really loving this bagsplosion of comments. BOOKMARKING FOR LATER mwahahaha.