Domke releases Next Generation lineup, I go hands on with the Metro Messenger

Domke, a trusted brand in providing heady duty and functional satchels, courier, and messenger bags. My messenger, the Ruggedwear Military, is a spacious bag to carry the load. The bag’s design focuses on functionality using a patent pending organizational system to set up as you see fit all while knowing that it’s contents are protected. The main compartment is set up to hold camera and lenses, while the surrounding pockets not only carry a laptop and tablet. Now that I have this heavy-duty canvas messenger bag packed full and survived both my commute and road trip, let’s see how it did.

The bag is built for anything and just about everything you can throw at it or even in it. At one point I had my work computer, MacBook, point and click camera, two water bottles, DSLR, three lenses, chargers, and iPad mini. Sure it was heavy, but great to be able to toss everything needed for a business trip and knowing the camera is on hand with everything needed for editing in one place. The side pockets and two front pockets expand if additional storage is needed, but the zipper on top is what stole my heart. Unzip and I could access my camera and lenses without fiddling with the buckles to open the flap.There were a couple of things I would have liked to have seen added or improve, but not to worry, the list is a short one. My first suggestion that is my biggest complaint while commuting is the lack of a handle on the top of the bag, for the short distances in which the strap would be excessive. The only other item I would suggest is that Domke have provided better/stronger clip to hole the strap to the bag. The clips used are plastic and have come unhooked twice so far in my use.I have review a variety of camera bags from the minimal to the bulky, fashionable to the functional, and this has a bit of everything in place. It is a larger bag but still manageable to carry daily to work and is the best reason I have found to keep my camera on me and never have an excuse to miss a shot. The Metro Messenger is not only available in RuggedWear Military, but also available in RuggedWear Black, Cordura Black, and Cordura Tan. Domke knows bag owners are in for the long haul by providing refinishing wax for bringing your bag back to life after battling the elements.

STM provides more trunk for your junk with the Velo 2 laptop bag

We have a laptop bag from a new company met at CES last month,  STM Bags has provided me with the new Velo 2 medium laptop shoulder bag. Lapptop bags have become increasingly popular to transport the incredible shrinking gadgets we have to tote for work and school and each bag brings their own unique designs and features. The Velo 2 brings to the table a variety of colors, side entry laptop compartment, and a waist strap to stabilize your load in transport. The medium sized bag is built to hold most 15" laptops, two pockets for water bottles and/or an umbrellas, a large compartment for text books, camera equipment, or notebooks so let's see how the Velo 2 is on the daily commute. 

This laptop has more space than I was expecting and had no shortage of storage, but I was particularly a fan of the side access pocket for my laptop and the waist strap to hold your cargo against you while on the go. With the big amount of space, it does increase the size of the bag making it a bit bulkier than that of other bags reviewed. The best part of having such a large main compartment is the ability to carry more than the bare necessities, in my situation I used it to pack clothes for overnight traveling or my DSLR and lenses for photo shoots. In terms of comfort, the Velo 2 has both a padded shoulder strap and a padded back for comfort during extended wear. 

STM Bags has produced a solid bag for those trying to carry more than just their laptop, tablet, accessories, and cables. Granted it is a larger bag, so if you are not looking for the added bulk, their other product offerings may be a better fit. I had received my Velo 2 in grey and in the medium size which holds most laptops up to 15 inches, but the bag is available also available in a small size that holds up to 13 inch laptops, and is also available in black or blue colors. What was great were the side pockets for water bottles and/or an umbrella, when most of the laptop shoulder bags do not include space for hydration. The Velo 2 medium is available now from a handful of online retailers for $100.00.

Booq releases it's next bag in the Boa lineup, the Shift

Booq has released another bag to their Boa bag lineup and has provided me with the Shift, a new backpack that is both lightweight and spacious. Inside the Shift, like most other Booq bags, come filled with pockets for easy organization to quickly find whatever you may need without rummaging. Such pockets include a devoted padded laptop pocket that stores any size MacBook or 16.4" PC laptop, iPhone pockets in the shoulder straps, fast access side pockets and I haven’t even gotten to the main compartment yet. The main pocket offers huge amounts of storage for books, gaming console, storing documents or a change of clothes for a long weekend, but also multiple interior pockets for organized storage. Time to pack the Shift full of my gadgets and see how comfortable to this bad boy is for extended periods of time.

The Boa Shift, like most other bags in Booq’s line up has an incredible look and superior build with padded pockets to make sure all gadgets are safe and sound while strapped to my back. The straps pull the backpack flat against my back with little to no movement when walking or riding a bicycle. With the massive main compartment, I didn't have enough to fill it so I took my freshman daughter's text books to fill it along with my laptop and iPad Mini and while heavy once on my back, there was no strain and the padded back offered ample airflow in the 90 degree Arizona November heat. I am still dumbfounded as to how the Boa Shift holds so much and yet still has a low profile appearance. This is something that Booq does extremely well, with strategically placed pockets and well designed bags, I have yet to have an issue with too little space whether it be backpack, camera, or messenger bag.

At the end of the day, this bag is perfect to transport most any mobile desktop by providing a comfortable and snug fit and providing more pockets than I know what to do with. Over the past four years I have been impartial to messenger bags as they had usually been lower profile and easier to get around but as laptops get smaller, backpacks are as well. One of my favorite features that I have seen incorporated to all of Booq's bags reviewed so far is the Terralinq Service which helps locate your lost bag, granted a good samaritan reports finding the bag and it isn't deliberately taken. Booq's Boa Shift is the latest in the high quality bag lineup and is available now for $149.95.

Chrome's Bravo Night let me pack everything but the kitchen sink

Bags, we have reviewed many of them here on MashButtons, but this will be the first roll top bag we will have reviewed and it comes straight to me from Chrome Industries. After seeing Joey sporting the good looking messenger and camera bags around, I wanted to get my hands on a new bag to replace my bulky Powerbag. The Bravo note is a roll top, which is great to extend in size for additional storage, but on top on being able to carry a big load it also sports a front pocket that fits up to a 15 inch MacBook Pro, a signature 3M reflective panel that is visible at night, and a cross compression strap system that helps with load distribution. I managed to pack a five day vacation into the bravo night, so let's see how it carries.

I am simply amazed that I got five shirts, three pairs of shorts, a pairs of pants, a pair of flip flops, and three hats with my liquids on top to make it easy for airport security. That is just the main compartment, without having to extend the roll top. In the front pocket, rested my MacBook Pro, PS Vita, point and click camera and all my necessary chargers neatly. This bag was neatly organized without a lot of unnecessary pockets. Being that this bag carried what I usually split into a laptop bag and carry on, so I was expecting a much heavier load on my back, but the EVA foam back panel sat nicely against my back and was very breathable, particularly in the usually warm, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The straps couldn't be any easier to adjust with the inclusion of cam lock buckles for simple adjustment, but the sternum strap is what I particularly liked, from the seat belt like signature buckle to the support it provides to make extended use more comfortable.

Functionally, I absolutely loved the Bravo Night bag and it has made its way into my number one spot for weekend travel bag. Unfortunately in regards to daily computing it is a bit large and bulky, but if I know I need to move more than just my laptop and a couple other small items like textbooks, consoles, clothes, or beer, the Bravo Night is up for the job. In terms of appearance, it is a bit large if you have to extend the roll top, then it does look awkward, but if you aren't pushing the bag's storage ability, it looks rugged and stylish, with high end materials and support in all the right places. I definitely suggest Chrome's Bravo Night for it's storage capabilities and comfort when heavily packed, it sports the same urban look as other bags in the lineup with the signature 3M Reflective panel that just lights up at night, and is available now for the price of $180.00.