GeekSugar

Gear Review: Acadia Backpack

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:56 PST

I have been told by my stylish colleagues here at Sugar HQ that backpacks are just not very fashionable. But I have to counter that back pain is not very fashionable either. Commuting with a laptop bag, purse, and often a gym bag left me off-kilter with all sorts of aches and pains. Since going symmetrical with a backpack, my body is so much happier. Overland Equipment sent me a sample of its new Acadia ($100) backpack, and I've been commuting with it for a little over a week. So far, so great.

While the bag might not be super cute, it is super comfortable and lightweight. The laptop sleeve is tucked behind the main pocket and accessible with a side zipper that easily accommodates my Mac Book Pro. The back of the bag is padded to cushion both your computer and your back. I was able to fit my lunch easily in the main compartment, along with four magazines and my trusty notebook. The bottom front pocket contains three interior pockets to keep my iPhone, iPod, wallet, and glasses nicely organized. The top front pocket is accessible by a side zipper, which makes it a bit difficult to access, so I've been using it to store a couple of just-in-case energy bars. There's even a water bottle holder on the side, too.

The Acadia backpack, which also comes in light blue, can be purchased directly from Overland Equipment.

Boa Booq Bag Holds All Your Gadgets and Then Some

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:51:21 PDT

I don't normally go for a laptop backpack (I'm more of a tote kind of girl), but for the sake of utility, I just had to brag about my Booq Boa Laptop Backpack find. Not only does the Boa pack your 13-17 inch laptops, iPods, and boasts enough room to store a few books or folders, but it also has a special bottom compartment for your SLR and top section to fit your full-sized headphones. . .all within a secure and padded shell.

View 5 Photos ›

This bag is ah-mazing when it comes to storage. If you click through the gallery, you'll see that Booq has managed to stuff a mouse and mousepad as well as a pretty bulky travel book in with all the other goods I mentioned. And at $200, it's a steal. But really, all this girl wants is her Hayden-Hartnett. Call me shallow, but I like a good fashionable tote.

Incase Nylon Backpack: I May Have to Start Using a Backpack

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:02:24 PDT

Even though I think they're useful, I haven't considered owning a backpack, particularly a laptop backpack, since I was in high school. I may have to rethink that stance. Incase's new Nylon Backpack ($100), which fits all MacBooks, is - though quite utilitarian - surprisingly droolworthy.

Maybe it's the color; cyan is my obvious fave (it also comes in burgundy, olive, black, red, and gray) - but what I'm really attracted to is all the organized pockets for all my peripherals and accessories. Does this change your mind about laptop backpacks too?

To see more photos,

View 7 Photos ›

Leather Laptop Backpack: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:00:12 PDT

Do my eyes deceive me? Could it be . . . an exceptionally chic laptop backpack? Kenneth Cole's leather Case-adilla not only has a clever name, fine-grain beautiful brown leather, it's also convertible, should you need to remove it from your back.

I've seen laptop backpacks before, but usually from a utility standpoint - manufacturers haven't really mixed "chic" with "backpack" before - until now, that is. Not to mention that it's totally unisex. What's your take on the laptop backpack?

Fit For September: Must Haves

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PDT

"Thirty days has September" and with items like these you can make the most of those thirty days! Fall is beginning and it's back to school time! Even if you are not headed to class these five buys will help you be fit in and for September.

To read about these must haves just

What better way to head back to school than on a bike! Jorg and Olif have just introduced their latest city bike - the Scout ($495). Cruise around town in style on the limited edition red bike.
When tooling about town on your retro bicycle, you are going to want to protect your laptop as well as your back, by carrying all your gear in the Kata Ergo-Tech Sensitivity V backpack ($85) by Kata. Not only does it look like something James Bond would carry, but this pack will not double cross your shoulders or back since its ergonomic design is body friendly.
Because it is (or will be by the end of the month hopefully) getting cooler outside, you're going to need a hoodie and I am loving the Practice Hoodie ($69) by Athleta. The feminine pattern combined with the three quarter sleeves give it a girly, yet sporty look.
Fall just wouldn't be fall without an apple for your teacher, but this September I would go with apple juice instead, and the cloudier the better. Recent studies indicate the cloudier the apple juice the more antioxidants it contains. So drink up!
You should also start thinking about moving some of your workouts inside and if you are a cardio junkie you need to also start thinking about adding weight training into your routine. I say this because the new exercise guidelines suggest adding 2 days of strength training a week. Look for circuit training group classes where you can get your heart rate up while you build some muscle. Or create you own!

More Spring Offerings From InCase For Your 15-Inch MacBook Pro

Kristen Hawley — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:10:04 PST

The interesting materials and bold colors of InCase's new Alloy collection might please some, but for a broader appeal, check out another new line of bags for Spring. The new Nylon Collection features three great designs to tote your 15-inch MacBook Pro.

The Compact Backpack and Nylon Sling Pack (both $80) and the Campus Pack ($60) each feature fur-lined interior pockets to protect your laptop. The Nylon Sling Pack and Compact Backpack have dedicated iPhone pockets, and the Campus Pack has an interior pocket perfect for an iPad.

The bags come in a range of colors from basic black to bright purple and feature sleek lines and minimal detailing. Click through the gallery for more images of these three new options.

10 Backpacks For Toting Your Tech Gear in Style

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:58 PDT

Everything '90s is coming back in style, so it's only appropriate that backpacks get a reboot as well. But the backpacks you grew up with are long gone. These days, backpacks are getting a runway makeover, with styles popping up in Spring shows all over the globe. And since you're a working woman, you can ditch the heavy textbooks and tote your laptop, tablet, and other tech gear with these fashionably appropriate backpacks for Spring.

Incase Updates Its Iconic Laptop Bag Lineup For Spring

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:21:20 PST

You know an Incase bag when you see one - their rounded sides and flat bottoms allow for maximum packing abilities, while its padded walls provide protection to laptops of any size. And just in time for Spring, Incase has rolled out some new materials to accessorize with your wardrobe, including new heathered and weather-resistant nylon to keep those Spring showers from watering down your machine. There are plenty of color options and combinations to choose from with Incase's Campus Packs, Slings, and Compact Backpacks, which range in price from $80 to $100.

Of course, if you already have a laptop bag you couldn't imagine giving up, Incase has also given an overhaul to its heather and nylon laptop cases and sleeves, which you can pick up for $50.

How to Travel Full-Time For $17,000 a Year (or Less!)

Wise Bread — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:46:59 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

For the last five years, I've been traveling the world full-time, and for less money than I've ever spent (and I'd wager less money than most people would spend) to live in one place.

My worldly possessions fit into one bag (just larger than carry-on size) and a backpack containing my laptop and computer gear. This small entourage (weighing less than 45 pounds in total) comes with me as I wander around the world, sometimes quickly, but mostly slowly.

In 2011 alone, I traversed 13 countries and over 45,360 miles. Sounds pretty expensive, huh?

What if I told you it wasn't? What if I told you that both 2010 (a similarly busy year of travel) and 2011 cost me just over $17,000 (including some major non-travel-related purchases)? Would you believe me?

Believe it. (Here's proof, with a full breakdown of where I went and how much it cost: My Cost of Full-Time Travel in 2011).

How to Keep Your Travel Costs Low

Of course, I could travel for way more than $17,000 a year. The sky is the limit for what you can spend on the road, from food and accommodation to flights, destinations, and tours. I could also travel for less than this, if I made different spending choices.

Here are a few of my secrets.

Don't Pay For Accommodations

In the entire year of 2011, I paid $173 for accommodation. And that expenditure was a function of a discounted stay at the Hilton in Stockholm as a luxurious “splash out.” The rest of the time, I had free accommodation in various forms, including . . .

Read on to find out more.

Think Pink! Grab a Pink Gadget For Breast Cancer Awareness

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:03:27 PDT

Thelma and Louise, The Twins, Bazooms, Knockers, whatever you want to call them, fact is, breasts just don't sit on your chest - you gotta keep them healthy with regular checkups! Where am I going with this? Well geeks, October is officially National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in its honor, pink gadgets are all the rage. I've rounded up a few here that you'll find esthetically pleasing to your pink palette, and all will surely satisfy your tech sweet tooth in the process.