Choosing the right laptop bag invariably becomes a lifelong endeavor for some, and I’m no exception. About a year ago I finally settled on a bag I absolutely love. I’m not entirely sure why, but I receive compliments at work and on the road about my bag pretty regularly, enough to prompt me to share my choix if merely to help others choose theirs. The STM Alley Case 13” (Olive) is the bag pictured here. Manufactured in Australia, this model is a vertical messenger bag. I originally purchased it for travel, given I speak at conferences regularly. I figured the vertical displacement of weight and material would work better as a carry-on when pulling other luggage, making my way down the aisle on the aircraft, and stowing under the seat. Fortunately, I figured right, and the bag has stayed by my side ever since for everyday use. My work machine is a 15” MacBook Pro, but this a 13” bag. However, the MacBook Pro still fits nicely inside. Plus, it allows me to carry my 13” black MacBook when traveling, as this is my “speaking” machine.

You’ll note the bag is rather compact, and that’s part of the reason I chose it — I’m forced to travel light. And yet, I’m able to carry everything I need for daily work. (Click the final photo showing contents for additional mouseover notes on Flickr.) So, for what it’s worth, that’s my bag of choice. Veer: Visual Elements for Creatives.Stock photography, type, and killer tees. Genuinely recommended by Authentic Boredom.LAS VEGAS — It’s a bit odd to be thanked for cussing; but that’s exactly what STM Bags owner Ethan Nyquist did when I walked over to the STM table during a press event at CES. Apparently he was considerably impressed with an enthusiastic exclamation I made about STM’s bags, in response to the announcement of one of their new backpacks*. Hey, what can I say — I’m a bag junkie, and I get passionate about stuff I like.So here then, is a prediction: STM’s new Drifter will deepen the outfit’s rep as a maker of stellar bags.The Drifter is a departure for the Aussie outfit;

it’s larger — the largest they’ve ever made — and seems more like a stuff-all pack for adventurous roaming than one of their business-like mobile offices. And it felt lighter than it looked.STM’s bags are generally constructed with markedly different fabrics than the majority of bags out there; the Drifter follows the pattern, with a soft-yet-tough-feeling texture to the fabric. Also cool: the female buckle on the sternum strap is metal.Then there’re the pockets — tons and tons of them. Three small zippered stashes on the outside, two for water bottles, a mesh pocket inside the lid, a document sleeve and of course, a laptop sleeve. A final surprise: there’s a waterproof raincover hidden in the bottom of the pack, where it doubles as bottom padding when not in use. Smart.No idea about pricing or availability yet.*point of clarification: While I think STM makes great bags in general, the bag that was announced at that time — the Velocity — actually has issues. Well, one big issue.

Left: STM Nomad 13"  Right: STM Velo Small Laptop Bag As a new school year approaches, those of you heading off to high school or college surely have a few essentials to check off your back-to-school list. One of which is a laptop bag that keeps up with your super-packed schedule and personal style. That’s where STM Bags come in. Their utilitarian-style bags, backpacks and tech accessories are built to last (i.e. they can take any long day a busy student can dish out) so your laptop and other tech toys are nice and protected!best backpacking trips in rmnp Check out a couple of STM Bags' campus-ready styles:backpack rotation 180 1. Convoy Medium Laptop Backpack, 2. backpacker magazine editor's choice 2016

Compass 13" Small Laptop Tote, 3. Revolution Medium Laptop Backpack This is my Next 412While out at CES this past January I ran into STM, a company that makes bags, backpacks and cases for laptops, tablets and phones. STM was a sponsor of one of the press events in Vegas that week. They were kind enough to send me one of their Impulse laptop backpacks so I could test and review it here for you. eminem backpack for saleWe had a great time talking and meeting with STM while at CES, so let’s get to the review.backpack telemetryOverview and ImpressionsThe Impulse backpack is nicely designed with zero tolerance for sticking out. vip college bags price in mumbaiWhat I mean by that is that the backpack is minimally designed. If you’ve been reading Techaeris for any length of time you should know that I am a fan of minimal and functional design.

The Impulse I was sent was straight black, a perfect color for being unseen. The STM branding is subtly done, which I love. I’d rather tell people I’m carrying an STM bag that I am proud of rather than have the company brand me with some hideous logo splattered all over the bag. The materials are of high quality and the craftsmanship and care is evident from when you first open it up.Features of the backpack include:Main technology compartment protects laptop and tabletSecondary pocket for paperwork, booksComfortable backpack suspension system with sternum strap to stabilise the loadLuggage pass-through for wheeled bagSide utility pockets for water bottle or umbrellaEasy access front organization pocket for keys, wallet, pen, biz cards, etc.Quick drop lower pocket for charging bricks or cablesDesigned to fit most 15″ laptops300D velocity poly Outer shell200D water resistant polyester (laptop: 200g brushed nylex) Inner lining1220.5 cu in / 20 L Capacity2.2 lb / 1 kg Weight[Best_Wordpress_Gallery gallery_type=”slideshow” theme_id=”2″ gallery_id=”1″ sort_by=”order” slideshow_effect=”fade” slideshow_interval=”3″ slideshow_width=”800″ slideshow_height=”500″ enable_slideshow_autoplay=”1″ enable_slideshow_shuffle=”0″ enable_slideshow_ctrl=”1″ enable_slideshow_filmstrip=”1″ slideshow_

filmstrip_height=”70″ slideshow_enable_title=”0″ slideshow_title_position=”top-right” slideshow_enable_description=”0″ slideshow_description_position=”bottom-right” enable_slideshow_music=”0″ slideshow_music_url=”0″ watermark_type=”none” watermark_link=”0″] The Impulse is very light, 2.2lbs is nothing and it feels exactly like that. I’ll quickly go over the bullets above. The main compartment designed to hold your laptop (most 15″ will fit) is nicely padded with material you feel very confident in protecting your device. The main compartment fit my MacBook Pro 15″ just fine, and it held it firmly in place. The secondary pocket worked perfectly for exactly what it’s advertised for, paperwork and books. I carried various papers and a few paperbacks in there without any issue.  Probably the best feature of this backpack is the sternum strap, along with the padding on the back. The strap is perfect for pulling the weight off your shoulders and distributing it evenly so you’re not getting worn out from carrying the Impulse and all your goods.

I’ve used other backpacks intended for electronics and this is one feature that STM was right to put in.The luggage pass through so you can slide the Impulse on a wheeled suitcase is by now a necessary feature for any backpack these days. The pocket on the side for a water bottle is also a nice touch that manufacturers are starting to put in. The front pocket is perfect for those smaller items like your keys, wallet, cards, and the like. And that larger front pocket is great for those external batteries or slightly bulkier items (not huge mind you). One of the features not mentioned in the bullet list above is the tablet pocket. The tablet pocket sits in nicely with the laptop pocket. It fit my iPad Air (with case) perfectly and, like the laptop, it fit snugly with no movement.The VerdictThe STM Impulse is a very comfortable, minimally designed, and functional medium-sized backpack that is perfect for the commuter or day tripper. The sternum strap alone is worth the $100 price of admission, especially if you plan on walking any distance with this thing on your back and shoulders.