North Face Backpacks

Since I was a kid, I always looked forward to the beginning of the school season simply because I was obsessed with accessories such as backpacks, pencil cases, notebooks, etc. Since then, however, bag manufacturers have come a long way in designing bags that interface humans with their gadgets in new and exciting ways.

Bluetooth is for Nerds

Although being a nerd isn't necessarily a bad thing, there is a way to get around using it. Bluetooth can be annoyingly unpredictable, so if you have wired solution instead, you know it will work the same way every time. There are some bags out there now that are wired for devices such as the iPhone and iPod. Jansport for instance has a line of backpacks called the Livewire. The Livewire line has several different designs but all with one thing in common: iPod control. Wired to connect your backpack to an iPod dock connector, the pack has exterior controls that can change song, volume, pause, etc, while your iPod sits safely inside your pack. High Sierra offers attractive bags that do the same thing as well, but have more of an outdoorsy feel to them, as opposed to Jansport's more urban feel. High Sierra's packs are also half the price.


Look for the Padding Factor

If the manufacturer doesn't make a big deal about what kind of padding they offer for your laptop, chances are its not meant for laptops, or just that they don't offer enough. If you are serious about lugging your expensive laptop around everywhere, its going to come into a high-impact routine. Look for a pack with at least an inch on all sides of high-tech lightweight padding, and also a strap that holds your laptop in place. I have lost a G4 Powerbook's aluminum perfection because of a strapless laptop bag.

Internet Materials Sampling

One major problem with shopping for bags on the internet is that you simply can't feel or sample the materials of the bag. If you order a bag from an internet retailer that can make the bag look good on their site, it doesn't mean that the materials aren't cheap looking in real life. I like Timbuk2's site (Timbuk2 dot com) because you can actually customize your bag, including the kind of materials the bag is made of. The best way to avoid cheap looking bags is just to buy name brand bags.

By: Cameron Postelwait

About the Author: