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| Product: Vesey Bag |
Company: Tumi |
| Web: www.tumi.com |
Phone: 800-322-TUMI |
| Platform: Your shoulder |
SRP: US$165
Street Price: same |
Cred Rating: | Special Award: |
The Tumi line of computer bags has been around for awhile. They've always made a very solid computer case, in fact, my boss has an old beaten-up one of the standard black nylon variety that looks like it's been around the world a few times all by itself. My boss and I do not share the same fashion sense though, so when I decided to look for a respectable computer case, I wanted something a little more 21c. What did I end up getting? A Tumi.
Though they do have Targus-style plain old nylon cases, that's not all Tumi does. In fact, they have a lot of cases that aren't designed for computers at all. And that's what made me look at them. The new T2 line is made of spacey looking metallic fabrics with colors like Copper, Pewter, Steel Green, Bronze, and Carbon, which is a textured shimmering black that only vaguely resembles carbon fiber. All of these fabrics look really cool, but the Carbon is the best suited to a more conservative office environment. For the high-tech Silicon Alley sorts, a nice Steel Green or Pewter works very well with the black T-shirt and jeans look. And the styles are definitely not "plain-old" either.
Tumi's got a bag in any shape you can imagine, with more than thirty styles in the T2 line (if you include the PDA cases and other accessories). Of all of these, my favorites are the Barrow, which is a smallish shoulder bag designed for everday non-computer use, and the brand-new Vesey, which is a "messenger bag" style computer case I actually tried out.
The Vesey is very roomy and has some really nice features for a computer case. It is also very sturdy with lots of padding, so a laptop placed inside feels extra safe. The Vesey has one large interior space for a laptop and other essentials, with a zippered pocket inside for a few odds and ends. The key feature of the Tumi is the computer sleeve, which is a padded pocket that holds any size laptop with zipper expanders on the side. This sleeve is removable from the bag, to lighten the load when you're not toting around a computer, and is affixed to the inside of the bag with lots of Velcro. The computer sleeve has pockets on the outside of it to hold floppy disks and whatnot. There is no handle on the sleeve, and none of the pockets are large enough to hold a power brick, but that's because the sleeve is really designed for use only with the main bag. When the sleeve is in the bag, a flap from the main compartment covers the top to avoid dust and spills - a very well thought out design.
As for padding, there is nothing on this bag that hasn't been reinforced. The sides and bottom are solid, and the nylon is thick everywhere. With the computer in the sleeve, there is almost no danger from ordinary use, and even a drop from waist-height would probably be safe, though I wouldn't want to risk it with my laptop. The bottom of the bag seems the most vulnerable, and the place that I would worry most about laptop damage. The sleeve is padded on the bottom but it's a little soft. Since that is the most likely place for an accident, I wouldn't mind a slightly firmer foam on bottom of the sleeve.
Other features that I appreciate about the bag include the two PDA-sized exterior pockets on the ends of the bag, perfect for quick access to cell phone and Palm, though the Velcro flaps on these pockets make them less than perfectly secure. The bag also has two exterior under-the-flap pockets for holding things that may need more security. The flap itself contains a zipped pocket, and there is also one on the back of the bag. There is no shortage of places to put things, and even with the computer in the bag, there is ample room for files or other business necessities. The shoulder strap has a boomerang-shaped pad that is very comfortable both across the chest and over the shoulder.
Complaints about the bag are few. In fact, complaints basically boil down to bulk. The Vesey isn't any heavier than most business briefcases, so weight isn't really a factor. But because the sides and bottom are reinforced, the structure and size of the Vesey make is bulky for everyday non-computer-totin' use. I prefer to go extra light with my day bag, so my current version is a super thin nylon messenger bag from Old Navy. It's not perfect for the office scene, but I'd rather do that then tote around a big bag just for my Palm and a newspaper. When I do have need for a more professional look, the Tumi bag is perfect, offering a trendy but classy case. And when I need to transport my laptop around, this bag is one of the most secure ways of doing so.
I like the Tumi Vesey and I would certainly recommend it as a computer bag. I plan on getting the Barrow as well, for around-town use. I think the computer sleeve may also fit in the Barrow, making it a duel-use bag as well. Tumi also has several PDA cases that match, which I may decide to get just because of the cool fabric. And that's what it's really about - trying not to look like every other corporate yutz with a standard-issue Targus case.
- Nate Heasely [10/16/00]
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