I am a big fan of WaterField Designs bags. They’re made in the USA (and even made locally to me, in San Francisco), thoughtfully designed, and built to last with a lifetime warranty.
I currently own the following:
| Model | Trim | Dimensions | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Porter Carry-on Bag | Ballistic with Black | 16” x 5.5” 10.25”; 2.4 lbs. | Overnight travel |
| Bolt Briefcase | S/Chocolate on Canvas | 14.5” x 4” x 10.5”; 1.95 lbs. | Daily driver for work |
| Shield Case for Apple Vision Pro | All-Forza Blue | 7.75” x 5.25” x 7.5”; 1 lb | |
| Packable Sling | Green | Daily driver on urban adventures | |
| Gear Pouch | L/Navy | 10” x 1” x 6.2”; 4.4 oz. | Keyboard+trackpad case |
| Air Caddy | 11”/Black Ballistic | 12” x 1.25” x 8”; 5 oz. | iPad+dongles daily driver |
A couple of notes:
- The Air Porter Carry-on Bag is doesn’t fit airplane seats in an upright position as advertised in most cases.
- I’ve only fit it upright underneath seats on SkyWest flights.
- On United flights, the bag has to lay on its side, and even then, the under-seat power outlet or inflatable vest can cause problems if the bag is really stuffed.
- The Air Caddy is an awesome carrier for an iPad. I originally got it on a whim, but I find myself using it whenever I take my iPad to work with me. Fits in my Bolt Briefcase great.
- The Gear Pouch was great when I worked at a place that provided a monitor but no keyboard/trackpad. I would bring my own Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, and this was perfect for it. I use it less now since I work out of WeWork offices that do not reliably have monitors.
I used to buy a lot of Fossil bags, but they didn’t hold up due to cheaper hardware and build. I still have a few leather Fossil bags, but I’ll likely replace them with WaterField as I retire them.