Messenger Bag for Surface Pro?

Posted by mmaestro on March 19, 2013 01:21 am 25

Hello all.

I picked up a Surface Pro a few weeks ago, and it's quickly become a very useful PC for me. I've been off work for the last few months, but I'll be heading back shortly, and my current bag is really not much longer of this Earth, and it doesn't have an appropriately sized pocket for a device as small as the Surface Pro. So I'm in the market for a new messenger. It seems like an awful lot of the bags out there are sized for far larger laptops, and I'd rather avoid the Surface sliding around inside if I can help it. I tend to carry a decent amount in my bag: As well as the Surface I have a Bluetooth Mouse and BT keyboard (MS Wedge - I also have a touch cover but prefer the Wedge for extended typing), a large water bottle, usually my lunch, Kindle, and the normal random selection of screwdrivers, notepads, pens, USB keys, etc. I have a separate tool bag for the other tools I need (I work as a tech) but it would be nice to consolidate everything if I could.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I've found a few options, but I'm not sure what I should go for. Right now I'm willing to spend up to $200 for something that'll last and looks good. Anyone who has a great bag that works with Surface Pro, I'd love to hear what it is.

Here's what I'm considering right now:

Moop Messenger No. 5

Looks good, has an appropriate sized pocket for the Surface, but may be a little small on the inside. I love waxed canvas.

Satchel & Page Austin Messenger

Big. Again, waxed canvas. But designed for a 15" laptop. I'd hope that the iPad pocket in the back would be a good size for the Surface, though, and this would be useful to allow me to borrow my wife's 15" if need be. It's really pretty. Not clear what the interior layout is like.

Timbuk2 Command Laptop Messenger

TSA compliant, lots of interior space, well organized, practical. I don't love the look, though.

Tom Bihn Cadet Bag

Well organized on the inside, has the option to add more pouches for storage, I really like the design. Fairly spacious. The down side is that the price starts to creep up as you add a better strap, laptop pouch, and additional storage. Still looks like a nice option.

Anyway, if any of you own any of these bags or have other recommendations I should consider, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm really not sure what direction I should go on these.