RSS Feeds
Peripherals
Lightning Review: Gama-Go's High Design Laptop Messenger Bags
Posted by Jason Chen at 4:40 AM on August 1, 2008
The Gadget: Gama-Go's messenger bags, which are conveniently wide enough for a 15-inch laptop, its charger plus lots and lots of other gadget accessories. It's also got a nice water resistant outer material that makes it good for light showers.
The Price: US$68 for the small and US$88 for the large.
The Verdict: Is it enough to replace the Timbuk2 laptop messenger as our go-to bag of choice? Not quite, but at 2/3 the price, it's good enough for toting around your laptop, camera, mobile phone and other gear when your pockets just won't do.
There's no dedicated laptop compartment like the Timbuk2, and it has fewer internal pockets, but it functions just fine as a city bag or man purse. The bonus here is that Gama-Go has a more inspired and trendy design, whereas Timbuk2 has the classic three-stripe motif. (Timbuk2 does have artist-designed bags, but cost around US$150 each.) Gama-Go fans should give this one (the large one--the small doesn't fit a laptop) a look, but hardcore mobile workers will want to go for the higher priced and higher quality solution. [Gama-Go]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
frndlybnny
Posted 5:20 AM 1/8/08
WANT.
frndlybnny
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 5:16 AM 1/8/08
@jcrockerman: I think it's an artist's impression of a squid-faced lobster.
GeekyNerdGuy
wingbatwu
Posted 5:15 AM 1/8/08
@jcrockerman: a crustacean with tentacles?
Fail.
wingbatwu
djfoxx64
Posted 5:14 AM 1/8/08
Fashionable indie tech solutions ftw!
i love gamma go, makes me wanna stop by Villians after work. . .
djfoxx64
jcrockerman
Posted 5:09 AM 1/8/08
@Capt Castellanos:
btw..it's not a squid...it's like a shrimp/lobster...
most definitely a crustacean
jcrockerman
OGHowie
Posted 5:09 AM 1/8/08
I use www.booqbags.com older Folee XM. Pricey, but has a ton of compartments and great warranty.
OGHowie
Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy
Posted 5:08 AM 1/8/08
Do any of the companies make straps w/integrated wiring or something to prevent cutting?
Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy
OGHowie
Posted 5:07 AM 1/8/08
Not really feeling the artwork.
OGHowie
thechansen
Posted 5:06 AM 1/8/08
www.chromebags.com metromini is perfect for Macbook or smaller + accessories. I plan on retiring my large Timbuk2 and getting another, larger chrome for day trips.
thechansen
jcrockerman
Posted 4:52 AM 1/8/08
or golden showers....wait.....ewwww...
and as for bags i prefer using Tumi bags..
[www.tumi.com]
jcrockerman
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 4:45 AM 1/8/08
What about dark showers?
GeekyNerdGuy
Capt Castellanos
Posted 4:44 AM 1/8/08
i MUST have the squid one.
gama go is pretty bonus.
Capt Castellanos
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 5:44 AM 1/8/08
@OMG! Ponies!: That's why I wear a scoliosis brace at all times -- just as a preventive measure
GeekyNerdGuy
lpranal
Posted 5:42 AM 1/8/08
@tande04: It's a common affliction with our set these days. I just bought a timbuk2 laptop messenger for 20 bucks at marshall's... I already own an SLR / Laptop backpack and a messenger, but the timbuk2 is just plain tits.
lpranal
drewls
Posted 5:34 AM 1/8/08
This bag would probably qualify as an indication that you are leaving 'metrosexual' and heading for 'dates dudes'. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
drewls
tande04
Posted 5:29 AM 1/8/08
Damn it. I already have way more messenger/laptop bags then a man my age (or really any man) should have. Now I'm going to have to get one of these to match my wallet.
Damn it. Now I'm matching bags with my wallet.
tande04
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 5:27 AM 1/8/08
Still happy with my WNYC generic messenger bag which holds my 13" Toshiba.
I'd never sling a 15" computer across my shoulder as the weight will screw up your spine.
OMG! Ponies!
Traks
Posted 6:10 AM 1/8/08
Great messenger bags are from RELoad. They used to have a store here in Seattle, but I believe they are only online now. A little expensive but really great bags.
[www.reloadbags.com]
Traks
DeadWriter
Posted 5:57 AM 1/8/08
GIANT SQUID! So cool!
But it doesn't look like it is going to be as durable as my Timbuk2 bags (I'v had one last nearly daily use for over 10 years.)
DeadWriter
fostina1
Posted 5:55 AM 1/8/08
i use an old beat up back pack. really who wants to advertise that they are carrying around $500-$1000 worth of electronics.
fostina1
Xavoc
Posted 5:53 AM 1/8/08
@OMG! Ponies!: Unfortunately Apple stopped making a 12" Powerbook, and never released a 12 Macbook Pro model. I had a 12" Powerbook that I loved (and could play games on) but it was stolen from me. *sob*
Xavoc
Zendriver
Posted 5:51 AM 1/8/08
I'll stick with my official Trogdor Messenger Bag. Sure, it isn't compartmentalized or padded, and doesn't have swanky designs on it. But it's got something these other messenger bags don't have - The Burninator! Guaranteed to repel peasants and thatched roof cottages.
Zendriver
anti-hello-kitty
Posted 6:17 AM 1/8/08
This one looks OK, but Timbuk2 Commute bags are pretty decent as well [www.timbuk2.com]
anti-hello-kitty
dascoyne
Posted 7:21 AM 1/8/08
I can't say enough about Waterfield Designs - top quality and design.
My cargo bag looks great even after 4 years of abuse.
[www.sfbags.com]
dascoyne
4q2000
Posted 7:21 AM 1/8/08
Nice, perfect for my Iphone digital camera and a small book. I'm sick of carrying a big messenger bag filled with stuff I don't need. I just ordered the Squid. Peas
4q2000
anti-hello-kitty
Posted 8:42 AM 1/8/08
@lpranal: $20? Aren't they normally $100?
anti-hello-kitty
kadaj_sama
Posted 5:02 PM 1/8/08
@anti-hello-kitty: yeah but some color combos are hard to sell (i work for a place that used to stock timbuk2 bags) i can imagine that other retailers would unload them on marshalls for cheap, lord knows we had some bags that didn't sell for a good while.
thier mess anger bags run about $120 or more though they have a small purse thing that is cheaper.
kadaj_sama
kadaj_sama
Posted 4:59 PM 1/8/08
i'm telling you guys chrome bags are the way to go.
get a good chrome messenger and a decent laptop sleeve and you're set.
i've beaten mine up plenty and it still looks new (well apart from the cat hairs....)
plus the pads built into the strap so you don't have to futz with it every five minutes like on a timbuk2 bag.
kadaj_sama
Mnaira
Posted 12:58 AM 2/8/08
"Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up at the sky with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake... the Kraken!"
Mnaira
zed0
Posted 7:36 AM 2/8/08
This looks like a cool bag and the price isn't too high either. I'm getting the large one" to replace my raggedy messenger bag that has like 5 holes in it now.
zed0
the_amazing_doug
Posted 7:15 AM 7/8/08
wow. they really look like toys compared to the timbuk2 i bought last week.
the_amazing_doug