I put up a hand-on of these two bags a few months ago, but I have to repost it. Not only in the spirit of Bag Week, mainly because I’ve found after using both bags over the last few months, my initial conclusion was dead on: These bags are rad.
Features:
- Cordura outer shell with a 18oz weatherproof tarp liner behind
- Seatbelt webbing strap
- Technically utility bags so no padding to protect your computer
- Made in the US and guaranteed for life
- Both have an $80 MSRP
Pros
- Lightweight but still durable
- Tarp liner makes them very weatherproof
- The Vega is a perfect size for an 11-inch notebook
Cons
- Straps get bunched up on the buckle
So what makes these bags so good? Well, for one, they are extremely well made with quality material. The Cordura fabric seems like it will last forever. The straps are lightweight, but also wide enough that they shouldn’t dig into your shoulder even when loaded down.
What I like the best about both of them is that they are lined with a rubber material which should keep the bag’s contents safe from weather. Now, the bags aren’t sealed up as the top is held on with just two straps, but I wouldn’t expect rain or snow to seep through this layer.
Neither bag is very large. Don’t expect to put more than two text books in either. The Vega is really more of a man purse than anything else. It could probably hold your Franklin Covey planner, Kindle DX, and a magazine alright, but don’t expect anything else to fit comfortable. The Corsair is a tad larger, but not much.
Chrome markets these as utility bags and not notebook bags. That’s doesn’t mean you could use them as such. Just be careful. The bags do not have any type of padding. I found that a 13-inch iBook fit in the Vega and the Corsair held a 15.6-inch Asus just fine. I would recommend some sort of notebook sleeve though.
As with any quality item, these come with a price – a high one. But if you need a solid, weather-resistant utility bag, you probably will not mind spending $80 on the Corsair or Vega. I wouldn’t.
Read more Bag Week reviews here.
