Comments on: Let Spire Carry Your Next Mac

By: hallie

hallie — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:10:43 +0000

i’ve had a spire endo for three years and it’s the best bag i’ve ever had. i got it as a hand-me-down from my husband, when he got a new laptop — and a new spire Volt XL backpack to carry it. i can’t wait for him to pass that one down to me, too. these bags never die! and never look tired. we’ve told friends and family galore and now we’re all simply devoted. viva spire!

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:54:16 +0000

I am definitely getting a Spire. Has anyone noticed if there is more room for the power cord if you buy the horizontal vs. the vertical? Also, has anyone found a list of stores that carry their products? I am huge fan of Mikey’s Hook-Up in Williamburg, Brooklyn, NY (http://www.mikeyshookup.com/) since they actually know what they are talking about and that’s where I first discovered Spires.

By: John

John — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:15:02 +0000

Waiting for my Booq Follee XL….

By: Michael S

Michael S — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 01:41:27 +0000

I have had a Spire for about 6 years. The handle on it started to rip about 7 months after I got it and they exchanged it, no problem. I’m looking at the Crumpler site and thinking I might need a new bag too…

By: john

john — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 19:05:26 +0000

I bought a Meta from Spire a year or so ago and love the bag. It’s built like a rock and I love that it’s a huge bag when i need it to be and it compresses down really nicely when I am just around town. I travel a good amount and the bag is perfect for this because I can get a couple of changes of clothes, all of my tech stuff, and more comfortably. I perform as an electronic musician and Love that I can fit my live set up all inside my bag so i can keep all of my stuff with me in one place…

By: Adam Strasberg

Adam Strasberg — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:49:27 +0000

I’m Adam, and I have a bag fetish.

I believe there is a perfect bag for any occasion. Bags litter my closet representing periods of my life — new jobs, new computers, new challenges.

I used to use the Timbuk2 Commute XL. I liked it, but found it was too small for my needs. I have a 15″ Macbook pro and I like to carry stuff, my moleskin, a notepad, pens, ipod, current book I’m reading, sunglasses, pens (also a pen fetish) plus whatever else I need to throw in there (sippy cup, new purchase, etc).

These days I’m using the Timbuk2 Outtawhack which is sightly bigger than the Commute XL and has a little more organization. Not sold on it yet, but the fact that it can convert into a backpack has come in handy at least a couple of times.

I’ve also got an Osprey Transit (http://www.ospreypacks.com/packs/42/Transit/) which is a pretty good size, and has one particularly good feature: a molded front panel. While this adds width to the bag, it gives it a wide-mouth opening which I like a lot, and leaves space for a lot of gear.

My only regret is that I just bought those two bags, and I’ll need to wait at least 6 months in order to justify another purchase.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:56:41 +0000

good call with the spire. i ordered an endo back in ‘98 when I graduated, and the damn thing just wouldn’t die! I couldn’t get myself to buy a new bag because this one was still in perfect working order. I finally gave up last month when I got a new MBP and it thankfully wouldn’t fit. oops, doesn’t work, gotta donate the endo and buy a new one.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:38:03 +0000

I have an endo for my 15″ pb and LOVE it! The only issue I’ve had is with the clasp on the strap coming off but the guys at Spire have been quick to send me not just a new clip/clasp but a whole new strap! Couldn’t be happier.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 14:01:12 +0000

Personally I am a big fan of timbuk2. http://www.timbuk2.com Got the CommuteXL for my Powerbook G4 17 and Macbook Pro 17 and a travel wallet. Sweet colors.

By: Jazz1

Jazz1 — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:58:28 +0000

Sorry, had a Spire, handle started unraveling where it attached to the bag after very little use. They wanted me to pay for shipping. I thought this was unfair as it was obviously a manufacturing defect. Better bags are Booq, or Waterfield. I guess you get what you pay for.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 06:48:30 +0000

I have a Spire also, a Zoom, used it for 3-4 years to carry my TiBook and PB 15-inch. But when I got my MBP, I looked around again because my Spire was showing its age, and it lacked some features I wanted. And I found my way to Tom Bihn again. And this time I ordered. Got a Brain Bag, and I have to say that it seems better built than my Spire. Fully loaded, it does get bigger, but then, that’s the point. And the integration of the laptop sleeve is more effective in my view. I still recommend Spire to folks who want to spend less than Tom Bihn charges, and the current Zoom is nicely updated [though not in red anymore],but I don’t think they’re as good.

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 04:09:37 +0000

Whilst not yet out for the 13″ Macbook I’d have to put my hand up for crumpler’s line of “School Hymn”s. I’ve got a 2yr old one for my (now retired to sister) iBook and it’s the *best* i’ve seen out there. It’s quite rigid for protection, and enables you to leave the laptop sitting in it when in use (check out http://www.crumpler.com.au for more details).

Not sure how big crumpler are in the states, but they’re huge in Aus (where they were lovingly born) and Europe (when I was over there I couldn’t escape them!)

By: Skeptic

Skeptic — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:35:07 +0000

Nice looking bags.

I have been buying Waterfield Design Bags for a number of years now. I first bought a sleeve for my 12″ iBook after a lot of research. Every person in my family with laptops has gotten a sleeve from them. Waterfield Designs.

Some days I just grab the sleeve and put it in a non-desript bag, other times I put the laptop in the sleeve and put it in a computer looking bag.

I do like the looks of the Tom Bihn bags too.

By: Terry Oliver

Terry Oliver — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 01:35:57 +0000

I’m a Tom Bihn fan. Great looking and performing bags.
They are here: http://www.tombihn.com/

By: John Truong

John Truong — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 01:09:59 +0000

I second that! I’ve been using Spire bags and notebook sleeves for years, starting when I had a ThinkPad. The quality is great and the designs are very thoughtful. A bit pricey, especially for a Canadian like me, but well worth it.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 23:41:41 +0000

my vote is for patagonia’s half mass bag. I put my 12″ powerbook inside a semi hard foam sleeve and then slip it into the bags built in laptop sleeve. great protection. The best thing is the bag doesn’t have the problem that 99% of bags on the market have….it doesn’t look like a laptop is hanging on your shoulder. Most of the bags look like padded boxes..not cool. the bag also can be used for other things too.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:37:10 +0000

I’m personally am addicted to booqbags but these look nice (and less expensive!).