After searching for anything less expensive that would fit my needs, I ended up buying the Saddleback Leather bag I’ve been drooling over:
Note: this would NOT fit a FW16 with the dGPU attachment. I don’t use a dGPU.
Pros:
- The bag is beautiful, and will probably outlive me
- Great pockets, especially the slip pockets behind each side pocket
- FW16 (no dGPU) fits comfortably in the main compartment, inside its Cushcase
- Reasonably weather-resistant if cared for
- Smells amazing
- Made mostly of recyclable (steel) and biodegradable (cow and pig leather) materials. The only petrochemical-based material here is in the marine-grade thread.
- Holds my FW16 (in Cushcase), 14" Macbook Pro (no case, front pocket carry), phone, several notebooks, container adapters, cables, and chargers, extra FW16 i/o modules, travel mouse, 5-6 fountain pens, business cards, ereader, tablet, files, power bank, personal items, umbrella, and more with room to spare.
- Very comfortable to wear/carry
- suits me fine for bumming around town, running a hacker retreat in the woods, or walking into a board room: no changing bags all the time
- Can travel as a “personal item” on any airline I frequently fly
Cons:
- Costs an arm, leg, and your first-born child (figuratively, people)
- FW16 doesn’t fit in either the inside-back pocket or the front expandy pocket, either of which would prevent me from needing a slip case.
- This bag doesn’t have as much main compartment organization as some other bags I’ve owned.
- The bag itself is not light (it’s about 5.5 lbs, or about 2.5kg, empty)
- When the front expandy pocket is loaded, the bag can be a little tippy and not sit up on its bottom without leaning it against something.
- This bag lacks the hidden compartment common to so many Saddleback bags.
Overall, I love this bag. I plan to keep using it indefinitely.
I will use the Cushcase until I have time to sew something more purpose-built. The Cushcase is great for protecting my FW16 outside the bag. For storage inside this bag, I’d prefer something with an open end so I can leave the sleeve in the bag when I pull my laptop out. I also think I can get a slimmer fit by reducing padding where the bag already provides enough protection, while also making it faster/easer to get my FW16 in and out.