I’m calling on the collective wisdom of the Dope to help me find a good purse/carry-all for every day. Sometimes I have long trips to make, and I end up carrying my bag for hours on days like that. The bag’s really got to be right, so it doesn’t drive me crazy after a few hours of standing on subways. Here’s what I want in a bag:
Comfort and ease. Even when it’s full of stuff and kind of heavy, it should be comfortable to carry and leave my hands free. If it makes my back or shoulders hurt, it’s out. Something ergonomic would be great.
Lots of pockets.I carry lots of little things, and I hate having to dig through a bag to find small stuff, like a pen, or my keys, or a tube of lip balm.
An easy-to-reach pocket that could carry a water bottle upright would be wonderful! So would an outside flap that would let me get at something to read and write with while I’m on a packed train.
Waterproofing and durability. Having a strap break on the street really sucks. So does having someone spill coffee on a bag that isn’t waterproof.
I like cross-body bags, because they never slip off my shoulder or demand a hand to steady them. And, unlike backpacks, you don’t have to take the whole thing off to get at the contents or to make room on a crowded subway. If there’s some other kind of bag that would give me the same advantages, I’d be very happy to hear about it.
I’ve been carrying Fossil Sutter for years and years, and I think they meet your needs–google them, watch the sizes, most bags come in a large version and an almost identical but quite a bit smaller model. I get mine on Ebay.
I have the Keen Oswego shoulder bag. It is pretty much the perfect shoulder bag. It has a multitude of pockets, and a zip up outside pocket on the back for that book you mentioned. It can easily fit a water bottle. I carry a water bottle, iPad, book, and wallet at the very least with me at all times. Not a problem for this bag. The strap is padded and ajustable. There are small side pockets that easily fit my phone and change/spare cash so I don’t have to go digging around for these things, as well as small pockets (including pen holder pockets) on the inside. I have had it for three years and it is still as good as new. It is the worlds toughest bag and I love it. Mine is a pretty blue and grey which I can’t find online (though I didn’t look that hard) so know there are more colors than brown and green.
Oh, and I almost forgot, it has a carabineer key tether on the inside, so I never have to go digging for those either.
It depends on how much stuff you have to carry. If you’re looking for a purse-sized bag, I love my Ameribag (I have the Palamino). 4 Pockets plus a 20oz water bottle pouch on the outside, 5 pouches plus pen slots inside, not including the main area of the purse. They are pricey, but I haven’t found a more comfortable purse, especially for travel when I carry it all day.
For more of a laptop-sized bag, you might try Ogio. I love my Ogio messenger bag, but it looks like the style may have been discontinued.
I’m on my third Travelon Messenger bag. This size might not work for you (I carry a tote in addition to this bag), but Travelon has a variety of larger bags as well.
I have a few of these vintage industrial goat leather satchels. They’re comfortable, waterproof, pocket-filled, and can fit a whole load of stuff. (Or nuthin’ much.)
The leather’s soft and lightweight. Don’t think you’ll find much else to beat them, Scribble.