It's in the bag!The holidays are upon us, and many of us have all but completed our gift-buying binges. But every year, there's that one jaded individual on the list who seems to defy our ability to divine their heart's desire, begging the age-old question, "What do you get for the man or woman who already has everything?" Here's a suggestion: How about someplace to put it all? In a recent column, I talked about the latest bit of capacious clothing designed by SCOTTeVEST. Some readers, however, replied that what they needed was not necessarily a garment, but a grab-bag. Yes, the specter of the once-almost-fashionable "man purse" has once again reared its ugly, gender-bending head. "I HATE TO SAY IT, but I think I need a purse," confided an understandably anonymous (and obviously male) TalkBack poster. "Carrying a Blackberry 957, digital camera, Palm, wallet, cell phone, and all the gear that goes with it--I need something to carry it in. I've found a little bag...BUT it's not quite as 'manly' as I'd like. I hate to admit it, but for all our gadgets, a 'man-bag' is ideal."
Well, we all hate to admit it, but as much as we disdain those carpet-bag purses that our female counterparts cram all of life's essentials into, we secretly envy them. Yet it takes a man who is supremely comfortable with his feminine side to break down and actually sling such an accessory over his shoulder. For the rest of us, we continue to stuff our pockets and wait for smaller, more functional devices to free us from our secret man-bag needs. Well, I have found a pretty cool compromise from a company called RoadWired. Best known for its attaché-style MegaMedia Bag, the company has now hit one out of the park with a pouch called the Pod. Billed as a "digital lifestyle bag," the diminutive 7-by-5-inch Pod was originally conceived as a traditional camera bag "gone digital." Its 20-plus compartments are individually decked out with internal Velcro-equipped pockets and elastic loops to hold everything from media cards to batteries. And the overall aesthetic of the ballistic nylon satchel is that of a sporty/professional camera bag in miniature. (As company president and lead designer Michael Hess admits, regardless of how functional any bag is, "it's really a fashion business.") The Pod derived its name from its blossom-like design, according to Hess, not from any attempt to associate itself with a certain mobile music product from Apple (though the bag does provide a perfect place to put your iPod). When you unzip the outer pockets, they seem to "bloom" outward. Attached by webbed "wings," each pocket forms a small shelf that not only lets you view and access the contents of your Pod, but also keeps small and potentially costly objects such as digital media cards from falling by the wayside. The Pod seems to have a chameleon-like ability to adapt itself to pretty much any application. Hess says he often hears from users who've found unexpected uses for the bag, such as the professional make-up artist in New York City who is convinced the pouch was designed specifically for his requirements. In my household, the Pod was immediately adopted by my grade-schooler, who found it perfect for storing the variety of medical items required by his Type 1 Diabetes. Everything from insulin vials and hypodermics to a blood glucose monitor and related supplies--even the life-saving Glucogon shot that could someday be necessary to revive him from a diabetic coma--all fit neatly into the Pod, as if it were designed for his needs alone. Since this bag must accompany him everywhere he goes, it's also essential that it looks cool. Most kids and adults assume that he's simply packing a Game Boy inside, which suits this self-conscious child just fine. There's even a secret compartment in one of the flaps, perfect for storing cash, a key, or some other special treasure. If your own technological clutter exceeds the holding capacity of the 369g, US$49 (S$84) Pod, consider its larger sibling, the 229mm-tall, 43g. Podzilla. Like the Pod, the $69 (S$118) Podzilla comes in six colors: black, titanium, navy, red, yellow, or olive.
Hess has also spent an inordinate amount of time sweating the details, in particular, the bag's "user interface" areas, as he refers to the handle (foam-wrapped surgical steel), the stay-put shoulder strap (featuring a "contoured, 4-layer shoulder pad with moisture-wicking mesh and friction strip overlays"), and even the zipper pulls, which conform ever so snugly to your thumb and forefinger. This is truly a carry-on worth carrying on about. If all this language about luggage has you frothing at the mouth, chances are you fit the description of what Hess calls a "bag hound." Though I never really gave it much thought before, Hess' simple statement that "people collect bags" rang strangely true for me. I had to admit, I have closets full of them--from suitcases to fanny packs--most of which never see the light of day. Yet, when you find one you really like and use, it's truly a gift that keeps on giving. And what says "Happy Holidays" better than a bag? After all, where would Santa Claus be without his?
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