Go GaGa Gondola Bag
October 6, 2009
This bag quickly became one of my favorites. I tried to use it as a gym bag, as it’s perfect for a pair of shoes, a change of clothes, an iPod, and a few other gym necessities; but as it turns out there’s a reason that gym bags are made with mesh. Stinkapalooza!
Bag safely aired out, I switched it over to use as a laptop bag. I dislike traditionally styled laptop bags, so I’m always on the lookout for new styles. This one is great because the top opens up nice and wide for even the most substantial computers, and it has just enough little pockets for various things like pens and notebooks. Not too much room, now – you can’t overload this thing, simply because it won’t let you.
It has two side pockets for water bottles, which generate my one complaint – they are not quite big enough for a Nalgene. Now that would be perfect.
One of the more unique features of the bag is the stretchy, expandable shoulder strap. Spreading out the material helps distribute the weight, and the bouncy fabric reduces impact. The main body of the bag is tough, durable, and stiff, and is slender enough to easily be tucked away in a nook to protect your laptop. It’s perfect for medium-length plane trips and general schlepping around town. I would love to see bigger bottle pockets or have them have expandable stretchy panels to accommodate bigger bottles; and maybe a version with a mesh lid for gym use? Trust me – you don’t want sweaty clothes confined in this gem of a bag for too long! Save it for your laptop, and wait for the mesh version.
