THIS BAG IS BRIEF BUT EXPANSIVE: Good riddance to the decades when leather and brass briefcases were the hallmark of chic business travel. Legions of their bearers did not find their classy looks worth their (substantial) weight in gold. Thank goodness for high-end manufacturers who mercifully mine the realms of tastefully wrought polyester and other lightweight synthetics to create stylishly functional business bags. Take the new 2.2-pound Booq Saddle Carbon Business Brie. The sleekly tapered, meticulously tailored polyester shoulder bag is spacious enough to accommodate a 15.6-inch laptop in its own padded compartment as well as several books, file folders, electronic devices, water bottle, coffee mug and other accessories, in an efficiently organized array of zippered, slip and mesh pockets — some with designated duties. A pouch in the front zippered pocket is just the right size for a smart phone; a large back pocket will keep a tablet computer close at hand; a detachable key ring is undercover, yet easily accessible. Adjustable shoulder straps, double carry handles and a luggage-trolley pass-through strap on the bag’s back provide a choice of carry modes. The black exterior is seriously scuff-resistant, the light gray interiors ideal for spotting contents. The bag is 16.5 inches long by 12.2 inches high and expands to nearly 6 inches deep — more if you really stuff this baby. But then, the added weight’s on you.
Booq Saddle Carbon Business Brief is $130 at .
Judi Dash, Gear & Gadgets syndicate
