Back-to-school shopping is over, and now it’s your turn to get something new!
This school year, we noticed some way-cute backpacks to help keep you organized throughout the work week. Here are three that get an "A" from the Just A Sec team of real secretary reviewers!
For The Boys -- or the Girls.
Hey, we know guys are secretaries too! So here’s a backpack that dudes can feel hip about carrying, but it’ll keep up with the maximum amount of gear even the busiest woman needs to tote around Monday through Friday!
The Campus backpack from Dakine comes in large and small sizes. Here, we reviewed the large, which measures a generous but manageable 20” x 13” x 9”. Made from a durable canvas-like material, with super-comfy padded straps and back. Hearty pick-up handle, too.
Keep your stuff organized with plenty of compartments, including:
-- 2 mesh exterior pockets, perfect for water bottles or umbrellas
-- Fleece-lined zipper compartment keeps sunglasses scratch-free
-- A small open-top pocket on the exterior gives you easy access to train passes and Metrocards
-- An insulated exterior cooler pocket helps keep lunch items cold until you reach the office (we love this feature!)
-- The medium-sized exterior zipper pocket is a neat freak’s dream, with 4 pen/pencil pockets and 2 lightly padded fleece-lined pockets for keeping cell phones and PDAs scratch-free
-- The main zipper compartment is incredibly large, with a built-in padded laptop sleeve. There’s more than enough room leftover for gym clothes, microwave meals, spare shoes, etc. Computer sleeve holds a laptop up to 15” x 11” x 1.5”.
Here, we show the Campus backpack in a pattern called “Olive Soba” – funky, but not overly feminine. The Campus comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. To find a Dakine dealer, go to www.dakine.com. One retailer sells the large-size Campus for $44.95.
Lady Backpack
The Shifter backpack by Ogio was designed especially for the gals. It’s as professional and together as it is adorable.
What makes the Shifter so special? Female-friendly features like the specially-designed lipstick pocket, strategically placed on one of the straps for those beauty emergencies. On the other strap, there’s an elastic band, perfect for holding an iPod.
There are two exterior side pockets – one for water, the other for your cell phone, keys, and other items you need to keep handy. This pocket is fleece-lined to keep your cell phone from getting scratched, and it has the wonderful feature of a magnetic closure that snaps the pocket closed automatically, so you don’t have to worry about the pocket gaping open and spilling its contents.
The smallest of the exterior zipper pockets is also fleece-lined, for holding sunglasses and keeping them like-new. In our photos, you’ll notice Ogio places tiny icons inside its various compartments and pockets, letting you know what might fit there best. We like this detail, which is not only helpful, but charming, too.
The medium-size zipper compartment is Organization Central.
This is where you’ll find dedicated spaces for:
-- Pens (4 pockets)
-- Make-up pocket, deep enough to hold a whole face worth, plus a compact mirror
-- A tiny triangular jewelry pocket with zipper, great for keeping your rings safe and sound while you’re in the gym or pool
-- The “No Boys Allowed” pocket (marked with a no-boys icon) big enough to stow all that menstrual mystery gear
-- A large open-top compartment for outgoing bills, small notebooks, etc.
Finally, the main compartment includes a padded laptop sleeve with stretchy Velcro-like closure to keep your gear in place (fits most 15” laptops). There’s plenty of room for books, work-out clothes, extra shoes, etc.
The Shifter is one of the prettiest backpacks we’ve seen in a long time, with lightweight blue pinstripe fabric, white leather piping and pretty circular leather zipper pulls, plus delightful floral satin lining. Includes a padded back and straps for comfy carrying, and a grab-handle on top. The whole pack measures 16” x 11” x 7”.
Here, we show the Shifter in “Navy Pinstripe”, but to check other color/pattern options and to find an Ogio dealer, log on to www.ogio.com. One retailer we checked sells the Shifter for $59.99, but shop around for the best deal.
The Queen of All Backpacks
The Hauler backpack by Ogio includes many of the same distinctive, stylistic details that made us love the Shifter (above), like handsome leather zipper pulls, a downright pretty appearance and thoughtful organizational features. But the Hauler was clearly made for the Queen of Everything. Know someone like that?
Let’s look at where Your Highness will stow your gear:
-- Exterior zipper side pocket expands to hold a water bottle
-- Other exterior zipper side pocket is lined with fleece to keep sunglasses from scratching.
-- On the face of the Hauler, there are three separate storage compartments. Two elongated rectangular pouches with zippers are handy for just about anything you want to grab in a hurry, from train schedules to bubble gum. The larger pouch with the frog-like closure is roomy enough for your battery pack, laptop cord or favorite paperback.
-- The smaller of the three main zipper compartments is your organizational dashboard, featuring a small mesh pocket; a second small pocket with Velcro-like closure; a small zipper compartment ideal for holding a combination lock for your gym locker; 5 pen pockets; two additional open-top pockets and a key holder.
-- The second main zipper compartment is roomy enough for a change of clothes, extra shoes, etc.
-- The last main zipper compartment is padded for storing a laptop up to 15”.
The Hauler features a padded back and straps for comfy carrying, and a grab-handle on top.
Here, we show the Hauler in gorgeous “White Tile” fabric with gold matte satin lining, but to check other color/pattern options and to find an Ogio dealer, log on to www.ogio.com. One retailer we checked sells the Shifter for $69.99, but shop around for the best deal.
