Customer Reviews

Mobile Edge Paris Two-Tone Backpack

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're after a somewhat professional-looking option for carrying your laptop and like the weight distribution only backpacks can give, there are precious few alternatives out there. The Mobile Edge is a definite contender for top spot and at $59, it can't be beat.

I spent a good deal of time trying to figure out if my laptop would fit in this bag before ordering. I had purchased a slightly less professional looking but more trim and much more compact bag from Ellington (called the multi-tasker vertical pack). The Ellington was top quality and very, very well made, but my computer was about 1 inch too long to fit even without my protective sleeve. So sadly, back it went. I loved that bag.

Mobile Edge says the Paris Backpack will fit a 15.4" laptop (just like the Ellington), however over the phone they stated a 17" would fit. As it turned out, I ended up finding the light-colored, two-toned bag at Circuit City ($79.99) while traveling in San Diego and was able to try it on for size. I found MY computer fit perfectly with maybe an inch left over. I have a Macbook Pro 15" which I keep in the Incase neoprene sleeve from Apple. The Macbook's outer dimensions are 14"W x 9 1/2"D and with the case, maybe an inch more. (Note: the "Wide" dimension becomes the "Long" when put into the backpack.) It's not at all necessary to keep your laptop in a sleeve like I do. The laptop compartment in the backpack is lined with soft, somewhat egg-crate like padding. It looks like it will give terrific protection to the laptop.

I finally decided the light colored fabric was a little odd looking. Definitely distinctive, but after a day of deliberation, I was too concerned it would pick up dirt too easily and the potential "bleed " problem indicated by another reviewer clinched it for me. Having a dressy-looking but filthy case would kind of defeat the purpose so I returned it. I also thought the light colored fabric would make it look larger than black would. However, if you like the look and think you'd be able to keep it clean, ignore this comment. I ended up returning mine to Circuit City in northern CA and the woman behind the counter exclaimed she had never seen one before and quickly spirited it off to the back. I'm pretty sure she nabbed it immediately for herself. As I said, if you want a dressy backpack, there are few to choose from. I ended up ordering the all black version on-line from an Amazon seller for $59 (new). I received it in a matter of days in sealed new condition and luckily have ended up preferring the black.

As far as quality goes, it's good, but not excellent. It's better than you'd find at Target, about on par with Marshall's, but nowhere near as well made as, say, Tumi or even Ellington. But it's nowhere near as expensive as Tumi would be if they even offered a product like this - which they don't. And though the price point is similar to Ellington (multi-tasker pack $89), it's MUCH more bag than the Ellington. With the zippered laptop compartment at the back AND two generous-sized zippered compartments underneath the flap that can take legal sized files one of which includes a zippered accessories pouch, the other which includes two zippered pockets and 3 velcro-flapped neoprene pockets, this bag can hold a LOT of stuff! Oh - and a cool little hidden zippered pocket at the side for a bottle of water. But it ends up bulkier than I'd prefer. I could have made-do with the more compact Ellington, but if you have a large laptop and carry a LOT of stuff, you'll appreciate the space in the Mobile Edge.

Both the light colored and the black body fabrics are a little unusual and would not be my first choice. The light colored is fuzzy and tweedy and the black is slippery with a sheen and almost dressy. Not your normal backpack, briefcase or suitcase materials. Not sure where you'd see the light colored fabric, but you might find the black fabric in small purses and evening bags. The hardware seems solid and hopefully, won't peel or chip. The bag has faux-leather parts which look to me like thin vinyl. It would be fine if these parts were confined to decorative trim, but Mobile Edge used this material for the gigantic front flap as well as all the points which take the greatest stress - and in many cases placed rivets (!) at these points to secure them. Since vinyl tends to tear, I would have preferred they used nylon webbing which they actually did use at the adjustable base part of the straps. My hope is they know what they're doing and the "vinyl" won't end up being a problem. I have taken pictures of the connections at the top of the straps and as soon as I figure out how to get them posted here, I'll put them up so you can judge this for yourself. The way they handled it was unexpected to me.

The bulk of the bag is a little more than necessary and if fully loaded, must weigh a ton. But the straps are curved, padded and the pack is well balanced and comfortable on the back. The very large front flap flops over and buckles at the lower front. One might be happy with this maybe for security reasons, but it tends to get in the way for me. The buckle isn't designed to be adjustable to the amount of stuff you actually pack so it can end up too loose or too tight and I find it a little awkward. The compartment for the laptop is at the back, behind where this flap attaches so handling the laptop is unaffected by it. I love this feature because there's nothing I hate more than going through airport security and having to completely upend everything just to get at my laptop. This way, all your stuff stays secured and untouched beneath the flap and fellow passengers can't see anything but the laptop and maybe a little of the dedicated laptop compartment. Great privacy, and since the laptop is secured not only by the zippered closure but also by a large, velcro strap beneath, you don't have to compromise laptop security, either.

Overall, I'm happy with the Mobile Edge. I'm encouraged a company recognizes the need for women to protect shoulders and backs by giving us the option of a backpack AND understands we might not always need to carry all our camping gear to work with our laptops. But I wish the execution were more tight. I like the "less is more" design motto and this bag doesn't follow that principle. It's a little too floppy and bulky and the materials and execution are not of the highest quality. On the other hand, it doesn't cost anywhere near $500 so in the end, I have to admit Mobile Edge did a very good job with the Paris Backpack. At $59, any criticism is really quibbling.

I bought this bag about two months ago when I was looking for a backpack to carry my laptop, but didn't want to sacrifice the style of a shoulder bag. It is a quality bag. I *haven't* had the color bleeding problem one customer discribed, and I live in the Midwest, USA where we've had rain and a several inches of snow since I got the bag.

I gave the bag a 4 because the bag is a bit bulky. Also, the latch on the flap of the bag is difficult to undo if the bag is full or if you need to access the bag in tight spaces.

I really love this backpack. It gives me a bit of professionalism and that "girllie" look that most backpacks don't. And it is really comfortable. The only thing is would change would be to make it slightly smaller.

This backpack is almost perfect! It has a professional finish, which is very appropriate for the business world, and is optimized for carrying a laptop and the related accesories. The distributed inner pockets makes it impossible for the backpack to get slouchy, as traditional backpacks tend to, and the padded and venitlated back make life for your laptop, and your back, most comfortable. Stylish and crisp, I only wish there was an external pocket for my wallet.

I searched for quite some time for a backpack that is professional looking that I could carry between home and work (30 minute walk)for my laptop and books. I am very happy with the backpack itself. The quality is good and the straps very comfortable. The only complaint I have applies to the two-toned backpack. I have found that the black coloring weeps into the rest of the fabric if it gets wet. I live very close to the Arctic Circle, so snow and rain are a given. Had I realized this before I bought the bag, I would have bought the solid black. Other than that, the bag is superb!

(Also, even though Amazon does not ship overseas, it was worth paying a bit more for shipping from another merchant.)

I actually lucked out by finding this bag at Circuit City on clearance! I picked it up for 34 dollars. I had researched this bag on amazon first and by an odd stroke of luck found the bag at Circuit City on clearance the next day.

The two tone would not have been my first choice but I figured for 34 dollars it was worth it. I live in snowy, salty michigan so I was concerned the tweed fabric would get dirty easily. But so far any dirt or salt marks seem to wipe off with ease. I did not experience any bleeding when I was caught in the rain recently.

I load this bag up and its heavy when lifted by the handle but once placed on my back, it doesnt slow me down at all. Its a very comfortable bag.

The flap is a bit of a pain when getting to things in small spaces as its a stiff material and opens like a garage door. The buckle is nice looking but latches a bit odd. I like the fact that the laptop compartment is separate and not located under the flap. I guess my only real complaint is that my macbook 13 in. swims in the laptop compartment. Its really made for a larger computer. I get compliments on the bag all the time. Its pretty snazzy. ;)

I'm really happy with my purchase. I love the bag and it fits my laptop perfectly. I had been looking for a Backpack rather than a tote because i wanted to be able to carry it to work comfortably.

It's a very stylish looking back which I bought for my wife for Christmas 2 years ago to store-carry her 13" MacBook and books in college. It's got a lot of praise from her friends, the way it looks, felts, it's somewhat professional, and yest it's got a lot of practical compartments in the bag to keep things in place.
My wife is a heavy user, she tests everything she gets to the limits with her substantial degree of clumsiness. The sling of the bag broke in about a year, and it's no longer being used. If I would redesign the bag, that's the first improvement I would make, triple or more stitches on the sling attachments, and any other attachment so that they would last longer. It's a great looking back, just not as rugged as I wish it would be.

I've had this model in black and pink leather for two years. It looks professional, holds a lot of stuff, cradles my 15" laptop nicely, and is durable. It still looks as good as the day I bought it. My chief criticism -- and the reason it's never become my everyday bag -- is that the shoulder straps won't adjust to be comfortable for a smaller adult. My friend and I -- 5'2" and 5'5" in height -- have the same complaint.

I ordered the two-toned backpack, thinking it would be in the pretty beige/gray depicted in the photo. Instead, it arrived in an ugly gunmetal gray with the company logo--ME--stamped all over it in black. It was hideous. The backpack looked very functional, but if you're buying this backpack in this color combo, I'd proceed with caution.