Laptop-Review.eu

Construction & Design

Since this is my first review, I was pretty excited about receiving the product. After a bit of a run to catch the mailman, I managed to avoid having to retrieve the package at the post office and was thus able to get going right away. The bag arrived in a paper package with bubble wrap and plenty of tape, of course, so after giving a show of my skill in the art of the blade, I was left with what appeared to be a very well made laptop bag in a stylish and business-like design.
The bag has a crocodile finish everywhere on the exterior fabric, which almost looks like that black piano finish at first sight. One might fear the bag would smell bad due to the finish, but there were no chemical smells to speak of. The crocodile finish really draws attention and could easily be associated with the businessman in the Bertoni suit and patent leather shoes. But – for fear of going all Anne Wintour and talking about fashion – I decided to look closer and see if the good first impression also applied to the bag’s quality and functionality.   

Craftsmanship

Like earlier reviews of Umates bags here, this model deserves praise for its quality and sturdiness. The bag has endured rigorous stress-testing from this reviewer, including minor assaults on the bag’s stitches and pockets, as well attempts on the lives of the zippers. The bag passed with honours, and there is no doubt we are once again dealing with a quality product from Umates. You might fear the bag’s outer finish would be susceptible to scratches from sliding against a wall or over a table, but surprisingly none of these leave any visible marks on the bag.

Handle



The handle is obviously important to those who want to carry the bag without using the shoulder strap. Once again the quality is fantastic and the handle can easily support the many kilos that all the pockets can contain. The breadth of the handle is sufficiently large, a very welcome feature for those of us with large, clumsy hands, and it is also made in a material that feels soft as silk yet still allows you to get a sturdy grip.

Front pockets



At the front of the bag are two pockets: one at the top which is always visible, and another at the bottom which is hidden under the lock at the front. The upper pocket contains three inner compartments, one of which is fastened with a zipper. If you are one of those people who always has to check the 16 pockets in your jacket before finally finding your keys, help is here. The front pocket of the Umates bag has – along with space for pens – a place to hang your keys. The front pocket also features a bunch of smaller compartments for a PDA, calendar or any other junk you might want to bring with you.
One of the few things to criticise in my opinion is that the Umates logo is found on the nylon fabric in all the pockets. As a consumer you are well aware of which product you bought, and you certainly do not need to be reminded every time you use it.  

Rear pocket



The bag sports a rear pocket for documents and such. The pocket is not really suited for transporting larger items like books or folders, since it is attached fairly tightly to the rear of the bag. The inside is covered in the somewhat silky nylon fabric that is also found in the other pockets.