The Agonies of Choosing a Laptop Bag

My quest to find the perfect laptop bag may never end, mostly because I can’t quite convince myself that the bags I’ve found will really meet my requirements, which are:

• Capacity - I need to to carry a 13" MacBook Air, an iPad and various minor accessories like chargers, headphones, phone, passport, notebooks and pens. 
• Traveling - I do a reasonable amount of traveling so the bags needs to be suitable for use on planes, trains and buses, as well as offering good protection from the inevitable violence and stress of everyday commuting. 
• Style - all bags are not created equal. I want one that will not look out of place in the office, in an airport departure lounge and, ideally, tucked out of the way in a smart bar (not because I frequent smart bars, of course, it's just useful short-hand for general non-geek acceptability). I’m planning to use it for several years, so it has to be tough. 
• Features - as well as holding all my stuff, I want a secure, easily fastened bag that can be worn for cycling, walking or jogging. A decent shoulder strap, secure phone pocket, good padding and a tough, waterproof outer layer are all essential. 

Unfortunately, that rules out leather bags like the Waterfield Muzetto or the Copper River Mission because they aren't waterproof, don't have enough padding and can't be secured for jogging or cycling (I generalise but the rule seems to hold across, stylish though many leather bags undoubtedly are). I have to reject cotton and other natural fibres for similar reasons (or because they're too flimsy for long-term use) so my options are limited to artificial materials.

This actually helps quite a lot. Through extensive web searches I have identified three candidates:

• Tom Bihn’s Ristretto for 13” MacBook Air, US $155 including the Absolute shoulder strap. 
• Timbuk2’s D-Lux Laptop Messenger, US $129 plus custom options. 
• Crumpler’s Moderate Embarrassment, AUD $175. 

These bags all do basically the same job, their manufacturers are, as far as I can tell, similarly reputable and I’d probably be happy with any of them. Unfortunately, that’s not the whole story; not all bags are equally obtainable.

Crumpler, who have several shops in London, including one I pass on my way to work, don’t make things easy. I should be able to stroll into their shop and buy (or order) any bag on their website but they don’t appear to sell the Moderate Embarrassment in the UK and they won’t ship one from Australia. They’re out.

Tom Bihn will ship to the UK but the Ristretto is back-ordered till mid-June and I’m impatient; I don’t think I want to wait that long.

So that leaves Timbuk2, whose bags are stocked by Evans Cycles (I pass at least two of their shops each day). The bag looks great, seems to have the features I need and, best of all, I should be able to handle one before I buy. Decision made.