About 2 months ago I bought my first laptop bag. At the point when I was shopping for one, I was specifically looking for a shoulder sling type of laptop bag because I felt that it’s easier to reach into the bag to fish out my purse, car keys, phone, etc instead of those backpack type of laptop bag. You can read my earlier post about the Checker Plate bag that I bought.
But after using it for 2 months, I found that the bag isn’t that practical anymore. Maybe it’s the way it is designed with thin long straps that make carrying it around a very heavy task on the shoulder. Plus carrying all that weight on just one shoulder is seriously no laughing matter.
When I was taking a flight, I took the chance to have my laptop bag weighed at the check-in counter and it weighed 8.5kg. So that’s the weight I’m carrying on one side of my shoulder day-in and day-out when I’m out there working! Can you imagine the injuries I could easily succumb to?
Although I got plenty of compliments for the nice and unique bag, the pain from the strains I felt in my ankle when walking with the heavy bag finally made me realise that it’s not worth the battle with the bag anymore.
These kinds of bags are definitely more practical and comfortable to carry around!
So I shopped for another laptop bag. This time I made sure it’s a backpack type where the weight can be equally distributed onto both shoulders. I also made sure that the straps of the bags are sturdy and strong, and padded for comfort. It’s actually not as inconvenient as I thought to fish out the items I need. I guess it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
Now I feel a lot more comfortable going about my day carrying that 8.5kg worth of work stuff in a bag similar to the ones pictured above. Although I’m in my heels, the walk is a lot easier and I don’t feel the kind of strain anymore.
The other day I was randomly watching some TV programs about a bunch of lawyers and there’s this lady, an Oklahoma attorney who’s forever walking around with a heavy bag stuffed with huge files and I suddenly saw myself being like that with my heavy laptop bag. So pathetic! Thank God I’ve changed bags now 
So if you’re considering buying a laptop bag that’s shoulder-bag style, do consider carefully before you make the same mistake I did. If you’re not going to be carrying heavy things in it for long periods on end, maybe it’s not too bad. But you’ve been warned…so think carefully!
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Love my Samsonite bag – just started using it today!