Hey folks,
It's been a long time since I've been on the forum, but have a question and thought I'd bring it back this way. I've done enough research and googling to generally understand the differences in use and functionality between the S25 and BB, but still wanted to pose my questions here.
I travel frequently (at least 2, sometimes 3 weeks per month) and have been using an S25 as my EDC for both work and pleasure travel for around 4 years. I've found the S25 to usually be great for work and absolutely perfect as my 2nd bag when I travel personally (generally I don't bring a laptop on these trips).
Recently I've found a need to start carrying a 2nd 13' laptop while traveling for work, which has gotten me thinking about whether it might be worth giving the BB a shot. I'm currently packing my second laptop in a sleeve in the internal kangaroo pouch of my S25, and it actually works decently, but means I have to forego packing a couple other things.
My usual work travel carry would include the following:
- 13' MacBook Pro (Sleeve + Kangaroo Pouch in S25)
- 13' Dell Laptop (TB Cache)
- 1-2 books (pleasure reading, always bring, may vary in size, packed into S25 main compartment)
- Bose QC35 + Case (S25 main compartment)
- 1 baseball cap (usually stuffed into S25 main compartment)
- 1 Large Moleskine notebook (used to be in S25 Kangaroo pouch, have not carried since adding 2nd laptop)
- 1 Side Effect for cables/batteries/misc. electronics (Bottom S25 pocket)
- 1 3D Mesh Organizer Cube for both laptop chargers (Bottom S25 pocket)
- 1 Extra Pair Glasses (Left S25 pocket)
- 1 Pair Sunglasses (Right S25 pocket)
- 2 Travel Stuff Sacks, can't remember the size, to hold misc. medicine and travel accessories (Left/Right S25 pocket)
- Keys (Right S25 pocket)
- Key card, business card, Various business items (Top S25 pocket)
I've recently stopped carrying a water bottle, so the water bottle pocket on the S25 is currently empty. Honestly I found the S25 a little uncomfortable to carry with a water bottle in that pocket when it was reasonably loaded up.
So, really the only thing I don't pack with the addition of the second laptop currently is my Large Moleskine notebook. If I were to move to a BB, I would want continue carrying everything on the list above. My concern is that, while it didn't happen frequently, there have been times when I felt like the S25 was overpacked and uncomfortable on longer work trips. I'm concerned that the addition of the second laptop will exacerbate that issue.
What I'm really looking for guidance on is how significantly bigger does the BB feel when compared to the S25. I would try to avoid ever loading it to full capacity, but doe the BB handle, look, and carry decently when it isn't full? I also really like my cable/charger setup in the bottom compartment of the S25, how do you BB users store and carry cords and cables in the BB? I also have a Snake Charmer I could use again if that helps on the question. I'm a 5'10 male and around 185, will the BB feel and look significantly larger, when not fully loaded, on my back than the S25 does.
Thanks in advance for the help, and for reading that long and sometimes rambling question!