MossMan's dashboard

So is there a solution out there to the squeak that doesn't involve endangering one's wardrobe? If so, does anyone know precisely where to apply said solution? Still, no one has pinpointed where in the clip, the strap, the bag, whatever, from which this squeak emanates.

This rad roller bag, will it be laptop-friendly? I've been using my original Commute for about 3 years, and while it's great, I think I want a rolling bag for some of the longer hauls.

I'm down with the WD-40, but precisely where do you put it to prevent the squeak? I can hardly afford to coat the whole assembly with WD-40 and then worry about cleaning the stuff out of my clothing. Is there another substance that would be less hazardous to clothing that also prevents squeaking?

Oh yeah, and please, please bring back something like the Arnold gym bag. I know it was limited edition, I know the retailers didn't like it, I know it's discontinued, but I still want one.

My comments here aren't so much about travel as they are about getting around with a laptop and other stuff. I've used my Commute bag for a few years getting around New York City by foot, subway, and car. Overall, I'm very pleased with my bag and I recommend it to others. My comments for future designs are based on that experience.

1. I have developed a bad back and would love a cool laptop bag that easily converts to rolling mode for longer walks. Weight, ease of conversion between carry and rolling modes, and laptop protection are key design aspects for a roller. If it's too cumbersome to convert between modes quickly, or subjects the laptop to potential damage while rolling, it'll never get used. I guess general durability would be pretty important too.

2. The external pockets on the front of the Commute are a great idea, but almost useless. Because the opening to those pockets are not elasticized and they're tight, it's very difficult to get things in and out of them. Also, when there's something in there, it generally intrudes on the interior of the bag. If those pockets were better designed, I would probably stow my power supply or other stuff in there.

3. Speaking of the power supply, because there's no good place to put that within the bag, I use one of the external beverage pockets for that. Any laptop bag really needs a good spot for a power supply. I'm thinking a large, elasticized or velcro-secured internal pocket on the side wall of the bag. In the Commute, that would be back-to-back with one of the beverage pockets.

4. The Commute beverage pockets are great, but could either be taller, or include some sort of strap to support carrying a tall travel mug or a taller water bottle securely. I've had to pick up my mug and my umbrella enough times that I've given up putting larger objects in the beverage pockets.

5. Umbrella storage! We all need umbrellas, they all get wet, and when you live in an area where mass transit is king, you can go from outdoors to indoors several times in one trip. Some place to stow or secure an umbrella where that umbrella won't soak the interior of the bag. Of course, this is critical so you have some hands free to drink your beverage out of the beverage pocket and read that magazine you've stored in the back zipper pocket while holding onto the pole, instead of holding your umbrella the whole way. Now I put the wet umbrella in the beverage pocket where it won't get the rest of the bag wet. That's not a secure place for it, though, and if I move around or get bumped, the umbrella will fall out.

6. Semi-rigid laptop protection. The padded laptop protection in the Commute is fine for a bag that gets carried, like a messenger or a backpack. I'm not that concerned about putting this bag in the overhead compartments or under the seat on a plane, because I understand that there's a laptop and other potentially fragile stuff in there. Therefore, I try not to subject it to a beating. However, in a rolling version of the bag, the laptop protection should be more rigid to provide better protection against impacts.

All this in a backback that converts to a roller would be awesome.