When a weary-eyed TSA security agent compliments your carry-on bag, you know you've got something special. And while hearing "Nice bag" from someone who watches bags all day, every day is the social equivalent of a full-on endorsement, the Western Lawn is more than a mere aesthetic marvel. This courier bag from Crumpler, the stalwart Aussie bag company recently introduced to the U.S., provides all the high-performance details you'd ever want: two external pockets and three internal (one with a Velcro closure); a wide, comfortable strap with an easily adjustable buckle and a "slap strap" loop that keeps the excess strap from trailing behind; and two Velcro lip closures. The water-resistant 1,000-denier shell and 300-denier ripstop lining keep things dry and durable, a choice of six colors lets you mix and match to your aesthetic-heart's desire, and the 854-cubic-inch volume is perfect for lugging all the essentials onto that laborious, long flight or for back-'n'-forth commuting duties. And for the camera buffs out there, you can pair the Western Lawn with Crumpler's Bucket ($60)—a fully-padded, compartmentalized camera bag with a zipper lid—for an instantaneous photo satchel that doesn't announce that you're lugging around your digital SLR and myriad lenses in your courier bag.
$60; www.crumplerbags.com