Booq Bag Boa XM System

Booq Bag Boa XM System

Published August 25, 2008 at 01:15:52 PM, by Thai Tan

Overview

Move over plain backpacks - there is a new breed of backpacks from Booq that appears to be out of this world. The Boa.XM is a sleek, rugged, and comfortable backpack that stands out from the rest, thanks to its distinctive aesthetic design and integrated features. The instant appeal of the Booq.XM (and other Booq products) is its sophisticated and enhanced ergonomic styling that seems to descend from the 22nd century.

The 2006 Boa.XM [System] is a complete storage solution: to compliment the Boa.XM backpack., this package also includes a laptop sleeve case (choice of either a PowerSleeve or Vyper sleeve) and two mini cases (FonePaq and PDApaq) to hold additional accessories such as a MP3 player or mobile phone. Although the storage solution is aimed at Apple portable computers, this bag can also cater to PC laptops at up to 15-inches in size. If you need something larger, the Boa.XL is capable of holding most massive 17-inch machines.

The Boa.XM [System] is what we characterize as a premium bag, aimed at style-conscious consumers who place a bigger emphasis on looks and a brand's cachet rather than price alone. Priced at a hefty $200 for the Boa.XM [System] (medium) and $210 for the Boa.XL [System] (large), Booq backs this premium price with a unique style, feature set, and lifetime guarantee that demanding buyers deserve.

Design - External

Portability
Measuring 17" long, 7 thick, and 13 tall, the Boa.XM backpack is on the compact side compared to most general '15-inch' backpacks; making it more than feasible for easy transportation. In spite of its compact size, there are actually a decent number of storage pockets. At almost 4 pounds empty, the Boa.XM isn't the lightest backpack around, compared to the Spire Fuse backpack which weighs 2.5 pounds empty; but the rigid padding and approximately 15 pockets make the backpack practical for its size & weight.

When fully packed, the Boa.XM still maintains its sexy thin looks.

External
The exterior is composed of mainly Ballistic Nylon rated 1680D, offering robust durability. For added protection, Booq equipped the laptop compartment with 1-inch high density foam padding. �Combine that with the Booq Vyper sleeve case for twice the protection against impact.

On the front exterior, the Ballistic nylon texture feels rough and tightly woven, even thick enough to withstand abrasions and tears. After a quick observation of the exterior, it�s apparent that the overall construction is well-crafted and almost perfectly assembled; from the lining to the threads � all well intact.

Covered in dark black, this color scheme gives the backpack a very conservative look tailored towards business professionals.

The Booq logo is embroidered on the center of the bag.

The back panel area is comprised of a breathable high-density polyurethane foam back padding for added rigidity and comfort. That sounds like a mouthful but there is only one term to describe its effectiveness: comfortable.

Padded material helps to comfortably rest against your side.

There are also a couple of buckle-type compression straps to secure over your waist and chest, to help distribute weight evenly across your body, especially when you have a full load.

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Heavy loads? The chest and waist buckle fastener can help.

From the top, the carry handle is wrapped in leather offering a tight yet comfortable grip.

The bottom section is built like a rock � comprised of a rigid and rough material to withstand abrasions, tears, and wears.

On the right side of the backpack, there is a convenient side pocket to quickly access and store small accessories.

Store additional items in the quick accessible side-pocket.

Design - Interior

Internal
Booq�s craftsmanship doesn�t just shine externally; the inside is just as impressive.� There are a total of three compartments: the front compartment, middle compartment, and laptop compartment.

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Opening the front pocket compartment will unveil approximately 8 pockets inside.� The organizer pockets made from a mesh material are made to hold pens, business cards, USB pen drive, ac adapter, travel router, cables and other miscellaneous accessories. The zipper pocket can hold a spare battery or a portable hard disk drive.

The middle compartment is capable of holding more flat and linear items such as a binder, magazines, or books. Additionally, there are three organizer pockets attached inside this compartment that can store a cellular phone, USB pen drive, or earphones.

Moving on to the third compartment, where the laptop is stored: the laptop compartment measures approximately 14.2� L x 11� H x 1.6�D and will accommodate most laptops at up to 15.4-inch screens admirably. It is lined with a thick foam padded material to protect and secure the laptop in place.� The surface of the padded lining is made from a soft mesh material so your laptop can avoid scratches during transit.

The Vyper Sleeve easily slips inside the laptop compartment for dual-protection.

In addition to cradling our Apple PowerBook 15-inch, PC notebooks such as the IBM ThinkPad T42 14-inch, HP L2000 14-inch widescreen and Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi also slipped inside the compartment comfortably. For dual-protection, the included Vyper sleeve with the system package wrapped our PowerBook 15-inch perfectly. [More on the Vyper sleeve in our features section]

Features

Vyper Sleeve Case
The removable Vyper sleeve case is a nice addition to the Boa.XM backpack. �In terms of flexibility, you can slip the Vyper sleeve case in a different bag or you can take it out and about.

Despite its compactness, the Vyper sleeve is quite rugged externally and internally. It�s padded with a soft lining to ensure a delicate laptop is clear from scratches during transportation.

Our Apple PowerBook 15-inch fits like a glove inside the Vyper Sleeve.

Padded Contour Shoulder Strap
For maximum comfort, the shoulder strap is padded with a soft mesh material. This helps minimize strains and aches after extensive use, even if you are carrying a full load. It�s also ergonomically designed with a slight contour to support your shoulder.

iPod Pocket
iPod (or any other MP3 player for that matter) owners will love this convenient pocket located on top of the middle compartment. �Like the Spire Backpack and Mobile Edge Premium backpack we reviewed earlier, the Boa.XM sports a pocket designed for a MP3 player. Conveniently, the MP3 players� headphone wire slips through the Booq logo located on the outside of the pocket so you can listen to your favorite tunes on the go, with minimum clutter.

Perfect for MP3 player owners.

Extra mini-cases
These convenient cases allows for a simple way to hold your iPod, cellular phone or PDA.

Our iPod and Razr phone are comfortable.

Each of these cases can be attached horizontally or vertically to a belt or to the shoulder strap as shown below.

Performance

The durability, quality, and comfort offered by the Boa.XM [SYSTEM] have proven to be excellent. After using this backpack day by day for nearly three months, rips and tears were no where to be found. The backpack complimented me on my daily travel to work and short trips. For work, I managed to load all my essential gear, including my IBM ThinkPad T42 notebook, power adapter, Logitech V500 mobile mouse, and documents while having plenty of space for other miscellaneous accessories. �For me, this bag offered sufficient storage pockets � not too little and not too much.� Students may find this bag lacking in space and size as it might be difficult to handle a few text books.

My initial impression of this backpack [besides the sexy looks] was that it felt stiff, but as time progressed the backpack became �broken in� and has become more comfortable than ever. Keep in mind this is not your typical soft and flexible backpack. As mentioned in the preceding section, there is a 1� foam embedded in the side panel of the laptop compartment making the overall backpack frame very rigid.� This also allows the bag to stay relatively compact. The contour back panel snugs the arch of my back adding extra comfort, while the ergonomic shoulder straps with sternum strap offer a secure and firm fit.

Down to the details, I love the quick and easy access pocket located on the side of the bag. I can still access the pocket while wearing the backpack on my back by simply lifting the zipper with my right hand and reaching in to grab an item.� Not to mention, all the zippers slide open and closed effortlessly.

After the course of these few months, there is not a single scratch on any of the notebooks I used it with, thanks in part to the impressive foam padding within the laptop compartment and the Vyper sleeve case.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Unique, sleek, and smart design
• Sufficient storage capacity
• Rugged and durable
• Compact
• Convenient side pocket for quick & easy access
• Comfortable contoured back panel and padded shoulder strap
• iPod pocket
• Vyper Sleeve case

Cons:

• Expensive
• Limited capacity
• �Stiff� feel

Recommendation: �

Booq delivered quite an impressive storage system. Certainly, it�s one of the more rugged and sleek backpacks I�ve used, thanks to the extra padding and material composition. Besides the obvious sleek looks, the other prominent feature is its contour design. The back panel is designed to compliment the arch of your back and the shoulder strap is comfortable enough to help minimize or stabilize weight on a full load.

The well-padded laptop compartment plus the Vyper slipcase ensures the laptop receives optimal protection, including scratch prevention. Being able to remove the Vyper sleeve is an added bonus. If you own an iPod, or any other MP3 player for that matter, you�ll appreciate the designated iPod pocket with the earphone slot so you can use it while wearing the bag. In terms of storage capacity, for me, there are just enough pockets to carry my portable necessities. However don�t expect to carry a lot as the embedded padded foam keeps the backpack from expanding in size.

The Boa.XM backpack has a more of a conservative appearance so it can project a professional business image, but students and city commuters can also be accommodated nicely with this bag.

This storage system has a hefty $200 price tag but ultimately, you�re paying for a premium bag that not only offers a slick and unique appearance but also offers extreme ergonomics and maximum comfort too. For people on a budget, you can find a less costly bag that can serve your needs just fine.

Price and Availability
The Booq Boa.XM [System] is available now and comes with a life time guarantee.

Model: Melissa

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Technical Specifications

No specifications are available.