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PowerBook Mystique Review - Waterfield Cargo Mambo Combo Laptop Case

by Charles W. Moore

The Waterfield large Cargo laptop case from San Francisco designs is indeed the biggest laptop case I've ever reviewed, but that's not nearly the most impressive thing about it. Even on first impression, one is immediately aware that this is an extraordinary product, as indeed it should be for the price.

We aren't quite into Gucci territory here, although the quality may be as good, but Waterfield computer bags are definitely positioned at the high end of the market. As the company forthrightly affirms, "Waterfield bags are designed and made in San Francisco, where the rent is high, Labor expensive, and competition is intense. We wouldn't go anywhere else."

Those who appreciate clever, thoughtful design, tasteful styling, fine workmanship, and high grade materials will find value in these bags for the premium price, and will also be rewarded for spending some time on the Waterfield Web site choosing the perfect bag from the extensive range offered, configuring it to suit their needs and tastes. Waterfield bags are customizable with a variety of models, sizes, colors, hardware options, and accessories, and the purchase experience could be compared to ordering a tailored suit, or perhaps picking from the option list for a fine automobile.

The Waterfield Cargo series is the largest and most commodious of the several Waterfield lines line, and is available in three sizes, of which our test unit is the biggest, and came in a color called Indium Celeste, which is a tastefully subdued light green. Other available Indium colors or leather shades and textures for the bag flap can be previewed on the Waterfield Web site. The product we tested is actually a Cargo Mambo Combo, which, as the name implies, is an ensemble including the cargo bag Cargo bag, a SleeveCase and as Medium Gear Pouch. More about the other two Combo components in a moment.

Starting from the outside and working our way inside, the Cargo bag has double handles of sturdy nylon web with the hand grip surfaces sheathed in real hide leather neatly and securely stage.

The Cargo bag's shoulder strap is made of two-inch wide nylon webbing stitched securely to the bag's side panels, with a large quick-release adjuster on the left side of the bag for extending or shortening strap length, and a Velcro-- fastened shoulder pad with a "traction" panel on its contact service to make sure it stays put when you're carrying it.

Two buckle options are offered for the front compartment flap closure - - an optional ($10.00) "Paragliding Buckle" which is what our review unit has, and the standard "aluminum aircraft" buckle used by commercial airlines for seatbelts.

The Paragliding Buckle is charcoal black, relatively small but very sturdy (indeed several magnitudes of overkill for this application), and works with smooth and precise precision. I assume that the bigger aluminum aircraft buckle works nicely as well.

The flap itself incorporates a pocket with its closure zipper at a jaunty angle across the full width. It can accommodate small file folders or several magazines on this larger model. Underneath the flap is a double-zipper compartment with a half-oval configured opening, and an internal flap pocket on the back panel.

On the Cargo bag's back panel is a full-width, full-depth pocket with Velcro- closure for quick access, that can accommodate full-size 15 inch wide file folders.

The main compartment is accessed through a zip-closure opening at the top of the Cargo bag between the double handles. Incidentally, the zippers on these bags have a very high-quality look and feel. Both internal compartments are lined with a "Gold Diamond", honeycomb-color fabric that is not only bright and attractive, but also makes it easier to see what's inside than murky black lining would.

At the front of the main compartment is a hanging flap pocket panel with five pockets, one perfect the size to hold an iPod, and another very handy one for business cards. The others can happily accommodate CDs, memory cards and so forth. There is also a quick release key clip at one of the side panels.

The central aperture of the large Cargo bag can accommodate any size laptop computer, including the 17-inch PowerBook, but is intended to hold said computer in a Waterfield Sleeve Case, about which, as I noted, we'll have more to say presently. Actually, even the smaller, medium Cargo bag will hold up to 15.4" laptops. Indeed, the full-width, full-depth back pocket of the main compartment with its Velcro fastened web strap closure has plenty of room to accommodate a second laptop computer and sleeve Case if you wish (I tried it out).

Waterfield Cargo Bags are available in three sizes:

Large with Indium Flap $209 ; with Leather Flap $249/ 16" x 12" x 5" / 4.3 lb.

Medium with Indium Flap $189 ; with Leather Flap $229 / 16" x 12" x 3" / 2.5 lb.

Small with Indium Flap $169 ; with Leather Flap $199 / 13" x 10" x 4" / 2.3 lb.

For more information, visit:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/mambocombos/cargosuite.htm

Waterfield SleeveCase

Speaking of the Waterfield SleeveCase, the second core element of the Mambo Combo package, like the Waterfield computer bags, it is configurable in a variety of configurations and accessory options.

I've checked out two -- a Size 14, with Velcro web strap strap closure that fit my Pismo PowerBook like a proverbial glove.....

and a Size 8 with optional flap ($15.00), also with Velcro closure, that accommodates my 12-inch iBook snugly. Indeed, snugly enough that in both instances that I was grateful for the nylon web loops at the bottom of both Sleeve Cases that make it so much easier to extract the computers. A thoughtful touch.

The SleeveCases are made of ballistic nylon just like the bigger Waterfield bags, with Indium color across the bottom for a smart and attractive look. Waterfield has already released a MacBook Pro SleeveCase (designated Size #25) designed specifically to protect your MacBook Pro. Sleeve Cases also come in 30 other sizes for the rest of us, in horizontal or vertical orientations.

The Sleeve Case with flap also came with an adjustable suspension shoulder strap of 1 1/2-inch nylon webbing with a fixed shoulder pad (complete with "traction" panel) and very high quality quick - release carabiner hooks on stout swivels that snap onto beefy metal D-rings fastened to the Sleeve Case with stitched web loops. An $18.00 add-on. A regular strap is $12.00.

The SleeveCase computer compartments are padded with what looks and feels like 1/4-inch or 3/16-inch neoprene "wet suit" type foam backed material. They also have full width pockets and on their back panels, my only criticism of which is that there is no closure Velcro or zipper closure to secure contents.

That said, the Waterfield SleeveCase on its own makes a very satisfactory lightweight computer bag for day tripping, especially with the optional flap and shoulder strap. Where to put the power adapter, external mouse, necessary dongles and cables, plus an Apple USB modem if you have a MacBook Pro? No problem. Just order an auxiliary "piggyback'case, which is a small pouch that attaches onto the Sleeve Case.

Made from ballistic nylon with reinforced zippers the Piggyback has soft divider pockets inside to protect your power adapter, even a small external drive or what-have-you. The internal pockets aren't quite large enough to accommodate the Pismo's "flying saucer" power adapter, but the 45 watt adapter of my iBook fit neatly, and there's plenty of room in the main body of the bag for the awkward saucer (not one of Apple's better ideas). The Piggyback is a $22.00 option.

Which SleeveCases will fit in each size Cargo bag:

Small Cargo $199 - $239 :
Fits SleeveCase sizes
2,3,4,6,8,9,10,18

Medium Cargo $219 - $269 :
Fits SleeveCase sizes
2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20,24,25,27,31

Large Cargo $239 - $289 :
Fits SleeveCase sizes
2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20,24,25,27,30
31,33,34,38,42,45,48

For more information, visit:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm

Waterfield Gear Pouch

The third Mambo Combo element is the Gear Pouch, which is smaller than the PiggyBack. It's available in small, medium, and large sizes.

The Gear Pouch's main compartment has a self-locking zipper opening that extends across the top and 3/4 of the way down the right side of the case/ There is also a smaller front pocket with a full-width zipper.

Both compartments are lined with the "Golden Diamond" fabric/ The left side of the Gear Pouch has a convenient nylon finger loop for carrying, and the pouch can accommodate a power adapter, mouse, small external hard drive or flash drive, cables, and other small items that you probably don;t want floating around free inside the Cargo bag.

For more information, visit:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/gearpouch/gearpouch.htm

Waterfield CableGuy

Yet another Waterfield auxiliary case is the Cableguy, which has identical front and back zip-closure pockets for stowing and carrying cables, adaptors, zip-drives or travel documents. The CableGuy's' No-spill self-locking zipper/sliders keeps things from falling out.

The internal compartments are lined with Golden Diamond" material, with black nylon webbing pockets.

Available in three sizes:
Large Cableguy $25 / 14.0" x 6.5" 5 oz.
Medium Cableguy $22 / 10.5" x 6.5" 4 oz.
Small Cableguy $19 / 8.5" x 5.5" 3 oz.

Colors
Checkers
Blue
Lead
Taxi

For more information, visit:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/cableguy/cableguy.htm

Summary

If you've guessed that I really like the Waterfield Cargo Mambo Combo ensemble, you're right. This is really first-rate computer luggage. As noted, it isn't cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Also, the modular nature of the product means that when you buy a new 'Book, your case is not obsoleted if you've chosen a different size computer. You can just get the appropriate-sized SleeveCase, and you're back in business.

Indeed, I found nothing to really complain about with the Waterfield Cargo Mambo Combo. Design, execution, and materials are all superb. Recommended without reservation.

CM