If you carry anything more than a pocket camera, PDA and mobile phone, then you might have decided that adding one more thing to your bat-belt will be all it takes to drag your pants down to your ankles. Well, there’s no need to scare little children while toting your gear, Proporta has come to the rescue with their new Gadget Bag. Smaller than a laptop bag, but larger than an accessory pouch, the Gadget Bag offers options for days when your gear load is heavier than usual, but you don’t want to be weighed down by a full size bag.
Composed of silver ballistic nylon with orange piping and accents, the black zippers, strap, and Velcro tab closure on the front add sporty accents. The only branding evident on the bag is the small rubber Proporta label on the right front pouch – very tastefully done!
The Gadget Bag is not overly large, the entire bundle measures approximately 10.6″ wide x 8.7″ tall x 2.8″ thick. The bag is actually composed of three main compartments which can be used together as one main bag, or that can be separated and carried as individual accessory pouches.
Unfastening the black nylon Velcro tab on the top of the bag allows loose papers to be stuffed under the backs of the attached accessory pouches and the main bag in the created pocket, but the bags can also be unzipped for easy removal. The two accessory pouches measure approximately 5.5″ tall x 7.9″ wide x 1.2″ deep, and are sized large enough to carry a large PDA, flatter digital cameras or GPS device. The fronts and backs of the pouches and main compartment are padded to help prevent damage to the carried devices when (not if) the bag is banged into something.
As stated on the Proporta site, “Each compartment has a plastic aperture, allowing headphones and charging cables to be fed through each section. This added feature allows you to charge your device whilst on the go with the convenient Proporta USB Mobile Device Charger, or listen to your MP3 player whilst it is safely concealed and protected in the bag.”
The two front pockets unzipped, showing the plastic cable pass-through apertures
Here’s a shot of the bag lying the other way, and it shows the two black nylon web attached D-rings on th back of the main bag, where the detachable shoulder strap goes. Also seen on the two attached pouches are the 7″ long zippers which allow access to their black nylon lined interiors. Before you ask, I’ll go ahead and answer – no, they are not YKK. 
The main bag by itself measures 10.6″ wide x 8.7″ tall x 1.6″ deep, and it accessible by unzipping one or both of the zippers which ring three sides. The main bag is lined in soft black nappy fabric, and it has a detachable internal pouch which measures approximately 5.3″ wide x 4.1″ tall x 1.2″ deep. A 4″ x 3″ patch of Velcro keeps the pouch firmly affixed to the rear wall of the bag’s interior, and there is a 2.75″ x 2.5″ elastic built in above the pouch which can hold any bulkier item, such as a coiled cable or a charger.
While the bag does not seem all that large, it was definitely big enough to carry the Kohjinsha SA1-1 Ultra portable Laptop and still had room to spare.
I like the fact that the bags can be zipped together to function as one large gadget bag, or separated to operate as pouches to keep gear separated in a much larger bag. The included nylon shoulder strap is over 60″ long when opened all the way, so it allows the bag to be carried on the shoulder or worn bandoleer style by a variety of body types.
Overall, I am pretty impressed with everything – but there is one thing I would add in a future model: a divided mesh pocket against the free wall in the main bag. Since many times the gear being carried consists of multiple devices and some smaller items, a way to keep the gadgets separated in the main carrier would be helpful.
If you need a way to carry your gear but you don’t want to commit to a huge laptop or messenger bag, then the Proporta Gadget Bag may be a good solution. It is very nicely made, has plenty of pockets, and it looks good.
The Proporta Gadget Bag is available directly from the manufacturer.
MSRP: $47.95
What I Like: Ability to be either one larger bag or three smaller ones; adaptable for different types of uses; very well made of quality materials; fronts and backs of main bags and pouches are padded
What Needs Improvement: Would like to see additional dividers or a mesh panel in the main bag
Doug at Just Another Mobile Monday also took a look at the Proporta Gadget Bag recently, so be sure to check out his review.
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