The Price: $68 for the small and $88 for the large.

The Verdict: Is it enough to replace the Timbuk2 laptop messenger as our go-to bag of choice? Not quite, but at 2/3 the price, it's good enough for toting around your laptop, camera, cellphone and other gear when your pockets just won't do.

There's no dedicated laptop compartment like the Timbuk2, and it has fewer internal pockets, but it functions just fine as a city bag or man purse. The bonus here is that Gama-Go has a more inspired and trendy design, whereas Timbuk2 has the classic three-stripe motif. (Timbuk2 does have artist-designed bags, but cost around $150 each.) Gama-Go fans should give this one (the large one—the small doesn't fit a laptop) a look, but hardcore mobile workers will want to go for the higher priced and higher quality solution. [Gama-Go]

For example, you could snap on your snowboarding equipment then quickly transform it into a regular backpack as the situation warrants. I can't say that I'm big into sports that require a ton of gear, but I can see how the QuickShell could prove to be a big-time saver. it might even be smart enough to graduate into an actual product. [Yanko Design]

Joeseph McPhatter of Baltimore, MD, recently was cruising along when he was abruptly cut off and wrecked his motorcycle. Upon crashing, McPhatter was launched over 100 feet at a rate of 140MPH and instantly became the Impact Jacket's first "real world" motorcycle crash test. Medics claim that if McPhatter hadn't been wearing the Impact Jacket, his injuries, which amounted to a few sore ribs, would have been severely worse—if not fatal. Thanks, Impact Jacket! [Baltimore Sun via Core77]

Shedding light on the subject sure beats that annoying honk that Bozo's nose makes when you sock him. [Yanko Design]

On paper, the exoskeleton idea rocks. You put your feet in the boots, which are attached by a series of tubes running up your legs to a backpack, and transfer the weight of the backpack to the ground. Springs at the ankle and hip, and a damping device at the knee, mimic human movement, with a one-watt power input.

Although the exoskellington [sic] does lighten the load, the MIT guinea pigs found they were using 10 percent more oxygen than normal, as the kit impeded their normal way of walking. It's back to the drawing board for the Biomechatronics Group, but they are confident that, in its second incarnation, the DARPA-funded device will mimic a human leg more closely than before.

It's suggested that they could be used as shields, but this will only work if you are faster than a moving bullet—there's only one man who is, and he doesn't need to worry about being shot. Perhaps the only way to be truly safe is for kids to climb totally into the bags. The range start from $175, and should calm even the most paranoid parents, if they can get their kids to carry the fugly things, that is. [Popgadget]

Ooh, it may be tiny, but it's a serious piece of kit for serious sailors. At the moment it's only available in Europe, but hey, get a one-way flight, be brave and sail it back across the Atlantic. Just don't forget to pack your waterproofs, a foghorn and an inflatable doll, just in case you sink—or maybe you just feel like you might need the company. [MiniCat via Red Ferret]

Checking eBay this morning, we see the auction for the $305 bag is over, but now there are quite a few other attempts to sell such packaging, none of which are getting $305 bids just yet. However, there are a couple of iPhone carrying bags whose sellers will let you buy it now for $500. Stop the madness.

How Much Would You Pay for an IPhone... Bag? [Blog You like a Hurricane]

Unless, of course, you are a chick that likes backpacks, which I think are too manly by half, then you might be interested in this, a Juice Bag for Lay-deez. It's a large tote which, apart from being capacious enough for your towel, three bikinis, bonkbuster book and SPF lotion, can recharge your phone, iPod or camera thanks to its solar panels. It's pricey though, as it will burn a $249 hole in your lady-purse. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [Reware Store via Techie Diva]

Up close photo:

–Brian Lam
Wear Your Seat [via Sci Fi Blog]

Plus, they added the expands-when-full feature found in the USB flashbag drive as well. Definitely cool, but we'd prefer a wallet version instead. – Jason Chen

Dima Komissarov [Shift via Shiny Shiny]

Product Page [via Book of Joe]

Take the jump for a couple of enlarged pics of this weird design that's aimed at iPod users.

It hangs like a shoulder bag, or you can fasten it around your waist like a belt.

Yeah, it has a fresh and updated design, but the device's designer, Dirk Winkle, needs to consider that a ghetto blaster still forces others to listen to music you've chosen, just like it did in the early '80s.

Although if it were draped over the shoulder of the babe in the white pants, we might give her a pass, especially if she had decent musical taste. – Charlie White

Shoulder Bag Ghetto Blaster [Yanko Design]

Contrary to popular advice, I live to go grocery shopping when I'm super hungry. Pulling armfuls of food off the shelves into my waiting cart never feels more satisfying, and I usually end up with the kind of splurge food that I love but would otherwise avoid. (Chips a Hoy, and Lay's Jalapeño Kettle Potato chips, I'm talking about you.)

Problem is, when I get home, I run into my other pointless man-habit: Trying to carry 12-16 grocery bags inside the house at once. You can do 4-5 per arm, by roping them around your wrists, but then fragiles begin to pack down under their own weight; like a whale beached and slowly crushing itself under its own mass. Which brings me, in this very round about way, to the One Grip Bag Holders, that let you pile on a few bags in your hand, below the pivot point on your wrist.

I predict a total carry load, between wrists and hands, of about 16 bags total. Perfect, because making two trips to the car is something I'd rather avoid.

And if $12.99 worth of plastic is what'll take, so be it.–Brian Lam

Set of 2 One Grip Bag Holders [via the Great UberReview]

If only I had a matching G.I. Joe-sized LL Cool J action figure.–Brian Lam

Boombox [Lifepop]

The Gurus of Cool also present their rollicking Rapid Fire Roundup of Cool Products, burning through the week's top 10 best examples of coolness in the fastest three minutes on Sirius Satellite Radio.

If you're not a Sirius listener, catch the Coolness Roundup podcast here, or find out about the hottest and most up-to-date gadgetry on Coolness Roundup Daily.

Show Notes [Coolness Roundup]

Sound Box Waist Bag - style thy name is lost [Red Ferret]

Designed by Joe Hynek, a student at Iowa State University, the Power Purse will be available soon through Solarjo. The estimated cost is $300, but hey—no one ever said cutting edge fashion was cheap. –Dana Bushman

Power Purse [Solarjo via Crave]

This object apparently elicited "oohs" and "aahs" of delight from Hollywood's chosen few when they saw it as part of their pre-Oscar swag. Ewwwww. According to the PR blurb, this pet carrier brings "the 80's boom box ideal back and turns it into THE accessory built for today's fashion, technology, pet, celebrity and music-obsessed lifestyles."

I pity the pets - no self-respecting dog would be seen dead in a bag made out of something Great-Grandma might have worn to clean the house. Just to warn you, Kathy Hilton was seen checking them out, no doubt with an eye on a solution for transporting Paris around in, following her daughter's latest driving misdemeanor. – Ad Dugdale

iPod-compatible pet carrier [TUAW]

The bags are actually quite stylish—if you're into the grey nylon look—and go for a reasonable price. The Laptop Messenger Bag is only $49 and fits up to 15-inch laptops, and the Diplomat, a rolling laptop case for airplanes is $129. We just wish these had Vista Sideshow built in. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Amazin via Electronista]

I see this bag being useful for two types of people: folks who carry an appalling number of gadgets with them (i.e. most of us here), or folks who need to walk around Chelsea with brand new fashion accessories. Hey, whatever works for you, sailor. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Proporta]

Another photo:

–Brian Lam

Eleksen Bag Keyboard [Carrypad]

– Louis Ramirez
No! Shopping Bag Bra! (Japanese link) [via Shiny-Shiny]

Now go forth, artisan. Roll 1D0 for your chance of getting a girlfriend with this Bag of Holding. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [ThinkGeek]

Naneu's pretty good at making bags for all occasions as seen by their huge selection on their website. Their Naneu Pro u120 bag was pretty great, and we can say their Echo bag is definitely good as well.

Designed for camera users—both DSLR and point and shoot—the Echo has lots of compartments to hold lenses, flash units and bodies. The top of the bag has space for other stuff too, like cellphones and iPods. Whatever you use it for, the ample cushioning on the top and bottom compartments make sure all your gear will get to wherever you're going safely.

Also, if you're not big on cameras, you can use this bag for storing other electronics as well. Cellphones, PDAs, music players, battery chargers, card readers, CDs, headphones and other small-ish items can all fit in the pockets. And if you're going out for a picnic, the compartments on the bottom can keep your cokes, sandwiches, condiments and desserts separate and intact. Not to mention delicious.

The strap goes over the shoulder like a messenger bag—diagonally across your chest. You could carry it on one shoulder like a backpack, but the way that it's shaped makes this kind of clumsy. Across is definitely the way to go if you want to maximize comfort. Also, the bag isn't big enough to fit a laptop, so you're out of luck if you're looking to use this as a computer bag. But DSLR owners and food lovers will definitely find a use for the Echo. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Naneu Pro]

It holds my laptop vertically, so it doesn't bend against the curve of my hip, and it doesn't bump into pedestrians when I hustle through crowded sidewalks. The corduroy lined laptop sleeve is built-in, has a velcro fastening strap, and its bottom is positioned slightly off the bottom of the actual bag, to protect your computer from shock. The bottom is rubberized, and the ballistic nylon shell is water-proofed from behind. The smaller pocket has room for business cards, pens, gadgets, and a red ribbon which I keep my RSA SecurID dongle on, with my keys. I trust it to keep Mr. Macbook from harm.

One complaint: I get thirsty running around press junkets, and could have done with an external sidepocket for holding a water bottle. Hit the jump for a picture of the inside of the smaller pocket. And if you have a comment account, let us know if you've come across any noteworthy bags.– Brian Lam

Blogger Bag[Timbuk2]