BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

A good pair of in-ear phones: It's impossible to overstate how valuable these are. Not only do they sound better than your stock earbuds, they dull the chorus of engine sounds, snores, baby cries and not-as-subtle-as-your-seatmate-thinks beanfarts nearly as well as those Bose noise-canceling phones some airlines hand out in first class. As a bonus, you can sleep comfortably in these. Ultimate Ears MetroFi 170s are nice, clear and bassy for about fifty dollars, while Shure's next-level SE210s can be scrounged for under $100. $50 for the UEs, $90 for the Shures. [Amazon, 2]

An iPod Touch: Yeah, I know, another iPod recommendation. Seriously though, perfect travel gadget: Video and music (and podcasts, sweet podcasts!) are travel must-haves, and games are a massive bonus. But what about apps to keep you busy or productive? White noise machines to put you to sleep? Internet access on the off chance your plane has free Wi-Fi? Look out for better deals come Friday, too. $200 [Apple]

Timbuk2 Commute 2.0: It's a solid gear bag, with more than enough space for a laptop, DSLR, various accessories and a phone or two, and it's TSA compliant, meaning you can leave your laptop halfway inside your bag through airport security for a slightly less terrible experience. Retails for about $100 in size medium, though you can find it for a bit less is you look around. $90 [Zappos]

Some juice: Almost every gadget charges by USB nowadays, a habit that the Duracell Instant Charger will happily oblige. It's most useful as an emergency phone charger, though it'll work for almost anything.

If your traveling giftee is a Man of the World, consider the Kensington International Adapter with USB. Here's the theory: said traveler can plug almost whatever he wants into almost any wall socket, and charge his Duracell portable battery at the same time. MAXIMUM ELECTRICITY! $15 for the Duracell, $30 for the Kensington [Amazon, Target]

A stupid neck donut pillow: Because they're awesome and anybody who says they
aren't hasn't slept on an airline cushion for eight hours. Plus, they're cheap, and you can probably find one at your local Walmart if you don't want to bother with shipping. $13 [Amazon]

Tethering: It's a bit nerdy, and you might he some reservations about fiddling with someone else's phone so much, especially given how sensitive carriers can be to this kind of thing, but if your traveler is aware of the risks, tethering is a wonderful gift. And not just wired or Bluetooth tethering—I'm talking Wi-Fi tethering, MiFi style (and without the extra contract, which would be a terrible gift). It can save money and headaches in hotels or airports with paid Wi-Fi, and it'll be endearingly nerdy. Free! [For iPhone, jailbreak; for Android, rooting; for Palm, homebrew]

Those laptop privacy shields: People will think you're looking at porn if you're using one of these, no matter how nice your suit is. Avoid, unless your traveler actually wants to look at porn. $45 [Amazon]

Methanol cell chargers: They're too expensive to recommend now and it's difficult to explain to the TSA how exactly they aren't a dangerous explosive device, and for that matter, why you just don't carry a normal battery, like a non-scary human? Hmm? These should be easy enough not to buy, since they barely even exist. Still!

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite travel gadgets in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

I am not going to lie. What got me excited about HAL wasn't fashion. Besides the Kubrickian name, the allure was a long skinny laptop slot, with its own zipper access, right up against your back. The $120 pack (one size: medium) can hold a 17" MacBook Pro, or any laptop that's 15" wide and 11.5" from front to back. The reason for the separate zippered compartment should be obvious: Airports. No longer do you have to reach into a fully packed piece of luggage and pull out the most buried object. It's not exactly one of those TSA approved bags, but when I flew with HAL, I was pleased by its convenience.

HAL has a lot of pockets, a prerequisite of a gadget guy like me. Besides the laptop slot, there's a spacious main compartment for large objects, plus a nice series of pockets on the back face. One is the traditional "organizer" pocket, with lots of silky subpockets for precious items like checkbooks, passports and portable hard drives. There's an outer pocket—one I typically refer to as the "speed rack"—where I keep all sorts of odds and ends, SD cards, pens, 30-pin iPod cables, Flip cams and guitar picks. They fit.

There's also a funny side pocket, opposite the laptop slot, that I will identify as the "wine pocket" since it's just right for fitting a 750ml bottle of wine. Would you then attach a straw out of the zipper hole and then up over your ear, for quick drinking? I suppose it depends if the wine is white or red. (A 40oz might also fit, but I didn't have one handy.)

If you're more a fan of the wacky tabacky, you'll enjoy the little pocket on the back. It's subtle, but it's not exactly concealed. I mean, cops would probably look there (especially cops who read backpack reviews on Gizmodo), but it's probably a decent way to hide small amounts of contraband from your parents, guidance counselors and parole officers.

What's great about HAL is that it wears the bulk well, but doesn't look empty when it's empty either. I guess what I mean is that I am sick of backpacks that "show" like a pregnant lady, and this one hangs, nice and casual, whether it's empty or fully laden. And, on the fashion tip, it's got skinny straps. Apparently people like Buchanan think fat straps are uncool. I was not aware of this, but now I am.

I do have three complaints, mostly minor. There's no padding on the bottom of the bag itself, so carrying DSLRs and other expensive hardware takes some added caution. It may make sense just throw a rectangle of foam padding in there, to be on the safe side. As I said, the "speed rack" fits all of my fast-access crap, but it has a zipper that runs down the side, so there's a risk of losing said guitar picks and SD cards.

My final complaint may put me back in custody of the fashion police: There's no place to strap an umbrella or bottle of water on the side. Certain crap like that, I want to be able to access fast. I can put a dry umbrella in the side wine pocket (as you see in the pics) but what happens when it's wet? This may be me letting practicality get in the way of good style sense, and I'm willing to concede in order to keep up with the backpackerati—and in Buchanan's good graces. I just thought you should know. [Product Page]

In Brief

Stylish but not over the top; looks good full and empty

Enough variety of pockets to satisfy gadget geeks

Places to put both weed and wine

Not the cheapest backpack on the block, but quality makes up for some cost

Not enough padding in the main compartment

Nowhere to put a wet umbrella

Top photo by the multitalented Chris Mascari

You'll actually notice that all of the bags have laptop compartments—that's because going forward, laptop bags won't be a separate category for Timbuk2, but a "function" of all of their bags. All of them hold 15 or 17-inch laptops, depending on the size bag you get. Up top, respectively, is Hemlock, Q and Swig. Swig doesn't have the sideloading awesomeness that Hemlock and Q do, but it's the first backpack of Timbuk2's that you can personalize the colors on. They come out later this month. Here's all the details:

Hemlock
Made for the urbanite that needs a pack to schlep around town in style – from the office, to the rock climbing gym, to courtside at the game, the pack features a rolled, expandable top, Swing Around Access™, a side-access compartment designed to fit a 17-inch laptop (15-inch in the small) and signature Timbuk2 D-ring bottle opener. Available in solid, color block and the official camo of the Navy Special Ops and the retail price is $90 for Small and $100 for Medium.

Design features include:

* Durable Ballistic nylon
* Waterproof flap liner
* Compression straps
* Accessory attachment loops
* Quick access pockets under front flap
* Padded back panel
* Lightweight Ergonomic Shoulder Straps
* And stash pocket hidden in the back

"Q" Computer Backpack
Appropriately named after the gadget inventor of the Bond movies, the "Q" has a place for everything. This pack is designed to fit a 15-inch laptop with multiple grab handles for convenience and Swing Around Access™. Available in dark brown/black, army/spinach, rev red/gun metal, and black and the retail price is $100.

Design features include:

* Durable Ballistic nylon
* Swing Around™ access
* Padded laptop compartment
* Multiple grab handles
* Lightweight Ergonomic Shoulder Straps
* Pocket for cords and peripherals with outside access

H.A.L.
H.A.L. (Heuristically programmed Algorithmic Computer) is the "Q's" older brother, named after HAL 9000 of the Space Odyssey saga, which was capable of speech recognition, lip reading, art appreciation as well as maintaining all systems on the ship. Similarly, the H.A.L. almost thinks for its owner and easily runs a mobile office. Designed to fit a 17-inch laptop, the backpack has multiple grab handles and plenty of capacity as well as Swing Around Access™. Available in dark brown and black and the retail price is $120.

Design features include:

* Durable Ballistic nylon
* Swing Around™ access
* Padded laptop compartment
* Multiple grab handles
* Lightweight Ergonomic Shoulder Straps
* Pocket for cords and peripherals with outside access

Swig
A messenger-inspired carry-all pack built for dudes AND ladies (Hallelujah!). Two large internal compartments accommodate loads of stuff and the organization panel makes it easy to find your keys. This sleek pack features a front-flap closure that comes in two sizes to fit a 15- or 17-inch laptop with a dedicated padded laptop compartment and the signature Timbuk2 bottle opener. Available in black/gun metal, moss/camo, gun metal/blue, and dark brown/orange and the retail price is $80 for Small and $90 for Medium.

Other features include:

* Accessory attachment loops
* Waterproof flap liner
* Quick access pockets under front flap
* Padded back panel
* Lightweight Ergonomic Shoulder Straps
* And stash pocket hidden in the back
* Customizable beginning August 2009 at www.timbuk2.com

[Timbuk2]

The Price: $50

The Verdict: Let me preface this by saying THE THING COSTS FIFTY DOLLARS. Yes, it's constructed in typical Timbuk2 fashion — which is to say, well — and it would sufficiently protect your Air from scratches, but it costs FIFTY DOLLARS. Ridiculous pricing aside, it's made from a durable material recycled from plastic bottles, has welded seams, and is apparently 100% recyclable. Inside, it has a soft material that keeps your Air happy. However, the Steve Sleeve isn't waterproof and provides no impact protection. So, if you really want a manila folder sleeve for your Macbook Air, this is a good choice based on quality alone. Otherwise, you're paying a decent amount for a novelty item which does the same thing a generic $10 sleeve could. [Timbuk2]

The Verdict:

As you can see, my test subject (aka wife) stuffed the bag to the brim with lady-themed folders, various tiny containers and her Macbook. The Timbuk2s expand a ton and their shape holds up pretty well considering the load.

And while the new premium fabrics look and feel nice enough, it's Timbuk2's staple internal corduroy laptop liner that sells the bag. It simply feels safe to when your laptop slips in, and a Velcro strap wraps over the top to make sure that your computer can't come loose.

The only real downside to the new fabrics are their price—$23 is a pretty steep upsell if multiplied out to three panels—and a fairly limited pattern selection with only eight choices. Sure, you can still mix and match your standard colors for no additional fee, but we really like the idea of these specialty patterns and wish there were more styles.

Either way, the new fabrics are only adding more options to the Timbuk2 line. It seems like a good thing just got a little bit better. [Timbuk2]

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]