Mac Law Students

Before my 1L year I purchased a booq Boa XM system (2005) for school. In the summer of 2006 the pack had a zipper problem, and my original pack was replaced with a 2006 model. Thus, this review is also a narrative of my experiences with not only booq gear, but with the company.

booq Boa XM System Backpack (2005)

In the course of my work prior to starting law school, I used a booq bag to carry my 12″ PowerBook around. The bag was sturdy and reliable, so I looked at booq’s offerings when preparing for school. I needed something that would wrap my 15″ PowerBook in bulletproof protection while also allowing enough extra space for handouts, file folders, pens, pencils, my iPod, extra cords and cables, and so on.

I also had a few requirements which stemmed from my own peculiar preferences. First, I didn’t want a floppy pack. Nothing bothers me more than setting a backpack on the floor, only to watch it tip forward or backward and disgorge its contents onto said floor. I also wanted thick adjustable straps and a sturdy handle, so I could strap the pack to my back or carry it like a bag. I also have a thing about zippers. Cheap zippers that are continually binding annoy me to no end. Finally, I wanted the pack to be elegant. There’s no sense dressing up for an interview or presentation, then arriving with a backpack that looks like a refugee from junior high school.

It is important to note that I knew I wouldn’t need a pack that could haul all of my casebooks. For one thing, the last time I saw a pack big enough to contain my casebooks, I was in the Army. I had no desire to replicate that experience in law school. I also wasn’t interested in hauling around one of those luggage-on-wheels contraptions that you frequently see at law school. I understand why some people use them, but my plan was to store my casebooks in a locker on campus and not do any reading from them off-campus.

Surprisingly, the strategy worked well my entire first year. I ride my bike in to campus in the morning, do all of my casebook studying on campus, and do any additional hornbook reading at home. I haul my PowerBook and power unit, my iPod (loaded with a classical music playlist for studying), an Ethernet cable (just in case), an array of highlighters and pens, one or two inch-thick books, and folders filled with handouts for each class in the Boa. The Boa.XM system includes the Boa pack, an iPod case, a mobile phone case, and a choice of a PowerSleeve or Vyper molded sleeve. I went with the Vyper, and have been quite happy with it. The sleeve serves as an added layer of protection for the PowerBook.

On a few occasions I have been forced to take a casebook home in the Boa, and even when stuffed, it handles the load very well. One of the joys of this pack is that it is built with a rigid body-contoured shape. Even the straps are contoured. The end result is a bag that feels comfortable even when carrying a big load. The hip strap and chest strap turn the pack into an extension of my body, which is particularly handy when riding a bike.

The biggest drawback to this pack is relatively minor. When I arrive in the very quiet law library and begin opening the bag, the process of unzipping the front pouch, middle area, laptop area, and the Vyper sleeve makes quite a bit of noise. Those sturdy zippers growl. The trick is to open them rapidly in sequence. Drawing out the process may elicit a few glares from your classmates.

The booq Boa XM system costs $219.95, so it’s no small investment. However, it is an extremely sturdy, well-built, comfortable pack that also looks great.

The Zipper Incident

Unfortunately, while taking CalTrain to my summer internship in Menlo Park one day this summer, the primary zipper on the Boa XM pack failed. I went to the booq website and reviewed their return policy. I took a couple of photos with my trusty Canon PowerShot S400 digital camera, uploaded them to my Mac, and sent them off to booq, along with an explanation of the problem.

The same day, I received a courteous email from booq. The following morning I received a follow-up email asking for a shipping address. They sent me a brand new booq Boa XM 2006 model pack as a replacement. It arrived two or three days after I sent them my shipping address. I had heard good things about booq’s customer service, but this really was a pleasant surprise.

I’ve been using the 2006 model Boa XM pack for two months now, and I’m using it in essentially the same fashion as I used the 2005 version.

booq Boa XM Backpack (2006)

The 2006 model feels like it has the same carrying capacity as the 2005 model, but there are noticeable improvements in how the outside pocket and main storage area function. It is now easier to place big books into the main storage area and arrange items in the outside pocket because both employ a clever fabric hinge. Unzipping all the way allows the pack to open fully without flopping open completely.

The folks at booq have also switched from a Velcro top flap to a a magnetized setup. Not only does it get rid of the annoying “rrrrrippp” Velcro sound, but it holds the flop down strongly enough.

The interior fabric has changed slightly, but it doesn’t seem to make an apprciable difference. The carrying strap grip feels a bit rubbery, and I prefer the feel of the handle on the 2005 model, but the strap is still as sturdy as ever. The zipper pulls have been shortened from about an inch in length to about 1/2″ or 2/3″. Again, I prefer the original, but this really hasn’t become a functional problem.

In fact, my only real problem with the 2006 Boa XM pack is aesthetic, rather than functional. I don’t like the gray stitching on black ballistic cloth. Too me it’s just too high-contrast. This is such a sleek, well-designed pack, and the visible stitching noticeably detracts from an otherwise very elegant pack.

I admit that I’m tough on my backpack. I use it every day. Usually it’s stuffed to capacity with casebooks, folders, and softcover supplements. I can see how the main zipper on my original 2005 Boa XM could have become strained. I’ve also used enough backpacks, rucksacks, sleeping bags, and jackets to know that zippers are inherently vulnerable. If you use a zipper long enough, something will go wrong with it.

Hopefully none of the zippers on my 2006 Boa XM pack will fail for a long time. If one does, I’m reasonably confident that the people at booq will provide the same kind of superior customer service that they showed me this summer.