Gadget review: Boa Nerve messenger bag by Booq

£109 RRP

This is the market Booq are aiming at with their Boa Nerve, a sturdy offering which takes the traditional executive messenger bag and reinforces it with a design and materials that makes it useful for cyclists as well as business users.

Available in black only, the Boa Nerve does not have the aesthetic flourishes or luxurious fabrics some might expect for a bag in this price bracket, but style is clearly secondary to sturdiness. The nylon exterior may not be to everyone’s taste, yet it is excellently designed, tough and resistant to everyday bumps and knocks.

Ample fit for any laptop

Although it is designed with 15” MacBook owners in mind, the bag’s generous internal dimensions are an ample fit for any laptop, netbook or tablet. Indeed, it even accommodates an average sized ring binder.

The inside wall has thick padding, as well as a series of generously sized smaller sections to store the likes of phones and music players, with the main compartment secured by clip fasteners and velcro.

The weight distribution of the Nerve is also well thought out, especially when wearing it on your back. With a shoulder stabilising strap and a magnetic metal buckle system, the bag sits diagonally across the midsection of the spine and feels comfortable even when loaded with a laptop, several books and a pair of on-ear headphones. Finding the ideal fit can take a few moments as you familiarise yourself with the various straps on the bag but once in place you never feel as if it is in danger of coming loose.

Excellent for hectic commutes

There are prettier bags available for those in search of something to store a laptop in and whether the Booq bag is for you will depend on your level of activity. If your journey to work consists of a short, leisurely stroll, its benefits may not be so apparent, but if your commute on foot is longer, or you travel on two wheels, the Boa Nerve is an excellent way of keeping your tech safe while on the move.