Temple Bags Laptop Briefcase Giveaway

by Brett & Kate McKay on April 11, 2011 · 4,110 comments

For a long time, if a man wanted to buy himself a handsome laptop bag, his choices were pretty limited. Boring, black nylon Dilbert-esque bags dominated the market. They seemed designed to make you depressed about your job before you even got to work.

Thankfully, several entrepreneurial men have stepped in to fill the need for a bag that’s not only functional, but handsomely rugged as well. Erwin McManus, founder of Temple Bags, is one of these fellows.

Temple Bag’s products are inspired by the heroism of the brave men who fought during WWII. The guys at Temple Bags scour dusty old warehouses around the country to find vintage WWII-era canvas and use this incomparably sturdy and manly material to craft their awesome laptop briefcases. The vintage canvas gives their laptop briefcase a nice worn, weathered look and a subtle military character. And because the canvas doesn’t come from a single source, each bag will have unique coloring, markings, and weathering. Each bag is literally one of a kind! The briefcases are also made with real leather and other reclaimed materials like vintage Italian RiRi zippers. And the laptop briefcase, like all of Temple Bags’ products, are handcrafted right here in the good old U.S. of A.

The Temple laptop briefcase doesn’t just look good. It’s also incredibly functional. A lot of thought was put into making the bag as useful as possible.

On the front of the bag you have two big pockets that have smaller pockets for your pens, your iPhone, and a pocket notebook. The main pocket of the bag fits a 15″ laptop and has a zippered opening not only on the top of the bag, but on the bottom as well, so you can access your laptop without undoing the buckle in the front. This bag will let you breeze through airport security like a pro.

You also have another nice big pocket to store books and documents. Within that large pocket is a sewed-in pocket for an iPad or Kindle that’s accessible from the outside.

Here. Watch this. You have to see this bag in action to really appreciate how functional it is:

Pretty cool, right? Wanna get your hands on one of these awesome bags? Then read on.

The Temple Bags Laptop Briefcase Giveaway

were kind enough to offer one of their handsome laptop briefcases as a prize to one lucky AoM reader (a $478 value!). Here’s how to enter to win:

Leave a comment below answering this question:

If you could be carrying this briefcase into your first day at any job in the world, what job would that be?

Deadline to enter is April 18, 2011 11:59 PM CDT. At the end of the giveaway, we’ll select one comment at random and that lucky man will win a Temple Laptop Briefcase.

Looking forward to reading your comments!

Contest is over. We’ll be announcing the winner on our sideblog The Trunk shortly.

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3901 Kent April 18, 2011 at 1:14 pm: I’m finishing school so I can teach English as a second language, so that’s the job to which I would bring that beautiful briefcase.
3902 Tom H. April 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm: I would cary this into my first day of retirement from the USPS, which is next Friday!
3903 Michael Austin April 18, 2011 at 1:19 pm: What job would I love to carry that Temple laptop bag to? Wow, Formula 1 driver, astronaut, stand up comic, animal rescuer, Indy 500 winner, dictator of a small nation, the list could be long and most would never happen. But after 25 years at my current job, I’ve been force to leave, and so the job I would love to carry this great bag on my first day, would be my new start up I’m about to embark on.
3904 Alex Mares April 18, 2011 at 1:21 pm: treasure hunter. it would be awesome
3905 Mackie April 18, 2011 at 1:33 pm: I would carry this bag to my first day as a crossword editor for the NY Times
3906 Nate April 18, 2011 at 1:34 pm: I would carry it into my first day starting my own law firm.
3907 Matthew Bierlein April 18, 2011 at 1:35 pm: I would carry the bag on my world travels as a professional hunter and all around adventure seeker. What better way to carry my laptop as I work on my memoirs then to write them down in moleskins. The bag would be a perfect fit whether trekking through Africa looking for that trophy cape buffalo or in Mongolia hunting Ibex.
3908 Graham April 18, 2011 at 1:58 pm: If you could be carrying this briefcase into your first day at any job in the world, what job would that be?

It would be my fathers job when I was 8. He would take me to work sometimes and I would be by his side all day, working on electronic schematics, helping build specialty parts, just being by my fathers side. He was a rugged, handsome man and he had a beautiful leather and canvas bag to carry all his tools and papers in. That bag reminded me of those days.

Good Luck to Everyone.
3909 James Cain April 18, 2011 at 2:03 pm: I would bring this briefcase to my first day at the Samuel Adams brewery in their newly created position, a professional beer taster. The best job in the world could only be paired with the best briefcase in the world. In that briefcase I would also carry business cards that state “James Cain, President, Beer Imbibing.”
3910 Rob April 18, 2011 at 2:04 pm: First day as a dad.
3911 Nik R April 18, 2011 at 2:06 pm: This would add some flair to the life of a diplomat
3912 Alex April 18, 2011 at 2:15 pm: An officer in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
3913 Patrick F April 18, 2011 at 2:23 pm: I would bring this to my first day on the job as my own boss, in competition with my father who just doesnt listen, and then does what I suggested only 1 year later when it is his great new idea…
3914 Marc Mullins April 18, 2011 at 2:26 pm: I would carry it into my job as a Preacher/Professor
3915 Firas April 18, 2011 at 2:26 pm: If I could carry it into work at any job in the world, it would be as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs
3916 carl Cornwell April 18, 2011 at 2:26 pm: I would love to carry that briefcase into the courtroom with my old man for a big case.

@CarlCorn
3917 RQ April 18, 2011 at 2:27 pm: I’d stride into the writer’s room of a successful, new TV series with this handsome briefcase slung over my shoulder.
3918 Allen T April 18, 2011 at 2:27 pm: I would carry this bag into my first day as a Park Ranger at Yosimite National Park.
3919 Kevin April 18, 2011 at 2:28 pm: As a lawyer, I would sport this in the courtroom any day of the week.
3920 Chris Hanlon April 18, 2011 at 2:28 pm: I’d bring this to my first day as a Marine Engineer working on some of the most cutting edge boat designs in the world. I’m currently working towards my Engineering degree and this briefcase would add a touch of professionalism when I go on my internships around the world.
3921 Phil Auxier April 18, 2011 at 2:28 pm: I would carry this into my current job: equipping men to be men as a local church pastor.
3922 Dylan April 18, 2011 at 2:28 pm: I would carry this bag on my first day as an urban farm coordinator. I would help folks teach themselves to grow food in food deserts, and figure out how to create community farms and gardens in urban areas.
3923 Ben Pollay April 18, 2011 at 2:29 pm: If I were to carry it into any job in the world, it would be to my dream job as a watch maker, perhaps somewhere in a small Swiss village. Someday… someday.
3924 Shuff April 18, 2011 at 2:29 pm: I would love to carry this in with me to my new job as CFO of the Atlanta Braves.
3925 Jacob Johnson April 18, 2011 at 2:30 pm: I would carry that briefcase to my job as an architect.
3926 Aaron Preine April 18, 2011 at 2:30 pm: I’d carry this bag into a coffee shop as I celebrate my first day as a self-employed graphic designer; breaking the chains that have imprisoned me in the office cubicle that I have long suffered in.
3927 Leonard A. April 18, 2011 at 2:31 pm: I’d carry that briefcase to my first day of work as an archaeologist.
3928 TOM K-old-hippy April 18, 2011 at 2:32 pm: i would carry this temple bag into my son KENS office with my daughter MARY and my loveing wife RUTH by my side.as i hand the bag to my son and he opens it,inside he would find a complete CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH as i am battleing stage-4 bone cancer,and then i wake-up.in life alot of people dont realize hat you have until it is gone. you have nothing if you dont have your health.KEN and my daughter and wife have kept me going in the positive attitude.family,faith and true friends along with good care givers is a plus! this temple bag would look awesome in the hands of the STRONGEST MAN I know,my son KEN. livestrong my friends and enjoy life one day at a time!
3929 Ben April 18, 2011 at 2:33 pm: I would utilize this bag on my first day as a globe-trekking, hypocrisy slaying journalist and chef. My Fourth Estate optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.
3930 Matt B April 18, 2011 at 2:33 pm: Paired with a corduroy jacket with elbow patches, and a pair of horn rimmed glasses, I would take this bag to my first day as a college professor of Secondary Education.
3931 Dan April 18, 2011 at 2:34 pm: Two words: Lumberjack Submariner
3932 Ted April 18, 2011 at 2:34 pm: The briefcase would work well with me as an Environmental Coordinator while I teach everyone how to live greener and self-sustaining in this land of $5 a gallon gas.
3933 Shawn April 18, 2011 at 2:34 pm: First day as a U.S. Ambassador.
3934 Matthew April 18, 2011 at 2:37 pm: As consultant for the Montreal Canadiens
3935 Joel M April 18, 2011 at 2:37 pm: I would carry this briefcase in to my first day as a college professor of Philosophy.
3936 matt April 18, 2011 at 2:37 pm: I would use this bag on my first day of teaching medical students. They would see the bag and immediately silence themselves, knowing they are in the presence of years of training and refinement. Then they would look up from the bag and see me, while thinking, who is this shlub?

But atleast the bag would look nice.
3937 Micah April 18, 2011 at 2:39 pm: I would carry this bag into the airport to travel anywhere I choose. The job of my dreams would be to own several websites bringing in passive income and I would be free to operate the business from anywhere with an internet connections.
3938 Rickard Guy April 18, 2011 at 2:40 pm: first day as a bush pilot
3939 Rosie April 18, 2011 at 2:40 pm: I’d put in the bag some lovely Sharpie markers, Rotring graphic pens, and fresh clean graph paper, then walk through the door on my first day in a lovely illustration studio. Ahh that would be great.
3940 Michael April 18, 2011 at 2:41 pm: I would carry that with me at Disney Imagineering … one day it will happen.
3941 Jeb April 18, 2011 at 2:42 pm: I would carry this to the job that I _am_ starting two weeks from today, making Android software.
3942 James Lepine April 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm: I would carry it into a local coffee shop with my laptop inside. I start my new, work from home job on May 2nd with a small company of Online Marketers!
3943 Matthew S. Manning April 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm: I would carry this bag into my first day as a rhinoceros anesthetist. Gotta have a tough- skinned bag to deal with the tough-skinned.
3944 Andy Thornton April 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm: I work as a web developer and I would carry this bag everywhere. If you have to carry a laptop bag, choose one with style :-)
3945 Joe April 18, 2011 at 2:44 pm: I would carry this into the studio on my first day of tracking a Rolling Stones record.
3946 Sean D April 18, 2011 at 2:45 pm: I would carry this bag to my first day as a criminal investigator for the state of Nevada. I can remember watching my father leave for work at the Nevada Division of Investigation every morning as a child, thinking how he looked so strong and courageous. I always knew that someday I wanted to be like him. I’m finally on that track, after a few detours, and enjoying the hard work that comes with the territory. I hope that someday I can inspire my own son the way my father inspired me.
3947 Jon Harp April 18, 2011 at 2:46 pm: I would carry my Temple Bags Laptop bag to my first day as Indiana Jones’ sidekick.
3948 Richie H. April 18, 2011 at 2:50 pm: Sports Writer
3949 Ken April 18, 2011 at 2:50 pm: I would carry the bag on my very first day walking into the former offices of Jerry Jones as the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
3950 Andrew April 18, 2011 at 2:52 pm: I’d carry this bag to my dig site as an archeologist in Eygpt. I’m pretty sure with a bag this swank, even mummies wouldn’t mind me bothering them.
3951 cory April 18, 2011 at 2:53 pm: it would sure be nice to walk into work with one of these bags…esp for free, its would be nice to have a rugged bag like this since i am in a blue collar atmosphere in a management position
3952 danny April 18, 2011 at 2:58 pm: i’d carry it into your office for my first day on the job as i’m a big fan of the brand!
3953 Kelvin April 18, 2011 at 2:59 pm: After a refreshing James Bond shower, I would use the strap of the briefcase and strangle the hitman hiding in the closet of my hotel room. All in a first day’s work of a spy.
3954 Ramon April 18, 2011 at 3:00 pm: Nice bag, particularly moving to a new, rainy city in a few weeks (Portland, Or).
3955 Ezra April 18, 2011 at 3:02 pm: I would carry my Temple Bags Laptop briefcase into my first day at a job highlighting the history of male leadership organizations, such as the Freemasons for an organization promoting men to become mentschen.
3956 chris April 18, 2011 at 3:02 pm: I would carry this bag into my editor’s office the first day he or she wants to talk about publishing my book.
3957 Max April 18, 2011 at 3:05 pm: I would like to carry this bag to my first day as a meat purveyor. I would love to own my own company and deal in very high quality product.
3958 Jeremy April 18, 2011 at 3:11 pm: I would carry this bag into my new job. Back in the classroom teaching middle school kids after 3 years working with technology.
3959 Chris Collins April 18, 2011 at 3:12 pm: I would carry this bag to the job I currently work at. I work for a nonprofit that serves men who are incarcerated. I get to everyday mentor these men and help them become better men for their families and our community. I can’t think of another job I would rather have.
3960 Jared April 18, 2011 at 3:15 pm: I’d carry this bag into my sales office.
3961 Rodney April 18, 2011 at 3:15 pm: I would take my new briefcase to my first day working at the CIA.
3962 Gray Gardner April 18, 2011 at 3:18 pm: That job would be as the President of the United States. A laptop bag that cool would totally redeem the manliness of presidency.
3963 Jonathan April 18, 2011 at 3:22 pm: The job? Single-chair barber in Nacogdoches, Texas.
3964 Brian April 18, 2011 at 3:25 pm: I would carry this briefcase with me on the first day of shooting for the movie that I wrote. Being that I’m unknown in the movie industry, people would probably dismiss me as a nobody at first glance, but the briefcase would demand respect.
3965 Ted Bort April 18, 2011 at 3:33 pm: I feel a bag of such awesomeness would only be fitting for a job of equal awesomeness. Perhaps I would have to become a professional dolphin rider. Not sure what I would need a laptop for though.
3966 James Marcelino April 18, 2011 at 3:33 pm: I would carry this on my first day as a Quality Assurance Inspector for the US Navy.
3967 Mike S. April 18, 2011 at 3:33 pm: My first meeting as the new Apple Prototype Salesman would go over huge unpacking my wares from a bag like this!
3968 Steven K. April 18, 2011 at 3:46 pm: I’d be carrying that bag to the ballpark to start my work as a beat writer for my favorite team. Of course I’d also be sporting a manly hat, not a ballcap.

Steven
3969 Ben April 18, 2011 at 3:55 pm: Sweet bag! Hope I win!
3970 Jason Donoghue April 18, 2011 at 4:04 pm: I’d have this slung over my shoulder, containing the laptop that has my first completed screenplay sitting on it for reference as I discuss my “vision” with the studio heads. My goal, as it stands, is to have three ready by the end of 2011.
3971 Nathan Griffin April 18, 2011 at 4:07 pm: I’d take it to my first day as brewmaster / coffee roaster at my kick-ass brewery / coffee roastery
3972 Markus April 18, 2011 at 4:08 pm: I’d carry this manly bag on my first day working in my own company. Just because it has to be this way..
3973 Matthew Spelman April 18, 2011 at 4:14 pm: I would take this to my job as a Project Manager at a construction site and watch all the other construction workers stare at me with awe.
3974 Kent Meier April 18, 2011 at 4:15 pm: I would LOVE to walk into my new job with thus awesome briefcase!!! It would carry everything I needed – in style – and would show everyone just how confident I am at what I do! That confidence would help me do my job better! B
3975 Jeremy April 18, 2011 at 4:20 pm: Since I’m an archivist, it seems appropriate for me to walk in to a new job with a briefcase made from vintage materials.
3976 Peter April 18, 2011 at 4:23 pm: With a classy briefcase like that it would have to be some job that required me to travel the globe. Oh yeah!
3977 Jeff April 18, 2011 at 4:23 pm: I would walk into my new job as General Manager for the Cleveland Indians carrying this bag and immediate command the utmost respect.
3978 Erick April 18, 2011 at 4:23 pm: I would carry this bag into my first day of my target job: CIO of my current company.
3979 kilgore2345 April 18, 2011 at 4:24 pm: I would carrying this bag into a small to medium law firm that prefers quality service and representation to its clients.
3980 Mike Helmen April 18, 2011 at 4:26 pm: I would carry this fine bag into a large office near the top floor and get a job in finance.
3981 Mike April 18, 2011 at 4:38 pm: I would carry this to my first day as General Manager for the Saint Louis Cardinals.
3982 Mike April 18, 2011 at 4:44 pm: I would carry this fine bag to work everyday with all the essentials!
3983 Ben Arndt April 18, 2011 at 4:44 pm: I would carry this bag into my black Audi and transport it to the buyer of it’s contents. Upon arrival, I would empty the case and keep it for myself!
3984 Tim April 18, 2011 at 5:09 pm: Briefcase salesman.
3985 David T April 18, 2011 at 5:11 pm: First day as head of my publishing empire! Mwaa haa haaaa!

That is, first day I earn a living as an independent writer!
3986 Jon April 18, 2011 at 5:14 pm: I am transitioning from cubicle life to full-time freelance writing, and this briefcase would be perfect for my new on-the-go working life.
3987 Matt April 18, 2011 at 5:17 pm: I would carry this bag into my first day of curating my own shop.
3988 TQ April 18, 2011 at 5:35 pm: Owning a bag like this illustrates a keen sense of classic style, unique appreciation for robust quality and respect for the sacrifices of our veterans to protect our dream of obtaining any job we desire in this country / world. You would find this bag slung over my shoulder on my way to my custom motorcycle design firm which breathes new life into classic super sport motorcycles.
3989 Brad April 18, 2011 at 5:50 pm: I would carry this into the USGA headquarters as the new president.
3990 Imani D. April 18, 2011 at 5:57 pm: I would were this bag on my first day as the owner of a foundation that helps homeless families get housing and drug addicts quit using drugs and get on the right path.
3991 William LaRue April 18, 2011 at 5:59 pm: That job would be a chef/barista/server at my new bakery “Vivaldi’s”.
3992 Josh Jeremiah April 18, 2011 at 6:28 pm: The head of my own group of awesome treasure seekers and adventurers ala Indiana Jones… or I would put my opera scores in it and just go sing. Either way, I would role in STYLE!!
3993 John April 18, 2011 at 6:38 pm: I would carry this into my new field office in the Alps as an editor for backpacker mag.
3994 Chad J. April 18, 2011 at 6:40 pm: “If you could be carrying this briefcase into your first day at any job in the world, what job would that be?”

It would be most useful to me for IT Field Support in Afghanistan. Rugged and durable would be MOST helpful!
3995 Rob April 18, 2011 at 6:41 pm: I would bring it to my first day as a dirigible pilot.
3996 F April 18, 2011 at 6:42 pm: Teaching high school science. Which I will be doing in a little over a year after I finish the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship program.
3997 mariano April 18, 2011 at 6:44 pm: I would take my bag into the gates of hell; like their previous owners did, follow the tradition.
3998 Chris April 18, 2011 at 6:51 pm: I would take this to my first day as a UPS worker
3999 BG April 18, 2011 at 6:58 pm: I would take this to the bank.
4000 Michael G. April 18, 2011 at 7:00 pm: “If you could be carrying this briefcase into your first day at any job in the world, what job would that be?”

I would want to be a OSS (Office of Strategic Services) Officer in September 1943 located in Moscow. Even though laptops were not yet present, I think that would have been a fascinating job at a pivotal time in history. And a briefcase like this fits the role.

Temple Bags Laptop Briefcase Giveaway

The Temple Bags Laptop Briefcase Giveaway

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