Have you ever wondered what type of equipment bloggers carry around with them? I do. And I’m always intrigued by the cases or packs that they use. Mainly because I want to figure out what I need in my own case to be a prepared blogger. For several years, I used a custom-made backpack that I hand-selected the materials for. It was a great pack and has withstood the tests of time and elements and travel. But it was starting to show its age and my back and shoulders were getting a bit sore because the padding was wearing out a bit. Thanks to the kind folks over at Targus, I was able to get all of my blogging and work gear, carefully segmented and organized, all with an extremely comfortable and durable backpack, specifically, the Targus Conquer Plus 16″ backpack.

You can see the Targus, loaded up, in the picture above, however, believe it or not, it is not completely maxed out. Before I go into what types of things a blogger like me carries in a backpack like this, let me quickly outline some of the key features of this particular Targus backpack.

For starters, it can fit up to a 16″ laptop. In fact, in my bag, I carry both a 15″ MacBook Pro as well as a 13″ Ultrabook (complete with protective sleeve).

Also, built into the Targus is a fleece-lined, padded storage sleeve to hold that 15″ laptop snuggly.

There are a huge number of compartments as well around and within the Conquer. There is a dedicated section for a tablet device or eReader. There is a section to carefully store all of your critical business papers. Below is the main section where I actually put all of my power cords and often used cables, as well as hold my lunch bag.

But then there are lots of side pockets for other types of items from water bottles to power cords to other accessories.

The pictures above show both the left and right side pockets of the Conquer Plus. There is a great section in the front that can hold all of your business supplies including business cards, pens, your cell phone, keys and still have room for a variety of other objects that are protected by a bunch of mesh and other types of pockets.

The zippers are all oversized and big and sturdy. And there is some strong padding at the bottom of the pack as well (appropriately named the “anti-shock pad”). This protects your laptop and devices when you put the bag down.

The back of the Targus Conquer is extremely well padded, including the shoulder straps which are completely adjustable. The straps also include waist buckles as well as a chest strap to keep this backpack snug against your back when you are walking or even jogging. The bag is constructed of durable polyester material.

There is also a very strong handle at the top of the back that makes it easy to carry and move around.

But let me share what I carry in this bag, especially since I get some many comments about how heavy mine is. It has nothing to do with the bag itself, however, I don’t think that a poorly constructed backpack could carry this amount of stuff in a protected way.

What I Carry in my Blogger Backpack

Obviously, some people like to travel light and just typically carry the least amount of items. I’m not that way. I want to be prepared for just about any type of “emergency” or situation. Who knows, there may be some day where I need to “cover a story” that might win me a Pulitzer Price or something – I want to be ready for that.

So, I’m not going to go into every little thing, but here is what was in the Targus Conquer Plus Backpack pictured above when I wrote this article:

• 15″ MacBook Pro
• 13.3″ Asus Zenbook w/ carrying case
• iPad (w/ carrying case – I don’t usually carry this)
• Sony Tablet-S (w/ carrying case – I don’t usually carry this)
• Business papers (working draft of my resume, product manual, freelance writing contract, bills, etc.)
• Power adapters for both MacBook Pro and Zenbook
• Ziploc bag #1 – primary bag
  • Micro USB cable
  • Mini USB cable
  • iPad/iPod Cable
  • IPad USB plug
  • Mac to VGA adapter
  • Airport express
  • USB to Ethernet adapter
  • Zenbook dongle kit
• Verizon Mifi
• Pens
• Kleenex
• Green laser pointer
• Notebook for handwritten notes (gasp)
• Voice Recorder
• Leatherman
• 10+ Thumb drives
• Eye drops
• Excedrin
• Gorilla Tripod
• Business cards
• Kodak PlayTouch HD video recorder
• Wifi-enabled hard drives (Kensington)
• Ziploc bag #2 – secondary bag
  • Other cables
  • USB-powered batteries
  • Older Mac to VGA adapter
  • USB HD Web-Cam

Whew! That’s a lot, right? But actually, each and every item has its specific use case. And, believe it or not, all of these items fit just fine in the Targus case (with room to spare)!

The Targus has definitely saved my back and protected my valuable blogger items in the process. And, at just $89.99, it’s hard to beat this price. I would say that this would make any blogger or student extremely happy during back to school or just and an upgrade to an existing pack. And, you can pick up this Targus backpack currently on Amazon for about $74!

HighTechDad Ratings

So far, after a few months of using the Targus Conquer Plus, I haven’t found any issues and don’t have any complaints. It is durable, rugged and seems to withstand the elements pretty well. There are plenty of compartments on the outside and interior and each of these areas are quite easily accessible. It is comfortable to wear, even on longer hikes, especially when you use the included chest and waist belts. And, it’s geeky enough to make me happy! Overall, it’s a solid backpack and I’m happy to make it my primary blogger bag!

EASY TO GEEK FACTOR – is the device easy to get up and running

FAMILY FRIENDLY – does the device fit well into family environments

RECOMMENDABILITY– would I recommend it to others (more means “yes”)

PRICE POINT – does the price reflect the product function

OVERALL – my general rating

Disclosure Text : I have a material connection because I received a gift or sample of a product for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item or gift after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own. More information can be found in my About page as well as here.   

HTD says: If you are looking for a backpack with lots of compartments that can hold all of your gadgets and accessories, be sure to look at the Targus Conquer Plus!

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