I have recently ordered a laptop case “MOD 2” , an extra organizer for the case and a bag “The Voyager” from the mad scientists of tech organization “The best description I have found for the brand This is Ground” this post is a review for both products.
This Is Ground’s Products aims to deliver a sleek and simple solution to your daily carry needs by offering elegant and easy access to your tech and small EDC. Does it deliver? We here put it to the test to find out…
For the last few months This Is Ground’s Voyager bag and the second version of their popular laptop Mod has been my pretty constant companion. Both travelled with me to work, cafes, meetings and my business/leisure trips. TIG have made absolutely Smart and stylish products that are made in LA, using materials and hardware sourced in the States. Broadly speaking the TIG Bags and mods do exactly what it says on the box – namely protect and carry the daily essentials, all the while acting as a good-looking folio/portable office.
The Voyager:
– The Voyager weekender sized bag that’ll not only store the stuff you need — but also help you get them easily without the hassle we all suffer from when we try to find particular thing in our carry-ons, The Voyager Bag from This Is Ground is a weekender-sized utility bag that comes with an integrated Karma Go WiFi unit “optional”, keeping you connected and collected at every turn. A pouch on the front, inspired by the brand’s Tech Dopp Kits, organizes all of your cords and gadgets. Inside, there’s enough room for five days of clothing. Made in Los Angeles of buttery soft leather, the Voyager is available in four color options, and — if you happen to love annoying WiFi logins at the airport — can also be purchased without the Karma Go for a little less. Though, once you get a taste of having your own good-looking WiFi network everywhere you, you’ll wonder why all your bags aren’t this smart. I tried carrying it on daily basis as a business bag and also as a weekender literally in my recent trip and it never failed.
MOD laptop 2:
If you love a good flat lay you’re going to like the Mop Laptop 2. When closed it’s got the clean lines of a traditional leather folio – but unzip the solid UCAN zip, open up the Mod and you’re in stationery organizing heaven. One side is dominated by the dedicated laptop pouch – with its protective raised lip of Buffalo Felt. There’s also a canvas-lined pocket designed for a tablet, but it works just as well for a diary or notebook.
The ‘spine’ has two Romag magnets embedded in it so you can plug and play with any of This Is Ground’s specialized carry inserts. TIG assures us that these magnets won’t affect your electronics. The other side of the Mod has three pockets, suitable for phones, glasses, hard drives, notebooks and the like. There’s also some slots for business cards and space for pens, headphones and cords.
The outside of the Mod has a clever diagonal slit pouch designed for bulkier chargers, or for things you need frequent access to. There’s also a removable leather strap which clips onto D-rings that can be hidden away should you prefer to go strapless (as I must confess I did).
However, when I looked at it as a laptop case with benefits the Mod really made sense. Diary, pens, notebook, laptop and the other essentials all went in there. So if I had meetings, or went to work in a café all I needed was the Mod. It looked good and I could access anything I needed quickly. It’s kind of like a corporate bug-out bag.
Who This is Ground carry-ons Suit
TIG goods are clearly designed for career carry, and if you’re a professional or creative type who’s looking for something above and beyond the usual laptop sleeve and bags, then their products are definitely the perfect thing for you.
Who It Doesn’t
If you’re into active gear, on a budget or simply carry lots of odd-shaped objects on a regular basis you should probably keep looking.
The Not So Good
The biggest stumbling block many will have with the TIG products is the price. For example the MOD 2 a 13-inch model is priced at $450 USD. Add in one of their modular inserts and a fancy monogram and you will end up with $500. That’s getting close to the ‘luxury’ space. The leather, while soft and with a nice grain, has scars and other blemishes, and the stitching and cutting is in places irregular. While none of these elements are deal breakers, it doesn’t live up to the glossiness of their Instagram account. It seems to me that This Is Ground is trying to straddle both the artisanal maker and mid-tier luxury market segments, and as a result their promise is compromised.
Others to Consider
One of the greatest strengths of the This Is Ground products in general is that there’s not a whole lot like it out there. Sure, there are millions of laptop solutions and bags – something like the Hard Graft All in One Laptop Folio comes to mind, but it lacks the organized storage. Also the variety of colors TIG offers is unbeatable as other brands force you into one or two options. TIG products “the major carry-ons” come in six magnificent colors: Cognac, Bomber “over worked brown leather”, Pacific “Blue”, Toffee, Charcoal and French Grey.
Conclusion:
This Is Ground products offer plenty of function for the café workers and will certainly impress in meetings. Add to that the there’s nothing like it out their in terms of design, functionality and organization. This makes their goods irresistible for organization freaks like me, and price won’t affect your decision whether to buy any of what they offer or no. All in all the highly priced products are incomparable to high end brands when it comes to organizing your daily carried stuff.
Kalopsia 