Authentic Israeli Paratrooper Briefcase
For some reason you cannot find one on their website, but you can still get one of these from Banana Republic. I’ve seen them for sale in both the Santa Monica and the Studio City stores, and I’ve seen dozens of people carrying them over the last two decades. But yours just will not be as cool as mine. My mom bought me this bag from one of the original mail-order catalogs when I was in 8th grade, in 1986. (That was back when BR was a small “travel & safari clothing” company and not a part of The Gap.) The ones they sell now are Made in China™ and seem to be pretty low-quality. Mine was actually Made in Israel and — since it’s been with me from one end of the United States to the other, to the Sandwich Islands, and all through England, Paris, and most of Italy — I can attest that it is just as awesome as the original description that I read and which completely enraptured me 21 years ago:
Authentic Israeli Paratrooper Briefcase
When called away suddenly on business (to Entebbe, for example), the Israeli paratrooper takes along a durable briefcase — one with D-rings, a padded adjustable shoulder strap, three big inside compartments appropriate for legal pads, and an exterior snap-flap pocket sized to suit a ponderous paperback. Also: two rows of sturdy loops for implements mightier than swords.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I got one of these at an army surplus store for about $10.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:56 am
This is more of a request than a comment post. You have talked about how you manage your extensive library of mp3 files using iTunes. I have over 1000 mp3 files in my library, which I manage nicely with iTunes (I have a 4gb nano).
I also have an extensive library (about 2500) of videos from YouTube, MySpace, Yahoo!. Red Balcony, my DVR, and other sources which are in a format that iTunes does not recognize. It would be so great if I could somehow manage these videos in iTunes. Do you know how to do this? Maybe you could do a writeup on this in your blog. That would be nice.
Thank You,
Yulie.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Im confused.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
I have the original paratrooper bag too, that I think I got in 87 or 88. I began using it again this month when I returned to college as a 39 year old! LOL! I happened upon your site tonight when I was trying to explain my bag to a friend in Jersey! I can’t believe our cool original bags are now over 20 years old!!
February 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I had one of these, too and it was stolen! The $15 knockoffs available at the army surplus places are definitely not as cool. Would love to find the real deal!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Lisa…
I am almost positive that Banana Republic still sells them!!