Boy, I've been traveling. It's not likely to ease up this year. I've got the short trip down to an art, if I may be so bold: I'm regularly doing two-three night stays, with full-sized laptop and often cameras, in just a standard-sized backpack. (Protip: Always wearing jeans is your new fashion.)

As well as this nylon Gravis backpack has served me over the last three years, it's starting to have some problems. Small tears — my fault, mostly — and not quite enough capacity to really meet my needs for longer trips. I think I can do a full 7-day trip with a single carry-on bag — if it's the right one.

Buying a bag would be too easy, and my new philosphy when it comes to clothing and accessories is that I'd rather spend the money to get exactly what I want, something I'll treasure. That means bespoke. Fortunately, I am also a skinflint, so bespoke means "hope to heck I can find a talented crafter on Etsy." (If you know of a crafter who could do the job, though, I'd love a recommendation.)

Here are my tentative requirements for your criticism and elucidation:

• Solar power – It should probably be hard panels, which are more effecient. I may actually sacrifice my old Voltaic solar bag for parts. (it's a great bag, but mine was a pre-production prototype that use a cloth on the back that made it majorly sweaty, since fixed.) Provided the Voltaic's storage battery still holds a charge, I'll probably incorporate that, too, although something able to store slightly more power might be worth the encubrence penalty. If I use the Voltaic battery, output to whatever voltages I need is simple — and nearly everything I use now uses vanilla 5-volt USB.

• A separate laptop section – For the forseeable future, I'll be toting a full-sized laptop around on trips. (Although, damn it, the Air is starting to call to me.) Most backpacks put the computer next to the spine, using it as a way to add stability to the frame. I like this fine. I also spend a lot of time whipping it out — as well as removing my computer from my bag — so single-zipper access is a must.

Or not. I'm easy if there's a good reason to do something different.

• Durable materials – At first I was thinking leather. That limits the number of crafters who could actually make the bag, as well as greatly increasing the price, but as a "lifetime bag" it seemed like the most durable choice. Leather backpacks, on the other hand, are kind of corny, so it would have to be restrained in design.

But perhaps there are better materials to work with. Something less expensive to purchase (and regenerate). Something with a little more appeal visually. Something with some pink. Reclaimed materials would be hot.

Metal fasteners are prefered, I think, if there is a way to make them not squeak. I'm seeing lots of metal on this thing.

• A backpack with stowable shoulder strap – It has to be a backpack, because sometimes I wear my bag for hours at a time. Messenger bags just don't cut it, although a stowable, clip-on should strap option would be nice. Even more difficult, more desirable: a bag design small enough to be slipped under an airline seat, so I don't have to pack another bag with all my in-flight toys and books or keep my computer on the floor. (I'm also just a little bit paranoid about ever letting my bag out of my sight.)

• Special features – This is where you guys come in. I've had a few ideas, like a smart selection of quick-access pockets and fairly predictable stuff like that. But if you were making the perfect bag for you, what would you add? A small pocket with a viewport for a hidden camera, maybe? A place for a water bottle? A programmable display? Speakers? A telescoping antenna tuned for 3G?