The Samsonite Aluminum Attache – $149.95
The Zero Halliburton aluminum attache is probably the only business case on the planet with a reputation. It’s appeared in over 200 movies and TV shows, and it’s usually carried by a serious guy who should probably be taken seriously.
C’mon. If you were sitting next to a guy who had one of these and he went to open it up, wouldn’t you half expect it to be packed with cash, a weapon, or both?
Samsonite makes a much more affordable version
But would you carry it? And if you would, would you just splurge on the real deal for fear of coming across a real Zero Halliburton one day while carrying your Samsonite, only to have the Zero Halliburton open up a can on you and your wannabe case? If there’s a briefcase out there that could lay a beat down on someone, the Zero Halliburton is it.
Leave your vote below.
The Samsonite – $150 | The Zero Halliburton – $350 | The less menacing black Samsonite Delegate II – $81
Eh, I wouldn’t be worried, for a headshot like that, the Zero Halliburton would be suspended for at least 2 games.
But like you said, you’d expect someone with the case to be carrying a gun or money, or look like Jason Statham, so I wouldn’t carry it.
Saw someone carrying one of these the other day in central London. It got my attention. It did look a bit like he’d stepped out of an eighties movie, and my wife and I discussed whether we thought it had a gun or cash inside. But at the same time, it looked great! You don’t see many of them, and I thought it was quite entertaining to see one being used in a proper business environment. Nice juxtaposition. I’ve since wondered where I might find one actually, so thanks for the link. Hadn’t banked on them being quite so expensive though.
Sounds great in theory, but a boxy briefcase is something that doesn’t really look good on most people. It may be one of those things that may be best left to the movies. I actually tried using a leather attache, and I already looked plenty goofy – can’t imagine carrying the aluminum version.
But the real deal breaker for me was purely functional – not very well suited for taking things in and out (you need to stop, lay it down flat on a surface, open, etc.). They are literally best for discrete transactions of cash, documents, and underpowered rifles!
No.
Can’t disagree. I bought a similar Samsonite briefcase (similar to the Delegate II model) about seven years ago thinking it would be pretty slick. Since then I have only used it in formal business settings (as a guest giving a presentation, court, etc) a handful of times. It mostly collects dust in my office and if it wasn’t for a damaged latch I would sell it on eBay instantly. The only nice part is that you can carry something fragile and it won’t get crushed by accident (providing you can keep it from bouncing around inside without turning it into something that looks like a gun case.
As @branxini said, you have to lay them flat or your stuff goes everywhere; which you have to do every time you want to get something out (no outside pockets). I’m also an engineer and not an executive. I’m saving up for something from saddleback as my day to day bag, and right now I use a Maratac XL EOD bag with extra pouches on the outside for when I go in the field (it holds a small laptop too).
That is a slick bag. TSA would roust the neverending shit out of me with that though. Still…
Too flashy and not functional.
Ah yes, the metal briefcase – the look that says, “Please rob me.”
Don’t forget to pair it with the must-wear accessory, the attached handcuff. That’s a look that says, “Please rob me, but don’t forget to cut off my hand first.”
A hard-sided case could work as a laptop case. It just seems a bit pretentious and impractical as an everyday bag. Plus, while some wear-and-tear improves the looks of a leather briefcase, it will just make a hard-sided briefcase looked scuffed and sad.
Why.
James Bond used a special edition Zero Halliburton in Quantum of Solace. Zero Halliburton was also the Dream machine in Inception. It has been in TONS of movies and show so I plan on getting a true Zero Halliburton.
Love how it looks. Wouldn’t love the kind of attention it would attract.
Somehow “i like the look of the real deal,” or “I don’t want a knockoff,” or almost anything else sounds better to me than “it has been on tv therefore it is worth $350.”
…right?
I think the alternative looks good though, but besides the history and classic nature of ZERO as the original aluminum luggage, a major selling point is how popular it is in pop culture.
It has been in some of my favorite movies and shows, which is a big selling point for me. I am not unusual in considering its media appearances an added source of its value, as the company has a page specifically listing some of the big movie and TV appearances. The original ZERO Halliburton is famous as the classic aluminum case, but it has become so widely loved through movies and shows people love. We all see those scenes with all the valuables inside the metal briefcase. People pay more for screen used clothes and accessories all the time because it is just special and fun that the brand is picked for movies. There are forums and websites packed with those of us who like to know what sort of items get used on screen and it is even more exciting when they are available to the public. The appearances drive us to pay more for plenty of things.
So no, I don’t think “right” simply because the look of the real deal or knockoff don’t pop in my head head when I see the Zero Halliburton, all the great moments those have been in come to mind.
They’ve stopped handcuffing them to the wrist these days. Now they attach a thin cable to the handle that runs up the jacket sleeve and down the torso and attaches to the belt…so I’ve heard.