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80s Boombox Ghetto Blaster Bags

Boombox and Neon Colours Laptop Computer Bag
15.6" Laptop Computer Bag (US)

Also available in the UK
Boombox 15.6
For this post, I will be discussing a range of very cool-looking, 80s boombox/ghettoblaster bags. However  I'd like to start by taking a look back at just what it was like growing up in the ghettoblaster age.

If you were a teenager in the 1980s, then chances are you owned a ghettoblaster at some point. I seem to remember that it was the cool-looking black dude (who was strutting around with a massive boombox on his shoulder) in the first Police Academy film that inspired me to buy one. I bought one from Dixons, but was never actually brave enough to place it on my shoulder. Indeed, living out in the sticks in Gloucestershire, no doubt, I would have been a laughing stock had I chosen to do so. The guy I am referring to was, of course, Larvelle Jones who was played by Michael Winslow, and he continues to make a living providing those amazing vocal sound effects, apparently.



JVC DC-33L Ghettoblaster with detachable speakers
JVC DC-33L Ghettoblaster
This is an original and rare JVC machine from the 1980s with detachable speakers and a built-in record deck, which meant you could use it like a hi-fi system at home. I'm not sure about just how practical the turntable was, though, and surely it wouldn't have been much use while on the move. I would still love to have owned one of these, though!

More popular were the twin tape deck machines which allowed you to record from a commercial cassette to a blank one. You could also enjoy simultaneous and continuous playback of two cassettes on many models, and tape your favourite songs off the radio, of course. The more expensive ghetto blasters were sturdy beasts with metal buttons and built-in graphic equalizers.


Silver Ghettoblaster Shoulder Bag
Ghettoblaster Shoulder Bag (UK)

Also Available at Amazon.com (US)
Okay, so it's about time that I mentioned the bags which, I know, you've been itching to read about - after all, that is the title of this post! If you're looking for something that's quirky then this first bag certainly fits the bill. It's bursting with retro coolness and has a clean, simple design.

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One of the most exciting and quirky collections of bags can be found at Redbubble.com who ship worldwide. I've added a small example of what's available.
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Ghettoblaster Postman Messenger Bag
Ghettoblaster Messenger/Postman Bag
This shoulder bag has realistic 3D print, and it's certainly eye-catching! A very similar design is also available at Amazon.com in the U.S.

Official Run DMC Boombox Messenger Bag
Official Run DMC Boombox Messenger Bag (US)
Official Run DMC Messenger Bag
If you're an 80s hip hop fan then this retro Run DMC bag may be your thing. It's ideal for keeping your cassette collection in! This item is also available at Amazon.co.uk.

Here are some more awesome designs that I discovered...

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To see everything available, I recommend using the following searches;

Boombox Bags UK

Boombox Bags US

Ghettoblaster Bags UK

Ghettoblaster Bags US

Boombox Bags at ebay (UK, US, Canada, Australia)

Boombox Picnic Cooler Bag
Boom Box Bottle Cooler Bag at ebay
Around 80% of products sold on ebay are actually brand new items, and this is a great site to use for finding the very best prices, as many top-rated suppliers sell their wares here. I have linked to the search term for the bag above, rather than a specific item, as listings from sellers tend to disappear after a few weeks.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post. Whether you want to breakdance around it or simply keep your sandwiches in it, a ghetto blaster bag going to be a real talking point. And can you imagine the look on the faces of your friends or work colleagues when they feast their eyes on your uber cool bag - they'll all want one!

You can see many more retro bags with an 80s theme at my website SimplyEighties.com.

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