What laptop bag do you recommend?
Posted in SoapBox by Dan at 3:44 pm
This post was published 2 years 9 months 24 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.
I am a laptop bag connoisseur (But I’ll skip the Floppy Disk bag). I used to be a Booq Bag fan, but I think their offerings are ugly. Not so much of a Targus fan either and I don’t think there is enough padding in Crumplers offerings.
So left lost and looping, I’m wondering if the UNEASYreaders have any suggestions of what is a GOOD laptop bag? Drop a comment to help me out.
I have an STM bag (http://www.stmbags.com.au/home) and really like it. It’s pretty easy to find a retailer that ships to the U.S, so if you’re looking for a stylish yet functional bag — my vote is for STM.
I found an old Apple PowerBook-bag in my basement and it fits my 12″ iBook perfectly! It’s not too pretty, but it has a rainbow Apple logo on it and that’s all I need.. Looking forward to seeing good suggestions.. Guess a 13″ MacBook wont fit the same bag and I can’t stay with the iBook forever..
Best.
Bag.
Ever.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/61154002/wo/DT7ZSC4iL9SI29OLVb12btepUQu/2.0.21.1.0.8.25.7.11.0.1
Match this with an InCase Sleeve and you are soooo money.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/61154002/wo/DT7ZSC4iL9SI29OLVb12btepUQu/1.0.0.21.1.0.8.11.4.9.0.1.9.2.0.1
Waterfield for life yo: http://www.sfbags.com/
I’ve always used Brenthaven bags (http://www.brethaven.com). They are extremely well made bags…so good that Apple used to give them away with their laptops, before they stopped giving away accessories like that…
Bubblewrap?
LOL, Bubblewrap!
Is Tumi good?
Pakuma bag all the way. It’s large enough to fit my 17in dual core baby.
http://www.rockdirect.com/viewAccessory.php?pName=CAS-CHOROKA-K1-GBLKR
Got a tech air myself and it is excellent. No problems with it what so ever, Cheap and great build quality.
Swiss Army is the only bag for me…
http://www.swissarmy.com/travelgear/SubCategory.htm?category=businessgearbriefcases&
I need a bag for my 17″ HP widescreen laptop but I can’t seem to find one big enough. Even the “XXL” size bags are just slightly too small for my needs.
I’ve been using TimBuk2 bags for years….you can’t do anything to hurt them!
http://www.timbuk2.com
I use a Brenthaven bag with my PowerBook 15”. It is great – fits the laptop super snugly, and has lots of pockets for iPods, power adapters, etc…
I bounce between two main bags. The first is a Timbuk2 Commuter. It has a built-in padded laptop sleeve. It’s a bit tight with a 15″ MacBook Pro. Actually, it is tight. You have to kind of slide it in at an angle to get it in.
The second is the Whickey and Cox Crumpler camera bag / laptop bag. It comes with a laptop sleeve which is attached to the backside of the backpack.
Honestly, I see no point in getting a special laptop bag when you can purchase an Incase sleeve for about $25 and then throw it into any bag.
Timbuk2 and Crumpler are great, but personally, I use a Crumpler – Barney Rustle Blanket (Which isnt designed for laptops), and put in my MacBook Pro in a School Hymn for MBP. Works great for me. I also (like you Derek) use a Whickey and Cox camera/laptop bag, and throw my MBP in while encased in the School Hymn sleve for extra protection.
I am however, a HUGE fan of the STM Loft and STM Cargo bags. http://www.stmbags.com.au
mareware
I recommend a backpack style model for two reasons: less conspicuous to thieves, and easier to walk or bike places with.
Ive got the Timbuk2 Commute. It is a tight fit but it is just about perfect. Nice padding, spacious pockets, secret pockets, convertible; shoulder bag to back pack. I use this everyday.
But when I just need my machine I also have the STM medium Brink. I can slide my MBP in there with the RadTech Sleev still on. There’s a single pocket on the front for charger, mouse and pens. And then a slide in the back for a magazine.
My old laptop came with a free Targus backpack – it retailed around $30 and is perfect for storing peripherals. But you didn’t like that, so okay never mind.
Brown paper grocery bag, with glued in bubblewrap lining ftw!!!!!!!
Who’s that in the background?
Peter – NO IDEA, but sure looks scary!
hate to sound like a cheap ass but
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=CVR200
this fits my macbook pro like a glove, it’s pretty protective… I have skateboarded with my laptop on my hip for over 4 miles … its neoprene, and super light weight… my only beef with it is the plastic clips used on the straps, but I swapped that out with my metal clipped straps and all is now good :)
I recommend the Knomo bags. Perhaps a bit on the expensive side but well worth it if you value style as well as substance, and particularly for women who find the traditional laptop bags unattractive. Knomo bags are very beautiful in my opinion and unusual – many don’t look like a laptop bag at all. Many styles come with nice extras, like a removable laptop sleeve (great for protecting the laptop through airport security and as a handy tote for a variety of purposes), a cable and accessory case, and not least, a security concept that includes a unique ID tag sewn into the bag with a phone number for someone to call if they find your bag. Knomo promises to make sure the bag finds its way home to you if lost. http://www.knomo.com (or http://www.knomobags.com). One word of warning – I’ve had problems with the metal zipper pulls falling off. You need to double check that they can’t slip out – might need to clamp them down with a pair of pliers. Otherwise the quality is excellent.
waterfield
Brenthaven has the best protection and has a lifetime garuntee. Very good support team for q’s as well.
Brenthaven.com
manhattan portage all the way. handmade in the USA.
http://www.manhattanportage.com
RoadWired/Skooba Bags. http://www.skoobabags.com
I became somewhat obsessed over the past few weeks in finding the right backpack bag for my laptop. My criteria were: Design (I’m an architect), comfort (I wanted a bag with a waist harness), and access to equipment (for riding the train in the morning). After much research I ordered a bag from an Australian company called Caribee. Check out their College X-Tend model, which has an adjustable harness system. Their Download model is also interesting. If it’s unusual style you’re after (and don’t care enough about massive storage space), the KATA Sensitivity is worth looking into, along with the BackOffice from Shaun Jackson Design. My current bag isn’t bad, which is from Salomon and sold exclusively through REI but it does tend to hurt my neck after a while. My next step is probably going to be designing my own bag but that’s another matter entirely.
take a look at tom bihn http://www.tombihn.com
i have the horizontal brainCell, fits my 17″ dell inspiron and my previous 17″ hp laptop. great quality for a good price.
Take a look at Kensington.com, they have a great range of bags, most fitting my 15″ dell laptop, all their bags seem to have individual pockets for i pods, blackberrys, mobiles, making things easier to find, particuarly in my bag. I currently have the contour backpack, light and compact making it easy for me to manage my handbag at the same time.
I use this an eBags. I love all the room and they have a verity of colors. http://www.ebags.com/ebags/firewall_laptop_brief/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15030
Monolith from Tom Bihn. http://www.tombihn.com
Probably the best place to look for laptop bags on the net would be http://www.rushfaster.com.au. They have a huge range from most of the brands discussed above, plus they have excellent upclose photos of each bag they sell.
oh… and i’d probably recommend the Booq Python XL. Fits ALL ur stuff and more and is a very sturdy bag. If you’re looking for a more professional bag, perhaps this Mandarina Duck bag.
WaterField Designs Cozmo Mambo Combo. Unbelievable quality and customer service. Really cool looking, long lasting stuff. And made in the USA.
http:www.sfbags.com
I’m a snot – I’ll admit it. I have super specific aesthetic, size, and configuration demands, but I don’t want to pay much for it. Personally, I wanted a bag to carry/protect my 12″ PowerBook vertically, with a few accessories, but big enough for when I get a MacBook, and no flap on top (hate those). So I was very pleased to find the MacBook Sleeve for $20 from Brenthaven (http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-macbook-sleeve.html) – they have a 12″ PowerBook sleeve but, as I mentioned, I plan on growing.
In any case, pun or no, I just got it today and it is just the thing. As you’ll see on their website, it has clips for a strap (although the one that comes with is flimsy) and a two-pocket thing that comes out when you need it and tucks away when you don’t. the little plastic window meant for a name card or some such is actually perfect for earbuds or even a phone or iPod as you can mash the buttons fairly handily. Whoopee!
well I would personally go with crumpler bags. Not to keen on their messenger bags tho – but I really like the constuction of each one of them. I have a crumpler backpack (king style), this thing takes it all, plus it is padded very well (both inside and out). You could drop the backpack from a safe height of 1m and expect nothing to happen to your laptop. I prefer backpacks to messenger bags as you are more mobile ie. running for the train in the morning, brushing past people on a crowded bus. I really hate walking and having to constantly push a slung over bag to the side (cause they do tend to do that).
All in all you want a bag that does not really look like a laptop bag. – think about it as your usual bag but study enough to put your laptop in.
As a former college student a recent university student, I too recently had to make a very similar selection, talking to a few who are better versed and experienced than me in the buying of bags for specific purposes, I was directed to http://www.maxwellscottbags.com, at first I thought this might be a little steep for a bag, however 3 cheap bags later I opted for the The Volterra Leather Laptop Case
I cannot say enough about this bag, it has taken such a beating from my daily activities and it still looks as stylish and trendy as the day I got it, with multiple interior and exterior pockets I can keep myself organized and looking at the top of my game where ever I am.
Most importantly my laptop is still well, despite some clumsiness on my part.