Comments on: Review Shootout: Laptop Bags for Light Computing

By: Dottie Hunt

Dottie Hunt — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:49:50 +0000

I spent a year looking for the perfect bag for my MBP. I finally settled on the Higher Ground Laptrap. (http://www.highergroundgear.com/laptrap.html) It is a small vertical shoulder or backpack bag.

You can leave your laptop in the bag and work with the bag across your lap or desk. (The laptop compartment has rubber risers for air circulation under the laptop.) It allows me to carry a power supply, 2.5 external drive, and point and shoot camera while remaining a small bag.

I have used the bag everyday for a year and have broken a couple of the zipper pulls. Also, the extra cd/dvd storage inside is useless to me because I rarely use either medium. I think I would prefer a generic pocket to hold meeting handouts or a notebook. Otherwise, I am very pleased with the case.

By: phossil

phossil — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:23:37 +0000

Ok, the Tom Bihn Horizontal Brain Cell, seems a little formal for my taste but if you are an executive, well i think its a good choice, now I like more the Tom Bihn Ristretto, but too bad it is a vertical bag,… I prefer horizontal messenger laptop bags.

WaterField Hardcase and WaterField SleeveCase Ensemble both have foam inside so your laptop would be very secure from falling.

Me particularly dont have a laptop, but I use casual messenger bags.

By: griffmiester

griffmiester — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:18 +0000

Just to throw some Aussie Merchandise in here also, have you ever looked at the bags made by http://www.crumpler.com.au/ I’ve had a couple, and found them very hardy. definitely worth looking at.

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:35:43 +0000

Another happy Waterfield Designs customer here. Have their Cargo bag. It’s been around the world and back. Still looks new and still gets compliments.

By: klou

klou — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:05:35 +0000

nice review and i was going for a laptop bag :)

By: Frederico Leonardo

Frederico Leonardo — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:53:43 +0000

I carry my MBP in a Gravis backpack. They’re really comfortable =)

By: Collin Allen

Collin Allen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:33:07 +0000

I’m not yet ready for a minimalist bag :) I absolutely love my Brenthaven 15/17 backpack (http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-apple-pro-15-17.html), which can haul everything and then some. Even fully loaded, the bag is very manageable, and has thoughful pocket layout so as not to overlap items too much. In addition, the material has proven quite strong so far, with nary a tear or scratch on it. I was initially skeptical about it’s $180 price tag, but I couldn’t be happer with my choice.

By: Jim Hamm

Jim Hamm — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:03:52 +0000

For my MacBook Air I use a laptop case from Waterfield (http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm)
I bought the version with a fold-over flap. The case is made in San Francisco and is of the highest quality. I put my MBA in the case then put it in my backpack. I spent May in Europe with this case and MBA packed in my backpack. I walked around villages, and when I found internet access, I uploaded my travel commentary to my website blog. The case is very protective of the MBA. If I were not to use a separate backpack, I would have got a version with straps. But, for me,a separate backpack works well.

I’m pleased to see these cases are still manufactured in the U.S.A……Jim

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:19:59 +0000

and hear the annoying velcro tearing sound.

That was always a huge annoyance for me. I put duct tape over them on my old crumpler bag.

By: Blake Perdue

Blake Perdue — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:18:19 +0000

I did some research on slim bags for the Air as well, and chose Booqbag’s Boa Slimcase S90:

http://www.booqbags.com/s.nl/it.A/id.291/.f?sc=13&category=-113

I love this bag, and don’t think I would choose any of your reviewed bags over it. I like it because it looks cool, it is small and slim, it’s got good padding for the MBA, it has pockets and pouches so you can take a good amount of stuff with you despite its small size.

I especially like the two exterior pockets. My Timbuk2 bag didn’t have this, so everytime I needed something I had to open up the bag and hear the annoying velcro tearing sound.

I keep a magazine and some papers in the back pocket and my phone and Gatech Buzzcard in the front for easy access.

By: Peter F.

Peter F. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:30:39 +0000

I was carrying my MacBook Pro around in a Tumi laptop backpack… a bit overkill for the type of work I do and the locations I end up at.

I recently switched to a Case Logic Slimline bag like this one: http://tinyurl.com/5ee256.

It has room for a portable 2.5″ HD, my power brick, my mouse, and one or two other small gizmos, like my iPod Nano (1st gen) and Nike+.

By: Stephen Froom

Stephen Froom — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:57:28 +0000

I just orderd a Voltaic Converter bag (http://www.voltaicsystems.com/bag_converter.shtml). It has solar panels built in that allow it to charge any gadget that draws less than 10W while charging (cell phones, PDA’s, iPods, GPS, maybe even a netbook). It also has a built in battery, so it charges passivley all day while you walk around.(I find the idea of real-time solar charging to be pretty inconvenient…isn’t the point of a spare charger to make charging more convenient?). You can also plug the pack in a charge the battery that way, providing a backup battery (which I desperately need for my new iPhone 3G, it suck power like crazy).

It arrived today. I’ll be posting a review shortly on my blog at http://www.stephenfroom.com.

By: josie

josie — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:56:09 +0000

nice reviews… i’ve been searching for a lighter/smaller laptop bag with no luck… im going to check these out and some of the others suggested in the comments.

By: Johannes

Johannes — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:14:33 +0000

I can recommend the stm evolution backpack. Decent look, nice laptopsleeve (13 or 15-inch), good processed and lots of extra space.

By: Stefaan

Stefaan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:26:25 +0000

I use a be.ez LArobe sleeve for my iBook and a backpack.

By: adi chandra

adi chandra — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:20:22 +0000

I use Guess Premium bag, a leather one. its very stylish and fit the macbook air and accessories well.

By: Bruno Amaral

Bruno Amaral — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:07:46 +0000

I carry a crumpler bag with me when I need to have my macbook or any extras. It looks small, but I have manage to carry the mac, a charger, a notebook, a pocket-size book, pens and even a toothbrush !

add to all that the lifetime warranty provided by crumpler, just enough padding and water/scratch proof exterior. Doesn’t even look like a laptop bag.

By: Kevin Lim

Kevin Lim — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:50:20 +0000

Paul, neat overview of light computing bags. I’ve transitioned from a 12″ Powerbook, to a 15″ MBP, to a high-def 17″ MBP. However, I will never forget how mobile I used to be. For something small, mobile, roomy, yet stylish, I urge you to search on eBay for this vintage “incase moya deluxe gearbag” which I used to carry my 12″ Powerbook. I’ve gotten compliments about it from guys:

By: Elliot Swan

Elliot Swan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:58:41 +0000

I guess my last comment didn’t go through, so here’s trying again.

I’ve been using the Incase Canvas Vertical Sling for about a year now and still love it. It’s fairly small yet still has enough room to fit my Macbook, a charger, and a textbook or two within reason.

I’m constantly moving around to and from work, classes, coffee shops, etc., so being able to throw my stuff in there and walk out the door is a major must.

By: Mike Skalnik

Mike Skalnik — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:47:04 +0000

And here I am, sporting a Trogdor messenger bag that was a gift and an Applesac sleeve for my macbook. Works great for me, and there’s some extra room for charger, umbrella, rubik’s cube, a notebook and some folders. I bet I could fit a small textbook in there too if I really wanted.

Works great for me, and didn’t cost me too much at all.

By: skipc

skipc — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:30:01 +0000

I’ve been using the WaterField SleeveCase for my 15″ MBP and have nothing but raves for it. Rather carrying the charger, I carry a second battery…oops Apple forgot to put a removable battery in the AIR : ]

By: Devin Reams

Devin Reams — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:04:10 +0000

I’ve been thinking about a nice (minimalist) bag I’ve learned my backpack that dates back to middle school does the job.

…but then it doesn’t cut it anymore, I’ll come back to this post. Nice reviews.

By: Dilip P

Dilip P — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:38:57 +0000

This post has got me thinking as to whether I have to get a laptop bag. As of now I take my macbook in a Neoprene Incase Sleeve and just carry it around in my bag. I should get a proper bag asap, my macbook is too precious !

By: Elliot Swan

Elliot Swan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:36:49 +0000

I've been using my Incase Canvas Vertical Sling for about a year now and still love it. It's not too big, but I can throw my Macbook in the lined pouch and still fit a charger and a textbook or two (within reason) in there if I need to. I'm constantly moving around with my Macbook (to and from work, classes, coffee shops, etc.), so being able to toss my stuff in there and walk out the door is a major must.

By: Andrew Hyde

Andrew Hyde — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:35:30 +0000

Although built for bigger computers, Patagonia makes a killer laptop backpack (Lightwire) that is very light in weight at around $80.

After years of shoulderstraps throwing off my back, I love the backpack feel.