Left to right: Metrosafe 300, Medium Outtawhack Day Pack, Rip-Stop Backpack, BackOffice
METROSAFE 300
COMPANY: PacSafe
CONTACT: www.pacsafe.com
PRICE: $89.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 13" MacBook
Lightweight. Cool security features you won’t find built into most other bags. Can be used as a backpack or shoulder bag.
Backpack straps have no padding. eXomesh slashproof material doesn’t seem to completely surround the laptop pocket.
MEDIUM OUTTAWACK DAY PACK
COMPANY: Timbuk2
CONTACT: www.timbuk2.com
PRICE: $110
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Holds a lot yet doesn’t feel bulky. Doubles as a messenger bag. Easy access to all compartments while bag is on one shoulder. Fits comfortably, regardless of your physical size.
Off-kilter design takes a bit of getting used to.
RIP-STOP BACKPACK
COMPANY: Incase
CONTACT: www.goincase.com
PRICE: $99.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 17" MacBook
Amazingly lightweight despite large capacity. Padding on back adds comfort, aids venting. Lots of compartments. Headphone port and fleece-lined iPod pocket.
Straps are on the bulky side (as is the entire backpack).
BACKOFFICE
COMPANY: Shaun Jackson Design
CONTACT: www.sjdesign.com
PRICE: $149.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Lets you carry your MacBook Pro-based workstation on your back. Nice variety of pockets and compartments, including optical disc sleeves.
Extremely heavy. Extremely pricey.
Left to right: Medium Hamptons, Le Bag Bronze, Expandable Trek, Medium Evolution, The Buzz
MEDIUM HAMPTONS
COMPANY: BBP
CONTACT: www.bbpbags.com
PRICE: $95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Converts to a shoulder bag. Ergonomic design reduces pressure on your lower back. Holds all your gear - and then some.
Much too bulky for average city dwellers and road warriors, despite ergonomic design.
LE BAG BRONZE
COMPANY: be.ez
CONTACT: www.be-ez.com
PRICE: $99.99
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Fits nicely, despite bag’s large physical size. Great padding and open-air channel on back. Laptop is well cushioned.
Oddly oriented interior pockets. Bag is tall but not very deep, so it doesn’t hold as much as you might expect.
EXPANDABLE TREK
COMPANY: Brenthaven
CONTACT: www.brenthaven.com
PRICE: $99.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 17" MacBook
Extremely - almost excessively - roomy, with tons of pockets and compartments. Notebook slot is well padded. Expandable mesh pocket in front. Headphone port.
Laptop compartment should have a strap or closure of some kind.
MEDIUM EVOLUTION
COMPANY: STM
CONTACT: www.stmbags.com
PRICE: $99.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Roomy, with lots of compartments. Rain cover offers extra laptop padding. Front bungee pocket a nice extra.
Despite rugged construction, some parts seem cheaply made, particularly faux-suede tabs attached to bungee cord.
THE BUZZ
COMPANY: Tom Bihn
CONTACT: www.tombihn.com
PRICE: $120
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook
Slim and sleek, this is a great bag for commuters. Strap holds an umbrella. Sling design makes it easy to put on and take off.
Price is too high for amount of bag you get. Laptop padding is on the thin side.
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December 21, 2009 at 10:08pm
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William Dodge
August 24, 2007 at 7:09am
I am disappointed that you did not include the laptop bags made by Tough Traveler here in Schenectady. I have been using one since 1999 and it has outlasted 3 laptops and is still going strong.
You can see their bags at:
http://www.toughtraveler.com/
Frank
August 13, 2007 at 8:06pm
I'm really surprised by your Solid rating of the BBP Hamptons bag. Some people need the additional space provided by this bag. I know that I do. I also own a Marware bag for times when I only need my MacBook Pro, power adapter, and a couple of other small things. However, when I need to carry books, and other accessories then I use the BBP and it is not too big because of how it rests on your bum. And I have the XL version!!!
I love that this bag can hold a lot of stuff but doesn't make your back hot. Also, I agree that the metal snap is silly but only ONE pocket has this type of closure. Every other pocket has a zipper. You also forgot to mention the fact that the lining is water resistant along with a water resistant zipper for the laptop section. I would think this would be a huge benefit to the average city dweller you are claiming to review these bags for.
I know that bags are very subjective but it really seemed like you just gave the bags in this article a quick once over and didn't really put check them out thoroughly enough to justify rating them. It's fine if you want to pick a favorite but I would think you would need to look at them in more detail before rating them. Makes me wonder how much I should trust your other ratings.
Dave Barnes
August 13, 2007 at 2:06pm
I read this article in the print edition and was very surprised that you did not include any bags from Waterfield Design (www.sfbags.com).
I have purchased sleeves from them for every one of our iBooks, PowerBooks and MacBooks.
