There are tons of basic black laptop bags out there - so we decided to skip those for the most part, concentrating instead on shoulder bags that lend the wearer a bit more style and just as much functionality. Coincidentally, most of our favorite bags in this category are all oriented vertically, making your notebook easier to grab. Plus, you don’t have to worry as much about bumping people with your bag in a crowd.
The STM Medium Alley probably isn’t going to draw many admiring looks on the subway - which is not to say it’s ugly. The Alley is a well-made and -engineered upright messenger with attractive lines and consummate functionality. At $59.95 (available for purchase at www.apple.com), it also offers amazing value. This bag feels good on, has an easy-grab handle that you can use even when the top flap is open, and nicely cushions a 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Both the be.ez LEvertigo Kakee and the Timbuk2 Medium Blogger are likely to pull in a few more stares. Be.ez, a French company, has designed a truly unique bag that’s highly functional too. Despite its gimmicky name (ditto the various colors, which are all spelled in kooky ways), the LEvertigo bag has a day-glo orange lining that’ll give you a jolt when you’re lagging and help you find your stuff much more easily. The huge Velcro “e” inside the top flap goes along with the gimmickry, but obviously serves the purpose of keeping the flap securely closed. The Blogger is one of Timbuk2’s more compact bags, yet it’s roomier than it looks, with plenty of compartments in addition to the corduroy-lined padded laptop slot.
This be.ez bag brought to you by the letter “e.”
If security is a concern, PacSafe was thinking of you when it designed the CourierSafe 100, which features a slash-proof strap that you can wrap around a table leg (or other hard-to-budge object) and lock to the bag with the built-in combo lock. A patented material called eXomesh also protects the laptop compartment, making it extremely tough for a blade-wielding wannabe thief to slash through your bag to get at your precious MacBook inside. It’s lightweight and holds most everything you’d need for a day at the office or an airplane flight.
Foil would-be ’Book snatchers with the CourierSafe 100’s built-in combo lock.
The Considerable Embarrassment from Crumpler isn’t embarrassing at all. You’d think, from its name, that it would be enormous, but it’s actually a reasonable size for anyone other than, say, Nicole Richie. Its light-colored lining makes finding all your odds and ends stashed in their various compartments a breeze, and the cushy, removable shoulder pad is a nice touch. The oversize Velcro patches under the front flap tend to catch on clothing, but your MacBook or MacBook Pro remains well protected.
Less roomy and with a completely different look, the Marware Sportfolio Deluxe for MacBook and MacBook Pro is going to appeal to surfers and scuba divers - and anyone who likes neoprene. We could live without the hokey graphics emblazoned on the front, but the squishy protection it affords your laptop is a huge plus. We also like the pass-through slot for headphones or earbuds. Another slim, lightweight option is Brenthaven’s MetroLite bag, which weighs a mere 2 pounds, 3 ounces and cushions your 15-inch MacBook Pro amazingly well. The front pocket holds essentials like a cell phone, keys, ID, and iPod, but that’s about it.
Looking for something more high end? The velvety leather of MacCase’s Premium Leather Shoulder Bag is supersoft, but we wish the bag design were hipper. If you need a lot of room, however, this bag’s got it, though there’s no separate compartment for your MacBook Pro, so get a sleeve. Even if the design appeals, you’ll need deep pockets to make it yours: This bag rings up at $199.95.
On the flip side of luxury is the MobileJuice Messenger Deck Bag, a water-resistant bag just right for people who have to carry their laptops out in the elements. Or, for that matter, anyone who works on a fishing boat. The bag is made of treated vinyl you could dunk in a puddle - but don’t try it with your MacBook inside. Even though it’s zippered (and all the zippers are rubberized), the notebook compartment isn’t watertight.
While we wanted to like Chrome’s Small Shuttle, the mini-me version of the company’s oh-so-distinctive Kevlar-coated Duma, it fell quite short of our expectations. The metal clasps on the front flap are excruciatingly difficult to open and close. The bag feels much too wide considering its low capacity. And the padding around the laptop envelope is minimal. The $120 price tag was the final straw.
Maybe we’re all thumbs, but we found the Shuttle’s metal fasteners clumsy to operate.
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COURIERSAFE 100
COMPANY: PacSafe
CONTACT: www.pacsafe.com
PRICE: $119.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Unique security features. Lightweight. Light interior makes finding things easier. Strap adjusts on either side of shoulder pad. Headphone port. Also available in black and brown.
Needs more padding at bottom of notebook compartment. Large Velcro strips on front can catch on clothing.
THE CONSIDERABLE EMBARASSMENT
COMPANY: Crumpler
CONTACT: www.crumplerbags.com
PRICE: $85
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Feels great on. Designed for maximum functionality. Bright interior helps you find your stuff. Laptop pocket doesn’t “touch bottom,” for added shock protection. Removable shoulder pad.
Big Velcro patches on front flap tend to catch on nubby fabrics.
LEVERTIGO KAKEE
COMPANY: be.ez
CONTACT: www.be-ez.com
PRICE: $69.99
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Unique urban styling. Relatively slim yet holds quite a bit. Lightweight. Day-glo interior makes it easy to find things inside. Also available in black, gray, purple, and white.
Long front flap is a bit unwieldy. 15-inch MacBook Pro barely fits in laptop compartment. Needs an exterior zippered pocket.
PREMIUM LEATHER SHOULDER BAG
COMPANY: MacCase
CONTACT: www.mac-case.com
PRICE: $199.99
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 17" MacBook Pro
Soft, rich leather. Comfortable to carry. Plenty of room for more than just a laptop. Also available in black, red, pink, and brown.
Styling is dated. No separate laptop compartment. Eye-popping price. Metal clasps tricky to open and close.
METROLITE
COMPANY: Brenthaven
CONTACT: www.brenthaven.com
PRICE: $79.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Lightweight and slim. Thick padding and side bumpers offer superior laptop protection. Faux-suede material repels liquids. Also available in black.
Lacks extra storage found in bags in the same price range. Stiff zippers and handles.
Left to right: Medium Blogger, Small Shuttle, Sportfolio Deluxe, Messenger Deck Bag, Medium Alley
MEDIUM BLOGGER
COMPANY: Timbuk2
CONTACT: www.timbuk2.com
PRICE: $80
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
For a compact, vertically oriented bag, it has quite a bit of room for more than just a laptop. Strap is adjustable on both sides. Laptop compartment has well-padded sides. Lots of color choices.
Needs an exterior zippered pocket. Bottom of laptop compartment could use extra padding.
SMALL SHUTTLE
COMPANY: Chrome Bags
CONTACT: www.chromebags.com
PRICE: $120
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Unique exterior finish (green Kevlar composite). Available in four other colors/patterns.
High price. For a “small” bag it feels quite bulky. Metal clasps on the front flap are a pain to open and close. Not enough padding at the bottom of laptop pocket. Doesn’t hold much.
SPORTFOLIO DELUXE
COMPANY: Marware
CONTACT: www.marware.com
PRICE: $79.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro, available for 17" MacBook Pro
Neoprene material offers excellent side padding. Lightweight. Headphone port in iPod compartment. Interior pockets labeled with icons keep your gear organized. Available in all black.
Graphics on front are overkill. More padding on the bottom would be nice. Too small to fit much else besides laptop and basic accessories.
MESSENGER DECK BAG
COMPANY: MobileJuice
CONTACT: www.mobilejuice.com
PRICE: $105
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 17" MacBook Pro
Water-resistant material and rubberized zippers make this a good choice for anyone who brings a laptop out into the elements or near water. Padded shoulder strap adjusts on both sides.
Rubberized zippers are hard to open and close. Water-resistant fabric feels cheap and thin. No external zippered pocket.
MEDIUM ALLEY
COMPANY: STM
CONTACT: www.stmbags.com.au
PRICE: $59.95
SPECIFICATIONS: Fits up to 15" MacBook Pro
Ingeniously simple and functional. Well made of durable, good-looking ripstop polyester that repels liquids and stains. Vertical orientation. Affordable. Good amount of padding around laptop.
Slim design can’t accommodate bulky items.
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Links:
[1] http://www.apple.com
[2] http://www.maclife.com/article/the_best_bag_for_your_book_part_2
[3] http://www.maclife.com/article/the_best_bag_for_your_book_part_3
[4] http://www.maclife.com/article/the_best_bag_for_your_book_part_4
[5] http://www.maclife.com/article/video_three_custom_bag_setups_for_your_mac_laptop
[6] http://www.maclife.com/article/first_look_three_ways_to_cushion_your_macbook_from_lifes_hard_knocks
[7] http://www.maclife.com/article/make_your_own_book_bag