The Best Laptop Bags

The Best Laptop Bags
by Bill Howard

Online Extra



Keep in Mind: Dimensions These refer to the bag alone—unstressed. Expandable Refers to a zipper around the circumference of a bag that allows the bag to expand by from 1.5 to 2 inches. Handle wrap Covers the front and back halves of bag handles, making the bag more comfortable to carry. Size A medium-size shoulder bag is 12 by 17 by 6 inches (HWD). The smaller the bag, the less problem you'll have getting it on a plane. Wheelie strap A cord that slips through the handle of a wheeled suitcase to hold items in place.

Best Bets: Best sub-$100 bag—Kensington Saddlebag Best $100 to $250 bag—Codi (all) Best luxury bags over $250—Tumi 2640, Brenthaven Topload 3610, Brenthaven Urban Backpack 3780 Best protection/impact resistance—Brenthaven (all)

Manufacturers: Brenthaven (www.brenthaven.com) Extremely well-made bags with high-quality protection via stiff, padded sleeves that are removable. The bags sell close to list price and are popular with corporations. The shoulder bags have wheelie straps.
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Slim 3590 ($250 list). Similar to the Topload but thinner (12 by 17 by 5 inches). Topload 3610 ($295 list). A medium-size shoulder bag (12 by 17 by 8 inches). Urban Backpack 3780 ($350 list). Squarish design (16 by 14 by 8 inches). The handle is padded and the zippers have rain flaps.

Briggs & Riley (www.briggs-riley.com). Simply-styled ballistic nylon bags from the @work collection. All shoulder bags have wheelie sleeves. Leather is optional.

Organized Computer Brief ($160 street). A medium-size shoulder bag (12 by 16 by 7 inches) with a removable laptop sleeve (held in place by a zipper). Expandable Overnighter Computer Brief ($190 street). Similar to the Organized Computer Brief but only 6 inches deep (expandable to 8 inches). Organized Computer Backpack ($150 street). Measures 16 by 13 by 7 inches.

Codi (www.codidirect.com). Well-made, relatively affordable bags that offer good protection. All have wheelie straps. The handles are uncomfortable. The bags can be ordered direct.

SalesPro Plus 3305F ($150 direct). An expandable shoulder bag (13 by 18 by 8 inches). Ambassador 1008F ($139 direct). A shoulder bag that starts out small (13 by 16 by 6 inches) but can expand 2 inches. A good choice for a personal carry-on bag on planes. MaxPack ($139 direct). A backpack with multiple compartments (16 by 13 by 8 inches). A small pouch at the top of one compartment keeps small items from falling to bottom (not as convenient as the dome in the Tumi 2612, though). Rain flaps cover the zippers. A great deal for the money.

e-bags (www.ebags.com). An on-line seller of bags—not a manufacturer. A good starting point for laptop bag research.

Gravis (www.gravisfootwear.com). Stylish bags from the footwear/sporting goods maker.

Digi Bag ($80 list). A lightly padded shoulder bag with a flap. The bag is made of black ripstop nylon with royal blue or red accents. A separate phone pouch clips on the strap and a clear pouch inside the flap can hold an MP3 player. Very light (1.5 pounds). Good for style, less so for drop protection. Prime Pack ($150 list). A very tall, large backpack (21 by 14 by 8 inches) with a removable laptop sleeve. It comes in peat or black, with an orange interior and has waist and sternum straps and a top handle.

Hartmann (www.hartmann.com). Consistently high-quality at a price. Generally regarded in the same league as Tumi.

Large Expandable Brief 514 ($575 list). A drop-dead gorgeous expandable leather shoulder bag (12 by 17 by 7 inches). It has a removable laptop insert sleeve (no top). The bag is especially well padded on the underside.

Kensington (www.kensington.com). Cheap but durable bags (based on years of use by PC Magazine editors).

Saddlebag ($50 street). A combination shoulder bag and backpack (15 by 14 by 6 inches) that offers little protection for a dropped notebook. The bag looks best in black-coated fabric with brown faux-suede trim. Slim Metro Bag ($80 street). A small, thin, vinyl shoulder bag (14 by 14 by 5 inches). The bag is broader at the top and has a removable padded computer insert.

Lands End (www.landsend.com). Outdoorsy/campus-looking bags and backpacks in multiple colors.

Ballistic Urban Attache ($79 direct). A flap-over shoulder bag with wheelie a strap (12 by 16 by 7 inches). It offers modest protection. Lighthouse II Computer Backpack 75064 ($70 direct). A Cordura nylon convertible backpack/shoulder bag (15 by 13 by 7 inches). The backpack straps hide in the wheelie sleeve. Smallish (15 by 13 by 7 inches). Square Rigger Deluxe Laptop Attache ($118 direct). A bigger, laptop-toting version of the best-selling Lands' End Attache shoulder bag. Made of canvas with leather trim and has a removable notebook sleeve. The bag's height serves little purpose for notebook users (14 by 17 by 7 inches).