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Hardware

Laptop Back Packs? 31

Posted by Cliff from the novel-carrying-ideas dept.
Cownonymous Award asks: "The company I work for recently gave me a laptop. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But: with it came a huge (and I really mean _huge_) laptop case, big enough to carry an RS/6000. Anyway, I look like a complete idiot when I take this humonguous "I'm a laptop, please steal me"-case with me. So I'm looking for an alternative, preferably a back pack. My question is: Has anyone had any (good) experiences with laptop back packs, especially ones like Eastpak's PC Pak'R or Timberland's HAKK?"
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Laptop Back Packs? More

Laptop Back Packs?

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  • I use an Eagle Creek bag, don't exactly know what the model name was though (had it 2.5 years). It doesn't have a whole lot in the way of padding, but I just took a keyboard wrist rest I had and cut it to fit in the bottom to act as a cushion for the laptop.

    The bag has three compartments, one large one for the laptop and papers, and two smaller ones for all the extras, cables, digital cameras, calculators, extra battery, etc... The really nice thing about this bag is that you can carry it like a brief case, attach a strap and carry it over one shoulder like a "satchel", or pull out back-pack straps from a small compartment and it becomes a backpack. Three in one, for what every you need.

    It is built very well, and actually has already outlasted one laptop (a lemon of one :( ).

    When I picked out this bag, I threw everything I wanted to fit into it, including the laptop, into a more standard backpack I already had, went down to the store, and sat there, seeing which bag everything fit in the best. Made a few sales people nervous, but made sure I got a bag that worked with a minimum of hassle. Anyway, my two cents.
    ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------

  • Targus (Score:1)

    by nlucent ( 168 )
    I have a Targus [targus.com] backpack for my laptop (The one shown on the far right on the front page of theyre site). Its not the most comfortable backpack in the world, but it is very well padded, w/ a ton of pockets/zippers/buckles etc. It can fit just about anything you would want to put in it. It is kind of pricey though at $100.00 US. Also if youre laptop is small enough eddie bauer sells a laptop insert that is basically this foam thing you put your laptop in, then put that in any backpack. Nick
  • A few months ago I did some research into the subject of laptop backpacks. The research involved online reviews as well as purchasing any locally available samples. I finally settled on a backpack manufactured by Spire USA [spireusa.com]. It has been a marvelous solution.

    If I suddenly had the need, I would not hesitate to buy another backpack from Spire.

  • I used to travel with my laptop ALL the time, and I must have worn out three or four "high quality" backpacks before I found TUMI [tumi.com]. They are definitely the best in luggage of this type and their computer backbacks are superb. Another good brand is TENBA [tenba.com]. Other brands simple pale in comparison.

    A final option is to buy one of those neoprene laptop sleeves that simply shield your laptop and can then be placed in any backpack you already have. This is very discreet and can be found at almost any travel luggage store for little money.

    Be sure to buy something that isolates the laptop from the rest of the stuff in the pack and from the outside world. I've broken MANY hinges and latches on laptops ignoring this. I convinced my employer after many days of "lost productivity" to spring for the expensive TUMI pack for me.

    A word of warning on travelling with laptops. On trips to Europe as well as in the continental United States, I saw many laptop thefts in airports and elsewhere. In airports, do NOT let someone get between you and your laptop for long. Wait until the last second before you step through the metal detector before placing your bag on the x-ray belt. Teams of thieves set up diversions to delay you at the security check while a cohort of theirs simply picks up your laptop bag at the end of the belt. While out and about, don't make the contents of your bag too obvious (like the Micron label on laptop cases). A friend of mine had her laptop stolen when the thief cut the strap of her backpack as she exited a bus. It happens so easily...

  • I have the same bag as GeorgeH, and I too find it a great carrier of laptops. Also, the floppy disk pouches hold minidiscs. The bag even has a pouch that seems to be designed to hold a minidisc player the size of a sharp 702/722. It survived a trip to DefCon 7 and other crazy road trips with no ill effects, other than a broken clip that was easily fixed with a $0.50 replacment from a camping store. It is also pretty darn water proof, and comfortable to wear.

    Ryan
    -
    Stop censorship befo&IPUHhuunu*he/j((J"#Ejr'ead
  • Go on over to Ebags [ebags.com] and looks for Trager brand bags; they make about 4 styles, all of which are good. My most recent purchase is the "Rover" - this thing has great pocket design and is made of some hardcore bulletproof nylon stuff. I carry a Dell i7.5k (15.4" screen), Palm, tons of cables, phone, etc and feel comfortable. It uses good metal connectors, so you don't get that squeaky sound when you move like the plastic crap makes. My favourite feature are the front two pockets I call "jump" pockets -- the zipper top to bottom on the side, one on each end. Makes the perfect Palm/Cell carrying spot - easy access in a flash. -te
  • I had the same problem when I started my current job. I did a bit of looking around online and off, and found that most laptop backpacks I found were just normal packs with a little sleeve for the computer. These offer very little protection. Then I ran across Spire USA [spireusa.com]. At that time all they had was the Zoom backpack, but now they have a large number of packs and bags [spireusa.com] designed around the notebook computer. I love my zoom, I have had it for nearly 6 months and I have taken it everywhere. Spire's packs have about 3 times as much padding as any other laptop case I have seen, and the materials are second to none. Spire even offers a line just for those of you with iBooks they call it the iPak [spireusa.com], imagine that.

    I wish I had thought of asking /. When I was looking... it might have made things easier.

    --Sultin

  • My backpack [brenthaven.com] is nearly perfect. The only problems are the name and the cost. I am no executive and it costs ~$250. After coming back from a trip last year with my gerneric Taurtus or TUMI - whatever it was, I knew there had to be something better. A bag to hold my laptop, books, 1 or 2 days of clothes, bottle of water, etc, etc. It had to be useful. After an exhaustive search at stores and online, after looking at my housemate's Timberland it was clear that there are little choices out there. Around a year and many tech commando missions later: money well spent. [fabric: ballistic nylon; size 11.5" x 20" x 8.25"; weight: 3.6 lbs. ; volume 1898 in^3; laptop compartment: 12.75x" x 9.25" x 2.25"]
  • I've used this one for about 5 years. It's lived through about 4 laptops, has roomy document compartment, you can stuff the shoulder straps in if you are trying to look "business-like", the outside pocket is big enough for my phone, palmtop, and a can of coke. It's been on airplanes and fits under the seat in front of you, even when loaded with laptop, power supply, extra battery, two ora books, various papers, change of clothes, palmtop, phone, snack, portable cd player, etc..... I've worn it while riding a bike, it includes the back pad part so you don't feel the laptop. I've strengthened it with a pair of metal plates on either side of the laptop (just as a precaution). All in all, it's a good bag, just make sure to rip off the "targus" nameplate because it does mean "steal me" You can find it on their website here: http://www.targus.com/products/ccb1.htm
  • Just hold on there Hoss - before you go doling out your hard earned bucks for some run of the mill bag made by the mass manufacturers, you've got to check out JANDD Mountaineering in Santa Barabara.

    They started their businesss over 10 years ago making saddlebags for bicycles. Today, they make probably 40-50 different bags and all of them are tough, bombproof, etc... as their roots are in saddlebags which have to take a lot of abuse.

    About 3 years ago they started getting a lot of requests from the customer base on having a laptop bag with cushioning and all, so they modified a large selection of thier bags with an interior support system.

    Today, I simply will not buy a non-jandd bag at all, given that I've never had one of their bags wear out. The drag part is that they got burned a long time ago and have not developed a web presence so you have to call information in Santa Barbara, CA, get the catalogue, etc... But it is well worth the wait as you'll have an awesome bag that everyone will ask you where you got it and you won't have to get another one for 10-15 years. It will outlast 2-3 laptops no problem.

  • I've seen a number of folks mention eBags [ebags.com] but not their North Face backpacks. A friend has one of these. You order the backpack and an "official" North Face laptop insert which fits nicely...

    I don't have one yet, and the model he has doesn't appear to be available anymore, but I'm still looking.

    His has a number of pockets for geek stuff (a common theme, I see!) and the added plus of some bungee cargo webbing that will hold just about anything on the outside back of the pack.

    It also has the waist strap for support on those "heavy days" (oohhh... booo... hiss...) and looks a heck of a lot nicer than most backpacks designed for PC's, because it wasn't.

    The insert's made out of nylon and has some kind of attachment to the inside of the pack which I haven't been able to get in there and look at yet.

    (Hey, the things full of STUFF every time I see it!)

    I'm going to buy one as soon as I find a similar model... I have a Port laptop bag and hate it.

    No more heavy obnoxious Port laptop bag with no space for anything else other than the laptop for me. That thing's twice the size of most backpacks and I can barely bring along both the floppy drive and the CD-ROM when mobile.

    Company issue, go figure. ;)

    p.s. Disclaimer: eBags is a customer of mine, but I don't receive any direct compensation for anything they sell (other than if they're successful, I am too!) I personally shop there regularly and really like their selection and prices. They're always adding new stuff to the site, it's fun to watch.

  • I've got one of the Bean backpacks as well. I use it every day, and I have no problems with it.
    It looks like any other backpack, and has adequate padding for a laptop and peripherals.

    I've been using it pretty hard for a year or so, and I've noticed no appreciable wear. I got the leather-bottomed one, though, because I figured I'd wear out the nylon-bottomed one.

  • I also have a Kensington Saddlebag [kensington.com] and like it. It's not a really good backpack; the straps aren't all that well designed and it tends to wiggle more than I'd like (it needs a waist strap), but it has a nice shoulder strap for "tote bag" style use and the grab handle is a real handle, not just a loop of webbing to hurt your hand with. It's great for doing the "short connection mad dash" at airports.

    It does hold a fair amount of stuff; spare batteries, CD portfolio, etc.

    Note that there are two versions, one with black trim and one with ugly brown trim. The picture on Kensington's website will give you the idea. (CompUSA only carried the ugly brown one last time I checked...typical.)

  • I own the PC Pak'r and i am completely satisfied with it. The laptop part is well padded both front and back, there are many pockets to store all your crap in and if you look hard enough it won't cost you much. Go with eastpack they kick ass.

    tHx
  • The first Targus I had was heavy nylon. I ripped the straps out where they were sewn into the bag over the course of 2 years. But I also carry a couple of wallets of CDs in the bag so it was pretty heavily loaded.

    I have a leather Targus now. The construction is a little better and it really looks nice. It doesn't look so out of place going to a business meeting. I'm happy with it.


    Never underestimate the power of wishful thinking to filter what the eyes see and what the ears hear

  • I shopped like mad every night for a week after coming home from a project this summer where I walked a good dozen blocks from train station to client. I'm too small to carry a heavy pack that doesn't work, and my Armada weighs a ton.

    I wanted a bag with a real (wide) hip belt, sternum straps, and compression straps so the bag wouldn't slosh. The Spire pack's other bonuses: awesome padding (a thick back-and-bottom pad and a separate removable padded sleeve for the laptop), great looks (doesn't scream "Intel Inside!"). Downside: cable stowage is at the bottom of the bag (under my books, so I have to unpack to get at the power cord), and the outer pocket is flat with a very small opening (I only use it for receipts), the mesh outside pocket is also nearly useless (train schedules.

    When it's time to carry it, the Spire is all that, and I thought the Tumi and some other expensive bags were not. The Compaq backpack two colleagues have falls apart. The Kensington Saddlebag was awful. The Ports and Targuses are obvious laptop bags. The Spire looks like a lightweight climbing pack, and feels great. I throw it into the car and set it down on hard floors without worries.

    http://www.spireusa.com/Products/Notebook/Zoom/zoo m.htm

  • I have a VAIO, and I made a "case" for it, using a standard "sidepack" type of pack.

    Most of these packs have a main pocket, and a smaller flapped-in pocket. Well, I took some foam packing material and made a sleeve that fit around the VAIO and fit into the smaller pocket. I used toothpicks and model-airplane glue to make the sleeve (high tech). The sleeve comes out when I need the pouch for something besides the laptop.

    The result is a real book-bag that happens to also carry my laptop. There's also room for the AC adapter or the extra battery. The myriad of pockets and zippers usually makes room for things like USB mice, PCMCIA cards, etc., but they're not tailor-made for them.

    It's nice, because I don't feel like I'm wearing a sign that says "rob me, I'm carrying something worth $2000 on my arm". And, I live in New York. I've also done a lot of travelling with it.

    I've been meaning to make a web page with instructions on this. Maybe I will soon.

  • EMS makes (or made, I found them on clearance) a laptop backpack. The straps are thinner than I'd like, but it'll hold an Inspiron 7500, iBook, or Powerbook G3 and the top compartment comfortably takes the Camel book, my AC adapter, a stack of CDs, a water bottle, gloves, some tools, and a shades case. Mine was ~$30 on clearance. They should be able to find if for you, but I can grab the SKU if anyone needs it. Jonathan Conway
  • they give them for free now in their FREE technologie days and the quality remains
  • I use a Port [port.com] backpack for my laptop. It's well-padded (both for the laptop and the lugger) and an inconspicuous black. It has 2 side pouches for easy access to geeky gadgets, such as cell phones and calculators. Inside there are netted zippered pouches and sleeves for holding your power brick, network adapters, pens and pencils, etc. The laptop (a ThinkPad 770 fits comfortably) is easily secured with 2 Velcro straps and there are dividers to hold portfolios or even a couple of medium-sized books. It also has a handle so you can carry it like a vertical briefcase. My only complaint is that the tacky substance on the shoulder straps makes it difficult to get on over a bulky winter coat.
  • Try the Brenthaven laptop backpack. I looked at the Kensington, the Targus, the Tumi, the Eagle Creek, and several others before settling on this one. It's big and comfortable. It doesn't have the compartments of the Targus or the file-maintenance space of the Tumi, but it's got lots of pockets and they're well-arranged. Plus, it's big enough to carry everything I need and small enough to fit under the airline seat :-) a space which just keeps getting smaller. Maybe it's time for an open-source aircraft -- we can make our OWN space! I can carry either my big laptop (big dell) or small one (libretto) and all the connectivity stuff I need (and a bunch more with the Libretto). The laptop padded thing is also removable, so I can pull it out and use the space when it's absolutely necessary. It's a good piece of equipment. Of course, for a smaller laptop, the north face laptop briefcase is hard to beat...but it's too small for full-size laptops :-( hope you find a good one.
  • While we're on the topic of laptop carrying cases, can anyone recommend a descent carrying case for a superslim VAIO? My notebook is just under and inch thick, and not very big around, making it rather difficult find find anything as slim as the laptop that will still protect it from minor impacts...

  • I purchased one of the Sun Microsystems Java laptop backpacks they were selling at the Java Store in November 98. So far it's protected two laptops, plus my cd cases full of audio and data cds, and still has room for my cellphone, a palm III and batteries, a few ethernet router and switch console cables, and a bottle of Dew. Unfortunately I dont think they're being sold anymore. But it's quite the kickass bag. Has a nice bad between your back and the laptop, plus a separator for cables, etc.
  • I have a backpack (bookbag) from LL Bean that has a laptop compartment in it. I use it CONSTANTLY. I have a Kensington Saddlebag, but I don't use it.

    My LL Bean lasted through my senior year and hasn't quite yet. I give it a recommendation because of the abuse the I put backpacks through.

    I looked on their website, but couldn't find it. It was one of the Campus Organizers.

    Besides being durable, it's big enough to carry my books too (3 classes worth). The backpack doesn't look like a laptop bag either so it's not so conspicuous.

  • I've got the Eastpak (Score:3)

    by GeorgeH ( 5469 ) on Tuesday January 18, 2000 @07:18AM (#1362838) Homepage Journal
    My Eastpak "PC Pak'r" [eastpak.com] is a pretty nice bag. It's got a laptop pouch in the main compartment, which ties down with a velcro strap. Plenty of room for O'reilly books along with your laptop. There's a nice little side pouch, perfect for a cellphone or a Palm Pilot. It also has an easy to access disk carrier, which holds six 3 1/2" or zip disks.

    The handle on top is nice for carrying it, and the shoulder straps are really nice, because they're coated with some grip-tape like substance. Oh, and the back is padded, so you don't feel your laptop on your spine constantly. I'm pretty happy with my purchase, and I've got a couple friends who got the same bag, and seem to be equally pleased. Check around your local Target for it, I got mine for $50 there, $15 less then the price on Eastpak's website.
    --

  • I have one (Score:3)

    by jfunk ( 33224 ) <jfunk@roadrunner.nf.net> on Tuesday January 18, 2000 @05:47AM (#1362839) Homepage
    I bought the Kensington Saddle Bag (from Software Online [softonline.com]) and I am very happy with it. It's very configurable. It can hold a lot more stuff than most cases (gee, you gave me enough room for a few slices of paper, thanks) and is great for travelling.

    I use it a lot, I love the damn thing.

  • The best (Score:4)

    by Biolo ( 25082 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2000 @12:09AM (#1362840)
    I use a Jansport [jansport.com] laptop bag that I have had for over two and a half years. It still looks almost as new, has bottom and back padding as well as some separating the laptop from the other contents of the bag and adjusts really well to different sizes of laptop. So far it has coped with an AST Ascentia A that was really thick and my current Compaq Armada 3500 that is really thin. It even copes when I put the expansion base on the Compaq. It's best feature however is that the bag doesn't look like a laptop bag. I used this bag on a daily basis for a year at Uni and could comfortably chuck it down wherever I wanted without worrying people would steal it because it obviously contained a laptop. Ideal!

    Unfortunately Jansport no longer appears to make this particular bag, but they still do a laptop bag which I found here [jansport.com].

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