We recently received this reader question in our mailbox:
I am writing to ask for some help with laptop bags. Being in the finishing stages of my PhD, I am on a hunt for a durable, yet chic, laptop tote that I can take to conferences and job interviews. For the past 4 years, I’ve used a black, patent leather one from Target. However, due to it’s poor quality, the bag is practically falling apart now. Do you ladies have any tips on where to look, or even brands that you’ve found to be pretty good?
Since we’re no strangers to toting our laptops around on a daily basis, we were excited to look for some chic yet practical and durable options to recommend to reader J. as well as to highlight some of the products we use and love. . .
None of us has an actual laptop bag; we each use the totes and bags that are large enough to hold our laptops and we switch between them at will. To keep our laptops protected, we all use laptop sleeves. We’re all three in possession of (and big fans of) the Incase Neoprene sleeves. I, (S), have one in bright pink while E. and A. have more professional looking black ones. While my pink one is more likely to show dirt and stains, I was pleasantly surprised to read that I can throw it in the wash and it’s no worse for wear. I have since machine washed my neoprene sleeve a few times and it still looks like new (just lay it flat to dry).
For other chic and unique laptop sleeve options, Etsy is a great place to shop. You can find such gorgeous items as this ‘Hot Couturier‘ laptop sleeve in a subdued and elegant floral pattern:
Or something more somber and neutral like this Portel felt and leather MacBook case:
The advantage of using a laptop sleeve over an actual laptop bag is the versatility this allows in switching between bags, carriers, or even travel carry-ons. I regularly switch between my green Kenneth Cole tote (when I have less to carry) and my sturdier brown REI tote (which I profiled in my Daily Campus Commute post a while back).
I have recently streamlined my bag system even more with the aid of a Tom Bihn Clear Organizer Pouch. I honestly think this is the best addition to my daily commute load that I’ve made in a while and I can’t help but gush about this. I tend to have a lot of little loose items that get tossed into my purse and bag – chapstick, lotion, sticky notes, pens, allergy meds, etc, etc, etc – that are a pain to switch from bag to bag when I change purses. Since I got this medium-sized organizer pouch, I just have all of those loose items in there, easy to grab and move from one bag to another. I love the fact that it’s clear, which makes it easy to see what I’m looking for within the pouch as well. My daily commuter load thus contains my laptop in a sleeve, this Tom Bihn clear pouch with all my little purse must-haves, and a tiny Reisenthel shopping bag, which also makes my ‘Top Ten’ list of daily commute items. (It folds up into a tiny pouch and it’s very useful for any unforeseen toting during the day, be it library books or groceries on my way home. Can you spot it tucked away into my clear pouch below?).
Since we’ve been nothing but enamored with all the Tom Bihn products we’ve sampled thus far, we would expect the Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag to be a good option for carrying a laptop around as well. It comes in a variety of color combinations and has a built-in padded laptop sleeve to keep your computer in place:
For a less sporty aesthetic, check out J.Crew’s Haneda laptop case in either black or navy:
I’ve also borrowed my husband’s Timbuk2 backpack frequently and am always trying to convince him to donate it to me because I find it to have many of the same qualities that have appealed to me with Tom Bihn products; sturdy and quality materials, lots of handy little pockets and compartments, and great design. I would recommend checking out their various laptop sleeves or messanger bags as well. (Added bonus: you can choose your own color combinations and design your own product with their ‘Build Your Own Bag‘ option).
We hope that these suggestions serve as a good starting point for your search, reader J., and as always, we’re counting on the rest of our savvy readers to chime in with their tips and ideas to add to this discussion. How do you carry your laptop around and what have you found useful for your daily commute? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below, thank you!
[...] Posted on | April 14, 2010 | No Comments [...]
If you can handle being unoriginal, consider the large Longchamp ‘Le Pliage’ bag. They’re everywhere, I know — but for good reason.
It’s recognizably fashionable and practical so it transitions between employment and school. It doesn’t look obviously like a school bag, so when you leave the library to resume your normal life, you don’t look like a dork.
It folds up flat (hence the whole ‘pliage’ name) so you can stuff it in another bag if you need to take the library home with you, or as a spare travel bag (fits under an airplane seat).
Because it only has a small interior pocket, definitely follow the excellent advice for a small travel bag and neoprene laptop case. The Academichics know what they’re talking about!
I love the Portel sleeves. So original and sleek! Great find.
I use a sleeve, as well, and sometimes a tote or backpack, but I usually carry my briefcase, pictured here: http://fashionableacademics.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-little-green-bag.html I use my briefcase for my laptop, essential papers, and a book or two, but if I’m carrying a heavy load of books I’ll use a canvas tote bag in addition to my briefcase.
I also use the neoprene sleeve trick quite a bit, but at the beginning of this semester I stumbled upon a Timbuk2 “Marina laptop tote” that has been super nice for daily campus use and conferences. It looks pretty cute like a tote but is durable and the main section fits my ‘puter plus cords, a book or two for the seminars, and my paper file with syllabus and notes. I’ve even been able to shove a water bottle in at times (depends on the girth of the day’s reading). The laptop fits in a padded section. It also has a zippered front pocket for pens/keys/lipgloss/cell phone.
I can’t find this bag on the Timbuk2 site today, but Sierra Trading Post.com has a couple of colors on sale at the moment and others are probably lurking around the interwebs even if Timbuk2 is no longer making this gem.
Thanks for this post! I am currently in the market for a laptop sleeve and a new bag to carry all my stuff around in, so this couldn’t come at a better time!
I love my Waterfield Bag, the Cozmo in all black, especially because it is very structured and won’t dump my books and computer on the floor. I know several academics who carry Waterfield bags in black. They last beautifully, are very functional, are extremely customizable, and are low profile (unless you pick one of the bright colors). The shoulder strap is particularly well designed.
The Cozmo can be seen here:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/cozmo/cozmo.htm
Ooh! Ooh! So happy to be asked about this, because I LOOOOOOVE my laptop/work bag. I use a neoprene sleeve for my laptop (and another for my netbook). Both of those I found on eBay SUPER cheap–just search for “laptop sleeve” or whatever. They’re fantastic.
But my daily bag is from Janine King Designs on Etsy. (See her stuff here: http://tinyurl.com/y6py4ph)
I’ve got this bag: http://tinyurl.com/y22qcem Pricey, yes, at $80, but I’ve been carrying it nearly every day for over 2 1/2 years, and it still looks EXACTLY like it did the day I got it! I’ve gotten tons of compliments, and it’s the perfect size to hold a full-size laptop plus other stuff. It’s got three large-ish pockets on the inside, which are perfect for holding pens, highlighters, cell phone, whatever…and a large zipper pouch in the front, that holds everything else (keys, ID, wallet, etc.).
Anyway–truly cannot sing the praises of this bag enough. I asked for it (as a birthday gift) because it was cute, but I’m obsessed with it because it’s so sturdy and well-made. A completely awesome bag that I would recommend to ANYONE looking for a stylish daily bag that’s able to take a beating!
Another creative option is to look at diaper bags. There are a lot of great looking ones out there now (that definitely don’t look like diaper bags). Diaper bags are awesome because they are roomy and also usually contain many smaller pockets within. A laptop in a neoprene case would fit easily inside.
I carry this one and love it because it comes with a small purse that I can easily detach from the side when I’m running for coffee, etc. and don’t want to bring the whole bag.
http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-City-Chic-Tulip/dp/B000Z7OSTC/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1271261537&sr=8-20
Other options have a more professional look:
http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Studio-Diaper-Tote/dp/B001LF3X66/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1271261473&sr=8-17
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Nylon-Fashion-Diaper-Tote/dp/B002UXQSY2/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qlEnable=1&qid=1271261583&sr=1-17
http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Mountain-Jackie-Diaper-Renaissance/dp/B003CN5MBE/ref=sr_1_85?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qlEnable=1&qid=1271261689&sr=1-85
I use a large le pliage bag or a harrods bag (http://www.harrods.com/HarrodsStore/find/c/hol,harrods-totes-and-bags/p/000000000001384866), which my bf calls my gaudy bag, for grad school. The great thing about a sleeve is that you can use any bag that you prefer!
2 things:
1. I LOVE that you use the inside of a Kinder Egg in your little case with the lip balm – I use one too, to carry Advil and whatnot with me.
2. I’ve been loyal to Timbuk2 since I was an undergrad and got my first messenger bag (almost 10 years old now – !!! – and it’s still looking great!). I’ve moved up to a more professional looking Timbuk2 – (http://www.zappos.com/timbuk2-aeon) but I think it’s discontinued now. I also use a Neoprene sleeve on occasion.
I never thought about Etsy as a place to look for a laptop case – but I LOVE that floral case! It’s so chic and unexpected – not your boring standard color- or the garish neons that you find as the alternative to black and brown!
Hi girls! Loved your blog!
Do you have twitter? Thanks!
I bought a Knomo Cholet laptop bag last fall for job interviews and I love-love-love it. Their bags are kinda pricey but the quality is outstanding. They don’t look like laptop bags or stuffy briefcases, either… you could pretty much carry them anywhere. I’ve used mine every single day since– both when I’m carrying the laptop and when I’m not. There’s plenty of space for just about anything I might want!
http://www.knomobags.com
If you happen to live in Canada, the Samsara bags by Matt ‘n Nat are great, and they are vegan leather – the other M&N bags use recycled bottles for their inner lining. I wouldn’t overload the bag too much, but they are very stylish, and allow you to feel good about going straight from the library to dinner out.
Also, the Fred Perry unisex bags have a great hip and retro feel, and the price is definitely right.
http://www.fredperry.com/
Here’s a cute option if you are in a creative field (and once you have the job–I’d go for plain black or grey for an interview):
http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookbook/
I am in LOVE with that Hot Couturier laptop sleeve, mostly b/c of that floral print!! Thanks for sharing!
I love my Swiss Gear Diana Notebook bag. It has a sleeve inside of it so I don’t need an additional neoprene sleeve, and I like how secure the laptop feels when it’s in there.
The bag is very light even with the sleeve (which isn’t removable) and it’s also fairly stylish looking, I think. It’s got a very nice gold lining, too, which is pretty. And it has so many amazing pockets!
I carry the a great Kailo Chic laptop bag every day to school–it’s basic enough to go with everything, but still fun (I love the red lining!):
http://www.amazon.com/Kailo-Chic-Womens-Structured-Laptop/dp/B001PE6M8E
(unfortunately, the Kailo Chic website doesn’t seem to carry it anymore, but they have lots of other fun laptop totes: http://www.kailochic.com/LaptopBags.htm)
And, the pockets inside are great!
Etsy has great cases for laptops. Many creative people. I made my own case and laptop bag :)
Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions, everyone! All those additional links and sources are great!
@Em – I LOVE the faux book sleeve, it’s so awesome! I only wish I had that kind of money…
@Laura, no we don’t have Twitter right now.
@Jen – that’s exactly what I use my Kinder Egg for – my allergy meds or headache pills, they’re perfect for that. I’ve also used them in the past for earrings and small jewelry items when traveling.
S
Do you find that carrying your laptop in a tote bag all the time is comfortable? I use a backpack on work days because I walk a couple of miles to work and I’m worried about backache, but I’d love to be able to use a nice tote bag instead!
[...] we were collecting ideas for stylish and unique laptop cases or sleeves. Well, here’s one more for the list. I love this slate and ivory damask case with the image [...]
@Sadie – I use a tote when I take the bus, metro, can put it in a bike basket, or have any other similar way of reducing the time that tote is actually on my shoulder. For a several mile walk, I would use a backpack (that’s when I’ve used my husband’s Timbuk2 in the past) because I also feel iffy about carrying all that wight one shoulder for that amount of time. I think it would be better for the body to distribute the weight evenly by having it go on your back and over both shoulders.
S
Thank you all for the suggestions! I went with the KNOMO that Nina suggested. It has the exact elegant/chick style that I was looking for. Yes, it is pricey, but it’s quality will make for a low CPW.
Acme Made also makes some adorable bags, and the quality is excellent. I have one of their iPod cases and I love it.
I have a Lug tote that is fantastic. It does everything I’ve ever wanted a bag to do (except keep me from throwing things inside and losing them at the bottom, but that’s a user issue!). Loads of inside and outside pockets. Wipes off. Sturdy. My favourite bag ever.
Not sure how easy to get hold of outside the UK this is, but I love my Cath Kidston laptop bag. It’s durable, waterproof and pretty.
I also love Paperchase laptop bags (£12 each) and was tempted to order a Melissa Beth one until I realised the customs charges would bankrupt me.
I absolutely agree with the author that the biggest advantage of carrying a laptop sleeve is that you can change your bags according to your attire. That’s the reason I bought a Briggs & Riley Sonic SpeedThru sleeve. Now I just put the sleeve in a handbag of my choice without having to worry about it getting knocked around. Briggs & Riley have a range of computer sleeves to fit laptops of different sizes.
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leather padded laptop bags are the best to use since they can absorb shock and prevent moisture buildup ”
laptop bags using natural leather is my choice because natural leather is much softer and looks better *’~
Excellent write-up! I am also likely to write a blog article relating to this… cheers