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!
