A backpack for TWO laptops...

So I've been struggling with this and figured that just maybe you guys could give me some ideas.

I travel quite a bit and have to haul around two laptops when I do. My personal and work machine. The work one is an 15.4" HP 6730b and the personal is a 15.4 Asus A51J. The HP has an extended battery which I haul around as well. On top of that the backpack usually has the kinds of tools that I can take on a plane, IE voltmeter, cat5 tester etc. In short it gets heavy. The backpack that came with the Asus laptop used to handle the two laptops just fine as I could stuff them both into the laptop pouch area. Unfortunately it's clearly not designed to handle the weight and it's starting to fray in places.

Don't suggest a wheeled bag. My checked luggage is wheeled and there is no way I'm hauling around 2 wheeled bags. Plus I want to be able to get to the hotel room, unload the laptops, stuff more tools in the bag and use the bag on site.

Bonus points: I ride a motorcycle to and from work when not on travel 80% of the time. A bike friendly bag would be awesome. As in at least somewhat aerodynamic and with secure straps that won't cause it to bounce around at speed.

I've pretty much given up all hope of finding 'the ideal' bag so if you guys have any ideas, I'm all ears.

 

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/100/TB0104

I have the empire builder and have no complaints at all.

 

Wow - you found something that does exactly what I need...

...and is horribly ugly. Umm I guess if it's the best thing out there...

I guess I don't really have any room to talk considering I've been walking around with the bright green Asus bag for months...

 

You may consider just getting a sleeve for one of the backpacks and getting a single-laptop bag that fits your style, and putting the other laptop in the sleeve and then in the main compartment? Ogio makes a very solid bag (I have a messenger style one)

http://motorcycle.motorcycle-superstore.com/motorcycle/Laptop Backpack

 

I actually tried that before, I do have a Chrome sleeve for the HP and the Asus but both sleeves make the laptops so big that I cannot fit them in a bag and still have room for the fluke and cat5 tester, the extened battery and the massive asus power supply.

I've looked at some Ogio bags but they all seemed too small. The ones that would seem to be perfect are pretty much hiking packs and would be akward to get on a plane. The Brain Bag seems to be ideal - even if garish looking.

 

Do you need the Asus power supply in your bag? Can you put it in your luggage? That's what I do with my Envy when flying...

 

Yup. Needs to be in the bag in case I have several hours of wait between connecting flights or just waiting before boarding after checking my bag.

 

the biggest STYLISH(not necessarily your style) laptop bag that i know of is the Booq Boa Flow XL. i currently have this thing and it is GIGANTIC(sticks out a foot from your back). that will pretty much be your only problem with it - not very compressible.

ps, do NOT put a sleeve on the laptop going into the laptop compartment. there is a monstrous amount of padding going on there(between 1 - 3 inches of hard - not solid - padding). your laptop will be more cushioned than a newborn in there.

 

look into the targus journey 17" version great backpack and comes with a built in removable rain shield. I have this bag and used it to carry a g51vx and a sony fz470 and 2 textbooks and power adaptors for a short while around campus and work comes with the waist strap too and was very comfortable fully loaded, and apparently you can get them sub $50 now

 

Nice. Yeah I'm probably going to get this. I think it'll be aerodynamic enough to be on a bike as well.

Thank you very much.

 

In that case, forgetaboutit! For there's no such animal to fill that void. Even if there was the weight would be prohibitive. The most viable alternative, if you must carry two laptops, would be to move to a trail style backpack/daypack ($$$) as only these are designed with the ergonomics and durability to carry the weight comfortably all day.

I once road home on a bicycle (30 min.) with two laptops in my regular backpack. Although they both could both fit, the pull and compression on my back nearly brought me to tears. Certainly not something I'd care to repeat again save carrying two netbooks.

Design one? Really! The manufacturers just aren't keeping up.