Backpack or sling bag for your laptop and why?

exactly what the title says

**EDIT**

PLEASE NOTE: Sling bags in this case means a bag with a shoulder strap (eg: Messenger bag)
sorry about the confusion.

 

By slingbag, I guess you mean these style bags?
If so, I think I'd go for a backpack (haven't bought my laptop yet). More room for other things (e.g. books).

 

Messenger bag!

If my notebook is 14 inches or less I prefer a messenger bag, with a nice padded shoulder strap. Backpacks, don't really look professional, and they are annoying to move around with IMO. Sitting on the bus, moving around, you always have to be aware of these extra hump on your back. My friend is forever knocking things and/or people over with his backpack, because he forgets that it is there.

With my messenger bag, when I go to sit down, I just swing it out in front of me, and put it on my lap. Just feels natural.

If you have a 15.4+ notebook, then a backpack is probably the best way to go, just because of the weight issue. With something like the XPS 1330 though, I would go for a sling/messenger bag (depends on which style you like best) as long as you aren't carrying around 20+ pounds of other things like textbooks, binders, 26 oz bottle of vodka, ect ect on a daily bases.

Just make sure that if you do get a messenger/sling bag that it has a nice, padded laptop compartment. That is the one bonus to backpacks, they normally have more padding for your notebook. Not a problem if you get a good quality bag though.

 

yes... I mean those.. my vocab isn't very good so I don't know what those are exactly called...

 

I have never liked the backpack style for carrying anything, Laptops included. In my opinion here are some of the reasons:

A. It does not look very professional
B. If traveling in nice clothes such as a suit or nice jacket and wrinkles it tremendously
C. Objects inside seem to move around a lot more freely and they commonly use zippers which can scratch things
D. It does not feel natural and must be taken off in order to sit with proper posture.
E. It is harder to make large numbers of compartments without additional pressure being applied to the objects in the compartments from the main part of the bag.

To me using a bag with a handle and/or shoulder strap is far more preferable. I currently use a nice leather briefcase I have had for a number of years with my laptop. I just ordered a Sager NP2090 which is a 15.4" screen (my current is a 14.1" and I do not know if it will fit in my existing bag yet (at least in the more protected laptop spot). I may end up in the market for a new bag (if the Sager ever arrives) and will definitely not be choosing the backpack style when I start looking.

 

Okay, what you're thinking is a messenger bag, a sling bag on the other hand is something more like this (okay, that one's one of the more expensive ones, but you get the idea).

And me personally, I much prefer using a messenger bag to a backpack, though it doesn't hold as much. As someone who uses both on a regular basis (I have this bag, and this one, and I transfer my laptop sleeve between them).

Here's what I consider to be the pros for each:
Messenger:
a) more professional
b) can swing it in front (to sit or take stuff out)
c) doesn't make your back sweaty
d) forces you to reconsider what's actually necessary, so you don't carry a lot of junk you don't actually use

Backpack:
a) larger, so you can hold more stuff
b) better weight distribution, since it rests on both shoulders instead of just one.

So, there you have it, if I can, I bring my messenger bag, but I use my backpack when it just isn't big enough.

To give you an idea how much a my bag holds (which I imagine is fairly average for a messenger), I can carry my laptop in a sleeve (size 4), my AC adapter, about 1 notebook, 1 textbook, 1 paperback novel, and a couple other miscellaneous items (pens, calculator, etc). As for the backpack, basically double the amount of stuff besides the laptop, and that's what I can carry in that.

 

What do you guys think of this bag?

click here

 

I always recommend www.ebags.com

 

If you are in a college situation a sling bag indicates there is a laptop inside. A backpack doesn't. Maybe a backpack is more generic and less prone to theft?

 

Good point... never thought of it that way.

 

Wow.. Goes for 80 bucks and then after shipping is added and duty is paid to ship to Canada, it's like $123

 

Ok I've seen a few good backpacks out there or through other threads and I'm trying to debate which one I should buy

1) MobileEdge : Express TrackPack ($90 after shipping and tax included)
2) Kensington Contour Terrain Notebook Case : ($83 dollars after tax and available via Retail store)

These two backpacks are quite stylish and provide competitive performance although to me it seems like MobileEdge has the lead in comfort.

The major difference between these 2 bags is Mobile Edge bag is a "backpack" while Kensington bag is a "messenger" style bag.

Any suggestions?

 

As a college student, I would disagree, I know plenty of people that carry around messenger bags that don't carry laptops inside.

I think a larger indicator is the brand of bag. If there's a big Targus branding on it, regardless of bag type, I know it's made for laptop usage.

 

If you're looking at the Terrain, it's only $30 Canadian before taxes here:

http://www.anitec.ca/sale/sumblowsale0807/5749/

Yes, I've bought from them and they're fine. They have a big store in Vancouver

 

I'm a fan of the sling or messenger bag over the backpack as well. You know, there's more of us who've posted than have voted for the sling as backpack is leading 12-4 at this moment, what's up with that?

Another reason favoring sling that I haven't seen yet is, what if you have to carry around a bunch of stuff ALONG with your laptop? That's when you use the backpack (e.g., books and such). You can't exactly do 2 backpacks. Well I guess you could, but talk about not looking professional...

 

As a college student, I'd say that the 'laptop inside'-look isn't determined by whether it's a messenger bag or not. As t12ek said, the brand says a bunch, but also the size and style. Most backpacks designed for notebooks look different from general, casual backpacks. Attaches and standard laptop bags stand out far more than that, however.

Anyway, I prefer the messenger because it's easier to move around with, easier to get stuff in and out of it, it looks more professional and doesn't ride up you back. They don't really offer a unverisal fit, lol. Messengers may be bad for your shoulders, but standing hunched over because your backpack is overloaded and bulky isn't great either.

The Kensington bag posted is a bag I tried out in a store but did not wind up buying. It's a little too casual, didn't have enough extra space for me and held the laptop vertically alongside your body... which is bad for me because I'm short. It was otherwise comfortable, though, and seemed sturdy. You should know that the colors in the pictures aren't accurate. The top part is corduroy and very dark green, the strap and body are like tent canvas in a greenish khaki, not a tannish color.

 

i chose backpack...primarily because they are easier to transport with, but if I am wearing a suit or dress apparel, a side bag is the way to go.

 

hmm.. it's interesting how everyone votes bagpack instead even though everyone's talking about how good messenger bags are =/ I might get a messenger bag because like some of you said, you can put it infront of you so it's more convinent and there's less chance someone can steal from you if you put it right infront of you.

 

You have to be pretty irresponsible for someone to steal your laptop, and its not going to make a difference if you are using a backpack or a sling. Are you expecting someone to jump at you from behind a door, punch you in your face and take your laptop? Are you really going to be leaving your brand new 1000+ machine alone on a table?

I am having a hard time deciding because i have used a sling style bag for college for 2 years now and am pretty accustom to it. I am afraid if i get a sling style laptop case i will not be able to fit all of my school supplies in it. I don't like the idea of taking more than one bag, especially if its 2 sling bags.

 

I got an awesome (or at least I think it is) Oakley Si Messenger bag for my laptop. It fits 17" models and has a nice aggressive look about it. The retail price is crazy expensive, but it can be had for less if you do your due dilligence on the internet.

 

No, but if you're commuting and you're trying to get home or to your university during rush hours in downtown, you're going to be pushing and shoving amongs many people which one of them can be a possible thief. He can take this push and shove opportunity to snatch it off your bag. We aren't talking about kids trying to slowly open your zippers here, we're talking about them having knives cutting your bag open from the bottom and snatching it without notice. It's harder to notice during situations like this.