Messenger bag for 17" laptop

Hi,

I recently purchased a 17" laptop (HP dv9700t CTO) and I haven't got a bag yet for it. I looked through the sticky with links to bag makers, and it seems that the type of bag I'm looking for is a "messenger bag". I'm looking for something that's not too expensive (below $100) and particularly nondescript (so it doesn't get stolen), while providing plenty of cushioning so that my laptop isn't damaged. I looked at some of the sites of the bag makers, but I'm really confused as to which one would be the best to get, as there are so many makers. Any recommendations to start off my search?

Thanks!!

 

Try Woofbags, I ordered one last year, very sturdy and it looks really simple but cool. LOTS of cushioning. The shipping might take a little longer as they only ship out of Hong Kong.

 

I personally like Kensington. They have "Drop Sheild" or something which is a nice protection feature. Also, High Sierra. I have a Backpack of thiers, but im sure thay also make mesenger bags. Also, most Kensigtons are bulletproof. Not that I need that at least where i live, but never argue with extra protection.

Lowepro is also nice.

 

I still haven't gotten a case, and I was looking at this thread again, and I tried to go to the Woofbags website, but it seems to have disappeared or something. Does anyone know what happened to it?

 

Check out Crumpler as well.

 

Do you think I can use the Crumpler messenger bags as a laptop carrying case? I looked at the laptop bags and didn't really like them, but their messenger bags seem pretty good.

Also, the laptop bags seem to be for Macbooks, and I have an HP.

 

The laptop bags are for laptops of a certain size, so as long as the size fit, you're fine. You probably could use one of their standard messenger bags, though in that case an extra sleeve would be recomended.

I just checked the US crumpler site. You don't have a very good selection, do you?

 

I have a Unisign bag: http://shop.unisign.de/T-Shirt-Tasc...GE-LAPTOP-NOTEBOOK-MESSENGER-BAG-UNISIGN.html

Pretty cool, and cheap.

 

Another company I found is Timbuk2 - are they any good?

Here are the bags I'm looking at:
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/freestyle-laptop-messenger

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/laptop-messenger

I particularly like the second one.

 

Consider the Kensington Contour messenger bag. Its quite sturdy and well built.

 

Timbuk2 is great. Originally American but moved to China where they monitor a plant and supposabdly pay good wages (studied them in Buisness)

 

Timbuk2 is pretty well known where I live. They make bags of at-least-reasonable quality.

 

I have a Timbuk2 Commute, in Medium. My M1330 just barely fits it. Not so sure on how a 17" would fit in the Large variety of their bags. I'd definitely try it out before you buy it.

 

Did you look at the dimensions on the site before buying it, and did those dimensions match the bag you got, or was it smaller in reality? Because according to what it says, I should be able to fit it in. I can't try it out, because I'll be buying it from their site, so that's not an option. However, according to their site, the one I'm going to buy can hold 17" laptops.

 

I'll take a look and compare and post pictures tomorrow. I purchased it without doing prior research on this bag. I was interested in the Laptop Messenger, but couldn't find one in person that I liked.. then I saw the Commute and loved the style of it more so I picked it up.

 

Where did you find it in person? Are there big retail chains that sell Timbuk2 bags, or would I have to find a Timbuk2 store?

 

I found it at Edwards Luggage. I've also seen them at REI.

 

As I promised yesterday.. Dimensions for the medium Commute are 9.5x15 for the laptop sleeve that is built in.



Height wise, not much room left on the Medium size for my M1330 with a 9cell.. I can't say how the Large or their normal Laptop messengers will fit with a 17".

 

Thanks for everything! According to their site, the medium size Commute should fit a 15" x 10" laptop. This means that "their" dimensions are slightly larger than the actual size of the sleeves. I'll check to see if there's enough space to have a good chance for my laptop to fit. There's an REI nearby, so I might go check out their selection to see if they have any Timbuk2 bags in stock as well.

Also, does anyone know if their online store will accept returns if your laptop doesn't fit in the bag?

 

Well, I went to a local REI, and they had two bags I tried out: a medium "commute" bag and a large "laptop messenger" bag. Both were too small, but, strangely enough, the medium "commute" had a larger laptop compartment than the large "laptop messenger". I don't think any of Timbuk2's bags are large enough to hold a dv9700t.

When I was at REI, I also saw some laptop sleeves. Do you think it would be a good idea to buy a cushioned sleeve for the laptop, and then just put that sleeve in any messenger bag?