What Laptop Backpack Do You Use ???

I currently own a Asus g50v, and was given this backpack with the laptop for free:

Asus Backpack/book bag review

Although its quite a good bag, it has no latches and the zippers had already torn off.

I'm wondering what other backpacks other users use.
Im thinking Swiss Army or Targus, but I`m not sure which one specifically.


Please indicate your laptop model (15.4+) and specific brand of backpack (no MESSENGER BAGS plz) + price of backpack + how long you been using it

Thanks

 

Size: 17"
Brand: Alienware Orion
Price: 55$+
Usage: 4 months

 

mine's from Lojel

 

Brain Bag and inside the bag a vertical Brain Cell. Thinkpad T400 14.1 inch wide screen.

I bought from Tombihn.com for 140.00 for the bag and 60 for the brain cell and I've had them for 2 years.

 

Size: 15.4"
Brand: Swissgear sahara
Cost: £45 IIRC
Time Owned: 1 year

 

Target 17.3" Awesome bag with lots of room

 

My Targus backpack is big but not very comfortable. They need to work on their ergonomics a bit more.. The Holy Grail of backpacks/messengers is still out of reach.

 

It's been good to me so far (6 months usage to school 5-6 days/week, 20 min walk each way). It's stopped rain storms from soaking my laptop that I was unfortunately caught in on the way home several times.

I guess if one is short, the bag may pose a problem, but for 6'4"/180lbs, it's a great bag. Since my pre-ordered Asus is coming with a backpack, I may start using a backpack for the laptop and the Targus bag for my school books, though.

 

Size: 17"
Brand: Ogio Epic
Price: $65+
Usage: 1.5yrs

Size: 17"
Brand: Swiss Army
Price: $40+
Usage: brand new

Size: 15''
Brand: Ogio Shifter
Price: $45+
Usage: 1.5yrs

 

Main one: Targus XL (EU model, the US one is totally different). I think it has everything a laptop backpack should, except style. ~2 years use I think, have no idea how much it was.

I also have an stm Convertible, which is in theory a backpack as well. ~3 years use, also have no idea how much it was.

I'm still looking for something which is much better looking than the Targus.

The rest are shoulder bags.

 

I'm as tall as you are stretch, but that still doesn't stop the Targus backpack from cutting into my shoulders and stopping my circulation.

On the other hand, it's a big backpack and I may tend to overload it? If you just carry the laptop (does anyone?) it shouldn't be too much trouble. Nevertheless, it's not very well padded or balanced. But that's the backpack, not the messenger.

 

I've had this for years: Samsonite Trunk & Co Hisize Notebook Rucksack schwarz: Amazon.de: Computer & Zubehör It was epxensive, if I remember right it retailed well over 100e at the time.

It's HUGE for it's size. I can fit one laptop and couple 2L bottles (or another pair of shoes, or lots of gear) or even three laptops with power bricks at once.

Only real issue is, it's actually designed for 4:3 laptops and topside padding ends few cm too early for new 16:10 models. I hit an elevator door some time ago and dented my 8510w screen case :-/ Just where the padding ends.

I've been looking for a new one, preferably just a little big bigger to fit modern widescreen laptops well. Many bags are just wide and tall but they aren't thick enough. If some bag is big enough, it's often equipped with warning lights and sirens yelling "steal me, I have valuables inside"

 

Size: up to17.3"
Brand: Patagonia Critical Mass
Price: $120
Usage: over 6 months

One of the best bags I have ever owned... Ive had over 100 pounds of stuff in there and had it hold biking moreover it fits everything I need and more. Im talking I can fit nearly a dozen 2L bottles in the thing it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Moreover nothing ever gets wet inside and the notebook sleeve is great and has tons of pockets etc.

 

Everki Swift light
Up to 17" laptop (more like 16" imo)
Price: $20 shipped
Usage: 1-2 weeks


Just went through rain like hell, fortunately absolutely no moisture inside. Idk if it's water proof or just resistant.
Pretty good backpack that has a lot of room for it's size. Enough for a Coolermaster Notepal Infinity cooler+my Gateway M-6862+ ac charger+my logitech G500 AND my Husky (cheap) precision screwdriver set. All of this for a small backpack is pretty good, and the fit is not even tight so I am sure I could fit a bit more.
The material does not seem to cause any scratching, and the design is pretty solid.
I like that the bottom uses a type of foam/rubber material to absorb shock, so whenever you set it down it's not a thump, yet it's got a good grip so it isn't like typical foam that will be covered with cloth which has little to no grip..
It has padding in the back, in the padded cover that separates the laptops from other things.
The stitching is pretty decent for $20, of course it's no Swiss Gear or even higher end backpack manufacturer.
My only complaints:
An additional front pocket with zipper would be nice, even at $20. Then again * I kind of dig the nice simple look of it.
* More padding at the bottom. While the rubber/foam has done it's job, I would prefer a little more padding.
* The separator of the laptop/other things does not extent to the bottom, leaving about 1-2 inches of the laptop lid in the clear. Now my idea is that they may have done that for ventilation reasons, which would make sense but I'd still prefer a completely closed off padded separator.

I'll take more pictures at home and try to max it's storing capacity.

 

That's pretty damn good for 20$, considering it was rain/water resistant for you

@Krane - Maybe I don't feel the discomfort b/c it's my first expensive bag. Prior to the Targus bag, I was using an AWFUL Dell 15.6" bag that claimed it was water resistant, but just a tad bit of rain nearly destroyed my laptop -_-

 

I always carry a heavy duty plastic bag just in case. Those summer monsoons can pop up out of nowhere and although getting soaked isn't tops on my list, even a small amount of seepage can ruin a laptop.

 

That's some neat looking backpack, simple and looks great, nice find

 

I use the Tom Bihn Brain Bag and insulated sleeves and recently made a thread about it:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/acc...lution-hp-8740w-along-others-photo-essay.html
In my smaller sleeve I have used all the 12" IBM laptops and Dell E6500 15" laptop you see in my sig. Sticking my other Dell, the 1720 or Sony in that sleeve would leave 1/3 of it out. But now that I got the 8740w and transport it more often I needed to get serious about protecting it. With the larger 2S sleeve I just bought, I can now fit & protect my 3 17" laptops.

I don't recall the price almost a decade ago, but you can visit the website at the bottom of my 1st post at the link above to see what they're running for today.

 

Size: 15.4"
Brand: OGIO Politan
Price: $60
Usage: 1 year, 1 month



Very satisfied with it.

 

If I had money to spare OP, then I'd personally go for one of the Slappas (around £100), which are comfortable, lightweight and look reasonably cool.

ATM I've got a 15.4 inch SwissGear I bought at Argos a while back for £60. It's quite comfy and once probably saved me from a spinal injury when I got knocked off my bike by a bus (landed right on my backpack). You can't ask for much more from a laptop backpack