Brenthaven Edge II Notebook Bag Review

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by Perry Longinotti

Utilitarian notebook bags are a scourge. It doesn't matter how cool your notebook is if you choose to carry it around in a generic bulky black bag. Even worse are those old faux leather Targus bags.

I used to travel a lot, and a few years ago (OK I guess ten is a bit more than a few) it was pretty hard to find a decent looking bag to carry your ThinkPad around in. A notebook bag says a lot about somebody. A soulless back carry-all brimming with papers and magazines, tags and cords says, 'slow down and pull yourself together.' Whereas a clean, light and uncluttered bag says, 'I do this for a living and travel is something I do with ease.'

It takes a lot of discipline to streamline your travel gear and it all starts with the bag. Some people can't avoid carrying around lots of file folders and documents - there are solutions for those folks but the subject of this article is not one of them. This review will take a look at a solution for the ultra stream-lined traveller.

Brenthaven's $50.00 Edge II notebook bag/sleeve is about as slimmed down as you can get. It is  designed for a very specific series of notebooks and come in sizes to allow fitting your machine like a glove. In this article the 15&quot; PowerBook/MacBook Pro case is reviewed but you can also get the Edge I which is a version of this bag designed to fit a MacBook 13&quot; size.

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The Edge II dimensions:

• External Dimensions: 16&quot; W x 12 3/4&quot; H x 2 1/2&quot; D
• Internal CORE Dimensions: 14 1/8&quot; W x 9 5/8&quot; H x 1&quot; D
• Weight &amp; Volume: 2.05 lbs 510 cu in

The Edge II brand new (view large image)

Edge II features Brenthaven's Core Protection System. This provides sturdy padding on all four corners and both sides.  When you insert your notebook into the bag, the fit is very snug. It feels like a protective cocoon in which there is room for the notebook and little else.

There are interior and exterior compartments. The interior compartment could hold a boarding pass and maybe some keys. I use the compartment for my Macally AC adapter (it is smaller than Apple's unit which I leave at home). Brenthaven also makes an optional external mini case for the Edge II designed for Apple's square shaped AC Adapter. It simply attached to the exterior. I did not get one of these.

Inside the Edge II (view large image)

On the outside of the Edge II, the compartment could hold a couple of magazines or  file folders. Any more than that and you will have stuff spilling out and that is what we are trying to avoid.

I like my notebooks made out of metal, and I like my notebook bags made out of leather. Obviously I had to compromise on the bag. I could not find anything like the Edge II in leather. Despite this, I was not disappointed with the material; Edge II is constructed of black or baby blue ballistic nylon. It features a rugged construction. The zippers are big and coated. The shoulder strap mounts are sturdy and confidence inspiring. A nylon retractable handle maintains the Edge II's clean appearance.

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The shoulder strap itself, while well-constructed, is too narrow. This might not be an issue because you really can not load this bag with lots of heavy stuff. So it becomes less likely that the strap will cut into your shoulder or feel uncomfortable. Given the nature of the bag's engineering in other areas, the shoulder strap's design is a bit of a let down.

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Conclusion

I really like the the Brenthaven Edge II, but my philosophy on bags may be different than yours. This will not appeal to all users. If you like clean, thin and light you will probably like this bag. This is great for the 'first off the plane, first into the Taxi line' crowd. For fast efficient travel, something like the Edge II can not be beat.

Designing model specific bags seems like a good idea to me but I can understand the challenge of selecting what notebooks to support from a product manager's perspective. Certain notebook models like Apple's lineup, ThinkPad T-series and Dell D600 units are very common among travelers. It is comforting to know that your notebook is safe in a form-fitting and well thought-out bag.

In terms of value, this bag is inexpensive considering it is designed specifically for a PowerBook or MacBook Pro - let's face it there are only so many of those notebooks out in the wild. Usually niche products cost a premium, but I would not categorize the Edge II as expensive. The details and construction make this a worthwhile purchase.

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I would however like to see Brenthaven include the AC Adapter pouch. How likely is it that a retailer will stock this accessory to a niche product? Not very. And factor the accessory;s $5.00 price-tag and it seems likely that someone left their thinking cap off when making this decision. Charge $5.00 more and include it. Better yet, charge $10.00 more and include the AC Adapter pouch and a better shoulder strap pad. That would result in a perfect bag for people like me.

 

first rule when writing a review about a notebook bag, show a set of complete, clear, and well-lit shots of the notebook bag...... not a picture of your macbook pro

 

Good point, I never really noticed how dark the shots were. Black on dark brown makes it hard to see clearly.

Its a PowerBook.

This bag is designed specifically for the PowerBook/MacBook Pro so I felt that showing it in the bag was a good idea.