Macbook Pro bags!!!

Hi agent_s87,

I know you indicated that you were looking for something "reasonable" but I'm not aware of any decent bag (backpack) for less than ~$75 USD.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/home

I have two of their bags and absolutely love it. I've had my backpack for almost 2 years now and it was the best $110 I've spent on a bag since my days as a Boy Scout. What sold me on their bag was their guarantee/warranty:

http://www.timbuk2.com/wordpress_cms/customer-service/the-timbuk2-quality-guaran tee/

I also have a bag from Brenthaven which is another fantastic company, very good experiences with that bag:

http://www.brenthaven.com/

I'm not sure I understand. A reasonable priced bag? I paid $115 for my bag. I realized this may be a high monitory value, but to protect something so valuable. Its just my thoughts.

Nice ones:
http://www.crumplerbags.com

Siper cool:
http://www.macopinion.com/index.php/site/more/theroad_warrior_review_maccase_premium_leather_flight_jacket_for_applenot/

No affiliations; just a MacBook Pro bag shopper too.

I purchased the Brenthaven Trek Sleeve -- has a small outside zippered compartment for the power plug/cord and a small outside pocket. I like it because it can be used by itself to carry the MacBook or is small enough to go inside of a larger backpack / bag. The Macbook fits perfectly inside. It has a handle to carry it. No shoulder strap, but it has attachment loops to connect your own shoulder strap to.

It is only $29.95 on the Apple Store -- if you are a student, the Apple Education store price is only $19.95 -- great deal.

Randy

Office Max/Office Depot/Staples almost always have reasonably priced laptop bags in stock, including really well made backpacks from Victorinox and other companies in the 39 - 50 dollar range. Sometimes they put their 60 dollar laptop backpacks on sale for 19 bucks at off-season times (although right now, everything is hiked up for back to school shopping).

I am a bag junky, so one doesn't do -- I sort of switch out what I need when. My everyday messenger bag is a Timbuk2 Commute -- love it, super safe, water resistent, and loads of pockets -- but they are not cheap. You can get used ones on eBay for much less at times, but they retain their value even used since there is basically nothing that goes wrong with them.

I also have an Oakley laptop backpack that I bought at an Oakley outlet store for 30 dollars -- its awesome, and is big enough to put my dSLR in as well...

Another option is to get a sleeve (amazon has tons of them in the 19 dollar range) and any messenger or backpack you like. In many instances, this is the best option for a lot of people, since an older plain old bag will not scream "Steal Me!" like some of the fancy new computer bags. Just google "Macbook sleeve" and lots will pop up. I prefer Be-EZ sleeves because of their really strong support and safety factor, and the fact that they don't smell like neoprene/burning tires.

One warning to those who do international travel, go through train stations, or smaller european airports....nothing screams "Laptop Aboard" more than any bag that has an iPod slot and headphones hanging out of them; or a fancy laptop backpack with any brandname on it that is known to make only laptop bags (i.e. brenthaven, MacCase, etc). Keep your eyes on those 100% of the time.

I swear by Incase bags.

http://www.goincase.com/macbook/nylon/

Bryan

I have that same Incase Nylon Sleeve and it's pretty nice. Low profile, seems to have good protection. Usable pocket space enough for chords, external drive etc. and a shoulder strap I like plus handles, all in all a nice little packet to pocket your MBP's in.

I suggest going with the incase neoprene sleeve and just using it with any other backpack. It serves as good protection, is slim, and nicely fits into any other bag. It's about $35 so it's really affordable, and if you just use another, cheaper (but still nice) normal backpack, it saves you a lot of money.

+1 to the incase neoprene sleeve. i use this and put it into the coach messenger bag i put my lunch in when i go to work. with the sleeve you can take your pick, Coach, Louis V, K Cole, even Jansport, Eastpack or a brown paper bag if you want.

I agree with the incase sleeve used with a backpack. Sometimes you will find that just advertising that you are carrying an expensive laptop by using a nice backpack is not a good idea!

using this. really happy with it.

http://www.hellolulu.com/

Cheap is just cheap - don't waste your time. The incase provides the best protection for macbooks that I have seen. I bought a cheap bag first and actually proved to myself that I could in fact dent the aluminum edge of the laptop. It was quite small, but I stopped at the Apple store and bought the incase with the two pockets that day and have not regretted it. I travel a lot and have banged against things with the incase - no problemo.

Bluz- I have that one with the two pockets on the front (one zipper) and the magazine puch (velcro) on the backside. I couldn't find this style on the Incase site, maybe it's just made for Apple? I like it better than the one large "flap" that shows on the Incase site.

But yeah, I've used in case for 3 years now and I'd still have my original bag had I not sold my 17" (and included the bag) and got my 15". If I got the 17", I would have kept my bag, it was in that good of shape after the years.

Hey, it's like $65, but that's quality you can trust and Incase stands behind their products.

Bryan

Here is a MacWorld review of the Brenthaven Trek Sleeve I mentioned above.

http://www.macworld.com/article/135398/2008/09/treksleeve.html

May not have as many features as the Incase (you supply the shoulder strap), but is only $20 (educational price) versus the $50+ mentioned for some others. Not sure what your price range is.

Randy