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Carrying your laptop in style

Joana

I regularly carry my laptop with me (every work day). And I am constantly looking for bags, totes, backpacks big enough to accommodate the device and it's friends: mouse, charger, paperwork, and all other stuff. I look down common laptop bags for their ugliness I buy big totes and use a padded sleeve to protect the precious thing, in case off accidental hit or drop. But these poor bags get worn quickly and loose their shape because of all that weight
And carrying it on my shoulder is not good for my back. But I am not sure if this big (A4 paper format at very least) backpack can look stylish.
Do any of you have found a way of taking your laptop with you in a effortlessly elegant way?
Or must I start a piggy bank for macbook air?

Below is my current laptop bag, maybe I should look for something made of sturdy leather not suede?

Leather Tote Bag With Bar Detail

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Thistle

Anonymous

I carry my laptop with me to and from work (so Monday through Friday). The one difference between you and me is that I only have to carry the laptop/work files. I have two sets of cords and two mouses. One set for home and one set for work. That helps a lot.

I use a Coach black leather briefcase. It fits everything I need to carry. It has held up very, very well. But it is heavy. I have been looking for alternatives, but nothing seems to work as well as the Coach briefcase …. so far. I will probably use the Coach bag for as long as I can carry it.

Let us know if you find something else. I am always interested.

Joana

Great idea of having two sets of those accesories. I am waiting for my second mouse to be delivered (bought for ergonomic reasons, but will act as "work" mouse, while another will stay at home).
Those briefcases look so serious to me - grown up stuff , I want to gravitate a bit to formal side, but not sure if this much

Anonymous

My bag does look a bit formal. It has to because I attend lots of meetings and want to present myself in a certain way.

So I completely understand if you want a different look for yourself. If you can handle the "heaviness" of leather, I found that leather seems to hold its shape and wear well.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't bother with a padded sleeve anymore. I find it adds hassle and not much protection, and laptops are much sturdier than they used to be. I use a long vertical tote these days - I find that's a better distribution of weight than a bag that's long on the horizontal. Less wear on you and the bag.

Weight is a big issue for me, so I have totally ruled out leather, however.

shiny

Veteran

YES, get a MacAir - totally worth the investment!!! Light as a feather, saves your back. Except you still need a bag big enough to accommodate it, which is where my challenge comes in, because I also want something fashionable & stylish, but it can't overwhelm my 5'0 frame. And most of the bags in this category seem to be awfully heavy - heavy leather & hardware - heavy with nothing in it -- which seems to defeat the whole purpose. Sigh.

I have two laptops, the MacAir (for personal) and the MacPro (for work). I didn't have a choice for work (well, the choice was MacPro or clunky PC). The MacPro is still way lighter than a PC, but if you happen to have a choice, go with the Air - I cannot see any advantage to the Pro, unless you are in graphic design.

Otherwise, I am using a nylon laptop bag that is pretty boring and simple but functional and meets my needs. It has a sleeve that allows me to put the bag over the handles of my carryon or luggage, which is KEY requirement for me in a laptop bag, since I travel a lot for business. It is way bigger than I need for my MacPro, so I stuff all kinds of things in it, clutch bag, scarf, sweater, flatiron, quart size bags with liquids, book/magazine, etc, etc...

If I am not traveling, but just driving into the office for the day, I just hand carry my laptop in a neoprene sleeve. I work from home so in-office days like that are rare, maybe once every few months. When I worked in an office and had to walk a lot around the campus, I used a serviceable/not fashionable laptop bag on wheels -- to save my back. Those PC's are so heavy.

Go for the MAC! Your back will thank you!!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I also use a long vertical tote for the days that I do need to carry my laptop; I have a leather bag from Zara.

It is similar to their current season one, except mine is in oxblood and has a zipper at the top.

I also don't use a case for my laptop.

I use a MacBook Pro - I have an iPad Air - I don't think there's too much of an advantage to the Pro these days; mine is about 3 years old. At that time the MacBook Air was a little baby thing.

I don't really see the need to carry two sets of cables and a mouse either, and like the idea of the second set at work. I have three power boxes for my MacBook so I always have one! DITCH THE PC.

Leather Shopper

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rachylou

Veteran

Mac is for fuzzies, hehe. The new HPs are very light, and also don't make toast (which is a positive on the safety front).

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Man, I used to have a Toshiba and I swear it could make toast and eggs and bacon for me before being turned on. Just plugging it in made it boil away.

Then it gave itself a stroke and all the peripherals on the right side stopped working. Ugh.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don't know what fuzzies are, but you will pry my MacBook Pro from my cold dead hands. (Sorry, photographers are really serious about their laptops, and I've been a Mac person for over 20 years -- I will never go back to Windows based machines.)

I carry mine in an admittedly ugly but protective Think Tank case. I can even fit four external hard drives in the pocket, so yeah, it's highly functional. I've thought about trying a configuration that makes it possible to carry it in a tote, but I don't carry it every day, so I think I'll just stick with my current strategy.

Joana

I have a macbook now, and it works just fine, I don't like to dump good things. But for my backs sake I am eyeing those expensive airs

What also bugs me about special laptop bags, that then you carry two bags, handbag&macbag. If you go shopping after work, you can end with even more bags. I tried a canvas bag for computer and stuff, and a crossbody bag for everything else. But that was too casual, and of course the more units of a bag you have hanging on yourself the less professional you look
I am driving a car by the way, but I don't leave unattended computer in the car.

I was looking at these backpacks http://www.carryology.com/wp-c.....kpack.jpeg , but I can't understand where all the computer accessories stuff goes in, you can only carry a laptop? And the looks at best is interesting, not elegant By the way you could wear this backpack under your puffer coat Good for unsafe neighborhoods.

greycat6

Veteran

After a girlfriend's recommendation I just discovered the OMG bag by Lo and Sons:

http://www.loandsons.com/the-omg

I carry a tablet and my Kindle regularly and both fit nicely inside the padded pocket. I love that this bag lays close to my body regardless of how full it is. I have used this in addition to my roller bag for day 10 day trip and lots of room. The best feature, in my opinion, is the outside pocket that has a zipper at the top and bottom. When the bottom zipper is open you to slide the bag over the extended handle of a roller bag. I get compliments on it when I carry it.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I hear you! I really wanted to find a laptop case I felt good about carrying and I found one, in Staples, of all places! I have had it for a couple of years (maybe even 3) and it still looks and works great!
http://t.staples.com/SOLO-Vint.....uct_884837

My iPad slips nicely into the outside pocket as well. Sometimes I also carry a purse, but I will also sometimes throw my wallet into this bag and go to work.

Makrame

Veteran

Once I got a MacBook Air, my life got much, much better (in part, though, it was because I was able to leave my MacBook Pro permanently at work instead of carrying a laptop back and forth every day). I recently made a leap to using an iPad for travel - I was able to edit and present PowerPoint presentations using Keynote and an iPad adaptor for a projector - that makes even more of a difference. I know this does not answer your question but it seriously helped lower the burden on my back.

anya

I'm using this one, in navy. It's quite stylish, many people are surprised it's a "laptop bag" . And the long ones make it quite comfy
http://www.ngpricehunter.com/i.....209411.jpg

anya

Ok, so no need to switch to Apple. There are a lot of ultrabooks ( that is powerful , very slim laptops these days. Personally i'm fond of asus)
However i have a work issues 14inch HP which i find quite easy to lug around.
My top tips are
* 1 charger at home, 1 at work. no need to lug that extra weight)
* ditto for mouse
* Buy a nice laptob bag. They exist, and can be quite useful and are les bulky than a tote + a sleeve
I found these online, but i have only tested my hp elite tote. ( After a year still looks good)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/69383650479109755/ - good reviews on amazon
and sumdex she rules amanda tote. I would love it. in both yellow and black.
http://sumdex.com/store/collec.....es/page-2/
How big is your laptop?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

After I got an ipad, I stopped taking the MacBook Pro around with me. But the bags that worked best for that laptop were from Levenger. They don't seem to have my old favorite (I had Tiffany blue and magenta) but food for thought: http://www.levenger.com/women-.....geID=12722

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Really glad you asked this question. I use an Air and even though it saves my back, I still need a bag big enough to carry it. I am using a Danier tote with a sleeve and it's okay, but not ideal at times.

LOVE that Lo&Sons bag, Greycat6. Thank you for the link!

trying...

This one does the job for me: http://www.shoptoit.ca/brand-s...../37006358/ but it isn't very professional.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

http://www.toryburch.com/handb.....ontent=1x1. I also just came across this Tory Burch York bag. Says it fits a 15 inch laptop, and has good color options. The shoulder straps look a bit narrow, though.

NDMom

I LOVE my MacBook Air.....sorry, that doesn't help, but I did find some really unique bags/totes on Etsy if that helps any?

Nadya

Veteran

I recently decided I needed something more professional than my green canvas messenger bag. I'd set my heart on the Lo and Sons OMG, and was waiting for them to run one of their coupon promotions. Then I found this Baggalini at EBags during their Friends and Family sale. It's light, has both a laptop and tablet sleeve. So far I'm happy with it. Not as elegant as leather, but I decided weight was more important.

http://www.ebags.com/product/b.....d=10290885

Joana

So many links, thank you ladies It seems that industry understood what a modern woman needs. What do you think, is a crossbody handle more comfy?
The thing with etsy (as well other shops you linked) is that they are mainly USA based, and I live in Europe, and it would be easier to shop here. Nevertheless I now know what exists out there in computer bags world, and I can do a research in local market

btw my macbook is 13inch.

rachylou

Veteran

Janet - Visual professionals get a pass for Apple. Only visual professionals. Oh, well, and people who actually work at Apple. Hehe.

Joana

I'll never go back to windows too , and yes I am visual professional
My SO is IT professional, a real geeky, brainy type, and he call names those windows
And macs are not only for this limited group of people, they are more regular user friendly than pc type system.
Ok I finish the OT now Living with IT puts a stamp on you, and you pop into IT related conversations before you know

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, Joana! Too true. And if not careful, we'll be laughing and weeping on each other's shoulders like Shakespearean drunkards re. The Stupendous Tale of how Sun became Facebook. Lololol.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I've been doing Apple since my first Mac Plus in like 1987...but I am more creative with my words than my visuals.

danskogirl

How about this bag? (I've not used it myself but came across it at a Nordie's. It's lightweight b/c it's not leather. Not sure how it would hold up, long term.)

French Connection 'Hyde' Hobo Bag

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lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'd try to find a bag with a better connection to the strap; I find that plastic parts either squeak or drive me crazy in other ways.

I also have a leather bag I use

Cambridge Satchel Upwardly Mobile Satchel in Oxblood - 15 inch

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Thistle

Veteran

After years of carrying of laptop, I got rid of the tote and got a bag on rollers.

No, it is not stylish. But it carries all of my stuff and my posture and back are healthier and happier.