I suggest a core strength routine for your back. The big issue to me is not the bag, but your body!

My solution for uncomfortable, painful tote bags is Longchamp Le Pilage. The hobo is my cross body. For me this is not as comfortable and light in weight as the large tote. And it doesn't fit my laptop. The best by far is the expandable large shoulder tote. Only carried by Nordstrom, and not currently on line. Usually appears in July-August and sells out in a flash. Same dimensions as the large shoulder tote, but has a horizontal zip around the middle to expand the depth. Oddly this bag is somehow more balanced for laptop toting than the regular large shoulder tote. It stays on my shoulders and has eliminated the muscle strain and pain for me. Even when carrying tech and personal gear and some travel aids on trains, planes, metro and on foot for weeks on end overseas.

Another vote for the rolling bag. I had similar issues (back problems) and switching to a rolling bag to schlep my clunky PC helped immensely. Mine was a rolling backpack, so if I had to, I could strap it on my back for awhile. (But I rarely had to).

Or, get yourself a MAC Air. That's what I have now, and I'm never going back. So lightweight!

Manidipa - thanks for the input on torque and compression. The flour doesn't have to travel quite as far as the tote - but with the tote, we're only talking from parking lot to office. It takes longer than the flour because of an elevator wait, and there's sometimes stairs if I have to park higher in the lot.

Interesting about the Pliage, Grey Rainbow.

IK - I wonder about the bag in relation to what muscles are required. I feel it across the chest. But perhaps that *is* a matter of a weak core.

Elp - I'll look into Pelican. It does make me worry, the ride. All that vibration...

Lucy, Shiny - Sadly, no Mac's for me. No Mac's in hard tech