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vivithemage

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
681
0
I was planning on getting a BUILT NY sleeve for my MBA 13, and I was wondering if anyone has ever flexed their MBA by putting it in their backpack?

I have the north face recon, so it has a spot for laptops towards the back, but that kind of bothers me, if I bend a bit, I feel like it could flex/crack the laptop, anyone ever have that happen? Or just not worry about it?
 

jkim3691

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2011
532
10
I was planning on getting a BUILT NY sleeve for my MBA 13, and I was wondering if anyone has ever flexed their MBA by putting it in their backpack?

I have the north face recon, so it has a spot for laptops towards the back, but that kind of bothers me, if I bend a bit, I feel like it could flex/crack the laptop, anyone ever have that happen? Or just not worry about it?

I had the same worry myself. I have an older incase sleeve that's thicker than the current one and a Nike SB backpack with a designated padded laptop compartment. Took it to school today and it's fine. I have yet to see if it can handle the bumps and bruises of a whole school year though.
 

vivithemage

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
681
0
I had the same worry myself. I have an older incase sleeve that's thicker than the current one and a Nike SB backpack with a designated padded laptop compartment. Took it to school today and it's fine. I have yet to see if it can handle the bumps and bruises of a whole school year though.

Would be curious to know if anyone has run into any issues, I hope not, but you never know.
 

johnhurley

macrumors 6502a
Aug 29, 2011
777
56
I was planning on getting a BUILT NY sleeve for my MBA 13, and I was wondering if anyone has ever flexed their MBA by putting it in their backpack?

As strong as the MacBooks are ( both pros and airs ) I would seriously not cram in into a full backpack or even semi full backpack. You are just asking for trouble eventually.

I think it deserves a separate small carrying case/bag of some kind.
 

entropi

macrumors 6502a
May 20, 2008
583
384
haha, well - I've been carrying all my portable macs since 12 years in various backpacks - no problems what so ever!
It's totally doable, offers great ergonomics and your hands are free! so just do it and stop worrying!
(these macs: PB G3 500 FW/PB G4 12/PB G4 17/MBA 11/MBP 17)
 

vivithemage

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
681
0
I use the incase backpack every day to and from work. It's well padded and I love it.

Is that a hardcase, or just a neoprene style case?

I was thinking of just getting e BUILT NY neoprene case, that's all...put it in the little compartment for laptops in my backpack.
 

calvol

macrumors 6502a
Feb 3, 2011
995
4
I use one-half of a Speck case on the display to help keep it from flexing, and I place a clipboard along the underside of the Air in the backpack to add another margin of safety. Definitely don't want to flex the screen or motherboard on these Airs as there are several instances of screen replacements for this reason, especially on the 13".
 

Tomorrow

macrumors 604
Mar 2, 2008
7,160
1,364
Always a day away
haha, well - I've been carrying all my portable macs since 12 years in various backpacks - no problems what so ever!
It's totally doable, offers great ergonomics and your hands are free! so just do it and stop worrying!
(these macs: PB G3 500 FW/PB G4 12/PB G4 17/MBA 11/MBP 17)

Glad you haven't had any trouble, but I haven't used a backpack since high school. :)
 

entropi

macrumors 6502a
May 20, 2008
583
384
Glad you haven't had any trouble, but I haven't used a backpack since high school. :)

I haven't personally used a car since high school, so bikes & backpacks suits me fine. :)

(to be able to bend something made of metal with a backpack you would need to strap it on quite hard I guess... it's a total diffrent story with the papercovers for 12" vinylrecords for instance - there you need real protection!)
 

jkim3691

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2011
532
10
As strong as the MacBooks are ( both pros and airs ) I would seriously not cram in into a full backpack or even semi full backpack. You are just asking for trouble eventually.

I think it deserves a separate small carrying case/bag of some kind.

.....No.

I took around my Blackbook around campus for 3 years. Nothing bad happened.
 

littledude8209

macrumors regular
Jun 18, 2009
120
0
I was planning on getting a BUILT NY sleeve for my MBA 13, and I was wondering if anyone has ever flexed their MBA by putting it in their backpack?

I have the north face recon, so it has a spot for laptops towards the back, but that kind of bothers me, if I bend a bit, I feel like it could flex/crack the laptop, anyone ever have that happen? Or just not worry about it?

I've come to realize that the macbook air is actually quite sturdy/strong. I only got a few scrapes and bruises on mine, but that was only when I actually had it out of the sleeve/backpack. (I actually bent the screen a little bit to the left by kicking it off the bed one night in my sleep, but a case would have prevented that, haha.)

If you just want to go with a built in sleeve, you should be just fine. Just be nice to it :D

**edit: I think I actually have the older version of the backpack Mr. Pink has. Pretty nice :)
 
Last edited:

eckthroi

macrumors regular
Mar 10, 2011
140
0
I use a knomo sleeve with a level 8 atlas backpack for my 11" air. I have a crammed full backpack and use it constantly- I have experienced no problems with flexing- though it is a sweet backpack when it comes to protection IMO
 

dsiee

macrumors newbie
Feb 20, 2011
25
0
Rual NSW, Aus
I take my MBP 15" to school everyday (except have stop this week, bitch weighs a ton) without any issues. A friend of mine had his bag fall of the back of a ute going 80km/h and the bag got stabbed by a steel rod which went straight through his bag, incase sleeve and scratched his MBP. His laptop works fine, screen is fine, he just had to file the side of it so he didn't cut anything.

In short- apple laptops = strong
 

Xikum

macrumors 6502
Oct 19, 2011
281
1
I carry my 13" MBA in a full bag everyday to Uni. I store it in a cheap neoprene sleeve that cost me £10; absolutely no damage.

The laptops are pretty well built, you know. Its designed to be a portable laptop, not one that sits on a desk.
 

chrismacguy

macrumors 68000
Feb 13, 2009
1,979
2
United Kingdom
Nothing bad will happen. I carry my 11" Air in a very full bag to Uni each day, in a sleeve thats designed for a 12" TabletPC (I got it for free with my HP Tablet), and its fine. Its been like this for nearly a year and no harm has been caused to it.
 

JHUFrank

macrumors 6502a
Apr 16, 2010
652
66
It shouldn't be a problem as long as you sleeve the MBA and don't use the backpack as a weapon. I have co-workers who love their backpacks as their tool/laptop schlepping medium.
 

vivithemage

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
681
0
I carry my 13" MBA in a full bag everyday to Uni. I store it in a cheap neoprene sleeve that cost me £10; absolutely no damage.

The laptops are pretty well built, you know. Its designed to be a portable laptop, not one that sits on a desk.

Exactly what I needed to hear, I wont worry about it.
 
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