Do you use a sleeve on the MBA before putting it into a bag? Maybe a light padded sleeve would help an MBA fit into a backpack more snugly.. I've used North Face backpacks for a while (incredibly light and thin, but durable), but just recently ordered an 11" MBA so still trying to figure out what I want to do about carrying it around.
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Best Messenger Bag for 11" Air
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Do you use a sleeve on the MBA before putting it into a bag? Maybe a light padded sleeve would help an MBA fit into a backpack more snugly.. I've used North Face backpacks for a while (incredibly light and thin, but durable), but just recently ordered an 11" MBA so still trying to figure out what I want to do about carrying it around.
I've been using a SFBag sleeve for my 11" Air and putting it inside a Osprey Daylite Daypack. Light durable, but doesn't scream laptop bag. No real padding to speak of but that's where the SFBag sleeve comes into protect the Air. Works for me and been on many trips. Dumps into my carryon NorthFace large duffel just fine.
If they made one of these large enough for the 17" MBP, I'd own it already. Sadly it doesn't, but it'd fit a MBA just fine:
I highly recommend SF bags. They make some great bags. However, I thought the price was way too steep and wait was too long.
I have this.
HTTP://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLAT...?Params=Category=11-668|Level=2-3|pageid=5699
I have this.
HTTP://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLAT...?Params=Category=11-668|Level=2-3|pageid=5699
What size is that Muzetto bag, the 11" or the 13". Like you, I have a sleeve already on my 11.6" Air, and would like to put it inside the Muzetto just like you have.
Thanks.
Is anyone using the STM scout laptop bag (11" or 13") for their MBA? I'm curious to get your feedback on it.
I'm trying to find the XS Scout online, but nobody seems to carry it yet. Thinking of trying the S Scout, but I'm wondering if it would just be too big for the 11" MBA.
STM Scout XS
http://www.stmbags.com/catalog/macbook-bag-11-inch/scout-extra-small-laptop-bag/
STM Scout S
http://www.stmbags.com/catalog/macbook-bag-13-inch/scout-small-laptop-shoulder-bag/
I'm trying to find the XS Scout online, but nobody seems to carry it yet. Thinking of trying the S Scout, but I'm wondering if it would just be too big for the 11" MBA.
STM Scout XS
http://www.stmbags.com/catalog/macbook-bag-11-inch/scout-extra-small-laptop-bag/
STM Scout S
http://www.stmbags.com/catalog/macbook-bag-13-inch/scout-small-laptop-shoulder-bag/
I received my small STM Scout in black last week ... didn't like it at all.
The padding in the laptop compartment is overkill and since it's rigid and stiff it fills the bag itself, leaving little room for peripherals, notepad etc. Additionally the material is a magnet for lint, hair, fuzz - very poor choice of material.
So, I put my STM bag under the knife
I've been known to modify my bag purchases before to fix or improve design flaws. In this case I removed the thick / stiff padding around the laptop compartment, it would would open up 2/3's of the bag area with the idea I'll use a sleeve for my MBA.
That helped, it was now more like a soft sided messenger bag. I did it because the design of the bag was nice, a laptop compartment, room for a few files and the two outside pouch pockets seemed functional. But not so much, they gape open and it would be too easy for things to fall out. The zipper compartment is very small. I'm no fan of velcro but I can see how clipping and unclipping the buckle each time to your reach into your bag could be inconvenient ...
So after all this modifying I tried it for a day ... already it started off poor because the carpet in my office is grey and my bag was covered in little fine hairs, it's like the canvas bag material pulled them from the carpet ... the material is webbed so it picks everything up...
A day later I was around where a Jack Russel Terrier lived ... holy crap ... it's like my STM bag sucked the hair off the dog ... and that was it ... another bag in the 'bag pile' in my spare bedroom
My opinion, you're better off with a small Timbuk2 Messenger bag ordered WITHOUT a laptop compartment. Timbuk2 also makes their laptop compartments in messenger bags very thick and rigid and it takes away from the functionality of the bag ... get the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger and use your own thinner sleeve, it will be as protective but a lot less bulky.
For now I've gone back to the small or medium backpack quest ... again it's hard to find a functional backpack for the Air ... a lot of backpacks are too big, too heavy, or poorly designed to be a good daily bag for the Air and a few accessories. Right now I'm using a backpack from Eagle Creek called "The Hitch", size is great, pockets seem well organized.
Hope that helps ... it's hard to find the perfect bag.
The padding in the laptop compartment is overkill and since it's rigid and stiff it fills the bag itself, leaving little room for peripherals, notepad etc. Additionally the material is a magnet for lint, hair, fuzz - very poor choice of material.
So, I put my STM bag under the knife
I've been known to modify my bag purchases before to fix or improve design flaws. In this case I removed the thick / stiff padding around the laptop compartment, it would would open up 2/3's of the bag area with the idea I'll use a sleeve for my MBA.That helped, it was now more like a soft sided messenger bag. I did it because the design of the bag was nice, a laptop compartment, room for a few files and the two outside pouch pockets seemed functional. But not so much, they gape open and it would be too easy for things to fall out. The zipper compartment is very small. I'm no fan of velcro but I can see how clipping and unclipping the buckle each time to your reach into your bag could be inconvenient ...
So after all this modifying I tried it for a day ... already it started off poor because the carpet in my office is grey and my bag was covered in little fine hairs, it's like the canvas bag material pulled them from the carpet ... the material is webbed so it picks everything up...
A day later I was around where a Jack Russel Terrier lived ... holy crap ... it's like my STM bag sucked the hair off the dog ... and that was it ... another bag in the 'bag pile' in my spare bedroom
My opinion, you're better off with a small Timbuk2 Messenger bag ordered WITHOUT a laptop compartment. Timbuk2 also makes their laptop compartments in messenger bags very thick and rigid and it takes away from the functionality of the bag ... get the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger and use your own thinner sleeve, it will be as protective but a lot less bulky.
For now I've gone back to the small or medium backpack quest ... again it's hard to find a functional backpack for the Air ... a lot of backpacks are too big, too heavy, or poorly designed to be a good daily bag for the Air and a few accessories. Right now I'm using a backpack from Eagle Creek called "The Hitch", size is great, pockets seem well organized.
Hope that helps ... it's hard to find the perfect bag.
I've got the Timbuk2 Eula and it's a great match for the 11.6" MBA. The computer will not fit behind the center divider, which is a shame (if they'd just sew the divider to the outside of that seam, it WOULD fit) but I can carry the pc, charger, mouse, 2.5" HDD, Apogee One, Tabletop mic stand and adapter, my pone, two sets of earbuds, my wallet, my keys, and a bag of dice because I'm a big ol' dork and still have compartments go unused.
I actually prefer this over a soft padded laptop compartment. I know it wastes space in the bag but it offers much greater protection, say if someone throws their own heavy bag on top of yours.
I even got a boblbee megalopolis once although that would be a huge overkill for a MacBook Air of course.
^ True if you're looking for that kind of protection a padded pack is the way an option, but still bulky.
I'd rather order a thin (crushproof) hard sleeve for my Air, you'd got more protection and have less bulk perhaps... but then a good thin/hard sleeve is also hard to find for the Air!
Bag and sleeve Designers need to catch up with matching their equipment to compliment Apple's cool products ... for example I saw a leather packpack in a store I really liked, smaller yet decent looking I thought it might be the bag I was looking for ... until I picked it up ... overkill on the thick heavy biker leather ... it weighed over 5 lbs lol, twice my MacBook Air!
I'd rather order a thin (crushproof) hard sleeve for my Air, you'd got more protection and have less bulk perhaps... but then a good thin/hard sleeve is also hard to find for the Air!
Bag and sleeve Designers need to catch up with matching their equipment to compliment Apple's cool products ... for example I saw a leather packpack in a store I really liked, smaller yet decent looking I thought it might be the bag I was looking for ... until I picked it up ... overkill on the thick heavy biker leather ... it weighed over 5 lbs lol, twice my MacBook Air!
I just picked up a 13" MacBook Air and was bag shopping today. Thoughts on this Fossil? I was thinking I'd use it with a sleeve on the MBA.
Fossil Max Commuter Bag
Fossil Max Commuter Bag
Attachments
Sorry for the bad pic quality. I've been using the Waterfield MBA Wallet for a week now and it has been great! It could hold everything seen in the picture!
1. MBA
2. Water Bottle (Clipped on)
3. Earphone case (Clipped on)
4. Notebook
5. 3 pens (2 thumbdrives, not shown)
6. Foolscape pad at the back
7. Hypermac charger + connector
I'd recommend it and might do a full review if people want it and if I have time.
1. MBA
2. Water Bottle (Clipped on)
3. Earphone case (Clipped on)
4. Notebook
5. 3 pens (2 thumbdrives, not shown)
6. Foolscape pad at the back
7. Hypermac charger + connector
I'd recommend it and might do a full review if people want it and if I have time.
Attachments
As I wrote in another thread, I have a 13" MBA and it fits snugly in a Deuter Speedlite 20 with a Be-ez LA robe sleeve. The Deuter weighs 500 grams, or 1 lbs 3 oz. It is about 1/3 the weight of a typical computer backpack, yet due to the design and material, it has the capacity of 20L. The Be-ez LA robe is a memory foam sleeve and is probably several times more protective than a typical neoprene sleeve. If fits the MBA perfectly, and is probably ever so slightly bulkier than the thinest neoprene sleeve.
I don't like laptop specific backpacks in general, as they they tend to be bulky and boring. High tech hiking, biking, trail running back packs are like Porches compared to these laptop specific backpacks which are like pickup trucks. Hydration pockets for these outdoors backpacks often can accomodate a MBA 11" or even 13" in a sleeve, and you have a lot of styles, sizes, and colors to choose from. And they are designed by companies on the cutting edge of making sure that every gram and feature that goes into a backpack count, the same way the MBA was designed.
I got my backpack from REI
http://www.rei.com/search?query=deuter+speedlite&button.x=0&button.y=0
The Be-ez LA robe is available from Amazon. It's a no brainer compared to a neoprene sleeve: cheaper, better looking, many times more protective
http://www.amazon.com/Be-ez-100678-...O6T2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314419057&sr=8-2
So again, if you have a MBA 11, check out those outdoors backpacks with hydration pocket. MBA 13 is a bit trickier as it requires a larger pocket, but they do exist.
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I am very happy with the Tom Bihn Ristretto bag made specifically for the 11.6" Air.
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0221
It is light and fits the Air well, but has room for the power supply and a few other items you might need to carry.
Sometimes, I just want to carry the Air without anything else. For those occaisons, I got the Boxwave sleeve. Looks nice and it is stiff enough to provide good protection of the corners.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H17ZZU
If I were travelling and wanted some extra protection, there is just enough room in the Ristretto to fit the Air inside the Boxwave for a turducken case.
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0221
It is light and fits the Air well, but has room for the power supply and a few other items you might need to carry.
Sometimes, I just want to carry the Air without anything else. For those occaisons, I got the Boxwave sleeve. Looks nice and it is stiff enough to provide good protection of the corners.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H17ZZU
If I were travelling and wanted some extra protection, there is just enough room in the Ristretto to fit the Air inside the Boxwave for a turducken case.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
http://www.laptoppicker.com/archives/new-ultraslim-built-laptop-backpack.html
I know this isn't a messenger bag but this laptop backpack is awesome. It is made by Built and it acts as a laptop case backpack. I bought one last year and I use it to carry my MacBook Air and iPad with both power supplies and USB cables and it fits well. It is very comfortable to carry too.
I know this isn't a messenger bag but this laptop backpack is awesome. It is made by Built and it acts as a laptop case backpack. I bought one last year and I use it to carry my MacBook Air and iPad with both power supplies and USB cables and it fits well. It is very comfortable to carry too.
I got a Waterfield bag and LOVE it. It's the bigger one (but it's still a small bag) where you can fit all of the accessories in pockets.
I hate almost all laptop bags, so why not get a sleeve, and put it in another non-laptop bag?
At the moment I actually am using a laptop bag, it's the first one I don't really hate, it's a crumpler (Crumpler Friday Nylons), but I always sleeve up my MBA. I use a Joli Originals for that!
And I notice that I very often just put the computer & sleeve in a normal bag, works fine and no-one can see you're carrying a laptop.
At the moment I actually am using a laptop bag, it's the first one I don't really hate, it's a crumpler (Crumpler Friday Nylons), but I always sleeve up my MBA. I use a Joli Originals for that!
And I notice that I very often just put the computer & sleeve in a normal bag, works fine and no-one can see you're carrying a laptop.
The sport backpacks are loud and adolescent looking, all kinds of zippers and detailing to appear cool. If you are in an urban environment, those zippers in crowded, tight environments invite thieves. Getting a simple, conservatively styled laptop specific back pack that has few points of entry on the rear is the way to go in those cases. You don't appear like a loud turtle with a giant bulge coming out the rear, bumping into people on the metro.
Since I posted this in other threads you might think I have a vested interest but I do not. I got the MacCase vintage leather Flight Jacket for my MBA. I think the are classy and afford excellent protection.
http://mac-case.com/Leather Site/MacCasePLJackets.html
You can even buy the optional straps to convert it to a backpack. I found the best prices at B & H Photo and Microcenter.
http://mac-case.com/Leather Site/MacCasePLJackets.html
You can even buy the optional straps to convert it to a backpack. I found the best prices at B & H Photo and Microcenter.
Not really. Many low quality back packs can be loud and obnoxious, but if you look for products from better companies, their designs tend to be more tasteful. There are so many to choose from so it's likely that you will find one you like. Go to a place like rei.com and take a look at the selections and see what I mean. They only sell products that meet certain quality criteria.
sorry to re-hash and old thread...
I was just wondering if anyone has used the Be.ez LE reporter 13" bag?
I ideally want something that is relatively good looking but can still fit a charger, mba13, maybe a sandwiche for lunch, an ipad mini and notebook (standard sized notebook for writing stuff down)
I was just wondering if anyone has used the Be.ez LE reporter 13" bag?
I ideally want something that is relatively good looking but can still fit a charger, mba13, maybe a sandwiche for lunch, an ipad mini and notebook (standard sized notebook for writing stuff down)
sfbags.com or Crumpler messenger bags.
The crumpler bags do seen nice. Does anyone happen to have the crumpler flock of horror or pinnacle of horror one? How do you like it?