Recommendations: Toughest laptop for motorcycle travel.

[duggram]

I tried to search on this but nothing came up. Which is the most rugged Mac laptop? I travel with a Mini iPad now, but some of the software I would like to use on the trail is not iOS. So which laptop can I put in a rugged case and expect to take the abuse?

 

[Queen6]

One of the guy's swears by a MS Surface and he too uses it on the road with a big bike. For the Mac I'd opt for a used 12" Retina MacBook as it has no moving parts if planning to carry directly attached to the bike.

I always kept the notebook in a small backpack to reduce the high frequency vibration as my bikes were mostly road racers. I would expect the newer hardware to fair better. If you want absolute resilience a Panasonic Toughbook is the solution at a price.

Q-6

 

[KPOM]

Mac notebooks aren’t known for being rugged. You are probably better off with a Windows PC specifically made for outdoor/rugged use (they exist). Another possible option is installing a Remote Desktop (eg Parallels Access) and connecting to a Mac over an Internet connection. What type of app do you want to run?

 

[throAU]

I tried to search on this but nothing came up. Which is the most rugged Mac laptop? I travel with a Mini iPad now, but some of the software I would like to use on the trail is not iOS. So which laptop can I put in a rugged case and expect to take the abuse?

I've had no problem with MacBook Pros for the past 10 years (and I didn't drive more than 5% of the time between 2008 and 2019 - motorcycle commute exclusively).

The air is marginally lighter, which is what I currently have.

Ive never run a case, they've just been put inside backpacks with no further protection and have never had an issue.

I don't throw my backpack around, but I don't take any more care than that really.

 

[fs454]

Never, ever had a case and I've beat the absolute crap out of my Late 2013 15-inch MBP and my Late 2016 15-inch touch bar MBP. Traveled the world, new city every 24 hours for 4-5 months straight, thousands and thousands of miles of flights each year, packed way too tightly into an overfull 42-pound backpack and shoved into compartments much too tight, squeezing the laptop inside. Not once have I broken a screen or any other part of of my MBPs. My 16-inch hasn't traveled near as much but I have no reason not to trust it like I did my previous notebooks. It's essentially a firm block of aluminum with no moving parts other than the fans.

 

[Fishrrman]

Less important than the laptop itself is the case/bag you keep it in.
It should be well-padded and COMPLETELY WATERPROOF.

 

[maflynn]

Which is the most rugged Mac laptop?

The words rugged and macs are usually not associated together. Given that Apple uses aluminum, it can and does deform, bend, and dent fairly easily. If you're looking for something rugged, Macs are not necessarily the best choice imo. If you must get a mac, I'd say a 13" MBP is probably your best bet just because its smaller

 

[jerryk]

Panasonic Toughbooks are very reliable. You can just toss them around and they keep on running. Military uses them. I dropped one out of the back of a pickup and it just kept on going.

 

[Kcetech1]

Panasonic Toughbooks are very reliable. You can just toss them around and they keep on running. Military uses them. I dropped one out of the back of a pickup and it just kept on going.

First thing I thought of as well, Our CF-31 has been well known to be thrown across camp sites and even have little kids playing with it in rain storms.

 

[filmbuff]

I can vouch that the last generation Macbook Air was very rugged. Toughbooks are massively overkill unless you need to use the laptop while riding/crashing the motorcycle.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

How much abuse is it expected to take while in that rugged case? How much abuse does the iPad Mini get?

Saying "motorcycle" by itself doesn't tell me a lot. There's a difference between cruising down highways and motocross, staying in motels versus sleeping under a poncho in a rainstorm.

It's true that Apple doesn't sell ruggedized computers intended for combat forces and construction sites, but some of the very things that people complain about here - soldered CPUs, SSDs, and RAM - are "ruggedizing" practices.

As to taking "abuse," what does that mean? There are people who give their stuff hard use while commuting or in the classroom, while those next to them pamper their equipment. That's part of the fallacy of ruggedized gear - it can be an excuse for hard use.

I've been taking non-ruggedized cameras and recording/broadcast gear into the field for about 50 years - week-long backpacks, whitewater river trips, parades, rallies, outdoor music festivals, sports venues, theaters, concert halls, bars, thrill rides, piers, tour buses and seaplanes... A garden-variety protective case (nothing exotic) is all I've ever needed. I use my equipment with a reasonable amount of care wherever I use it - the consequences of dropping a microphone or lens on the hard floor of a studio is little different than dropping it somewhere outdoors.

 

[duggram]

Mac notebooks aren’t known for being rugged. You are probably better off with a Windows PC specifically made for outdoor/rugged use (they exist). Another possible option is installing a Remote Desktop (eg Parallels Access) and connecting to a Mac over an Internet connection. What type of app do you want to run?

When traveling Garmin Basecamp and inReach Earthmate. Both could be used on a Windows PC.

 

[duggram]

How much abuse is it expected to take while in that rugged case? How much abuse does the iPad Mini get?

Saying "motorcycle" by itself doesn't tell me a lot. There's a difference between cruising down highways and motocross, staying in motels versus sleeping under a poncho in a rainstorm.

It's true that Apple doesn't sell ruggedized computers intended for combat forces and construction sites, but some of the very things that people complain about here - soldered CPUs, SSDs, and RAM - are "ruggedizing" practices.

As to taking "abuse," what does that mean? There are people who give their stuff hard use while commuting or in the classroom, while those next to them pamper their equipment. That's part of the fallacy of ruggedized gear - it can be an excuse for hard use.

I've been taking non-ruggedized cameras and recording/broadcast gear into the field for about 50 years - week-long backpacks, whitewater river trips, parades, rallies, outdoor music festivals, sports venues, theaters, concert halls, bars, thrill rides, piers, tour buses and seaplanes... A garden-variety protective case (nothing exotic) is all I've ever needed. I use my equipment with a reasonable amount of care wherever I use it - the consequences of dropping a microphone or lens on the hard floor of a studio is little different than dropping it somewhere outdoors.

Thank you for your comments and questions. The Mini 5 is still very good, unfortunately the Basecamp app I want to have with me isn't compatible. The Mini has been on two Baja trips, mostly on asphalt with some side trips on primitive rough roads, and through a few crashes. I have no intention to take a laptop on the roughest off road. More like asphalt and gravel roads with occasional short side runs. I live in the high desert but have no reason to take a laptop out in it. The Mini goes with me because I do pair it with an inReach Explorer for satellite text messaging and large map viewing. The Mini is a great tool. I haven't yet found an app that can manipulate GPX files.

 

[jerryk]

First thing I thought of as well, Our CF-31 has been well known to be thrown across camp sites and even have little kids playing with it in rain storms.

Yep. I dumped a motorcycle once with one in a backpack doing a little off-roading. Landed on the backpack. Computer OK but wet because my water bottle popped. Lunch was squished and a little dusty, but I ate it anyway.

 

[leman]

There are no rugged Mac laptops. They are rather sturdy as far as laptops go, but even light shock can cause severe damage if you are unlucky. I don’t see any issues for motorcycle travel though assuming a good quality rugged case with shock absorption. Unless you are taking dirt biking of some sort? That I wouldn’t do...

 

[Kcetech1]

It's true that Apple doesn't sell ruggedized computers intended for combat forces and construction sites, but some of the very things that people complain about here - soldered CPUs, SSDs, and RAM - are "ruggedizing" practices.

actually the fully rugged Toughbooks and Getac's ONLY have soldered CPU's on them for their passive cooling systems ( CF-19 or sealed systems, CF-31 and Getac ) the RAM, HDD, Battery, SSD, Port replicator bays etc are all removable. some are even hot swap-able. soldered on is not a basis for ruggedized

 

[throAU]

Panasonic Toughbooks are very reliable. You can just toss them around and they keep on running. Military uses them. I dropped one out of the back of a pickup and it just kept on going.

Yeah but unless you are deliberately throwing the bag around, etc. motorcycling with a laptop in a backpack is not very hard on equipment.

Toughbooks are very expensive (we run them in a mining application) but they're totally overkill for this.

 

[Kcetech1]

Yeah but unless you are deliberately throwing the bag around, etc. motorcycling with a laptop in a backpack is not very hard on equipment.

Toughbooks are very expensive (we run them in a mining application) but they're totally overkill for this.

Ok I will add in more information. Toughbooks may not be necessary for the OP but are an option. I use them for when we head out on the ATV's or go touring on the street bikes ( new Goldwing for me, dont make too much fun of it ). I run an older Mk4 Cf-31 with a 4T SSD ( Samsung QVO ) the 1000 nit outdoor screen, the GPS and cellular modems etc etc. and I do run it in dual battery configuration, have never hit the 27 hours maximum but have hit 22 many a time, no not kidding it gives almost a full 24 hours on twin batteries ( bat bay + optical bay )

no its not thin and light, but has been on 4 continents, many weekend trips down the road and into the bush, it has been dropped in mud, rained on, drove over, and yes even once survived having a blowout of engine oil all over it while looking at a parts diagram for a fellow riders dead bike.

and honestly a decent refurb or off lease that will last many years can be had for under $650 Canadian dollars not even USD. and you feed it whatever sleds, parts, modules you want, the only fixed spec is the CPU and motherboard.

downside ... its an i5 with intel IGP, unless you spring for the EGPU that goes in the Optical bay like the CF-55
but I dont need any cases for it, juts the 12V cig lighter charger for it and my external backup just in case its stolen or ever does die.

my other road warrior is an older model 12" windows unit as well, where I have gone well over 18 hours of battery but is much smaller and lighter .. better keyboard too. but it doesnt like the harsh wet conditions doing any sort of deep wilderness work.

 

[throAU]

I have no intention to take a laptop on the roughest off road. More like asphalt and gravel roads with occasional short side runs.

Seriously, any MacBook will be fine.

Going for something like a toughbook instead of a 13" Pro or Air will just be a heap of additional weight and no macOS for minimal if any benefit for your application, which I'd consider "normal" laptop expectations.

Even if you were to be doing off-road stuff on a motocross bike... dirt bikes have great suspension and you use your legs to absorb impacts as well riding off-road, so I wouldn't be to concerned.

Like I said, I did all-weather commute with MacBook pros for a decade. Just get a decent backpack that is mostly waterproof and if in doubt put the laptop in a plastic bag if it is REALLY wet.

My commute was 110 km round-trip (70 miles?), all weather.

Plus if you get AppleCare you get reduced repair cost for accidental damage as well, if you do actually crash and break it that way.


Now, if you plan to be using the machine outside in bad weather that's a different matter. The tough books can handle rain, etc. But if it is just to commute A to B and use the machine when you get to the destination... MacBook is no issue at all.

 

[SDColorado]

One of the guy's swears by a MS Surface and he too uses it on the road with a big bike. For the Mac I'd opt for a used 12" Retina MacBook as it has no moving parts if planning to carry directly attached to the bike.

I always kept the notebook in a small backpack to reduce the high frequency vibration as my bikes were mostly road racers. I would expect the newer hardware to fair better. If you want absolute resilience a Panasonic Toughbook is the solution at a price.

Q-6

I travel with a Surface Pro on my bike all the time. 3 years and counting and no issues

 

[slicktromboner]

If you're not married to macOS, try looking for an off-lease enterprise/business class laptop like a Dell Latitude or Lenovo Thinkpad or Thinkbook. They can usually be found pretty cheap and are tough as nails.