[Review] Waterfield Designs Laptop SleeveCase

[gjb11]

Hi guys, today i'm going to review a nifty bag called the Laptop SleeveCase made by a company called Waterfield designs. They make a variety of really cool bags and this one was a must have for laptop owners.

The one that I have is equipped with all the bells and whistles. It has the suspension strap and the piggyback add on. The outside of this bag is made of a ballistic nylon and the inside is cushioned with high grade neoprene. It will definitely protect your laptop from every day bumps and bruises and the exterior appears it will last a long long time even as a daily bag. The suspension strap is very padded and is very comfortable. The piggyback add on clips to the D-rings and is perfect for your extras that you need to carry with your laptop i.e. MagSafe charger, phone charger, pens, etc. With the SleeveCase by itself, there is no room to put anything other than your laptop in there so the piggyback was a must have and i'd highly recommend for you guys.

I am highly recommending this case, as this is perfect for users on the go that always need to have their laptop and gadgets with them daily. The cost of this case, equipped as shown will run you $111 and can be found here: Laptop SleeveCase

 

[Longdrive]

Here is a review from someone who has carried Waterfield sleeves and bags for years and not some anecdotal one.

I highly recommend SFbags.com/Waterfield; perhaps some of the best bags and sleeves on the market with the customer service to match.

 

[techfest]

yeah....110 ddollars....

 

[w00t951]

I use a Targus that I picked up for $25. Holds my Mac, power cord, mouse, and mousepad, along with other random stuff.

 

[thundersteele]

Yep, seems like a nice company, that actually produces in the US. Thanks for the nice review.

I spent a while dreaming about the muzetto, but then $200+ was a bit too much for me.

 

[gjb11]

Here is a review from someone who has carried Waterfield sleeves and bags for years and not some anecdotal one.

I highly recommend SFbags.com/Waterfield; perhaps some of the best bags and sleeves on the market with the customer service to match.

I wholeheartedly agree. Their CS is top notch which is almost unheard of these days.

Yep, seems like a nice company, that actually produces in the US. Thanks for the nice review.

I spent a while dreaming about the muzetto, but then $200+ was a bit too much for me.

You are very welcome, thanks for the kind words. I would say with confidence, save your hard earned money and go for the muzetto. The custom work which is done in the US is immaculate. There are not too many companies hand making things in the US. Thanks SFBags for your great products!

 

[arcite]

$100 for a sleeve?

A sleeve cannot protect your macbook when you're actually using it...which is when it will probably get damaged.

A $40 speck hardcase is a much better investment IMO.

 

[techfest]

$100 for a sleeve?

A sleeve cannot protect your macbook when you're actually using it...which is when it will probably get damaged.

A $40 speck hardcase is a much better investment IMO.

or speck hard case plus a sleeve

 

[Mojo1]

yeah....110 ddollars....

Like the OP noted it has all the bells and whistles. The basic Sleevecase is $49 for a 13" MBP. If you already have a strap you can get one for $70 that includes a flap and the D-rings. If you don't want to use it with a strap you save $5... Don't want a flap? Deduct another $15.

I like having the option of using the Sleevecase with a strap or inside a messenger bag. The Piggback pouch doesn't appeal to me; if I am going to carry more than the laptop I'll opt for a messenger bag, since I will probably need more than a few peripherals.

I've seen a lot of laptop sleeves and Waterfield Designs is the top of the heap. The Sleevecase is really a combination sleeve/laptop case. It is much sturdier than a basic neoprene sleeve. The materials and construction are first-rate and made in the U.S., which accounts for the higher price. I'm happy to purchase a consumer item that isn't made in China.

I'm all for protecting my MBP but I just don't get the Speck case. If you combine a Speck with a sleeve it will cost around as much as the Sleevecase. When the MBP is in use I am reasonably careful and I've never damaged a portable Mac in the past ten years.

Waterfield Designs and Tom Bihn are not cheap but You Get What You Pay For. The Sleevecase offers excellent protection and you can pull it out at a business meeting without embarrassment. Bargain hunters should look elsewhere...

 

[techfest]

Like the OP noted it has all the bells and whistles. The basic Sleevecase is $49 for a 13" MBP. If you already have a strap you can get one for $70 that includes a flap and the D-rings. If you don't want to use it with a strap you save $5... Don't want a flap? Deduct another $15.

I like having the option of using the Sleevecase with a strap or inside a messenger bag. The Piggback pouch doesn't appeal to me; if I am going to carry more than the laptop I'll opt for a messenger bag, since I will probably need more than a few peripherals.

I've seen a lot of laptop sleeves and Waterfield Designs is the top of the heap. The Sleevecase is really a combination sleeve/laptop case. It is much sturdier than a basic neoprene sleeve. The materials and construction are first-rate and made in the U.S., which accounts for the higher price. I'm happy to purchase a consumer item that isn't made in China.

I'm all for protecting my MBP but I just don't get the Speck case. If you combine a Speck with a sleeve it will cost around as much as the Sleevecase. When the MBP is in use I am reasonably careful and I've never damaged a portable Mac in the past ten years.

Waterfield Designs and Tom Bihn are not cheap but You Get What You Pay For. The Sleevecase offers excellent protection and you can pull it out at a business meeting without embarrassment. Bargain hunters should look elsewhere...

incase sleevesare cheaper and good quality

 

[Mojo1]

incase sleevesare cheaper and good quality

I've seen the Incase and the Waterfield sleeves and there is no comparison when it comes to the materials used and the construction quality. Incase are OK for what they cost but Waterfield is a Mercedes while Incase is a Chevy. And the difference in cost is negligible for the basic sleeves.

 

[iLukeJoseph]

You get what you pay for. And after dropping 1800+ on a MPB, I wanted to get a case I left comfortable with.

I currently have the "Vertigo" combo (comes with the same sleeve as in the review). I think total was near $200 or a bit over. But it is the best built case/bag/whatever I have ever owned (and I have owned quite a few).

 

[ixodes]

If I bought a cheap laptop, I'd buy a cheap case. Why others look for low priced bags & accessories for premium Apple products, makes no sense to me.

I have used Waterfield bags, sleeves & accessories for years. Made of the finest materials, fitted precisely for each model of Mac, they're well worth the price.

Considering the fit, finish & long term durability they are not the least bit overpriced. Made in San Francisco by www.sfbags.com they are the only bags I buy.

 

[gjb11]

$100 for a sleeve?

A sleeve cannot protect your macbook when you're actually using it...which is when it will probably get damaged.

A $40 speck hardcase is a much better investment IMO.

You are correct, the sleeve won't protect it while you are using it and I disagree with your claim, the damage will more than likely come from transportation rather than when it is sitting on your desk. A hardcase like you mention is not really a valid comparison as that would be used to protect it in the event it "fell" of the desk you were using it on.

incase sleevesare cheaper and good quality

You are not making a valid comparison as mentioned below.

I've seen the Incase and the Waterfield sleeves and there is no comparison when it comes to the materials used and the construction quality. Incase are OK for what they cost but Waterfield is a Mercedes while Incase is a Chevy. And the difference in cost is negligible for the basic sleeves.

You get what you pay for. And after dropping 1800+ on a MPB, I wanted to get a case I left comfortable with.

I currently have the "Vertigo" combo (comes with the same sleeve as in the review). I think total was near $200 or a bit over. But it is the best built case/bag/whatever I have ever owned (and I have owned quite a few).

You certainly do get what you pay for. You made a fantastic choice with the Vertigo combo and will not be disappointed! I foresee my case and yours lasting a long long time under daily usage.

 

[thundersteele]

It's funny how many people try to make a case for cheaper alternatives here, on an Apple forum!

Everyone has his or her own priorities when it comes to paying extra for something that is a bit different (and usually of higher quality). Some care about good food (yep, Burger King is cheaper), some about a high quality phone (iPhone anyone?), some about designer clothes, and some people like to have a more individual laptop sleeve.

Just because something isn't measurable in MB/s or GHz, doesn't mean that one doesn't get a higher value for the higher price. Even if it were only for the satisfaction of buying something made in the US.

 

[techfest]

You are correct, the sleeve won't protect it while you are using it and I disagree with your claim, the damage will more than likely come from transportation rather than when it is sitting on your desk. A hardcase like you mention is not really a valid comparison as that would be used to protect it in the event it "fell" of the desk you were using it on.



You are not making a valid comparison as mentioned below.





You certainly do get what you pay for. You made a fantastic choice with the Vertigo combo and will not be disappointed! I foresee my case and yours lasting a long long time under daily usage.

incsae has faux fur lining, better scratch proection

 

[Mojo1]

incsae has faux fur lining, better scratch proection

Have you actually compared the Incase to the Sleevecase?

The Sleevecase has a high-quality soft fabric lining. I would say that the interior protection of both sleeves is probably comparable.

The primary difference is in the quality of the materials and construction. The Sleevecase offers better protection due to the more substantial padding and robust exterior material. Not to mention that the Sleevecase can be used as a laptop case with a strap; the Incase doesn't have that option.

When the Incase is falling apart the Sleevecase will just be getting broken-in.

 

[jedivulcan]

I use my Incase sleeves to sit my MacBook Pros on if I need to. From my experience with the Incase sleeves, the zipper and the tag on the inside wear on the metal of the MBP if you're not careful.

When I saw the Waterfield Design sleeve cases: No nonsense or tags inside the case and no zipper were a buy for me. I have two newer MBPs, I don't like the plastic hardshell cases because they're hard to get off and clean, and I'm generally very mindful of my surroundings.

I bought a 13" sleeve, a 15" sleeve, and bought the elastic shoulder band and accessory pouch with the 15" Pro sleeve last month. I can easily clip and switch off the shoulder strap and the pouch when I need too.

I hardly use my 15" outside the house but still like something nice to carry it in given the price of the laptop. I also have an Incase Messenger bag I can fit either laptop in, along with a lapdesk or other accessories.

Sometimes when I'm moving around or don't need to lug around a messenger bag, using a sleeve works better. When I had a 12" PowerBook, I had an Incase sleeve with a shoulder strap I used to carry around with me and really liked it.

 

[gjb11]

It's funny how many people try to make a case for cheaper alternatives here, on an Apple forum!

Everyone has his or her own priorities when it comes to paying extra for something that is a bit different (and usually of higher quality). Some care about good food (yep, Burger King is cheaper), some about a high quality phone (iPhone anyone?), some about designer clothes, and some people like to have a more individual laptop sleeve.

Just because something isn't measurable in MB/s or GHz, doesn't mean that one doesn't get a higher value for the higher price. Even if it were only for the satisfaction of buying something made in the US.

This is so true. It is hilarious that people here spend money on MBP's and iPhones like it grows on trees but won't spend a little bit to protect their pricy investment in electronics. To each their own I guess. Everyone's viewpoints are different and this is just one option to protect your MacBook.

 

[gjb11]

I use my Incase sleeves to sit my MacBook Pros on if I need to. From my experience with the Incase sleeves, the zipper and the tag on the inside wear on the metal of the MBP if you're not careful.

When I saw the Waterfield Design sleeve cases: No nonsense or tags inside the case and no zipper were a buy for me. I have two newer MBPs, I don't like the plastic hardshell cases because they're hard to get off and clean, and I'm generally very mindful of my surroundings.

I bought a 13" sleeve, a 15" sleeve, and bought the elastic shoulder band and accessory pouch with the 15" Pro sleeve last month. I can easily clip and switch off the shoulder strap and the pouch when I need too.

I hardly use my 15" outside the house but still like something nice to carry it in given the price of the laptop. I also have an Incase Messenger bag I can fit either laptop in, along with a lapdesk or other accessories.

Sometimes when I'm moving around or don't need to lug around a messenger bag, using a sleeve works better. When I had a 12" PowerBook, I had an Incase sleeve with a shoulder strap I used to carry around with me and really liked it.

Yep the flexibility is great and definitely like that about this bag. Thanks for the input.