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phrehdd

Contributor
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
4,656
1,581
Everybody has different tastes in how to travel with their laptops. What did you choose for your Macbook and why?

This is what I use for short drives to clients - It is minimal yet has enough room for my Macbook Pro 15" plus, external drives, slim blue ray reader, and some tools. What I trade in minimal padding is that I can use the Macbook inside of the case as it opens attache case style.

This is the Thule Gauntlet 15 (somewhat made for the Macbook Pro 15" with a snug fit). It has a minimalist industrial look which works well if you don't want to attract attention or have to meet with clients that expect a 'serious' meeting.

I'll just say it is not the best case out there but does reasonably well. I hope others here join in and impress us all with either case flare or functionality.

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I have a Saddleback Classic Leather Briefcase. I love the looks and it handles everything my wife and I take with us, electronically, on trips.
It holds my 12" rMB, her 15" rMBP, an iPad, chargers, 2 sets of headphones, a few battery packs and maybe a few things I left out. My first and only "murse" as everyone calls it, I don't care I think it's BA.
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I always do reading at night in bed when I don't want to get up to take a current pic of something :p
 
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I use an Incase ICON Slim pack. It holds all my crap & fits nicely in the space at your feet on a plane so I don't have to mess around with overhead.
 
I don't have a dedicated laptop bag. I have Waterfield Outback sleeve that I tend to use the most. I don't normally need to carry a bunch of items along with my laptop.
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The Macbook Air has a Waterfield Dash sleeve.
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Next most used are backpacks with laptop slots which are used for travel. It's much easier for me when negotiating airports and other travel with a bag on my back. Latest one is the Riutbag R15 which I just received.

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I have a Saddleback Classic Leather Briefcase.
I seriously considered one of these -- or something from Filson, Col Littleton, etc.
 
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I use the Thule stravan deluxe attache. Snug fit fits my 13" rMBP perfectly, and can also hold my ipad, a notebook, my chargers, a mouse and some other small things.
 
I use a Brenthaven backpack. Started using a backpack when I was cycling to work and found them more convenient than other types of bags. Provides great protection, easy to carry, and plenty of pockets for other stuff.
 
for leisure, Inateck sleeve that includes a small bag/case for the power supply or other...
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for work/travel, Speck Tuckpack for 15" MBP though i used with either my 13" MBA or 13"cMBP and it fits snug with additional room for a book, magazines, etc...
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I have bought two different American Eagle messenger bags and one Barnes & Noble messenger bag that fits 15" rMBP. Also AEO messenger bag comes with free sleeve.
 
I have a Saddleback Classic Leather Briefcase. I love the looks and it handles everything my wife and I take with us, electronically, on trips.
It holds my 12" rMB, her 15" rMBP, an iPad, chargers, 2 sets of headphones, a few battery packs and maybe a few things I left out. My first and only "murse" as everyone calls it, I don't care I think it's BA.
View attachment 605638

I always do reading at night in bed when I don't want to get up to take a current pic of something :p


I have the same bag (but in classic black leather with the old Saddleback logo).

I love it, and the quality of leather is unmatched by any other option under $1200. I've looked extensively.

It is a bit heavy, but it protects the contents quite well.

Regarding the "murse" comment, I personally think it looks fine... Especially if you get the large or extra large version. I have also personally removed the two additional closure straps (the ones on the right and left) to make it more streamlined.
 
I have the Incase Sleeve Deluxe for my MBPro Retina 15". Nothing flash but just does the job correctly.
s-l500.jpg

On the other hand I really cherish my collection of iBook Clamshells, and keep them each in a Targus case (which are too large for them - I get these at 5€ each like-new from a local thrift-shop).
If anyone should know where to find one of the original colour-matched clamshell carry cases (contoured precisely for the G3 clamshell) I would really like to know.
 
I used to have 2 Brenthaven bags. One larger for all the accessories I can fit in it, the other for the MBP and power supply. Quality was great.
 
There are 5 of the most popular types of laptop bags. Laptop Backpacks, Laptop Sling bags, Laptop Tote bags, Laptop Messenger bag & Laptop sleeve, these different types of laptop bags have their own pros and cons.
 
My preference is verticle hanging bags, it took me a while to find this Targus Model TSS982GL - https://us.targus.com/products/grid...MIlrWWs8m76gIVUdbACh2NywKgEAQYAyABEgLX1PD_BwE - Well padded, nice pouch on the front for charger, cables, card reader, etc, etc. It is listed as for a 12 inch laptop but fits my 2012 MBP 13 nice and snug, well padded. Purchased on sale for $17.00 - Although I am liking that Thule bag that Cristarp posted.

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I have used one of these bags for years now. It’s an old leather Dell laptop bag. Three compartments, plenty of padding in the middle one for a laptop. My wife used it back when she was in high school school and gave it to me when we started dating. I carry it with me daily back and forth to and from work. It's been an amazingly solid bag for many years now, and shows no signs of stopping. Not bad for a bag pushing 20 years old now!
 

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