This has sent me on a multi-year hunt for the perfect laptop and gear carrier<\/strong>. <\/p>\n I\u2019m going to share my research and results with you \u2013 feel free to chime in with your own recommendations.<\/p>\n My current laptop, by the way, is a Macbook Pro 13\u2033<\/strong>. Most of the solutions I describe could work for a variety of PCs and Macs. [Note: Per normal, some of the product links here are affiliate links, i.e., I get a small piece of the action if someone clicks through and makes a purchase. You can trust my comments, whether positive or negative, to be my real opinion.]<\/p>\n To make navigation easier, we\u2019ve put all of our Laptop Backpack Guide info on its own page \u2013 from Roger\u2019s favorite to luxury leather to rugged tactical, you\u2019ll find it all here: Laptop Backpacks<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n We talked about \u201cmaximizers\u201d<\/strong> and \u201csatisficers.\u201d<\/strong> A satisficer is happy when a product is good enough. A maximizer strives to make the best possible decision, may obsess over details, and ultimately may be less happy with his decision.<\/p>\n Our orientation may vary depending on the product. You might be a satisficer when choosing paper towels, but a maximizer when buying a high performance sedan.<\/p>\n When it comes to computer carriers, I\u2019m sure Dr. Schwartz would diagnose me as a maximizer. (This article alone would be enough to convict me!) But, if you are looking for a product recommendation, you are better off asking a maximizer than an easily-pleased satisficer. Read on\u2026<\/p>\n The Paradox of Choice meets choosing a computer bag – 5 field-test reviews. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n My first conclusion is that there is no single path to computer transport perfection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The bag you need depends on where<\/strong> you are going, how<\/strong> you are traveling, what<\/strong> you\u2019ll be doing at your destination, and many other factors.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve got five solutions I use on a regular basis. (OK, maybe that\u2019s a bit obsessive\u2026 but I\u2019m doing the field testing so you don\u2019t have to!)<\/em><\/p>\n Before we get to the bags\u2026<\/p>\n I love bags with lots of nooks and crannies, but it takes a while to get used to any one bag. Until you\u2019ve used the bag for a while, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll have to root around a bit to find that elusive EU power adapter or thumb drive. A GridIt puts everything in plain view.<\/p>\n I won\u2019t go anywhere without my GridIts.<\/p>\n With that out of the way, here are my top solutions for schlepping my computer around town and around the globe.<\/p>\n This little carrier gets used more frequently<\/strong> than any other bag in my collection, despite its rather severe limitations.<\/p>\n It gets used a lot<\/strong> (almost daily) because it\u2019s my way of taking my computer to the coffee shop for an hour or two of \u201cco-working.\u201d My battery lasts far longer than that, so there\u2019s no need to carry a power adapter. I forgo a mouse, too, and rely on the trackpad.<\/p>\n I love certain aspects of this case and hate others.<\/p>\n On the plus side, it provides great protection for my Mac. The sleeve is very well padded, the exterior is fairly stiff, and a zipper seals the unit inside. I\u2019m not going to test it, but I\u2019m pretty sure my Mac would survive a drop onto a concrete sidewalk inside this case.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also sleek and reasonably good-looking. The exposed red liner on one side is a bit superfluous, but I wouldn\u2019t be embarrassed to show up at a board meeting with this case. I expect it would work well with similarly sized Ultrabook PCs and large tablets.<\/p>\n On the minus side\u2026<\/p>\n First, there\u2019s no handle<\/strong>, shoulder strap, or any other way to hang onto it. You can hold it in your hand or tuck it awkwardly under your arm. Juggling this case, a cup of hot coffee, and your phone or wallet, is possible but decidedly risky.<\/p>\n The lack of any handle or strap also makes it a less than ideal choice for long carries. It\u2019s fine for car to office or office to conference room, but on a twelve block hike carrying it might prove to be a bit much.<\/p>\n The other problem with this case is its utter lack of storage<\/strong>, despite being about two inches thick. The outside pocket (where the red is visible) is very tight. You can insert a thin manila file folder, but it will stick out. That looks cheesy and the file will get dog-eared.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a small zippered pocket inside that might hold, say, a few business cards or a folded note.<\/p>\n Two small, very tight pockets could hold a few more business cards, or, with some pressure, a passport. A wider zippered compartment could hold a few sheets of paper if you could shove them in without crushing them.<\/p>\n The operative word for all of the supposed \u201cstorage\u201d is tight<\/strong>. These compartments seem to be more for show than for effective use.<\/p>\n Most significantly, there\u2019s no secure place for a file folder or two, logical accessories for, say, a lunch meeting. The only option is to stick a folder in the middle and bring the halves of the padfolio together.<\/p>\n If you do this, the folder fits nicely and doesn\u2019t stick out. The catch is that you are relying on friction to keep everything in place. Chances are your important contract won\u2019t slide out the open sides, but it\u2019s a bit unsettling to put a folder in with no real barrier to the outside. Using a zipper to attach the halves would have provided secure storage for files, loose papers, etc.<\/p>\n The last oddity relates to the small zippered compartment. Not only is it so small and tight as to be useless, but the zipper pull tends to gouge anything it touches, like the legal pad or any papers you stick in the middle.<\/p>\n Conclusion.<\/strong> This is an attractive solution for protecting your laptop and carrying pen and paper. Use it for nearby meetings, a jaunt to the coffee shop, or any time you want your laptop with you for a short time. Lack of handles and near-zero storage make it impractical for anything else.<\/p>\n Photos, specs, and buying info:<\/strong> PC Treasures PocketPro Padfolio Portfolio Case<\/a><\/p>\n This bag has logged 300,000+ air miles and accompanied me all over the globe. It\u2019s actually one of several in this style I\u2019ve owned, though it has proved to be far more durable than the rest.<\/p>\n I actually started using this bag when I owned a much heavier and thicker Toshiba PC laptop, complete with a power brick that fully deserved its name. After that, it held a Dell that was a bit of an improvement space-wise and weight-wise, but not by much.<\/p>\n Before this bag, I had a black vinyl bag of similar design whose carrying strap ripped off the bag in less than a year. I picked the Heritage bag to replace it based on its sturdy reinforcing where its handles and straps attached. (Fool me once\u2026)<\/em> I haven\u2019t been disappointed after seven-plus years.<\/p>\n This bag has enough compartments, pockets, and storage crannies to satisfy any road warrior. Many compartments have their own pockets and interior dividers. Undoubtedly, its usability factor for me improved as I became consistent in where I put accessories and learned to find them on the first try, or even in a dark airplane cabin.<\/p>\n It fits under every airline seat and every overhead bin, so I\u2019m never separated from it as I board a flight. It easily holds a laptop, iPad, files, all kinds of gear, and even a hardcover book or two.<\/p>\n The bag has a trolley strap that slides over the handle of my reliable Delsey Helium rollaboard (which has seen nearly as many miles).<\/p>\n I really like most aspects of the bag, though for my sleek MacBook Pro it\u2019s perhaps a bit more than I need. These days, too, I rely less on the great organization options built into the bag and more on my Grid-Its.<\/p>\n What don\u2019t I like about the Heritage bag? Being made of durable leather, it\u2019s a bit heavy.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a bit too cumbersome for, say, long walks around trade show exhibit halls or hiking from a hotel to a distant meeting. The shoulder strap helps, but if the bag is fully loaded it gets uncomfortable.<\/p>\n One thing that\u2019s rarely a problem but is a deal-breaker on occasional trips is its lack of wheels.<\/p>\n Normally, this bag rides on top of my carry-on. But, if I\u2019m going on a trip of a week or more, particularly one that demands a variety of clothing, I\u2019ll likely use a larger suitcase and check it.<\/p>\n Without the rolling carry-on bag, when fully packed this computer bag turns into a dead weight to lug around on your shoulder. Whether you are jogging to a distant terminal or standing in long security lines, a load that didn\u2019t seem bad at first quickly gets onerous.<\/p>\n And, as capacious as the Heritage bag is, it\u2019s not really designed to carry a change of clothes or emergency toiletries. I\u2019ve had plenty of checked bag delays, so, on those rare occasions when I don\u2019t carry on my primary suitcase I like to stuff a few essentials in whatever I take in the cabin.<\/p>\n Since 95% of my trips are carry-on flights, though, the Heritage bag continues to serve me well. After many years of hard use, it\u2019s going strong. The only thing that has been problematic was the velcro patch on the bag that the trolley strap grabs on to. The stitching began to fail at about the five year point. A couple of metal rivets fixed that.<\/p>\n Being stuffed into countless overhead bins and being used a foot rest when under the seat have created some surface wear, but that goes with the territory.<\/p>\n I hunted around for a link to this bag at Amazon or eBags, but couldn\u2019t find it. I suspect the transition to slender computers, far smaller power supplies, etc., has shifted cases away from these somewhat bulky designs. But, I did find a quite similar design which I linked to below.<\/p>\n Photos, specs, and buying info \u2013<\/strong> the Heritage brand seems to have disappeared, but this model is very close: Claire Chase Executive Computer Briefcase<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n In preparation for a two-week cruise that entailed a long flight to Singapore, I decided to try another carry-on approach. I knew I\u2019d be checking a full-size roller, and I didn\u2019t want to take both a rolling carry-on and a separate computer bag.<\/p>\n So, I bought the cleverly designed SwissGear Potomac Rolling Laptop Bag. (Unavailable, but the Wenger luggage Patriot II<\/a><\/strong> is similar)<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n This list sounds straightforward, but a surprising number of bags don\u2019t meet all of these.<\/p>\n The trickiest requirements are those related to getting the case onboard an airplane and then storing it. Big jets are rarely a problem. Some Airbus variations have cramped overhead bins, but they are usually workable if you board early enough.<\/p>\n The biggest problem in the U.S. comes with the regional jets flown mostly by affiliates of the major airlines. I try to avoid small jets from Embraer and the like, but sometimes that\u2019s all that\u2019s available. Typical rolling carry-on bags almost always have to be gate checked, which often results in a scrum on the jetway and a delay getting to one\u2019s next flight.<\/p>\n I ended up using Amazon.com\u2019s reviews and answered questions, since the dimensions alone don\u2019t always answer the \u201ccan this be carried on?\u201d question.<\/p>\n Even if your bag fits properly inside the \u201csizer\u201d at the gate, it may still be denied by gate personnel due to the constraints of the particular aircraft. And there\u2019s a good degree of subjectivity involved. I\u2019ve seen bags let on board that were much bigger than the official limits, and I\u2019ve seen bags denied that would have easily fit in the sizing tool.<\/p>\n The crowdsourced size information, unfortunately, was often inconsistent. The same bag would be described as \u201cnever a problem stowing on dozens of flights, even smaller planes,\u201d by one reviewer, and another would report having to gate check it on smaller aircraft.<\/p>\n As with most crowdsourced advice, you have to gauge the credibility of the reviewer and also look for validation by multiple reviewers. The Potomac bag had mostly good reviews as far as successful boarding and stowage.<\/p>\n Bag-within-a-bag.<\/strong> There\u2019s one unique feature<\/strong> of the Potomac that sold me on it over other rolling laptop bags.<\/p>\n That feature is the pull-out messenger bag that forms your laptop storage compartment. You can put your laptop, a tablet, a folder or two, a power adapter, and even a GridIt of accessories in this \u201cbag within a bag.\u201d<\/p>\n That gives you two advantages. First, if you roll up to the jetway and the gate attendant absolutely refuses to let you board with the rolling bag, you slide the small one out and let them gate-check the roller.<\/p>\n Is this the perfect laptop bag? 5 field-test reviews. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n This can be done in seconds<\/strong> vs. the usual chaos of trying to find and extract important items before they take your bag away.<\/p>\n You not only have access to all your important stuff on the flight, you also prevent your expensive gear and valuable data from being turned over to sketchy baggage handlers.<\/p>\n The second advantage to this pull-out bag is at your destination. If you have meetings to attend, instead of showing up with a bulky rolling bag, you can take what you need in the comparatively sleek and business-like messenger bag. It\u2019s handy for things like taking your computer and a few papers to work in a hotel lounge or coffee shop, too.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve only taken a few trips trips with the Potomac, but so far it has worked as expected. I haven\u2019t yet had a problem stowing it overhead, and the inside bag has been handy both on the flights and at my destination. The Potomac holds all my electronic gear, my headphones, and a few small clothing items with ease.<\/p>\n There are only a few things not to like.<\/p>\n First, it\u2019s blocky and and the two big compartments are semi-rigid. This offers good protection for what\u2019s inside, but limits your ability to squeeze the bag into tight spaces. Even removing the inner bag doesn\u2019t actually let you compress it much.<\/p>\n Second, I find the appearance to be utilitarian. It\u2019s well-styled, but the Potomac is clearly a ballistic nylon computer bag. Soft, flexible leather construction for both inner and outer bags would be more to my taste but would probably compromise weight, durability, and protection.<\/p>\n The third issue is the slightly deceptive \u201covernight\u201d compartment closest to the handle. It looks huge from the outside, but the handle assembly takes up a good part of the space inside. The compartment is still useful, but is best for small or soft items that can fill the space on either side of the handle.<\/p>\n Photos, specs, buying info:<\/strong> Potomac from SwissGear by Wenger Computer Double Gusset Rolling Case (Unavailable, but the Wenger luggage Patriot II<\/a> <\/strong>is similar)<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the newest addition to my computer carrier stable. It\u2019s a compact messenger-style bag with carrying handles and a shoulder strap.<\/p>\n My current use for this bag is nearby travel, longer meetings, etc. where I need more capacity than the padfolio. With this bag, I can pack an array of files, my Mac power supply, and even a GridIt or two.<\/p>\n This bag is a bit like my reliable Heritage bag, but with one less big compartment and a much sleeker profile. It\u2019s about a third of the thickness of the Heritage bag. And, the dark brown color is more to my liking.<\/p>\n One trend I\u2019ve seen in my own technology use is that the gear I\u2019m carrying is shrinking. In some cases, I\u2019m able to eliminate items. The last time I used my Ethernet cable was a couple of years ago \u2013 do I still need it?<\/p>\n Similarly, if I have my iPad, do I really need the space to carry paper books on trips?<\/p>\n I see this bag as the future for my business travel. As I continue to slim down my essential gear, I\u2019m quite certain I could use this bag to replace the much bulkier Heritage bag.<\/p>\n The one item that really overloads this bag is the case holding my Bose QC-15 headphones. I\u2019ve found the superb noise attenuation they provide essential for long flights. One solution I\u2019ve used occasionally with my Heritage bag is to attach the headphone case to one of the bag\u2019s carry handles with a carabiner. It\u2019s not a great solution, but it works for getting on and off planes and keeping the headphones handy.<\/p>\n A better solution, perhaps, would be to switch to Bose earbuds. Reviews suggest they aren\u2019t quite as good at sealing out cabin noise, but they would offer an enormous size advantage over my QC-15s.<\/p>\n Sometime soon I\u2019ll take this bag on a business trip and report on my findings.<\/p>\n Conclusion.<\/strong> The Latico Laptop Briefcase is attractive and roomy enough to hold technology essentials \u2013 laptop and tablet, power supplies, and a modest amount of other gear. It\u2019s the future for my business travel. (I hope!)<\/p>\n Photos, specs, and buying info: Latico Park Avenue Laptop Briefcase<\/strong>. (Unavailable, but the Time Resistance Leather Briefcase<\/a><\/strong> is similar)<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Quest for the perfect laptop bag – 5 field-test reviews. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n I know many of my readers are constantly traveling, too. Please share the results of your<\/strong> experience in a comment!<\/p>\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/www.neurosciencemarketing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/TheUltimateLaptopBag.jpg\")
<\/a>While not quite a digital nomad, I do travel quite a bit for speaking engagements and personal trips. When I\u2019m on the go, I want to be able to do anything from anywhere, more or less.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe Paradox of Choice \u2013 Alive and Well<\/h3>\n
This post is really in my \u201cTools\u201d space, but I\u2019d be remiss if I didn\u2019t bring in some marketing psychology. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to speak with Dr. Barry Schwartz, author of the bestseller, The Paradox of Choice<\/em>. (See Is Choice Still a Paradox? With Dr. Barry Schwartz<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\nThe First Conclusion<\/h3>\n
Essential for (almost) any bag<\/h3>\n
<\/a>One very useful approach that facilitates rapid switching<\/strong> is to put all your essential gear on one or two Grid-Its (see Staying Organized with Grid-It<\/a><\/strong>). Not only do these make moving gear a snap, they also prevent your accessories from clumping up in the dark bottom of a bag compartment.<\/p>\nPC Treasures PocketPro Padfolio Portfolio Case<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nOld Reliable \u2013 Heritage Leather Computer Bag<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>Conclusion.<\/strong> This is still my go-to road warrior bag. Don\u2019t be surprised if a few years from now you still see me jet-lagged and bleary-eyed, wheeling this gem off a red-eye on top of my Delsey carry-on.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\nSwissGear Potomac Rolling Laptop Bag by Wenger<\/h3>\n
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\nI did far more research on this purchase than I did when buying my last car. Finding the right combination of features was surprisingly difficult. The key features I wanted were:<\/p>\n\n
Conclusion.<\/strong> If you want a computer bag that rolls<\/strong>, this may be the best choice due to the removable messenger bag. It isn\u2019t high fashion and it\u2019s a bit bulky, but it gets the job done.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\nLatico Men\u2019s Park Avenue Laptop Briefcase<\/h3>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\nSee also: Laptop Backpack Guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
Your Turn \u2013 What\u2019s Your Top Choice for Tech Travel?<\/h3>\n
Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n