Most people who ’ve used a knapsack — laptop or otherwise — have at one metre or another worn it on one articulatio humeri . While perhaps convenient , doing so is n’t exactly full for your back , as those who ’ve carried around a plurality full of textbooks this way can evidence .
Over the past decade or so , a more ergonomic option has become popular : slingback suitcase . These bags often seem very much like knapsack , but are designed with only a single strap — one that crosses from one side of the dish to the other and distributes the bag ’s weight more evenly . You get one - shoulder strap convenience without the back stress , along with the ability to cursorily swing the bag around to access its contents . More to the pointedness for Mobile Mac , a number of producer are now making sling bag for bear your laptop . These bag incline to be smaller and lighter than a traditional backpack and ca n’t hold as much cargo , but for those times when you do n’t need to carry a route warrior ’s arsenal , a catapult is a practical alternative to a backpack or traditional laptop bag .
Over the retiring few weeks , I ’ve been testing three such dish — one each from Tom Bihn , Everki , and Incase .
The Buzz
Tom Bihn’sBuzz($120 ) is usable in nine colour combinations and fit 15 - inch MacBook Pros and littler laptop . Made of water supply - resistant , 1000 - denier Cordura nylon with “ swash - proof ” zipper closures , the company says the Buzz “ will protect your gear in heavy pelting but you would n’t want to cast it in the drink . ” The chief compartment feature a foam laptop arm ( made of a three - bed , 1/4 - inch , foam laminate , according to the companionship ) , but instead of the standard slide - in arm design , the Buzz uses an interesting folder - style approach .
The entire back of the triangular bandage — one “ side ” of the booklet — is aggrandize ; you slip your laptop computer into the main compartment and then another nylon - handle froth section — the other “ side ” of the folder — pulls up and over the corner of your laptop computer , securing it in topographic point . This design proffer protection similar to that of a traditional sleeve , but let you slip your laptop out of the pocketbook from either the top or the side . On the other handwriting , because of this corner - secure purpose , 15 - inch laptops correspond dead but small notebooks ( the MacBook , 12 - inch PowerBooks ) slide around ; they can even slew the right way up against the unpadded left side of the Buzz , which could result in damage if you dismiss the travelling bag on that side . In other words , this dish is a much well primed for 15 - inch laptop computer than smaller ones .
The Buzz ’s single , adjustable shoulder strap sleep on your right shoulder and crosses your chest to the left side of your shank . Like the other two bag overcompensate here , the shoulder strap features a quick - passing warp that makes it gentle to put the bag on and take it off ; you do n’t have to deplumate it over your head as you do with some sling pocketbook . On the strap is a cushioned pouch that fit any iPod or wandering phone , most smart headphone and , harmonize to Tom Bihn , the upcoming iPhone ; this hard - padded shoulder strap - pocket is the most protective I ’ve yet seen from a laptop bag . A smaller waistline rap with a plastic warp keeps the bag from flopping around ( for good example , while riding a bike ) . Of the three bag cover here , I found the Buzz to be the most comfortable to bust , even though it offers no padding or mesh material on the back . On the other manus , the Buzz ’s top - mounted carrying handgrip was the worst of the three ; it ’s simply a tenuous , unpadded nylon shoulder strap .
In term of memory infinite , with a laptop computer in the Buzz , there ’s still way for a couple book . A disjoined front pocket includes the requisite labor organizer panel with two pen slots , two nylon pouches , and a fundamental fob . However , this sack is n’t very enceinte ; of these three bags , the Buzz can accommodate the least amount of additional “ stuff ” in its outer pocket . On the other handwriting , an elastic side pocket , which also includes two adjustable shoulder strap , can firmly hold a weewee bottle or umbrella on the outside of the bag .
Perhaps the best feature of the Buzz is its body-build quality . The stuff are thick and broken , and the base practice prominent , sturdy zippers . The pack looks and feels well made — made in the U.S. , in fact , unlike most laptop bagful these days — and includes a lifetime warranty .
Fling Light 13″ Laptop Sling Pack
Everki’sFling Light 13″ Laptop Sling Pack($40 ) is the most inexpensive sling bag I ’ve examine . It ’s usable in contraband with either blue-blooded , tusk , or flax trim and fits only modest laptops — MacBooks or 12 - column inch PowerBooks . Although also made of 1000 - denier nylon , the Fling does n’t have the same solid spirit as the other two ( more expensive ) bag here and has the thinnest cushioning . It also use an very different laptop - storage pattern : when you unzip the primary compartment — like the Buzz , above , the zip run from the top all the mode down the left side — your laptop computer slides , horizontally , into a sleeve - like area at the bottom of the bag .
A second expanse at the top of the main compartment , separated by a removable , cushioned roadblock , can have a force adapter and cables or other smaller token . Although the Fling fits the 13 - in MacBook , the laptop compartment is averytight set . In fact , if you ’ve got something like a Speck SeeThru orMacessity BookShell — a thin , polycarbonate case that add only a few millimeters to your laptop ’s dimensions — on your MacBook , you ca n’t zip the Fling close . And once you ’ve engender your laptop in the Everki , there ’s really no way for record book or other items .
Like the Buzz , the Fling ’s adjustable shoulder strap rests on your good shoulder and crosses to the left side of your waist . A less - square buckle put up exchangeable quick - release functionality , although the Fling ’s strap also secures via Velcro — a low-spirited - technical school but effective backup in case you accidentally unclip the buckle . ( The downside is that using the warp to absent the Fling means you have to also “ undo ” the Velcro — a noisy process in a schoolroom or library . ) The strap also provides two storage pouches : an elastic and rubber - mesh pocket near the top for carrying a phone or iPod , and a nylon pocket at the waist with a Velcro - come together flap . Unfortunately , neither of these pocket offers much padding or feels very secure . On the positive side , the Fling is the well-fixed bag of the three to “ swing around ” for flying access to its contentedness ; the fragile , padded grip on top is a comfortable alternative for carry the bagful ; and a wooden-headed , mesh launching pad on the back assist with comfort , especially on red-hot day .
The Fling ’s organiser compartment is an telling display of pockets and pouch . Within this compartment are four padded and line pouches ( one specifically made for sunglasses , one for an iPod or other media player ) ; three mesh pouches ; a stage business - plug-in pocket ; three elastic playpen holders ; a key fob ; and a large , zippered storage pouch . Even the most obsessional - determined organiser will discover a spot for all their poppycock here . ( There ’s also a large , pencil eraser - mesh pouch on the outside of the cup of tea , although it closes via a single Velcro “ push button , ” so this pouch is n’t very safe . )
Sling Pack
Incase’sSling Pack($70 ) , available only in shameful , fits all current Mac laptop computer , including the 17 - in MacBook Pro . You would think this would mean that smaller notebooks , such as the 13 - inch MacBook , would slide around quite a mo , but even that model check quite well thanks to the Sling Pack ’s traditional cushioned ( and “ faux - fur”-lined ) arm with an elastic panel at the top .
The Sling Pack is more like a traditional laptop back pack in other ways , as well : it open from the top ; it put up more storage distance than the Everki and Tom Bihn simulation — enough for several rule book — and it offer the most padding and protection of the three bag ( the sleeve actually “ float ” off the bottom of the udder for added seismic disturbance protection ) . It ’s also the most occupation - like of the three sling bags .
Although the Sling Pack ’s adjustable shoulder strap offers a similar quick - release buckle for easy on / off , the strap rests on your left shoulder , crossing to your right side near the bottom of your rib coop . A great , heavily - padded , zippered air pocket at the bottom of the strap can bind a small digital camera , a wandering phone , or an iPod ; a pencil eraser - reinforced headphone - cable hole is provide for the latter . The top of the bag sport a sparse , nylon - and - rubber carrying strap .
Like most Incase ingroup I ’ve seen , the Sling Pack ’s main ( laptop computer ) compartment also contains the organizer panel — in this casing , you get two fatheaded - meshwork pouches , two elastic - mesh sac , and two zippered pockets . However , you do n’t get any pen holders , which is a bit odd for a laptop bag . On the outside of the traveling bag is another enceinte , zippered pocket . at long last , the Pack features one “ hidden ” pocket , a zippered one pucker in between the two web launch area on the back of the bag ; this pocket is useful for storing detail , such as a pass or tickets , that you postulate to get to promptly .
