Good backpacks for a 15" MBP? [updated with 15-year post-mortem review]

[somevelvet]

There's lots of smart shoulder bags, for sure, but my shoulders are kinda destroyed after years of carrying around record bags and such, so I kinda have to get a backpack. Unfortunately, the one I bought for my 12"PB last year doesn't quite do it for my lovely new MBP--so anyone got any suggestions? Preference given to ones that actually look kinda nice.

Thanks!

 

[NewSc2]

I was considering the Booq ones, but I ended up going to the Apple store and finding an Incase one for about $60 (might've been $70).

It looks just like the Booq ones and is about $100 cheaper. It fits up to 17" but your 15" should be fine in the slot. The laptop slot is padded on all sides. It looks great and sleek.

A lot of music hardware companies make bags if you're looking for something with storage for records, mixers, controllers and such. I can't really gauge what you're doing with the bag from your post...

 

[Boxer]

I just bought a Spire Volt XL. I love it. Its the best bag I have every had. It seems so sturdy. Everything is double and tripple stitched. Very good quality. A little pricey but worth it.

 

[coastertux]

I love all the Brenthaven bags (http://www.brenthaven.com).

 

[Hadley]

just dont buy a marmot small sized (15 litre i think) day pack with back arch. it takes effort fgor me to put my 15"into that bag. not that i bought the pack with the intent of putting my mbp in it though.

 

[shikimo]

I loved my Eastern Mountain Sports backpack, which housed my poor stolen laptop back in the day (i.e. last year)...sharp looking and comfy. I just checked their website and it doesn't seem to be available online, but if you live in the US there might be a store near you.

 

[net26]

just ignore what everyone else said and get a crumpler (joke)

but seriously, i doubt there are ANY bags/backpacks that can compete with crumpler. just my $0.02

 

[Sly]

Spire backpacks are awesome, mine still looks like new and the inner padded sleave fits my Powerbook like a glove.

 

[andrewmulligan]

crumplers are pretty good, but the STM bags are pretty nice.

 

[somevelvet]

Thanks for the advice everybody.

To answer somebody's question, I'll be toting my laptop around town as well as various other stuff (books, glasses, papers etc).

However... I do also have a DSLR camera that I bring with me sometime. I'm starting to think that Crumpler's Sinking Barge bag might be perfect for me, cuz if I can fit both my computer and my camera in the same bag that'd be extremely convenient (especially for travelling). Anyone have any experience with these babies? Do they fit a 15" MBP comfortably?

 

[timnosenzo]

Anyone have any experience with these babies? Do they fit a 15" MBP comfortably?

I had a customary barge, which is slightly bigger. The sinking barge should fit your MBP fine though, the customary had room to spare. It is a BIG bag though, and it doesn't fit a camera with anything more than a kit lens very comfortably. Its a cool bag for when you want to tote your camera around with you, but the rest of the time you might be asking yourself why you're carrying this big backpack around. Its a neat bag, but configured kind of weird.

I picked up one of these:
http://thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AE6G
It fits my 15" MBP in my Incase sleeve very well. Room to spare for books, etc. Nice little bag.

 

[somevelvet]

Hmm... yeah the Barge might be great for travelling but not so much for walking around with. I wish I could try one out in person!

 

[shikimo]

Just out of curiosity, what distant land do you call home, where the only bag shopping you can do is by the internet? I've lived lots of places, but never been deprived of stores full of bags within a day's travel.

As far as crumplers go, I know bike commuters who won't use anything else...I can say the same for Timbuk2, which are great bags to be sure but aren't quite as burly.

 

[somevelvet]

I live in a distant land called... CANADA.

Actually I could do shopping here (in Montreal, where I live), but I haven't seen much I've liked "on the rack," so to speak, so I thought I would try the internet.

 

[somevelvet]

And by "I could do shopping" I mean to say "I could shop." I have no idea why I phrased it that weirdly.

 

[phungy]

Swiss Gear Synergy. It should fit the MBP but I don't know...fits the MB quite nicely though.

 

[Moshiiii]

I have a timbuk2 backpack, its called the Ace Day. I back it 100% but I do like my crumpler better.

 

[somevelvet]

What kind of Crumpler do you have?

 

[shikimo]

And by "I could do shopping" I mean to say "I could shop." I have no idea why I phrased it that weirdly.

Peut-être tu a fait la traduction directement du français??

But if I remember correctly the Quebecois use a different phrase for shopping than "faire le cours," so I'm probably wrong...but I've had French students here write the EXACT same thing, so I had to comment.

Back to business: as you might already know, there's a great bike store in Montreal with wonderful bags--if a bit spendy--on a little side street not far from the big underground mall, but I don't remember the name of it...I remember it being a real cyclers' store, not a rip-you-off-with-overpriced-European-things store like many in North America.

GO HABS!!!

 

[BobVB]

I love all the Brenthaven bags (http://www.brenthaven.com).

I have to second that - I just bought my second Brenthaven for my new MBP and they have improved even over their design of a couple years ago - fine art doesn't get as much soft & luxuriant padding as my MBP now has and they have LOTS of secure zippered pockets. The less than $100 price didn't hurt either.

 

[Moshiiii]

What kind of Crumpler do you have?

I have the shoulder strap luncheon. The timbuk2 is an actual backpack.

 

[BobVB]

I have the shoulder strap luncheon. The timbuk2 is an actual backpack.

I tried a Timbuk2 before getting another Brenthaven but returned it. Yes it can act as a carry or backpack but its a bit schizophrenic about it. It had a large flapped compartment on the outside in 'carry' orientation but it was merely shut with two velcro fasteners. When you are wearing it as a backpack it would be more an act of faith rather than physics that would keep anything not tucked in the compartment's two tiny zippered pockets secure. So if you are using it as a backpack the major storage area is of limited use.

And if you are using it as a carry the backpack shoulder straps aren't detachable but must be awkwardly tucked in a padded space to get them out of the way.

As you can tell I wasn't impressed with the design.

 

[zimtheinvader]

Make this thread sticky?

I've replied to this before, I think alot of people share my view, that the best Apple backpack is the Brenthaven Backpack Pro, available from Brenthaven's site and the Apple store online. This is an excellent pack, professional but not geeky, and the most durable and protective computer case I've ever used. It is also highly practical, as a student and commuter. I've taken it on Rotc field exercises and it protected my powerbook perfectly, not to mention normal class, commute, work, ect. I plan on ordering another with my next Apple notebook, no matter the cost or availability, the cost is justified by the fact that it really does offer a kind of insurance against wear on your precious MBP.

 

[macbookprouser]

search for ogio back packs. i got one for school and it rules. it holds my macbook pro. power cords, external hd, usb cable, and usb mouse plus tons of books and stuff.

 

[islandman]

I love Timbuk2 bags as well!