North Face Surge for Macbook Air or another comparable backpack?

[MiamiCANE11]

Was wondering if anyone with the Macbook Air has the North Face Surge backpack and if so, if you wouldn't mind doing a quick reviews and pictures would be great.

Right now I have a Macbook Pro, but I'm getting the Air and then selling it. I use a Tumi Bethune Laptop Backpack for my MBP, but want something that is more prone for a 13" laptop when I get my Air in the next two weeks. I heard the North Face Surge and the Oakley Flak. I'm interested in both.

I'm a student and need a nice backpack, but one that will secure my MBA. Of course, I will be also buying either a Brenthaven or Incase sleeve to double-secure the MBA. Usually, I carry like one textbook and my laptop and one notebook (spiral) for calculus.

Any help would be definitely appreciated.

thanks

 

[QCassidy352]

I have the Surge, but I use it with a macbook. IMO the laptop compartment would be too big for the Air, as it is quite large even with a macbook. Probably it would work well for you if you had the air in a sleeve inside the bag. (I have my macbook in a waterfield designs sleeve, which is not the slimmest sleeve, and it still fits. It's snug now, but still not terribly tight.) Just the Air in the Surge's laptop compartment would leave too much room for the laptop to move around I think.

Also - on the whole, the Surge is an excellent backpack and I highly recommend it. Lots of separate pockets, lots of space, very well made, and looks good.

edit: I didn't read closely enough. Since you'll be getting a sleeve for the air as well as the backpack, I think you'll be just fine. However, the Surge is going to be *more* than enough space for one textbook, the air, and a spiral notebook. I can fit 3 law school textbooks and my macbook in mine.

 

[MiamiCANE11]

Thanks QCassidy,

Can you post some pictures? How big is it? It says "21" and that seems pretty tall for a backpack.

 

[QCassidy352]

yes I can post pictures, but not until later. Right now I'm at school with no camera.

 

[MiamiCANE11]

Thanks man.

You go to like Georgetown or GW? you said your'e a law student and from wash dc.

 

[QCassidy352]

A few pics. You can see the size comparison to a regular dining room chair, and to a waterfield designs sleeve for a macbook. It is a fairly big backpack, but for a law student, it's perfect (also great for hiking and short trips).

and yeah, I'm a law student in DC.

 

[MiamiCANE11]

I like it. Did you pay full price or get a deal?

 

[bbbshrimp]

Does look pretty good. Any rough size on that?

 

[QCassidy352]

I paid full price, unfortunately. The dimensions are approximately 18x6x11 (height/depth/width). Bigger if you really stuff it full. Also comes in black and a two tone dark blue. I like it a lot.

 

[spazattack674]

I would highly recommend the Surge backpack. I use it for my MacBook, and it works very well. If you put the Air into a sleeve and then into the backpack, it should fit just as well as the MacBook does.

 

[DesignerOnMac]

I like it. Did you pay full price or get a deal?

Checkout either http://www.rei.com in the regular store or the outlet. Also check
http://www.sierratradingpost.com for similar day/backpacks at discounted prices. Or http://www.campmor.com, or http://www.ebay.com

Try a google search for discounted pricing also. I would say the North Face looks too deep for what your looking for to keep the MBA in.

 

[MiamiCANE11]

Tumi backpack currently being used with macbook pro

I wanted to know if this backpack looks like it would work for the Air. It's the Tumi Bethune Laptop Backpack. I love it!

As you can see it has a padded section for the laptop and I was wondering if I slipped it in a sleeve such as the Incase Neoprene or the Trek Sleeve (Brenthaven), if you think it would be very well protected?

 

[MiamiCANE11]

anyone?

 

[kming05]

I am using the incase backpack with a waterfield sleeve, and it fits my air great. Without the sleeve it would definitely be moving around too much, but with the protection provided by both the backpack and the sleeve, i know its always snug and sound inside.

 

[MiamiCANE11]

so im still indecisive as to wat case i should get. it's between the Oakley Flak Pack (Nickel), North Face Surge and Incase Backpack for Macbook, Macbook Pro and all other Macbooks.

Any suggestions or any other backpacks that you recommend?

 

[sealos]

Surge + MBA is works well for me.

I have been using the Surge for about 2 or 3 months now. The first lapper I used with was a 15" MBP naked. I then got the MBA with the Incase sleeve and I was able to take both the MBP and the Incase'd MBA in the same compartment while I was migrating between the two. It was a little tight, but doable.

Now I just the Incase'd MBA by itself and it works like a dream. It doesn't shift much that I have noticed and I feel that the MBA is very well protected.

It has enough room for the MBA, a legal sized portfolio, my timbuk2 accessory bag FILLED with various mac essentials, power cable with the long extension, various travel books, glasses, etc.

I'm in the midst of a 2-week working holiday in Europe and have no problems with this set up getting on/off subways, throwing it in the overhead bins on planes (albeit gently of course).

My ONLY complaint is the front pocket has a flap that has zippers on both sides and another flap that buckles over the top. I just found myself walking down the street when I first got it with one of the zippers unzipped, thus leaving the front pocket open to potential thieves. I now tend to double and sometimes triple check that I'm zipped up.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Sealos

 

[JCT]

I've always been happy with Spire backpacks for my larger notebooks (MBP) -- nicely made, tons of room and *very* comfortable to carry.

SpireUSA .

JT