Like it or not, two things dominate our world: the proliferation of personal electronics, and the desire to carry them everywhere we go. This has inspired many different takes on the method of transportation.
Backpacks, once a staple on school campuses, have blossomed into daily usage so people can achieve connectivity with their electronic world as conveniently as possible. Messenger bags offer the same convenience in a sleeker appearance.
A variety of sizes, shapes, and designs means the backpack or messenger bag is more than just a way to tote around your stuff. It is an extension of your style.
While style is nice, a bag also needs to have safety and protection in mind so people can feel secure about carrying around their computers or tablets without fear of damage. Padding is great but can make a pack feel bulky, so achieving that balance is important from a user fatigue standpoint.
Solo New York Altitude Backpack
A new backpack design from Solo combines lightweight materials with plenty of room in a surprisingly small package. The New York Altitude backpack features a fully padded laptop compartment and internal tablet or iPad pocket for all computing needs.
The backpack is made with parachute nylon to reduce weight and offers multiple compartments for secure storage that are easily accessible. The bag uses aviator-inspired hardware and military-grade Velcro for attaching patches as well, personalizing the pack to the user’s tastes.
While the specs tout the bags ability to hold laptops up to 17.3 inches, the compact design of the backpack makes it seem like a dream. However, my own laptop, which measures 17.3 inches, fit snugly and securely in the main pocket while maintaining a slim look.
Zippered pockets on the sides and front make storage of sunglasses, keys, or smartphones easy and keeps them within reach quickly. It’s also a great companion for travel, because even fully loaded, it doesn’t take up a lot of room while carrying everything you need.
STM Judge
Messenger bags are usually great for limiting the amount of bulk to carry around, but it sometimes feels like a trade-off on capacity and electronics protection. The STM Judge bag combines plenty of pocket space and a unique protection design for both laptops and tablets.
A quilted interior keeps all electronics padded, but it’s STM’s Slingtech Protection system that really does the work. Laptops and tablets are suspended in the main compartment, meaning they are away from any impact areas on the exterior, keeping them safer than traditional messenger bag designs.
Convenient zippers and ports for the interior pocket help with charging on the go and keep things organized for easy recovery. Even the sunglasses pocket is fleece-lined to protect your shades.
A detachable, padded shoulder strap also allows for flexibility in how you want to present the bag. The polyester exterior and YKK zippers are also sturdy, meaning you’ll get durability that lasts for many years.
$99.96 at Amazon
SwissGear SA1908
Durability and security don’t have to come at the expense of the contents of your wallet. SwissGear, the makers of the Swiss Army Knife, make a backpack that’s not only functional, but is also TSA friendly.
The SA1908 can secure laptops up to 17 inches in a compartment that, when unfolded, allows for quicker and less stressful checkpoint scanning of your electronic device. An adjustable padded strap adds to the security of the device, keeping it snug inside the main pocket.
The rest of the backpack is loaded with compartments to store smartphones, gaming peripherals, books, or whatever you need to power through the day. An external, expandable water bottle pocket also helps keep users hydrated.
A multi-panel airflow design helps provide comfort and support, which comes in handy more often than you would imagine. The exterior is a ballistic fabric that was originally developed as a material for flak jackets and provides durability and reliability. Just don’t try to stop any bullets with it.
$40.99 at Amazon
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