Before you go ahead and buy a laptop bag, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. There are a number of options out there and it can be easy to get confused and overwhelmed. Just remember that you need to consider your needs before everything else; does the bag you have your eyes on suit those needs? To help, we’ve put together a few factors you should think about before you buy a laptop bag.
Make sure the bag is big enough for your laptop, otherwise it’s going to be useless. Ideally, you should bring your laptop with you when you head out to buy the bag to ensure it fits well. If you’re planning on keeping papers, documents, and other things in the bag as well, go for a larger size.
If you’re buying a bag for professional use, go for practicality, resilience, and convenience over aesthetics. You’re going to want something that’s easy to carry and can fit everything you need inside of it. It should also have extra padding to keep your device safe as you commute to work.
If you’re someone who travels on foot or on a bike often, choose a bag that’s more durable and, preferably, water-repellant. Comfort is something you need to consider here because, if you’re going to carry this bag for a large portion of your day, you need it to be easy and comfortable to carry.
Your bag can’t just have a single compartment for your laptop; it should have multiple pockets and compartments so you can store things like USBs, books, cards, cords, and documents in it as well. All these things need to be kept in a compartment separate from the one your laptop is in to keep it safe from scratches and bumps.
Your laptop bag will be something you’ll be getting a lot of use out of, so get one made of durable, lightweight, waterproof, and resilient fabric. It should have quality, long-lasting zippers and extra padding on both the bag and the shoulder strap to protect your device and for comfort while carrying. Adjustable straps are a big plus, especially if you’re choosing a more versatile design.
The laptop needs to be loaded into these from the top to fit inside comfortably. They provide ease of access and typically come with several exterior pockets.
These have a more professional look than other laptop bags and come with special features like mobile phone pockets and card holders.
These are a great choice for people who are constantly on the move. Not only are they convenient to use, but they are also super stylish. They can be carried as handbags or as crossbody bags.
These are another great choice for travelers, especially ones who’d rather not be lugging around bags over their shoulders or back.
These are more casual-looking and are available in various colors, fabrics, and patterns. They consist of many pockets and extra space for storing things like make-up, your wallet, your phone, and other small accessories.
These are for people who would rather have the weight of their supplies spread evenly across both their shoulders. They’re also considerably safer and come with more features than your average laptop bag.
This nifty bag by Amazon Basics is super easy and comfortable to carry and use. It’s a slim shoulder laptop bag that is specifically designed to provide protection and portability for your electronics — your laptop and tablet, in particular.
The bag’s interior is padded and consists of a separate space to hold your laptop without adding any extra bulk. It also features a multi-compartment design that has room for smaller items like pens, your phone, charging cables, and more. Another storage feature is its front zipped pocket that allows you to store items you might need to access quickly, like your passport, wallet, or airline ticket. It also has a luggage pass-through that allows it to be attached easily to rolling luggage. Because of its convenient, spacious interior and comfort, we’ve chosen this laptop bag as the best on our list.
The E-Tree Laptop Bag is made of Oxford material with a customized metal zipper to hold your laptop. The main laptop compartment features convex foam padding that will keep your device safe from accidental collisions and jerks. The bag can be used either as a regular briefcase with a leather-wrapped handle or as a shoulder bag with a detachable shoulder strap.
As for storage, it features multiple pockets for your possessions. The main compartment is partitioned into two large pockets, with one for your laptop and the other for charging cables, a mouse, books, documents, or a tablet. This laptop bag also comes with a luggage strap, making it suitable for business travel.
This laptop bag by Targus is perfect for those looking to carry their laptop or tablet in a stylish, convenient manner. It’s very versatile and can be carried normally on a single shoulder, held as a briefcase, or used as a crossbody bag. The bag also comes with a trolley strap so you can even attach it to your rolling luggage while traveling.
Best of all, it offers a decent amount of space for people who aren’t looking to travel with too much paperwork. The slim look adds to its overall appeal but does not compromise its ability to keep your possessions safe.
The Lenovo Laptop Shoulder Bag T210 is a modern-looking, budget-friendly laptop bag made of water-repellent nylon. Not only does it look good and comes in a variety of different colors, but it’s also super effective for keeping your laptop or tablet safe. The bag can fit a laptop up to 15.6 inches in size in its main compartment, which is well-padded and has a velcro strap to hold your device in place. The bag may not have many compartments, but it does promise maximum protection for what you can fit inside it.
This laptop bag has a single external pocket with an invisible zipper where you can store files and documents, along with an adjustable shoulder strap that can be detached if you need to carry it as a handbag. In case you want to hold it like a briefcase, it comes with a pair of detachable nylon handles as well.
This laptop bag by Voova is a business briefcase-style laptop bag that features a padded compartment for laptops up to 15.6 inches. The cushioned inner laptop sleeve comes with a velcro strap to secure your laptop in place, preventing it from moving around as you carry it. Its outer material is water-resistant and extremely durable, while the inner lining is made of a soft silk-like fabric that makes accidental scratches on your device next to impossible.
One of the best features of this bag is its expandability. The invisible expansion zipper is located at the bottom of the bag and when unzipped, adds an extra 1.77 inches to its inner space. It can also easily be converted into a briefcase, a shoulder bag, or a handbag.
A: The main difference is that you can carry a backpack on your back, while you have to carry the bag on one of your shoulders or grip it in your hand. Many backpacks have removable straps and can be used as single-shoulder bags as well, so buying a backpack is preferable.
A: You don’t need to, but if you’re paranoid about the protection the bag will provide for your device on its own, there’s no harm in adding a sleeve. That said, it’s advisable to invest more money in a laptop bag with better padding for that extra protection.
A: You won’t need to wash your laptop bag unless it’s become stained with something that can’t be removed with a wet cloth or some dusting. These bags aren’t typically meant to be washed because of all the padding they contain, so you should be extremely gentle if you do need to wash them. Washing instructions are different for all materials, so you need to take a look at the instructions included with your bag.
