Help me find a bag for a 20" laptop.
August 3, 2010 10:06 AM Subscribe
I need a chic bag for a really really big laptop. Google has failed me.
I recently bought a 20" laptop that I love, I just don't love dragging it around in a giant totebag through airports and on jobsites. I need a sleek, professional-looking bag for it. Qualifications:
1. The actual dimensions of the behemoth are 16"x12"x1.5". The AC adapter is an annoying 3"x7"x1.5". Everything should fit neatly.
2. It would be great if there was a way to get though airport security faster with it- if it was the flip out or slide out kind of bag, but it's not a dealbreaker if it doesn't have that. Sometimes they're more trouble than they're worth.
3. It absolutely must look nice. Minimalist, sleek design, preferably black. Nothing overly feminine or overly tech-y. Ideally more in the world of an attache than a purse, no big plastic clips or hardware. It doesn't have to be leather so long as the fabric looks tailored and structured.
4. I'm open to different price ranges. I just want to know if the thing that I'm picturing in my head exists.
I've searched the previous bag threads, but many of the companies that make things I've liked don't make them big enough.
I recently bought a 20" laptop that I love, I just don't love dragging it around in a giant totebag through airports and on jobsites. I need a sleek, professional-looking bag for it. Qualifications:
1. The actual dimensions of the behemoth are 16"x12"x1.5". The AC adapter is an annoying 3"x7"x1.5". Everything should fit neatly.
2. It would be great if there was a way to get though airport security faster with it- if it was the flip out or slide out kind of bag, but it's not a dealbreaker if it doesn't have that. Sometimes they're more trouble than they're worth.
3. It absolutely must look nice. Minimalist, sleek design, preferably black. Nothing overly feminine or overly tech-y. Ideally more in the world of an attache than a purse, no big plastic clips or hardware. It doesn't have to be leather so long as the fabric looks tailored and structured.
4. I'm open to different price ranges. I just want to know if the thing that I'm picturing in my head exists.
I've searched the previous bag threads, but many of the companies that make things I've liked don't make them big enough.
I like stuff from SFBags.com. I just took a quick look and they might have something big enough.
posted by kid_dynamite at 10:13 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by kid_dynamite at 10:13 AM on August 3, 2010
I was going to suggest SF bags for this reason. But they are very pricey. They do look sleek and professional, though.
Otherwise, get a sleeve for it, and get a medium Timbuk2 bag. Design it yourself, make it all black, it'll look sleek and elegant. You can then just put the computer in the sleeve through the machine. I don't think you will like the bags that unhook to lie flat and put the computer through, at least I didn't.
posted by micawber at 10:21 AM on August 3, 2010
Otherwise, get a sleeve for it, and get a medium Timbuk2 bag. Design it yourself, make it all black, it'll look sleek and elegant. You can then just put the computer in the sleeve through the machine. I don't think you will like the bags that unhook to lie flat and put the computer through, at least I didn't.
posted by micawber at 10:21 AM on August 3, 2010
If you want to fit anything else into the bag, I'd be careful with the medium sized timbuk2. I have an old 15.5" Vaio and if I remember correctly, it did not fit into my medium sized timbuk2 messenger bag (but that may have been because I also needed to fit in my textbooks, wallet, etc). I ended up getting a large tote. Not saying it won't fit, but definitely try before you buy if at all possible.
posted by kaybdc at 10:35 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by kaybdc at 10:35 AM on August 3, 2010
It appears that Chrome has a laptop bag, though the size offered on their site may be too small per your specs. I'd suggest giving them a call.
posted by quadog at 10:39 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by quadog at 10:39 AM on August 3, 2010
I own this Nunzia bag, which I think fits your criteria. The sleeve it comes with probably will be too small, but the bag itself is 18" wide, and the reality of it is that it is HUGE. (Note that it says it will fit a 15.4" laptop, but I think that's the constraint of the sleeve size. The briefcase itself is really very big.) I sometimes hate it because of its hugeness, but it really fits everything, looks nice, and comes in a few different colors.
posted by gubenuj at 10:46 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by gubenuj at 10:46 AM on August 3, 2010
My laptop is 16.1" x 12.6" x 2.1" and *just* fits in this bag at ebags. It's not the most stylish bag I own, but it is minimalist and isn't a big-clip, enormous strap computer/messenger bag. I didn't love it, not by a long shot, but it was inexpensive.
ebags lets you sort by laptop size, so it's useful that way, too.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:49 AM on August 3, 2010
ebags lets you sort by laptop size, so it's useful that way, too.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:49 AM on August 3, 2010
Rickshaw Bags makes a large cordura messenger bag that measures 12.5H x 22W x 9D. Never owned one of their bags before, so I can't attest to the quality, but apparently it's owned by the guy who used to own/make Timbuk2 bags. It's customisable, too.
It's pretty sleek looking, though you might have to buy an extra laptop sleeve if you're worried about padding...
posted by zennish at 10:59 AM on August 3, 2010
It's pretty sleek looking, though you might have to buy an extra laptop sleeve if you're worried about padding...
posted by zennish at 10:59 AM on August 3, 2010
Also, Tumi also has a large-screen laptop that says it can fit a 17" laptop, but then it says the laptop compartment is only 40cmW, so... try before you buy? Looks very nice, though Tumi tends to be somewhat expensive.
great, this thread is totally bringing out my inner grabby-hands for bag shopping.
posted by zennish at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2010
great, this thread is totally bringing out my inner grabby-hands for bag shopping.
posted by zennish at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2010
Try Mulberry? I'm pretty sure you could find something to fit your needs. This one seems to work, no?
posted by Funky Claude at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by Funky Claude at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2010
I'm thinking of just giving up and getting a briefcase for mine, though the mention of sfbags has me thinking about their HardCase bag now...
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2010
I've had an OGIO "Hip-Hop" bag for 3 years and have found it to be well designed in terms of easy access to stuff. The laptop compartment itself zips open, which is handy for airports. there's also a spacious pocket under the flap which is usually where I keep the power supply. It's got a flat pocket on the back which is good for notebooks, the usual pen slots, and other handy pockets here and there, and laid out so that you don't have to go digging through one to get to another
It's well-made... I wouldn't say I hammer on it by any means, but after 3 years and a few trips around the country it looks pretty much like new.
According to the product page the Hip-hop accommodates "most 17" laptops". They have some other models with similar size descriptions. I'll bet if you contact them (or another company) with your exact dimensions they could tell you which of their bags would fit.
posted by usonian at 11:43 AM on August 3, 2010
It's well-made... I wouldn't say I hammer on it by any means, but after 3 years and a few trips around the country it looks pretty much like new.
According to the product page the Hip-hop accommodates "most 17" laptops". They have some other models with similar size descriptions. I'll bet if you contact them (or another company) with your exact dimensions they could tell you which of their bags would fit.
posted by usonian at 11:43 AM on August 3, 2010
Best answer: Here are all of the bags at ebags.com that will accommodate a laptop of that size.
posted by biggity at 11:55 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by biggity at 11:55 AM on August 3, 2010
There's so many different bags at Etsy. I bet you could find the perfect bag there, and have the seller make one that would fit your laptop and adapter.
posted by lizbunny at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by lizbunny at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions! The e-bags size finder is genius. Unfortunately, a lot of the other suggested bags still aren't big enough once I factored in the AC adapter and miscellaneous items I like to tote around. So while the perfect, most stylish attache in the world eludes me, I found a totally passable black bag for now. Meh. Can't win 'em all.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 3:54 PM on August 4, 2010
posted by Thin Lizzy at 3:54 PM on August 4, 2010
Hello Thin Lizzy - I make a laptop bag that I think will fit your bill well. Check out the 17" Laptop Bag at my site. Here is a link - they come in 8 great colors and are made from recycled plastic water bottles. I hope this helps.
https://www.urbanjunket.com/index.php?content_id=172&product_category=41&product_style_id=18
posted by Urban Junket at 9:52 AM on August 6, 2010
https://www.urbanjunket.com/index.php?content_id=172&product_category=41&product_style_id=18
posted by Urban Junket at 9:52 AM on August 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by raisingsand at 10:13 AM on August 3, 2010