Links to Notebook Bag Makers, Dealers and Reviews

[NgCir]

Cheers Pommie. This is my second booq (had a backpack previously) and I've yet to find another bag that offers better design, protection, comfort, all rolled into one.

[Cin']

Originally Posted by NgCir

I just received the Booq Vyper exo XL and I thought since I haven't found many reviews on it that I would provide one here. This bag is specifically made for 17" Macbook Pros, though I can imagine it could accommodate other 15" and slim 17" laptops. It was purchased directly from Booq for $149.00.

Quality and Materials -
The materials used in this bag are all of a higher quality than the last Booqbag that I owned, which is to say they appear to be excellent. The outer shell itself, made of semi-rigid ballistic nylon and reinforced with layers of molded foam, is stiffer and more resilient than I thought it would be. Seams are generally well made and without doubt very strong. Zippers and velcro are also strong and high quality.

Its a bit smaller than I expected it would be, which I'm happy about. It measures a few extra centimeters in length and depth than the 17" Mbp.

The strap appears to be the same type of nylon used in seat belts and the buckles and clasps have a nice weight and solidity to them. The spring on the clasp is easy to depress and makes removing the strap from any position very easy. The strap with the pad is very comfortable to wear.

The handles are thick and soft which provide a comfortable and sure grip.

The bottom, which isn't illustrated anywhere that I've seen, is a strip of perforated leather (pleather?). Its quite nice, but it does not allow the bag to stand on its own. You'll either always have to lie it on its side or lean it up against something.

A nice thick velcro strap holds the laptop in place in the laptop compartment (it'll even keep it in place if you open the bag and hold it upside down. The compartment itself has some type of felt material on the back which is fairly rigid. The material on the front of the compartment seems to be a padded neoprene which is stretchy. There is a very narrow pocket on the front of the compartment for papers, passports, phones, etc. The laptop sits snug in the compartment.
With the laptop inserted.

On the opposite side of the bag are two narrow zippered nylon pockets fronted by two stretchy neoprene sleeves, and three pen holders.

There are also two larger nylon pockets, one of which is zippered.

Capacity-
I wasn't looking for a huge bag considering I already have to carry a 17" laptop. I basically needed a bag for travel that could accommodate a bare minimum of required items. The capacity of the bag was actually somewhat surprising.

I was able to fit everything you see in this pic, which for me is more than enough. Included were: the laptop, a cd, passports, ipod, usb mouse, mouse pad, usb, firewire and power cable, power brick, in-ear headphone case, eyeglass case, phone, 2 magazines, a medium sized book, and a bottle of coke.
Definitely a tight fit, but it wasn't difficult to close or anything and I probably could have included more. One of the primary reasons I bought this Mbp instead of another Sager was so I wouldn't have to lug around 15+ pounds.

Conclusion-
This bag is definitely recommended. Its the right size for a thin 17" laptop if you don't have to also carry around loads of peripherals. It seems strong and the semi-rigid exterior gives a definite sense of added security. Also, while mentioning security, each bag has a small metal plaque with a unique serial number which can be registered, so if you misplace the bag someone (a kind someone) who finds it can get your bag back to you very easily.

There is one thing which slightly irritates me, though I'm not sure if its because of the way it was transported to me (my uncle had it in his luggage) and that is the fact that the two sides when zippered closed do not match up exactly. You can see what I mean in the picture of the handles above. This may be the way its built, but more likely I think it just got a little deformed in the luggage and I imagine it will probably return to its intended form eventually.

Pros:
great construction and materials
solid protection
comfortable handles and strap
nice design
possible to register the bag

Cons:
not a huge amount of space
can't stand on its own (I'm ambivalent about this one)
possible build defect where the sides don't match up perfectly (verdict still out)
pretty expensive

Hope this review helps some to make their bag purchasing decisions.

Oh, by the way this bag can also be purchased in a size made for the 15" variety of MBPs

@NgCir!
Wow! This is an awesome review you did on the bag...
I really liked all the information included, and the pics are amazing!
This appears to be a great, quality bag!

Kudos! and a well deserved +Rep!

Cin

[rambo5501]

What about this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

have heard many good things about it.

[Cin']

Originally Posted by rambo5501

What about this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

have heard many good things about it.

The Swiss Gear Pegasus is an excellent lappy backpack!
Swiss Gear is just an *all around* reliable, durable and great brand!


Cin

[Fragilexx]

With the change in notebooks to 15.6", it's becoming frustrating to find one that fits my Inspiron 1545 and is waterproof. Why is it that so many of these sites simply do not have the dimensions of the laptop compartment as well. Instead I find myself using reviews to find out what laptops fit, then finding the dimensions of those and see if my laptop will fit.

Curse you Dell for making this notebook half an inch too big for my existing swissgear back!!!!

Let's hope the new one I ordered will be ok. When I get it I will let you all know.

[ganzonomy]

I'd like to add Vanguard. I have a Vanguard Supreme 38 on order for my sager

Jason

Here's its page

Vanguard Supreme 38

Yea, I like a heavy duty case that I can hold a lot in and won't get wet or my papers mushy.

Jason

[zimbros12]

Originally Posted by ganzonomy

I'd like to add Vanguard. I have a Vanguard Supreme 38 on order for my sager

Jason

Here's its page

Vanguard Supreme 38

Yea, I like a heavy duty case that I can hold a lot in and won't get wet or my papers mushy.

Jason

Man this thing looks pretty tough.>>

[slipkid]

Originally Posted by Fragilexx

With the change in notebooks to 15.6", it's becoming frustrating to find one that fits my Inspiron 1545 and is waterproof. Why is it that so many of these sites simply do not have the dimensions of the laptop compartment as well. Instead I find myself using reviews to find out what laptops fit, then finding the dimensions of those and see if my laptop will fit.

Curse you Dell for making this notebook half an inch too big for my existing swissgear back!!!!

What he said.

Just bought a 1545 and had some cases picked out on-line when it occured to me that they were all 15.4 but this laptop screensize is 15.6.

To be safe I will assume that I can't use a 15.4 case (but if anyone knows of any that can fit 15.6 laptops please let me know)!!!