Laptop in ya backpack

**clint640** · 19th September 2007, 12:33

Cactus do a nice unit:

http://www.cactusclimbing.co.nz/inde...mart&Itemid=19

Pricey but NZ made & real good quality.

Cheers
Clint

**Nasty** · 19th September 2007, 12:34

I also travel with my laptop on my back or in the givi .. work has purchased a laptop backpack which has sufficient padding to ride with. Have a look at the work stationary catelogues .. also HP does some ... etc.

**klingon** · 19th September 2007, 13:10

A tip when carrying a laptop on a pack rack or bungeed to your seat:

Definitely pad it all over the outside, but also add a bit of padding between the screen and the keyboard. This is where the vibrations can really cause havoc. For example, put a thin sheet of bubble wrap in there, or some of that thin white woven stuff that looks like polystyrene but isn't (sorry, can't describe it

)

I carried my laptop in a backpack for a while but found the weight up high on my shoulders quite tiring and restrictive. I much prefer to carry that weight attached to the bike rather than me, and as low as possible.

HTH

**Luckylegs** · 19th September 2007, 13:34

I carry my laptop daily to and from work. Its probably not the solution you were referring to, but just to back up an earlier comment re vibration, I carry mine by putting my laptop bag into my pack rack bag. Ive been doing this for some time and not had any trouble. The only thing I do when carrying something "breakable" is to mount the rack bag so its sitting on the pillion seat rather than on the pack rack shelf. I work on the theory that this gives a slightly softer ride and a little more protection (from the rack itself) to the bag and its contents...

Out of interest, I consider my pillions "breakable" too and always let them sit on the pillion seat, rather than the pack rack shelf...

**Lil_Byte** · 19th September 2007, 13:39

Targus do some nice waterproof laptop backbacks.

I had one for ages after my laptop went west somewhere on the Auckland Southern motorway when I had it bungied to my pack rack.

**MotoGirl** · 19th September 2007, 17:23

Cajun and I both have laptop backbacks (i.e. a normal backpack with a compartment inside it) and have never had a problem even with everyday use. We got Cajun's one for $70 from Strandbags and it was a bloody bargain. Also, it doesn't look like a laptop bag so is less likely to get pinched.

**davereid** · 19th September 2007, 20:35

I've gone back to putting my laptop on my back, even though its annoying, and I have plenty of space in my top-box. Its just that I always find a screw or something has come off when its in the top box. Anyone else noticed that ?

**ceebie13** · 19th September 2007, 22:23

I literally got back from Napier today with my PowerBook sandwiched in clothing inside a sports hold-all which was bungeed on to the tail rack of the CB. Funnily enough thats how it got to Napier too. Must admit to winceing as I went over bumpy bits of road, but 600ks later and here I am using said laptop to type thi

**sefer** · 20th September 2007, 00:33

I've got one of those targus backpacks, have yet to test it waterproofness though.

It's pretty good, quite heavy compared to a regular back pack of about the same size, but much better protection for my laptop with a separate internal pocket, plus two other zipped compartments for light clothes/books/etc, and a few smaller pockets too.

**scracha** · 20th September 2007, 01:20

Originally Posted by HungusMaximist

You definitely want to spend your money on a laptop backpack, but don't pay over one hundy because you'd be wasting your money.

Yeah, course they are. I mean, who'd want to pay extra for a proper laptop bag that's been shock tested.

Repeat after me...there are NO BARGAINS ON NEW STUFF ON TRADEME

**mitchilin** · 20th September 2007, 21:11

Bought mine from there.Seems ok.Comfortable enough and seems to be good quality.Heaps of room for other stuff.

**90s** · 24th September 2007, 14:21

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

If you like the idea of a backpack you can get purpose-made backpack laptop carry bags, e.g. http://www.targus.com/AU/cases_notebook_backpacks.asp

Many tankbags are too small for a laptop, they're high and wide, but not long enough.

At work we're issued with a Targus like the City one. I can't see the exact one on the website, but its huge, heavy, uncomfortable and annoying. It is bullet proof though.

I tried to fit our 14" IBM laptop into my oxford tank bag, but I almost bust the zips. So I use the bag. I also worry a little about the effect of the magnets! (see another current thread on this controversial debate.)

The only benefit of a backpack is the volume - last week I did the full mobile teaching thing with a laptop, video projector and fax machine in the bag as well as some book etc. I wouldn't like to hit the ground on that though even with my back protector!

**916Senna** · 25th September 2007, 13:44

Dell make a laptop back pac that has more than enough pockets to lose shit it, holds my Dell 17" machine warm and dry on the bike ...also good for the travelling on planes etc

**kaz** · 26th September 2007, 08:21

I'm glad this thread came up. I recently took a laptop from work home in the shoulder bag that came with the laptop.

Clearly it was not designed to hold together in a definite kinda way. As I accelerated through an intersection I had a bad feeling...something was wrong...

I pulled over and looked back. I was still wearing the shoulder strap but the rest of the bag, with the laptop, was back on the road. Luckily the big truck behind me had seen it and stopped and the guys just waited for me to scamper back and collect it.

**90s** · 26th September 2007, 11:10

Originally Posted by kaz

I'm glad this thread came up. I recently took a laptop from work home in the shoulder bag that came with the laptop.

Clearly it was not designed to hold together in a definite kinda way. As I accelerated through an intersection I had a bad feeling...something was wrong...

I pulled over and looked back. I was still wearing the shoulder strap but the rest of the bag, with the laptop, was back on the road. Luckily the big truck behind me had seen it and stopped and the guys just waited for me to scamper back and collect it.

Now that's a bad day!

How was the laptop? I think my acer would be in pieces if I dropped it.