When travelling for business your laptop bag becomes as attached to you as your handbag, especially as now we are only allowed one piece of hand luggage on a plane. And carrying a laptop usually involves a compromise between style and protection. But it needn't be that way – there are whole ranges of carrying cases out there which combine utility and chic. I tested out three laptop bags which are designed specifically for the female business traveller.
Knomo Samara 15-inch executive ladies laptop bag
What is it like? By far the most feminine of the three I tested, this Knomo bag is truly stylish. It feels as if you are carrying a handbag rather than a business laptop bag and it fits snugly over the shoulder (right and main picture). The Samara is part of Knomo's "super light" collection of ladies' laptop bags. There are various distinctive styles and it is worth taking a look on the website for one that suits you.
Features There are two outside pockets. One (which is against you when you walk) is open, with a separate zip compartment, and the other is under the flap at the front of the bag. The interior is pink and grey and in the middle is the padded laptop compartment, which can fit most 15-inch laptops (including MacBook Pro 15.4 inch). The two other sections on either side of the padded laptop area feature a mobile phone compartment and notebook compartments for organisation. There is also a cable "bundle" bag. The Knomo tracker system with an individual ID number means your bag can be traced should you lose it (and should someone be honest enough to try and return it).
Dimensions 41 x 30 x 14cm; laptop section 37 x 24 x 5cm; weight 1.4kg.
Colour The Samara is made with full hide leather and nylon twill, and comes in both black (available from last month) and cinder (above).
Price £150
Contact Order online at knomo.co.uk or call +44 (0)800 043 7924.
Verdict A delight to carry around, although at times I did feel as if I was carrying a satchel rather than a handbag because of all my papers padding it out. It is smart and stylish and there are plenty of pockets and compartments to keep you organised. On the down side, despite being the around the same size as the Samsonite and LIPS bags, there is not much room for expansion, if you want to cram more in.
Samsonite Pro-DLX-F laptop bag
What is it like? The bag comes in three colours and I had the tobacco one (pictured above). At first sight it looks bulky and uninteresting, and not very feminine at all. However, after carrying it around for a few days, I began to like its spaciousness and the pale striped interior is a nice touch. The shape of the bag is tapered so when carrying it on your shoulder it does have the feel of a large handbag rather than a case. I found the size useful but sometimes overfilled it, which made it a little heavy to lug around.
Features Made from armoured nylon, with handles of soft nappa leather (there is a padded shoulder strap which is easily fitted). There is a built-in laptop compartment in the middle section of the bag which was spacious, and it did not feel as if my laptop would stay in one place unless I put papers down on either side of it. The other inner compartment had plenty of space for notebooks and pockets for organisation. There are also two outer zip pockets, one with mobile phone holder and organiser, the other just for paper and a keyring holder.
Dimensions 42 x 37 x 15cm; capacity 22.5 litres. (Also available in small and medium.)
Colours Black, tobacco and ochre.
Price £115
Contact samsonite.com
Verdict The catalogue describes these bags as "elegant female laptop briefcases", and on first sight I was not convinced, but I did like the interior. After transporting my laptop around in it (as well as a selection of notebooks and papers), I felt it was more practical than elegant. The size is a bonus although it can be quite heavy to carry if you fill it to its maximum capacity, despite the padded shoulder strap.
L.I.P.S. (Laptop impact protection system) Ladies Carry Case
What is it like? This black carry case is neat and compact (pictured middle and bottom). It does not look very feminine but is small enough to carry on the shoulder and easily meets hand-luggage requirements with enough space for a few on-board essentials. I filled it with notes, notebooks and my Mac laptop, as well as a change of clothes, while my small handbag fitted snugly into the outer compartment.
Features Inside, the case is a vibrant red. To protect your laptop the main compartment has a lightweight steel protective frame, which you strap your machine into with Velcro straps. The case can fit a laptop with a 15-inch screen and, once strapped in, my laptop did not move around. However, it can be easily removed when going through security. Another bonus is the interior lighting system, which illuminates each time the compartment is opened – very useful when scrabbling around on the move. There is also an A4 zip-down workstation with storage for your mobile phone and pockets for other accessories. The bag comes with a detachable shoulder strap and a cable bag.
Dimensions 40 x 34 x 9cm; weight 1.3kg.
Colours Available in black with a distinctive red interior. There are five other lightweight carry cases to choose from on the website.
Price £55
Contact lipsbags.com, tel +44 (0)1923 446150.
Verdict The protection panel is no gimmick and definitely keeps your machine secure. The size is a real bonus too as, despite being compact, even with the other pockets stuffed full it did not feel bulky to carry around. There are plenty of pockets for papers and documents. I am not sure why it is designated a "ladies" carry case as it is not very feminine, except for detail on the zips, but it was certainly well-equipped for my needs on a five-day trip abroad.
Five other options
1. Kipling bags: The Becky
The pretty floral look belies the hardwearing water-resistant 420-denier nylon. Lightweight and practical, with pockets for cables and a removable padded PC sleeve.
Dimensions 40 x 29 x 17.5cm
Price £92 (or £83 in plain colours)
Contact kipling.com
2. Oi Laptop bags: The Hepburn
The laptop compartment has air-gel protection and there are pockets for accessories.The ladies' range is named after iconic film stars such as Hepburn, Novak and Garbo. The Hepburn (left) comes with a plaited leather handle.
Dimensions 42 x 34.5 x 11.5cm
Price £59.99
Contact oitreasure.co.uk
3. Sony VAIO ladies bag
Designed by Mandarina Duck for Sony VAIO C laptops up to 13.3 inches, the bag has a removable slip cover, a separate organiser and a detachable leather purse. Comes in white, black, pink and green.
Dimensions 38 x 29 x 11cm
Price £199
Contact shop.sonystyle-europe.com, +44 (0)207 365 2947
4.Tumi: Signature Business Flap Briefcase
Part of the Signature women's range, this is a practical business-like bag which features a removable computer pouch, organiser pockets and a file-divider section. It also comes with a detatchable shoulder strap.
Dimensions 40.5 x 27.5 x 10.25cm
Price £330
Contact Harrods +44 (0)207 730 1234
5. Tech Air Ladies Bag
A simple shoulder bag with one main compartment and three other pockets for papers. Tech Air also produces removable waterproof pockets called Skinns, which come in a range of sizes and can hold a laptop or notebooks and a mobile (useful if you are hot-desking or always on the move).
Dimensions 42 x 32 x 10cm (laptop 36.5 x 29.3 x 5.1cm); weight 1kg
Price £44.99
Contact techair.co.uk
