dmede

New bike commuter here. Like another thread below, I'm working on how to get my laptop back and forth to work with me on my bike. I had just about settled on the Arkel Briefcase. Then, I googled "laptop pannier" and found various people saying they would never put a laptop in a pannier. They'd rather commute with the laptop on their back because it is less vulnerable to vibration from the road that way. Anybody care to comment? Would my laptop be safe in a pannier? Would it be safer on my back? Thanks.

tulip

I have an Arkel briefcase pannier. I added a piece of foam (about 1/2" thick) on each side of the suspended laptop holder inside the briefcase just to be safe. Laptops are too heavy on my back. Arkel panniers are very tight and stable and don't flop around at all.

aiguy

I have had no problem using my Arkel with laptop in almost a year of commuting - including some rough terrain on each ride (trails, poorly-maintained sidewalks designated/mislabelled as "bike paths", and street segments). Needless to say *lots* of bumps.

The Arkel briefcase has a suspension system where you place the laptop in the neoprene inside pouch, then hang the pouch inside the panner by a velcro attachment. This allows the bag, velcro, and neoprene pouch to stretch enough on bumps to eliminate or significantly cushion impacts.

I have found this to work very well, but would be very leery of just placing a laptop in a pannier without this kind of suspension. Perhaps folks who are suspicous of putting their laptop in any pannier are not familiar with the Arkel features.

Guest

I didn't have a problem with my laptop in a pannier. I did bungee cord it snugly so it wouldn't bounce around, but that's about it.

Koffee

BraveSpear

I don't have panniers (yet) but have asked questions similar to yours. I have received a consensus among commuters that a decent pannier system can be used for laptops. An added precaution that most take are to simply wrap a plush bath towel around the laptop to cushion impacts/vibrations. Maybe not the best solution, but could be ideal price point of diminishing returns for you.

daver42

Timbuk2 sells laptop sleeves that look effective enough for you to put a laptop in your pannier.

https://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/c...?categoryId=35

-D

Vision-

That's what I do; I then wrap it in one of those thick plastic recyclable grocery bags. Once I pack my clothes around it there's no room for it to move around. I've been carrying my latest laptop for almost a year (including all winter) and have never had a problem with it.

bigbenaugust 

I have just tossed the laptop, case and all, into the pannier and been fine in the past. But then, I tend to deal with older hardware that's rather tank-like in its construction.

dbg

I prefer backpack but for other reasons as well. I don't want to have to pack and unpack the panniers nor leave them on my bike all day at the train station. I know a backpack will get less harsh jostling, and I like being able to jump on and off the bike in quick transition.

Guest

I've done backpacks, messenger bags and panniers. Never had a problem.

Koffee

steve_wmn

Tom Bihn sells an improved laptop sleeve that suspends the laptop in a cradle, much like the description of the Arkel pannier. They sell it in 6 sizes and either wide side or narrow side down orientation. One of them should be a perfect fit for your laptop and pannier. Tom Bihn Brain Cell For the narrow side down version look at the Monolith.

PWRDbyTRD

I carry mine in a northface backpack with about 1" of padding on each side of it. I have the dell "incase crap happens insurance" so it's not really that much of a concern.

Gardener

Hi All!
I use the Arkel Bug (which is back pack and pannier) with my laptop. It cost $105.00 but well worth it. I find it more comfortable than most regular backpacks, which was an added bonus. For those not familiar, this backpack/pannier is basically a backpack with the pannier attachments. It has a stiffboard support, as panniers do and the backpack straps go behind a velcroed flap for when you strap it to the bike.
I carry my laptop in it regularly, wrapped usually in a shirt to provide some cushion. In the winter I noticed some computer goofiness if I turned it on while it was still cold after coming in. Wrapping it in a sweater would be a better idea, I suppose.

Caradice makes a nice Bike Bureau that has a laptop pouch. It is like a pannier and a sidebag with a strap. This is the next thing I would buy because of that versatility when you take it off the bike.

Hope my input is useful,
Gardener

Seanholio

Given the design of the Arkel briefcase, I would say that you are OK.

Laptops are most sensitive to sudden high-G impacts, which is not what you will get, during normal riding, in the briefcase. Since it is suspended, and the suspended part is padded, most sharp jerks will be transformed into more-gradual bumps. Also, since the laptop is suspended sideways, it is unlikely to cause any problems with the drive heads touching platters on the HDD.

I would say that you should be fine, carrying the laptop in that bag. I plan to do it myself, now that I have to take my laptop home at nights. I'll have to get a bigger pannier for the other side so it can carry all the clothes that normally fit between two Arkel T22's.

MsMittens

I have a Panasonic Toughbook (purchased for the reason to be abused) but to protect it further when having to haul it up to the college I purchased a RoadWired Laptop Sleeve to protect it. Very effective and well made; and fits nicely in my Ortlieb bags.

Note: Roadwired seems to be having site issues. You can see their line of bags here

harlot

I echo what Seanholio said. Laptops are very durable instruments, it's the operating systems you have to worry about.

I've been lugging my Dell around for 4 years in panniers, messenger bags, and a Tom Bihn backpack. In the panniers and mess bags I just wrap it in clothing.

Don't let a laptop be an excuse not to commute!!

jperegrino

I've commuted a few years with a tiny Sony VAIO and an Apple PowerBook G4 15". I either wrapped them in clothes, used a bubble-wrap envelope, or used the laptop case - all with panniers.

I prefer panniers, but may go back to using a messenger bag and one pannier.

I'm now using the smaller PowerBook 12" to save a little weight as I carry my laptop back and forth to work everyday.

meradi

At one time I used some sort of bag system (pennier?) I got from the bike shop, which went over the rear rack. That lasted one day, the laptop (still inside) fell off and I rode over it.
Still worked though!

Now I use a big ugly bike basket!

azesty

I just looked at the Pelican 1490 attache case. It is expensive, but is much smaller and lighter than I expected

a