Jigsaw

I use an Axiom I bought at my LBS. Has lots of pockets and a padded innerliner that protects my iBook as I travel from school to school and to home and back.

steeef

It is really nice. I've been using this for about 6 months now, and I love it. It's got a good sleeve for a 15" or smaller laptop, and plenty of room for everything else. I also use it to carry around my laptop even when I'm not riding. Arkel panniers can be spendy, but you'll never need to replace it. I've had the Arkel Bug for almost 3 years now and it's showing no signs of giving out anytime soon.

If you're at all worried about rain, make sure to get the rain cover with it as well.

-holiday76

I started out putting it in my messenger bag. My commute it 18 miles round trip. After a day I decided that that sucked because it was heavy, made it harder to breath, and made my shoulders hurt. Maybe my laptop is too heavy.

Then I started putting it in a sleeve made by timbuk2, then throwing that in a pannier bag. That worked out nicely except for one day when I couldnt find the sleeve (because i'd left it at work) so I just threw the laptop in the pannier bag. It rubbed up against a pop rivet or bolt and wore a spot on the top the laptop down to the bare metal. Good thing it belongs to my company and not me...

These days I commute on my faster bike which I don't want to put a rack on, so I usually just take the laptop home on weekends, putting in a locked drawered at work during the week. So far I've driven to work on Monday and Friday, so I transport it there and back that way. If I start commuting 5 days a week instead of 3 I guess I'll have to either put a rack on the bike, take the other bike, or find some other system, but this has been working out well for me so far.

m_yates

I put mine in an extra large ziplock bag. I then pack it in my panniers along with my clothes. The clothes also act as a cushion for the laptop and the ziplock bag gives extra waterproofing.

noisebeam

I transport my 5.1lbs. laptop five days a week in a Timbuk2 laptop messenger style bag - 17mi RT. Once its on my back (vs. shoulder when walking) I don't even know it is there.

Al

Ignem

I'm on call, and need to have my laptop with me at all times. Currently, I'm hauling it home in an Ortlieb Office Bag, which works quite nicely. It's waterproof, so I don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain, and it's really easy to put it on my rack, as well as taking it off. It's a little more expensive than a lot of bags, but it certainly has done a great job for me so far.

Tabor

I just toss it in my Arkel Bug. I should probably get a sleeve.

irabidfish

I find the bag is actually more comfortable with a laptop in it, because it shifts around less with a bit of weight inside. I think their stock large messenger bag is almost exclusively designed for the Macbook Pro 15" though which is a bit of a downside. They do do custom bags though, so you may be able to customize the laptop pouch for some extra dough, they have 13" and 17" bags as well plus if its custom you get to pick snazzy colors!

noisebeam

The Laptop in mine is an IBM T40 with extra battery. I think I bought it before Timbuk2 had the laptop bag in different sizes.

Al

TRaffic Jammer

I use an Axio hard shell for my MacBook Pro.... I think it'll save me in a drive by as well.
https://www.axio-usa.com/

sukram

I've got an Arkel Briefcase as well. I have to lug my laptop around 4 or 5 days a week. I can also a change of clothes, a thermos full of coffee and my lunch. Not to mention my pump, multitool, spare tube 'n patch kit. Yes, it gets heavy. Once it's mounted on the bike it's fine though, but I use the Briefcase even on the rare days I take the subway.

Only a few things I'd change about the Arkel Briefcase, like adding some reflective tape and making the handle a bit wider 'n plusher so that when it's heavily loaded it's more comfy to carry by hand. Shoulder strap is good.

I haven't tried the Commuter, but it looks good too.

surfimp

+1 on the laptop sleeve and Timbuk2 messenger bag solution. For my short commutes it works great. Plus plenty of room to stow your bike's lights, tools, etc. as needed / desired, depending on where you may have to park your bike & etc.

Steve

icebike

I use an STM small cargo bag (https://www.stmbags.com.au/small-carg...ifications.php) and carry mine everyday. Back and forth to work, to coffee, to meetings downtown, whatever. It looks nice, is really comfortable while riding and even comes with it's own laptop sleeve.
I used to use a hard sleeve and throw it into my panniers, and this works well if you have good panniers and a bike set up to use them. But I end up clipping them once in a while with my heel and that bothers me when I know there is a nice laptop inside.
My laptop is not heavy at all, but I think the bag really matters not the mass of the computer. Before this bag I used a cheap one not designed at all for this purpose, and the same laptop would make my shoulder and neck hurt.

bdinger

I did all last year, and it wasn't bad. I have a "Cannondale Backpack" that Nashbar had on clearance, has a rainfly and a laptop sleeve. Worked great, even with my then-ginormous 10lb widescreen laptop. I felt kind of bad, right before I left that job they had bought me a nice new svelte 5lb Thinkpad .

This year I just leave my laptop at work. I have a smartphone that fills in the blanks at home, and when I'm at home during the week I'm generally wanting to avoid the laptop anyway. On weekends for DR purposes I take it home, but bring it back on Monday. It's a Dell Latitude, and probably weighs about 6 pounds.

While I don't like doing it, I generally don't notice it.

macteacher

Well i've been commuting for a year in all kinds of weather. i swear by the Arkel Commuter bag. it's expensive, but it was a good investment in my opinion. My laptop is secure, it won't move around and it was of the only bags that could carry a 17" MBP, so I was limited in that regard. Not sure what kind of comp. you have but many of the new ones can wistand some pretty harsh hits. I fell 3 times on ice and landed on the side that my laptop was on, and it was problem free in the ARKEL bag.


I have a backpack I use (no longer available) for when I use my mountain bike.

Go with the arkel if you can and you'll be fine.

chipcom 

https://bbpbags.com/ FTW

Woodash

I'm on sabbatical out of the country. My laptop goes in my panniers every morning and every night. No problem except that betwen that and the rest of my crap, I am dragging around some serious weight in a area where >16% grades are not uncommon....

phillyrider

Panniers are a good idea. I use an ortlieb that is waterproof (about $85 at REI), which is a good idea and worth the extra money.

I drop my laptop in a large padded envelope from the mailroom, then into the pannier. It seems to work well.

dbelcher

I lug my 17" MacBook Pro, clothes, pump, lunch and assorted junk each day (about 16 pounds). I used to use a Messenger bag (Spire), but the weight on one shoulder was uncomfortable, and quick starts/stops or foot down could make the bag swing to the front. I bought a Banjo Brothers bag that is a back pack with a single top-loaded space (which is basically a very waterproof big plastic sack) with fold-over enclosure with 2 shoulder straps, chest and waist straps. I keep the computer in a padded sleeve. It took a little getting used to, but I like it now.

You can see it at https://banjobrothers.com/products/01150.php

Argus

I use to use a backpack, but now I'm using panniers. The laptop goes on the side with clothes, and I carry two garbage bags just in case it rains.

sauerwald

I use the Arkel Briefcase. It has an internal suspended pouch that holds the laptop, and has a rain cover to keep things nice and dry in snow or rain.

Clothes, lunch etc go into an Arkel pannier on the other side of the bike.