Anybody use a laptop sleeve to carry a computer in a pannier or do you just chuck the thing into the bag? It's actually the latter that I've been doing but I've got a new one coming and I'm thinking I might want to treat it nicer than the current one.

My eeepc came with a little sleeve that I keep it in.

I would just get one of those neoprene sleeves and pack it so it doesnt get jarred around alot. If its going to get jarred around alot then I would get a decent case with some foam and make sure that it fits perfectly.

I bought a Timbuk2 sleeve I've been happy with.

Ask yourself how much your laptop is worth. If it is anywhere over 1000, i would suggest a proper bag. the Arkel Commuter is what i have. works like a charm

I used to just chuck mine in the pannier, but then one day the pannier bounced off and the laptop case cracked around the fan vent. So I went out and bought the REI commuter pannier and an REI e-sleeve. I think the main benefit is that there's no room for the laptop to move around, and this pannier hasn't come loose. The e-sleeve has a lot of padding, but I'm not sure how much it would actually help in a drop.

My pocket calculator came with a sleeve too, but I didn't think that was relevant. Those eepc's are tiny.

I use one of these:
(https://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300) in my Pac Designs mess bag. Works great, and I would expect my laptop to survive a crash I did not.

If you don't want that much protection (also read bulk and weight), yeah, just a neoprene sleeve thing should be fine.

i use an Arkel briefcase, but their sleeve didn't fit my new Macbook pro (old bag i've used for about 10 years), so i just stuffed the laptop into a third-party neoprene sleeve, shoved it into the bag, and off i went. works like a charm. plus, i can throw it into a backpack, into a smaller pannier, or anything else--not limited to only one bag for carrying it.

while the arkel design is kind of nice, if i crashed--and i mean at speed but not a collision--and the bike fell on the laptop-bag side, it'd probably be smooshed no matter what. to this end, even a neoprene sleeve is just there to make sure the mashed laptop is all mashed up inside a convenient bag.

so what to do? ride carefully, make frequent back-ups, and know where to find a spare machine in case yours is dead. and if you're laptop is that pricey, well, no bag built will sufficiently protect it, on a bike, in a car, or even from one room to another.

Waterfield Laptop Sleeve

https://www.sfbags.com/products/sleev...leevecases.htm

Huge +1 on Waterfield anything... I have one of their sleeves that I ordered with one of their Mambo bags. I occasionally use the sleeve on my commute.

I use a Targus laptop backpack personally. With all the #$%@ gear I need to carry it works well for me. I frequently carry not one, but two laptops.

-Roger

I carry my work-provided Windoze XP laptop in a BuiltNY neoprene sleeve that I slip into an Ortlieb BackRollerPlus. I usually pack it against the inside of the pannier, and put my work clothes on the outside. Things don't flop around in there that way. Haven't had any problems yet.

I've tried messenger bags but I just don't like having it slung around me while I ride, especially when its warm out.

Mark

I have my laptop in this:
Amazon link

I throw that in my Trek pannier (which I hate), stuff my clothing around it for extra padding.

It's fallen off the bike once and there was no damage.

I have a thinkpad, which are really sturdy - a great sleeve is the Zeroshock, made and sold in Japan, but can be found on ebay for around $25.

In South Puget Sound I'd at least have a zip-lock bag around any lap-top.

Laptop (my preccccccccioussssss) in a neoprene sleeve, and then put in a sleeve I made out of an evazote sleeping pad, and then put in a waterproof pannier. So far, so good!

MacBook in a Nashbar padded sleeve I got so I'd have 5 items for free shipping, in an Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus I got in the recent REI sale. Paid full price for the laptop, however. Except for the educational discount. So far so good.

My thinkpad goes in a neoprene sleeve and the sleeve goes in an Arkel Bug. The laptop is protected from water in the sleeve and between it and the pannier I feel the laptop is pretty secure from drops too.

For serious protection from a laptop sleeve, I'd second the Tom Bihn line. Many of their models keep the laptop suspended an inch or so off the bottom, which sure does help in the event of a drop.

If you're carrying enough laptop related stuff to warrant a dedicated bag, I've had great success using Knog's Franks Dog and Ortlieb's Office Bag, both of which are messenger style bags that mount like panniers. I'd recommend the Ortlieb for weather protection, and the Knog for off-the-bike carrying comfort and style.

I use IDEE Anti-Shock Sleeve for my Macbook before I throw it into the Ortlieb pannier (or whichever pannier I happen to be using at the moment). Works great. Best protection I ever bought for any of my laptops. I have the 13 inch one and a 15 inch one.

I like the flexibility of using a sleeve like the IDEE, so I can use whatever bag or pannier I want.

This has not happened to me yet (*touch wood*) but make sure you turn OFF the laptop before storing it for your travels. I've heard a bit from some people that thier HD's died over time while in transit. This use the shoulder bags hung low mostly while travelling with thier laptops in SUSPEND mode. I've heard a bit of the 'butt bounce' that kills HD's and am thinking of getting a SSD HD when they drop in price. Or a Asus EEE with a 40GB HD but those portable USB DVD drives are expensive >_<;;

I use a backpack myself because I carry about 30lbs daily be it riding or not. I need all my equipment on me but it makes for good training that's for sure. My bag is a Targus Pulse tho the Targus RakGear is AWESOME as well. That rack inside the bag makes for awesome sorting of items and also good when shopping you can sort out delicate fruits without them crushing other things with it's 3 rack compartment in the main compartment.

Laptop Sleeve. Been using one ever since I started using a laptop 10 years ago. When not on the bike it lives in a padded computer bag...in it's padded sleeve. The bag and sleeve are both from Eagle Creek, they still make the bag, but apparently no longer have the sleeve. This combo has gone thru hell and still protected the laptop. It has fallen of the tailgate of a pickup at 35mph, been dropped from 4 feet by luggage handlers, etc.

I just upgraded my bike luggage to Ortlieb Rollers. But haven't commuted by bike in quite a while due to the current jobsite change.

Aaron

+1 on year 3 with mine, the laptop suspension sleeve it has built in (actually you can remove it too) is gold.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have an ortlieb office bag actually. Their laptop sleeve (which I don't have) seems like it might be a bit baggy on the 13.3" screen computer I have coming (vs not fitting at all the 17" beast that is being replaced). If it attaches securely into the office bag however that might be a tradeoff I need to make. I have another waterproof pannier that I throw the computer into (vertically oriented) if I'm not bringing the office bag.

My current laptop is huge and I don't carry it much for that reason (bulky and heavy). The new one is going to be smaller, more portable, and more expensive, so carried more and yet more vulnerable. Maybe I should just stick w/ ortlieb's sleeve and anchor it into the ortlieb bag.

how is this laptop sleeve? and is it waterproof/ressitant?

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320314491786

it says its anti-shock, so its padded alteast, and its made from neoprene(i know my neoprene gloves arn't even water ressitant). so is this the best bang for the buck or should i spend more on a sleeve?

before i'd wrap mine laptop in a plastic bag, tie that shut, then wrap a shirt around it and then it goes in my bag(it has a pad for the laptop) worked fine without problems, even when it rained, but never crashed. its a haslle to carrry on the back, an extra 6lbs with the battery. 14.1 inch screen, but rather not have it on the back.