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Laptop protection

Old 08-01-12, 08:53 PM
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Laptop protection

For those of you who carry a laptop when touring, what do you use for water protection? Right now for local trips to get online I've just been using a plastic garbage bag for protection. I'm not sure how well I trust that idea in case I were to get hit with a big rain storm while on a tour.
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Old 08-01-12, 09:29 PM
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Multiple layers of protection. Laptop or netbook inside garbage bag, inside protective case, inside garbage bag, inside pannier, inside pannier rain cover.
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Old 08-01-12, 09:33 PM
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Ortlieb panniers. watertight roller closure .
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Old 08-01-12, 10:56 PM
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Origially posted by Fietsbob
Ortlieb panniers. watertight roller closure
+1

We just put our netbook in a neoprene sleeve, and in the Ortlieb rear pannier. They are waterproof.

We have probably carried it that way for over 6,000 miles. Last summer we had 35 days of rain on our tour. We have never had a problem with moisture getting into our panniers, handlebar bags or rack packs.

The netbook is in my wife's rear pannier on the bike! The rain is coming in sideways. However, she does cover her saddle with a shower cap when not riding.



Last edited by Doug64; 08-01-12 at 10:59 PM.
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Old 08-01-12, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Ortlieb panniers. watertight roller closure .
I also use Ortlieb pannier but in my case it is an Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus. I keep my netbook in a Belkin Honeycomb Clamshell Case which then slips in the pannier pocket.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

Last edited by Aushiker; 08-02-12 at 08:19 AM.
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Old 08-02-12, 02:11 AM
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Ortleibs aren't the only waterproof panniers on the market. Just saying.

And if the OP doesn't want to spend money pointlessly on Ortleibs when he already has panniers, spend a little on the right-sized Sea-to-Summit drybag.

The neoprene sleeve, in my opinion, is essential to protect the casing of the computer from scratching and possible penetration from other hard, sharp items inside a tightly cinched pannier.
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Old 08-02-12, 04:14 AM
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Thanks for the responses. Who makes the neoprene sleeves? I didn't even know they existed.

I will say it is amazing when you ask a question, rather open ended looking for a multitude of answers/ideas and some people want to think their way is the only way. I got to laugh. On the upcoming trip I'm planning on taking starting in a week or two...I don't plan to use panniers. I will be using a backpack for carrying everything. If I'm going to be sweaty, who cres if my back is sweaty or not. It's pointless. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail 15 years with the same backpack I'm planning on using on the bike trip and didn't think a thing about it then. I've used the same backpack for running errands on the bike January-December for over 1.5 years now and don't think a thing about it. It rides very comfortably and goes with me when I get off the bike, no leaving it behind for someone to rummage through/steal my stuff. Everybody has their own way of doing things and as I posted originally I was looking to see what everyone was using to try to get different ideas, not just one idea. I think that is enough said.
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Old 08-02-12, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by bikenh
Thanks for the responses. Who makes the neoprene sleeves? I didn't even know they existed.

I will say it is amazing when you ask a question, rather open ended looking for a multitude of answers/ideas and some people want to think their way is the only way. I got to laugh. On the upcoming trip I'm planning on taking starting in a week or two...I don't plan to use Reply With Quotepanniers. I will be using a backpack for carrying everything. If I'm going to be sweaty, who cres if my back is sweaty or not. It's pointless. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail 15 years with the same backpack I'm planning on using on the bike trip and didn't think a thing about it then. I've used the same backpack for running errands on the bike January-December for over 1.5 years now and don't think a thing about it. It rides very comfortably and goes with me when I get off the bike, no leaving it behind for someone to rummage through/steal my stuff. Everybody has their own way of doing things and as I posted originally I was looking to see what everyone was using to try to get different ideas, not just one idea. I think that is enough said.
I don't know if you are eBay savvy, but they are available for much cheaper prices than in the retail stores. They basically are a neoprene pouch that the computer slips into. The top pulls over the computer to create a nice closure. They are not overly waterproof, but help as a secondary defence against rain ingress.

You can hunt them down in computer and electronics shops. You will have to know the size of your computer (eg, 9", 10", 11", 13", 15" or whatever) to get the right size pouch. They come in various colours, too.

We invested in a pair for our computers, and while I was leery of them initially because I didn't think the neoprene at the stitching would be durable enough, we have been pleasantly surprised at how they have held up with constant use over the past six or seven weeks. I feel they do provide an extra bit of resilience and vibration damping inside the pannier.

The only issue is that if you are carrying a power pack (as we are), it won't fit very comfortably in with the computer inside the sleeve. I am using a toiletries bag to carry the pack along with adapters and spare batteries for camera, video and bike computer.

We have Altura waterproof panniers which, as I know, are not a part of this discussion, but if there was any doubt (initially) about their waterproofness, I have just put the computer inside the sleeve into one of the spare Sea-to-Summit bags I am carrying and sealing that off. I've discovered several times that this is a good strategy if there is a need to open the pannier to retrieve other gear while it is raining and there is no shelter about.
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Old 08-02-12, 07:40 AM
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For my iPad I use something like this: https://www.rei.com/product/739200/se...er-special-buy

Possibly exactly like that, but a little smaller and yellow.

I've gone other routes as well, with a couple layers of plastic bags or in a larger container that's more waterproof, but that's when I'm not going far. For longer trips when I could be caught in the rain for an extended period, though, a sturdy dry-bag puts me at ease. A garbage bag works, but I wouldn't trust it to remain free of punctures. I would at least double bag it.
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Old 08-02-12, 07:43 AM
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I bought a neoprene sleeve from a Chinese supplier on Ebay, shipping usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. (I suspect I may have bought the same ones as Rowan mentioned above in post 17.)

I use that sleeve for physical protection, not waterproofness. I put my netbook inside the neoprene sleeve and then put that inside a drybag.

Yes, I also have Ortlieb panniers but I do not store my netbook in the pannier in the campsite, so I do not consider my Ortliebs to be the "waterproof" solution. Also, try packing up your camp during a rain storm and getting everything into your pack or into your panniers in a dry state and you will understand my logic - the panniers are only waterproof when closed.

I recently bought a 7 inch tablet computer to use instead of my netbook, smaller and less fragile. For the tablet I also have a plastic box that I bought for something like $0.69 on sale at Walgreens for additional physical protection and the box holds my stylus, power cord, USB charger, etc.
https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ros...038700-product
But you will never find a box like that for a laptop.

***

Additional info added later: I think I used the same drybag for my netbook that is cited above in post 18 by Rob_E, but that drybag is too big for my new tablet.

Last edited by Tourist in MSN; 08-02-12 at 07:47 AM.
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Old 08-02-12, 08:21 AM
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Biken, $.02 is to have something that can have multiple uses as well as provide water/crash protection. While 1/8" thick fabric covered neoprene is nice you can't do much else with it. How about starting with an ultra light dry bag to put the lap top in, Sea ToSummit makes fine ones. That way you have something waterproof to carry it from tent to bike in bad weather. Then make a sleeve out of two Thermarest SportSeats taped together. The lap top with rolled down dry bag covering can the slip down into the sleeves and you can deflate the seats as needed for other gear. In camp put a t-shirt over the seat sandwich and it's a pillow.
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Old 08-02-12, 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by LeeG
Biken, $.02 is to have something that can have multiple uses as well as provide water/crash protection. While 1/8" thick fabric covered neoprene is nice you can't do much else with it. How about starting with an ultra light dry bag to put the lap top in, Sea ToSummit makes fine ones. That way you have something waterproof to carry it from tent to bike in bad weather. Then make a sleeve out of two Thermarest SportSeats taped together. The lap top with rolled down dry bag covering can the slip down into the sleeves and you can deflate the seats as needed for other gear. In camp put a t-shirt over the seat sandwich and it's a pillow.
I really like our neoprene sleeves. They're small, relatively light ... and mine doubles as a mouse pad. I wasn't thinking in terms of rain protection when we got them, although they probably work for that to some extent, I was thinking more in terms of laptop protection. I have actually dropped my laptop once already, and it seems to have survived just fine. Maybe it would have without the neoprene, but I suspect the neoprene helped cushion the fall.

I haven't used the Sea to Summit dry bags yet for my laptop/notebook but I could probably rearrange things and free up one Sea to Summit bag for it if necessary. However, we've been through some heavy downpours and our panniers have performed very well so far. They're Altura and they seem to be waterproof so far.

Since you are not planning to use panniers, I would recommend looking at both the neoprene sleeves and the Sea to Summit bags. As it happens, Sea to Summit has started to produce some incredibly small and light products. We've been very impressed with duffle bags and backpacks that scrunch down into TINY packets. They aren't waterproof, but my two new Sea to Summit dry bags are, and they are a similar extremely lightweight material.

I've got photos of our duffle bags and backpacks in my Asia set.
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Old 08-02-12, 09:15 AM
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...348587/detail/



The one on the right is a good sized duffle bag and the one on the left is a decent sized backpack.

My new Sea to Summit dry bags are both a decent size too, but would scrunch down to that size or smaller (except maybe for the sealing structure at the top of them).
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Old 08-02-12, 09:33 AM
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and meanwhile back at the range, vibration protection can be homemade with an old blue campmat or something like that (you know, the high density stuff) as it is great for dampening out vibrations and is light. For wet, as others have said, multiple bags will work well, and being more careful than not is certainly a priority if as you say, you could be caught out in a rainstorm that would just be like being the shower at full blast. Depending on your panniers, you might not want to have the laptop at the very bottom of the pannier, in case water does collect down there.
good luck with coming up with something.

Last edited by unterhausen; 08-02-12 at 09:59 AM. Reason: quote of deleted post
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Old 08-02-12, 09:42 AM
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FWIW, same company, makes a seam welded, roll and velcro closed document bag,
to put that laptop in a padded sleeve , into..

A4..8x11"
https://www.ortlieb.de/_prod.php?lang...kt=documentbag

Last edited by fietsbob; 08-02-12 at 10:26 AM.
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Old 08-02-12, 10:00 AM
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More posting about keeping the laptop running and less about each other, please.

the drybags look like a good idea even if you do have a waterproof pannier.
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Old 08-02-12, 11:02 AM
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Originally posted by Tourist in MSN
Yes, I also have Ortlieb panniers but I do not store my netbook in the pannier in the campsite, so I do not consider my Ortliebs to be the "waterproof" solution. Also, try packing up your camp during a rain storm and getting everything into your pack or into your panniers in a dry state and you will understand my logic - the panniers are only waterproof when closed.
Maybe, but my wife can pack up all our sleeping bags, pads, and inside the tent "stuff" while still inside the tent. I usually get breakfast going while she is working on packing. Her panniers are inside the tent, and she carries the netbook. She is short, and has a lot of room at the end of the tent. My panniers are under the vestible and are protected from the rain. The only thing that gets damp is the rackpack which carries the tent, and ground cloth. I usually use plastic grocery bags as "dry " bags to store wet tent , rainfly, and ground cloth in to keep the rest of my things dry.

Breaking camp in the rain, while not much fun has not been much of a problem. I just don't cook breakfast on those mornings.

I'm more worried about water in my bar bag where I keep my camera. I use it a lot even when it is raining, so it gets opened a quite a bit, even in the rain.


Some of the discussion on this thread reminds me of a qoute I heard (not referring to Tourist in MSN's post above) .

Narcissim of small differences--- "The need to distiguish oneself by minute shadings and to insist with outsized militancey, on the importance of those shadings".

Last edited by Doug64; 08-04-12 at 09:53 PM.
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Old 08-02-12, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Doug64
Narcissim of small differences--- "The need to distiguish oneself by minute shadings and to insist with outsized militancey, on the importance of those shadings".
And, Doug, exactly whose posts are you referring to?
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Old 08-02-12, 02:24 PM
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I use to carry my macbook on a pelicase inside the ortlieb,but this add to much weight so now I also use aneopren sleeve
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Old 08-02-12, 02:44 PM
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The Shinza Zeroshock is not expensive, and the best I've seen for compact, lightweight laptop shock protection:



https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...=ATS43H0MFCNXE

A suitable plastic over-bag can then add waterproofing.
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Old 08-02-12, 09:40 PM
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As far as waterproofing goes, an over-sized ziploc style bag would work perfectly. Double bag it if necessary. You could also toss it in a dry bag as well. As for protecting your laptop from damage, whatever you do DO NOT buy the G-Form extreme laptop case. I was recently asked to review the case as it's supposed to be able to protect your laptop from a fall from space (no joke). I tossed my laptop off of my porch from 8 feet and well.... you can watch for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEW4nUHjG2E
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Old 08-02-12, 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by PauseTheMoment
As far as waterproofing goes, an over-sized ziploc style bag would work perfectly. Double bag it if necessary. You could also toss it in a dry bag as well. As for protecting your laptop from damage, whatever you do DO NOT buy the G-Form extreme laptop case. I was recently asked to review the case as it's supposed to be able to protect your laptop from a fall from space (no joke). I tossed my laptop off of my porch from 8 feet and well.... you can watch for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEW4nUHjG2E
Ouch! I hope G-Form replaced your screen for you. Thanks but for doing the real test. Brave man

Andrew

Last edited by Aushiker; 08-02-12 at 09:53 PM.
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Old 08-02-12, 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Aushiker
Ouch! I hope G-Force replaced your screen for you. Thanks but for doing the real test. Brave man

Andrew
Get this...

G-Form sends me a case and asks me to review it. How else do you review a laptop case like this other than to do what I did in the video? I mean I guess I could have dropped it from 6 inches but what type of review would that be? I wanted to mimic what they do in their videos and so that's exactly what I did. I started at 8ft. My next test was going to be to run it over with my car. Unfortunately, I didn't get that far. LOL

After the incident I emailed G-Form and no reply for 3 weeks. Finally I received a reply stating: "Unfortunately G-Form has a policy of not replacing devices damaged during testing."

WAH!
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Old 08-03-12, 05:26 AM
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Makes me think of the expression "buyer beware" , I guess the iPad mass being less made all the diff.
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Old 08-04-12, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Doug64
Narcissim of small differences--- "The need to distiguish oneself by minute shadings and to insist with outsized militancey, on the importance of those shadings".
And, Doug, exactly whose posts are you referring to?
It was a general observation (my opinion) about several pots, including mine, in this thread. It may just be the nature of forums, but a lot of discussions end up fitting this description, e.g., drop bars vs flat bars, bar end vs. brifters, lycra vs baggy shorts, clipless vs toe clips vs platform pedals, electronics, ultralight, weight distribution between fron and rear panniers...............................

Another issue with electronic messaging is that the intent of a post often does not come across in the post. It is easy for me to read something into the message that was not really there or intended. That is why e-mail was generally my last choice for important matters in my working life.

I believe the the opinions expressed in any forum should be respected, because that is what they are, opinions. We cannot determine the validity of an opinion; any more than we can determine motive, economic status, etc. We should be able to disagree and state our own opinion without being "attacked", and getting defensive. Here again, an "attack is a perception that may not have been intended in the post.

In this case it got into a discussion of Orlieb vs. XXXXXXX panniers, instead of the real issue: waterproof vs non-waterproof panniers.

The OP asked what we used to protect our computers from moisture. I think most us were trying to answer the question. He did not indicate that he was going to use a backpack. Heck, that could have brought up another discussion.

I'll keep this post short. I'm typing with one hand. Between my right forearm and right knee I have about 2 dozen sutures from a bike crash last Thursday. I would point out the merits of wearing a helmet, but I don't want to get too far OT or start a helmet vs non-helmet discussion. Damn road bike anyway
.

Last edited by Doug64; 08-04-12 at 09:11 PM.
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