Keep Laptops Cool and Luggage Comfortable with Targus and Gravis
We’ve talked a bit recently about different bags for traveling short distances in style and longer distances in style. We’ve talked a bit about bags that can be used for grocery shopping and even for knitting. Today we want to look at ways for your laptop to travel in style and safety. Many of us travel with a computer of some sort, whether it’s a large notebook or a tiny netbook. Very few people are willing to leave their computers at home entirely, so for the good of your computer (and your data), it’s worth exploring decent protective devices and a place for all of the chargers and doodads to be stored away.
The easiest choice for laptop travel is your normal laptop bag. The Targus Zip-Thru Air Traveler Case is a TSA-friendly laptop briefcase, with plenty of room for chargers, a mouse, and other essential things like a newspaper and a bag of granola. (Okay, essential might be a subjective thing, but for some of us a bag of granola is definitely essential on a flight.) This bag is clearly designed with a business person in mind. It’s got a file system that allows the user to keep folders and papers neatly organized in the bag, as well as many padded pockets and compartments for additional drives and disks that one might need to haul around with their computer. The portion of the bag that holds the laptop zips away from the main part of the bag, allowing it to go through the x-ray scanner with an unobstructed view. The Targus Air Traveler is made out of a durable nylon, has a leather encased handle, rubber feet on the bottom and strong zippers. There’s a pass through so that it can be attached to a rolling suitcase as well, a nice feature. Laptops up to 17” can be accommodated, depending on the version you choose, though it’s only available in black. There’s even room in this bag to carry a cooling solution like the Targus Chill Mat XC.
Speaking of which, the Targus Chill Mat XC has two fans that are USB-powered to help keep your laptop cool and stable. Three different height adjustment settings should make it possible for anyone using it to find a comfortable position for their laptop. Weighing in at just under two lbs, the Chill Mat XC shouldn’t add a lot of additional weight to your luggage, and will fit easily in your laptop bag. We found that it kept our laptops running at a much cooler temperature, which can improve the lifetime, as well as making the laptop much more comfortable to have around. IIt’s solid, sturdy, and isn’t pretty but is meant to be hidden after all. You can find the Zip-Thru Air Traveler Case and the Chill Mat XC online from Targus directly or from retailers like Amazon for around $80 and $40, respectively.
The next two bags are both well suited to carry laptops also, but with a much different aesthetic than the previous bag. We got to test out two different bags by Gravis that we’d like to share. First is the Arto Metro, a backpack designed by Finnish skateboarder Arto Saari. While it’s not technically a laptop bag, it does have a neoprene sleeve inside the backpack to hold a laptop up to 17 inches. That counts, right? This bag is made of waxed canvas and has very nice leather details. We really liked the way the straps fit across our shoulders. There is a chest clip that makes it easier to carry heavy loads, though there isn’t one around the waist. In a lot of ways it’s a pretty standard backpack- it’s just got a really nice design that made us feel hip while carrying it, and in a city like San Francisco it’s important to feel hip once in a while. The Arto Metro makes an ideal school bag, or a good daily use bag- not too big, not too small, lots of pockets in and out for organizing all of your stuff. You can find the Arto Metro online through sites like Luggage.com or Zappos.com for around $130, it’s also worth checking if there are any skate or surf stores near you, we found a few independent retailers near us that carried this bag.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Gravis Jetway which is perfect for those times when you just need to escape, and you need a cool bag to make your escape with. You can pretend you’re a world famous snow boarder heading to Whistler for the first really good powder of the season. (Maybe you really are a world famous snow boarder, in which case we’d really appreciate some inside tips on the best places to check out this year, thanks!) The Jetway, which we tested in a style they called ‘Coffee Expedition’, is also available in several other colors, and is sized to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane to avoid the need to check bags. It opens like a book from the middle, which creates two distinct and even portions of the bag. It has a dirty laundry bag and a toiletry bag included, which we love! Perhaps the most fun thing about this bag is a small detail: it has skateboard wheels instead of boring standard suitcase wheels. Overall the bag, which measures 22 × 13 × 9 inches, is nice and sturdy, and carries a decent amount of clothing- probably just enough for an extended snowboarding trip! Look for the Jetway on Amazon for around $200 depending on style.
