Roll With It: Two Notebook Bags Make Travel Easier

The last time I had to walk to the last gate at the airport while lugging my 6-pound notebook and all its accessories, I swore that it would never happen again. By the time I got to the plane, those 6 pounds felt more like 20, and my left shoulder sagged noticeably lower than my right.

Fortunately, luggage companies now offer dedicated computer bags that copy the runaway success of the rolling luggage we've been wheeling our clothes and personal items in for years. Unlike the rolling bags designed for clothes, bags created to tote around a computer provide the shock absorption necessary to protect your notebook's delicate LCD screen and hard disk.

I road tested two bags--Brenthaven's $369 Mobile Urban Computer Case and Sumdex's $249 2 in 1 Rolling Luggage--and loaded each with my 7.5-pound notebook and more than 4 pounds of other equipment. In the end I had peace of mind knowing that my notebook was safe as I raced to my gate at San Francisco International, and best of all, I didn't even break a sweat.

Small but Sweet

Depending on your needs, each has unique benefits. The Brenthaven Mobile Urban is a rugged case on a wheel suspension system called SoftDrive. Just like an automobile's wheels, the case's rubber wheels are fitted with springs to adjust to bumps and cracks in pavement and other surfaces. A separate removable padded PC storage envelope further cushions any knocks or falls the bag may sustain in the course of your travels.

The case is made of military-grade ballistic nylon--used in parachutes for both its lightness and its resistance to cuts and punctures--a perfect fabric for a PC case. And its hide-away telescoping handle pulls out with a touch of a button, making it easier (and less unwieldy) to move than a supermarket grocery cart.

In the main compartment are pockets of various size in which to store papers and accessories, plus a pair of additional zippered compartments for power cords, floppies, PC cards, and personal effects, so you can keep them all within reach.

I also found the Brenthaven case particularly versatile as a weekend bag. To make room for clothing, a toiletry kit, and a book, all I had to do was pop out the Velcro computer pocket. And at about 14 by 16 inches, the bag complies with most airlines' onboard luggage regulations.