Rugged Laptop Cases – That’s what Works Best for Protection
Laptop carrying cases used to be oh so blah. I still have a few of them lying around which I never use. There are thousands of different laptop cases on the market. Any given store might have a dozen or more different laptop cases and styles. These cases can range from around $15 to well over $100! It may be tempting to pick up a cheaper bag just to save money, but this could be a costly mistake.
Usually you get what you pay for and if it’s cheap the quality is usually cheap. Of course there are exceptions, but don’t count on it, especially when you are looking to buy a laptop carrying case. Cheaper models are usually made of lower quality material and have poor workmanship. The seams may be weak. The materials may become damaged or worn quickly.
They may not offer much protection from bumps and jolts. Although they might work well for simple transportation of your computer, these often do little to actually protect it. These cheaper bags are usually made of plastic, vinyl, or some other synthetic material.
They are typically not going to last very long, because these materials tend to be damaged easily and don’t stand up to normal use very well. If you spend a little more money to get a better quality bag, you’ll have something that offers a lot more protection for your computer.
These higher quality bags are usually made of leather, nylon, or even Kevlar (the material bullet proof vests are made of). They may also be made of metal or other material. They are generally well-padded, don’t puncture well, and offer a lot of protection against all sorts of potential damage.
Types of rugged laptop cases
Hardback cases are usually made from some sort of hard material like metal or plastic. These are made to protect the laptop from being crushed under the weight of other items, and are especially handy for protecting a laptop when it’s inside other luggage.
Waterproof cases can be made of various materials including polypropylene copolymer resin and even soft, tightly-woven fabric-type material. They may have welded seams or even gaskets that make the shell completely submersible!
Targus is one very popular brand of laptop cases. Most of their cases are very durable, but they do make some especially rugged cases. Their Trademark II Overnighter is a luggage-like laptop case that is wheeled and can carry laptops up to 17″ as well as their accessories. This model even contains a separate section that can contain personal items like clothing and toiletries.
When traveling with your laptop, you might want to pack further insulation into your laptop bag along with your laptop. There are many types of foam insulation to choose from. One type of padding is known as EthaFoam.
This is the same material used by art museums when they ship expensive and rare art pieces. It is made of polyethylene foam and can be cut specifically to wrap around the dimensions of your laptop. This offers added protection against jolts that may damage the hard drive, as well as bumps that might damage the LCD screen.
When searching for a rugged laptop case, be sure to select one that seems to be made of a very durable material. Try poking your finger through it and see if it seems to give way. Be sure there’s plenty of padding. Test the seams to be sure they’re secure, especially any seams around the straps. The last thing you want to happen is for the seams of the carrying strap to come lose and have your laptop fall to the floor or ground!
