Targus Laptop Backpack, Fits Laptops Up To 18", Water Repelling Rain Cover, Padded Shoulder Straps with Chest and Waist Straps, Moulded Carry Handle, Black/Blue

When my ANTLER wore out the limitations of its successor, the EXECUTEC, gave rise to an epic journey passing through SAMSONITE, BRIGGS & RILEY, JANSPORT, NIKE, NORTH FACE and more before settling for TARGUS. Why?"Airline-proof" armoured fabrics.1 Horizontal zip pocket.1 vertical zip pocket.Left/Right webbed padded side zip pockets for power supply unit and (only just) 500ml bottle.VERY thick armoured (faux alcantara) seat material.Two adjustable straps attached to the seat support weight and retain the shape by tying down interior content of the bag in use and when free standing.Zip compartment located in the seat that includes the attached rain cover for the whole backpack.Side support straps to retain the bag shape.Elasticated, webbed, chest-bracing straps to secure the bag around your body.The main shoulder straps are very thick, look strong and like they are anchored securely.Twin loops for g-hooking small items.Telephone pocket, g-hooked to the shoulder straps. Cunningly shaped to fit YOUR iPhone, but not MY Blackberry (least not including the sleeve anyway).Integral locking waist belt to tie the pack around you, or by reversing its direction - could be used to secure something else to the back - occasionally.....and then I opened it..... And found:-Main double zip pocket large enough to accommodate most laptops, holds an 11.6inch unit both landscape or portrait comfortably.1 business card window.3 elastic pen loops - two sized for writing pens, one for a whiteboard marker.1 zipped web slot pocket.Velcro pocket - desktop calculator sized.Velcro pocket - large phone (including my Blackberry sleeve) sized.2 thick, fixed dividers give three sections large enough to organise A4 documents, strong enough to locate 11.9 laptop (held portrait).Main compartment fits a 17 inch laptop comfortably, with an integral sleeve with 5mm thick padded foam sleeve and still leaves enough room for both an office suit jacket and an A4 sized folio (think A4 FILOFAX, plus handles and you're there).Weighing 1.48kg the whole show lands softly on your back courtesy of two shoulder webbed cushions with 10mm of foam padding and a cushion with 20mm padding for your lower back.When you are done, it is solidly built to completely retain shape - regardless of content - standing proudly upright.Criticisms? Only Two.The narrow phone carrier. In the smartphone era this is a little short-sighted.The specification is so long, you raise expectations way above any level you have a right to (note my phone gripes) or you start looking for places for stuff you really shouldn't be carrying in the first place - at least I did.And finally, while (unjustifiably) giving second thoughts to my purchase, I looked across at the bag used (and abused) for 8 solid years prior to the ANTLER that survived just 9 months. I examined every seal, seat, zip pocket, Velcro and corner. All of them remained intact with only a single crack in the leather handle as testimony to thousands of miles porting far more weight than the manufacturer recommends. The name on the front - TARGUS.In my opinion other brands may protect my image, but none protect my equipment as well as this.I rest my "case."

I have had this bag over three years, so I'm very well positioned to give a clear review on it. It may sound stupid, but I rate this bag as one of the best things I have bought in the last few years - equally as valuable as my laptop.Originally I bought it for a 17" Dell ... the bag has outlasted the laptop, which was replaced midway through last year. It fits comfortably and along with the laptop I regularly carry a small digital camera, my ipad, a few peripherals and some every day things like a can of pop or a snack bar.Without a bag like this my laptop would be useless, I may as well have bought a laptop, but this bag has meant that I can take my laptop everywhere - and I mean everywhere - I use it every day and it has travelled the world with me over the last three years.Very, very occasionally, I use it as a suitcase because it is big enough for a few items of clothing, a spare pair of shoes, and the essentials.Having read the reviews stating some wear and tear issues I can only say that they must have got a rare dud. I have used Targus products before and they have always been of the highest quality. My bag is no exception. It has been dragged all over, battered and bruised and treated with absolutely no respect (it is a bag after all) and nothing is broken on it. It doesn't look dishevelled. I have spilt goodness knows what on it on many occasions, had things burst in it, dropped it in puddles, had it with me through awful weather and I have yet to have a complaint.It is really difficult to find a rucksack bag for a 17" laptop, but out of all the ones I have seen you can either get this model of Targus, a more expensive model of Targus bag, or something for £20 that you would probably be hesitant putting your shopping in. It's a no-brainer really.To me, the maximum any bag should cost, no matter how good it is, is £50. This bag falls below that price and if you break down how much convenience it has given me this bag is well worth it. It might even outlast me.If you have a 17" laptop that you plan on taking everywhere with you, then you must buy one of these.