If you are the owner of a shiny new laptop that cost you a weeks worth of wages then one of the first things you’ll be looking for is a way to protect it. After all, there’s nothing worse than seeing a new laptop get a giant scratch on the case after only owning it a week or two. If you care about design and quality of bags then you’ll want to check out Waterfield Designs, a company that makes custom laptop bags and sleeves and is rather proud of their San Francisco roots. So proud that their website is called SFBags.com. There in San Francisco Waterfield Designs has a facility where bags are manufactured to each customers specifications, there are no robots pulling stock off of shelves, just real humans sewing and customizing a bag that’s fitted exactly to your laptops dimensions. During the purchase process you have to actually select which laptop you own from a pull down menu so Waterfield knows exactly what dimensions they’re dealing with.
For this review we’ve been trying out and testing a Laptop SleeveCase custom made for a ThinkPad X220. The purchase process involves first choosing the laptop you have, Waterfield has an extensive database that includes the dimensions of just about every laptop that’s ever been sold, at least within the past few years. After selecting the laptop you have you’re given a base price, for us this was $49. You then choose whether you want the sleeve oriented vertically or horizontally, this of course determines the location of the sleeve opening. If you’ll be using the sleeve inside a backpack and want to pull the laptop out directly then the vertical orientation might be best, otherwise horizontal is the way to go. Following this you select a trim style, either lead indium which is standard or brown leather, a $10 upgrade. Our case has brown leather and it definitely adds a nice touch. If you want to add a flap for extra protection and improved design look it’s a $15 upgrade, we have this on our review sleeve and it’s definitely something I’d recommend. Finally, if you need to convert the sleeve into a bag then adding a shoulder strap is $12 for a regular style or $22 for a strap with added cushion.
Put it all together and the bag we have under review from Waterfield Designs would cost you a total of $96, without any of the extra options it’s $49.
While you might start to mutter that $96 is ridiculous for a laptop sleeve, keep in mind that this is a custom fit and custom designed case. Your laptop will fit like a glove inside the sleeve, ensuring it’s safe and won’t slip out. The ThinkPad X220 I have fits inside absolutely perfectly:
While the design of the SleeveCase is pleasing and certainly looks much better than a cheap sleeve purchased on eBay for $20, the major differentiator between this case and others is the extremely durable build quality due to the durable materials used. On the outside of the case is a high grade ballistic nylon shell that will resist tearing. Consider the fact that ballistic nylon was first developed and used for WWII soldier’s flak jackets to resist flying debris and fragments and you get an idea of what kind of protection you get with the skin of this case.
Inside the case is a softer neoprene material to cushion the laptop more. Neoprene is actually a synthetic rubber, as such it’s designed to absorb any impact shocks caused by drops or bumps.
The flap on the Waterfield sleeve I have has a strong Velcro fastener, there’s no way the flap will open without a strong tug, which is reassuring to know.
An added bonus with the SleeveCase is that it is TSA friendly, meaning you don’t have to take your laptop out of the sleeve during the security search at airports. Well, theoretically that’s the case, though success varies by airport and agent as to whether you’ll be allowed to leave the laptop safely inside the sleeve.
One of the most important factors of buying any product is having strong support from the maker of the product. That’s certainly the case with Waterfield Designs. They pride themselves on customer service and want to build a relationship with their customers so you’ll go back again whenever the need arises for a bag. If you have any questions pre-sale or after purchase it’s easy to call or email and get help with your questions.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a laptop sleeve that’s a perfect fit and not just an ordinary looking neoprene black case, but rather adds extra protection and design flare. the SleeveCase from Waterfield Designs is a strong choice. It won’t be the cheapest option you find to protect your laptop, but it’s surely one of the best and will last you for years to come – longer than your laptop that’s for sure!
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