Cheap Laptop Bags (Below P1,000)

There must be something wrong with me, but I consider laptop/netbook bags priced above P1,000 very expensive.  Considering you can buy a simple P100 laptop sleeve and use just any ordinary bag, you're basically good to go.  One can debate on and on about the advantages and disadvantages of having a special bag simply made for carrying your laptop -- but we're not here to talk about that.  =)

About 6 months ago, I finally bit the dust and bought myself a cute Asus 1005HA eeepc.  And then I realized why the obsession over those laptop/netbook bags.  Laptops and netbooks don't come cheap and protection is needed in order for your babies to last a long, long time.

But, boy!  Were good laptop bags hard to find!  Most of the bags I found were either way out of my budget, lacked enough storage space (was just enough for the lappies), or just plain boring.  Since I won't be bringing my netbook to the office all the time, I decided to go out-of-the-box and look for reasonably-priced, more casual alternatives.

Here are just some I was able to scout for one lazy afternoon in the mall:

1. Heartstrings is a local brand targeting mostly teens, however, their designs are just too cute to resist.  According to their sales staff, Heartstrings is trying to enter the laptop/netbook bag market so most of their newer backpack designs have added padding and snug closures for your lappies.

One downside I've seen though, they sell canvas backpacks that are not exactly 100% water repellant.  However, they do sell similar items in more water resistant materials.  Their bags are in varying sizes, largest I've seen from them can fit around a 14" laptop.

Just one of a Heartstrings' canvas backpacks - front (P550)

Heartstrings canvas backpack - inside (P550)

Here's another design of the same Heartstrings backpack  as featured above.  This one though is more water resistant.

A Heartstrings messenger bag - front (P579.75)

A Heartstrings messenger bag - inside (P579.75)

2. Landmark is a mecca for reasonably-priced items.  Everything you need under the sun, Landmark has it. 

I saw this chic messenger laptop bag at the 2nd floor.  Reminds you of a Golla-inspired bag, don't you think?  Has a drawstring closure inside and is very well padded.  Good for 14" lappies and below.

Laptop messenger bag from landmark - front (P899.75)

Laptop messenger bag from landmark - inside (P899.75)

3. Cose is another brand targeting the younger set, but this messenger bag was too hard to miss.  Unlike Heartstrings though, Cose has yet to release more designs for laptop bags, so expect very slim pickings.  Who knows, they might come up with more designs in the future. 

This messenger bag can fit around 13" and below.

Cose messenger laptop bag - front (P699.75)

Cose messenger laptop bag - inside (P699.75)

(I apologize for not removing the plastic fillers.  Saleslady was giving me the evil eye that time.  Hehehe!)

4. Human.  From what I've seen so far, most of their laptop bags are designed for males.  Case in point, messenger laptop bag featured below.  Has good built-in padded sleeve.  My main gripe though is it's  masculine design.  Hope they come out with more feminine ones.  =)

Their sister company, Bench, also sells affordable laptop bags, but not really that aesthetically pleasing to me.  Similar to Human, its designed mostly for their male customers.

Human messenger bag - front (749.00)

Human messanger bag - inside (749.00)

5. SM - I don't know exactly what this brand is, but I saw quite a few of them on display in SM Makati.  Downside is, the built-in sleeve looks more like an ordinary partition, and is only padded on one side.  You'll have to use a separate sleeve when using this.

The good side though, they offer one of the biggest laptop bag sizes I've seen so far.  This bag can fit up to 16" lappies.

Laptop bag seen in SM - front (P440.00)

Laptop bag seen in SM - inside (P440.00)

6. Illustazo.  Cute, funky design - CHECK.  Well-padded sides - CHECK. A lot of partitions for all your stuff - CHECK.  What more could you ask?  This backpack was designed specifically for netbooks (10" and smaller) but they do sell bags for bigger-sized lappies.

Illustrazo netbook backpack - front (P899.00)

Illustrazo netbook backpack - inside (P899.00)

7. Halo.  As mentioned by the sales staff, Halo is a brand from Hong Kong.  I'm not 100% sure though as I am having a time locating a company website.  So far, they sell backpacks and totes for bigger-sized laptops, around 14" and above.  Designs are androgynous and funky enough.  This cute purple one really caught my eye.

Halo backpack - front (P795.00)

Halo backpack - inside (P795.00)

8. Tech Tote bags, sold in all Powerbooks branches, sell, well...uhmmm..laptop/netbook totes.  I love the mini grape frizz model, but the handle is too short for my taste.  I can already feel the bag brushing up my armpit.  Sorry.  Too close for comfort. Now unless, this bag is made to be hand-carried only, then its nice enough as it is.  (Personally, I prefer it strapped to my person.  Iwas biglang dukot ba.  Hehehe!)  Photos are from the Tech Tote website.

Mini Grape Frizz from TechTote (P880);

Same item raffled off at Yugatech last year.

Lemon Torte from TechTote (P910)

I'm still on the hunt...stay tuned for more laptop/netbook bag finds!  =)