"Hands-On" Laptop Case Reviews

OGIO Metroid Backpack Laptop Case

Review Score: 8 out of 10 (Very Good)

Pros:  Overflowing with pockets and storage space, rugged constructions, lots of clever extras.

Cons:  Some pockets a bit gratuitous, may be large for some.

Bottom Line:  A solid offering for anyone looking for backpack laptop case with lots of room and plenty of pockets.

The Full Review

Backpack laptop cases are generally a good choice students who need to carry their laptop as well as a lot of books and other gear to, from, and around campus.  However, we also like

The OGIO Metroid Backpack Laptop Case is a good-sized backpack that will not only carry your laptop, but quite a bit of other gear as well.  The outer material is composed of a very rugged nylon that will withstand a lot of wear and tear.

The very front of the bag is where the first of many pockets appear.  This pocket, which is roughly 7"x 9", encloses another nylon pocket (which would keep things like change or other loose items from coming free), three pen slots, another inner zippered pocket, and lastly an attached key chain.  This whole pocket is attached to the main body of the bag in such a way that behind it there is an area that is surrounded on three sides, creating yet another open-top pocket (a good place to carry a paperback, or stuff a couple of magazines for easy reach).

Behind the first-stage pocket is another zippered pocket of generous proportions that has three file dividers integrated into the pocket.  These dividers are the perfect fit for standard file-sized manila folders.  Obviously books, note pads, or other such items also fit nicely here.

On the front bottom of each side of the backpack, there are two zipper pockets that wrap from front to back, offering more storage for any number of items.  Just above each of those pockets reside two more individually-zippered pockets that are much more modest in size and would be able to hold a cell phone, a bunch of pens, sunglass case, or other smaller items.

At the very top, just in front of the main compartment entry point, there is a mid-sized, fleece-lined pocket which OGIO calls the "Audio Pocket".  This is clearly the place for you iPod or MP3 player, as on the front of the pocket there is a headphone exit port where you can thread your earphone cord to connect to your device even while it is zipped safely in the pouch.  We're not totally sold on the value of having your MP3 player zipped inside the bag even while you are listening to it, as if you want to pause, change tracks, etc., this could require taking off the backpack to access this pouch.  This might work better for listening to an audio book, or some long-form audio program, but not as easily for music.

Finally we get to the main area of the bag, which is a cavernous affair to say the least.  You could fit tons of items in here, essentially anything you'd want to carry around for school, work, travel and more.

The actual laptop compartment is ingeniously placed just behind the main compartment, and is accessed via a side-running, horizontal zipper, which makes it easy to slip your laptop in and out of the bag.  Also, having a separate laptop compartment enables you to keep your computer away from other items you may be toting around which could scratch or damage the laptop.  We tested two laptops, and both fit comfortably inside this pocket, which is lined with a generous amount of padding on the front, back, and bottom.

The top of the bag had a padded, neoprene handle which makes it comfortable for carrying by hand when the backpack is not strapped to your shoulders.

And speaking of shoulders, the shoulder pads are also well-padded, and adjustable, making for a comfortable carry, and also ensures good weight distribution.  Additionally, where the backpack meets your back, there is additional padding, which is a smart feature given that the notebook itself is carried in the adjacent pocket.

The overall construction, stitching and materials are quite rugged and look to be able to withstand some serious use over an extended period.

As we reviewed this bag, we continually marveled at the number of pockets and storage space in this bag (10 in total!), and started to refer to it as a "Pocket Extravaganza".  This pretty well sums up a significant part of the value in this case -- lots of  room for storage.  At the same time, it offers many additional nice touches, including a very well-padded laptop compartment.  The OGIO Metroid would make a fine choice for students, or anyone who wants to be able to carry their laptop and other gear in an easy to carry way.  And while it might not be exactly at home in the boardroom (as would a leather laptop case), traveling professionals (especially those taking their laptop on vacation) would also find this backpack to be a great choice.

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