Commute carrying a laptop?

[seevtsaab]

Searching for a monster for primarily a commuter - seen many who carry a laptop in over the shoulder bag.
Positively not looking to carry anything on my back except my coat and maybe the missus but that's a ways off.
Have got to carry my laptop, plus usually lunch  & thermos etc.
Coretech bags look nice, ditto many tank bags, anything you would recommend large and cushy enough for a laptop?

[He Man]

Why are you oppose to a backpack? thats the way to go imho. With the right backpack, you cant feel the weight. Also depends on how and where you ride too.

[LA]

Of course it depends on the size of the laptop.  I commute most days on the scoot and use a CoreTech sport tail pack and it works very well.  I use a tank bag some also.  The CoreTech's zip out side extensions will enlarge the bag at a moments notice. It's amazing how much stuff you can carry in one.

The tail pack is a monster natural as two of the pack's hooks go together under the rear fender and the rear hooks attach to the rear grab handles - very stable. The shock cord that the hooks attach to can be shortened in a second as they lose elasticity.  Mine is 5 years and going strong.

LA

[sfarchie]

I absolutely love my chrome messenger bag. Waterproof and it's big to hold what I need for work. Here's a link for their laptop bags, although it doesn't sound like you want this. Just another option to consider. Plus, free shipping for any order >=$100.00 through December!

http://www.chromebags.com/products/bags/computer/

[Goat_Herder]

I absolutely love my chrome messenger bag. Waterproof and it's big to hold what I need for work. Here's a link for their laptop bags, although it doesn't sound like you want this. Just another option to consider. Plus, free shipping for any order >=$100.00 through December!

http://www.chromebags.com/products/bags/computer/

+1 on the Chrome Mesenger bag.  The medium bag is perfect for a laptop, charger, and lunch.  I would turn the laptop 90 degrees and put it in on its side.  The bag would big better on your back. 

[Takster]

Backpack for sure.  I commute with my MacBook Pro, and have it in a North Face pack.  Plenty of room for an extra layer or two and a handful of peripherals.

[VTRIDER]

I don't mind a backpack either.  Lots of packs are designed to carry laptops comfortably.  However the pack got annoying when I jammed all my lacrosse gear in and then strapped the stick to the outside.

[Takster]

I don't mind a backpack either.  Lots of packs are designed to carry laptops comfortably.  However the pack got annoying when I jammed all my lacrosse gear in and then strapped the stick to the outside.

just don't clothesline a pedestrian with that stick!  A guy who works in my building was commuting to work with a Guzzi and had a pair of crutches strapped across his seat and panniers.  I saw a couple of close calls with people in the parking lot.

[Willwork4aMonster]

I use a Ogio Merto backpack!

I have a fairly short commute, about 15 minutes, and this backpack holds a 15.4" wide screen laptop plus extras (shoes and a change of clothing, can also squeeze lunch in if needed).

Glenn

[VTRIDER]

I had a attack stick(short one) It stuck straight up and looked goofy, but no danger to others thankfully.

I have a dakine laptop pack.  It fits so well I can barely feel it when I have my laptop in it.

I guess it depends on what kind of laptop you have.  A gaming machine my feel awkward with all the weight on your back.

[Takster]

I've been thinking about picking up one of those hard-shell Axio packs.

The largest one looks a bit unwieldy, but the smaller ones, the 'Fuse' and 'Rivet' specifically, look like they'd be a perfect commuter pack.

...btw, I wonder if my aluminum MacBook Pro counts as back-armor?

[NekkedChic]

I ride with my laptop AND gun/ammo ETC to range every Monday and just put all in backpack and net it on seat behind me-no probs. Hook Net hooks to each other under tail at rear then two more front hooks I hook to exhaust brackets-AND all this keeping my seat cowl on unscathed!  Then, when arrive, only need to undo hooks on left side of bike, slip pack out and GO! 
Did this same thing without cowl for long time in beginning, then got "brave" and since backpack is SOFT on underside and careful about hooks etc, cowl is protected and I can leave it on now. 

[sfarchie]

I ride with my laptop AND gun/ammo ETC to range every Monday and just put all in backpack and net it on seat behind me-no probs. Hook Net hooks to each other under tail at rear then two more front hooks I hook to exhaust brackets-AND all this keeping my seat cowl on unscathed!  Then, when arrive, only need to undo hooks on left side of bike, slip pack out and GO! 
Did this same thing without cowl for long time in beginning, then got "brave" and since backpack is SOFT on underside and careful about hooks etc, cowl is protected and I can leave it on now. 

For a fleeting moment I felt like a real badass packing a sling shot, so thanks for reminding me I'm still a nerd. 

[erkishhorde]

I had a attack stick(short one) It stuck straight up and looked goofy, but no danger to others thankfully.

I have a dakine laptop pack.  It fits so well I can barely feel it when I have my laptop in it.

I guess it depends on what kind of laptop you have.  A gaming machine my feel awkward with all the weight on your back.

I used to ride w/ a backpack full of school stuff w/ my pool stick case strapped to the side (I added 2 straps to the side of my backpack specifically for this) and with a laptop bag slung over all of that. For freeway I didn't like how my laptop bag would bounce around from the wind sometimes. Backpack is the way to go w/ a laptop imo. I think the nicer shoulder bags have a second strap that you can put around your waist to keep the flapping in the wind, no? I'd insist on something like this if I were to stick my laptop in a shoulder bag and run the freeway.

[somegirl]

I ride with my 17" laptop in a backpack on a daily basis.

If you don't feel comfortable using a backpack, the Cortech sport tail bag should fit your laptop.  I'd recommend getting a padded sleeve to put the laptop in first, though.