Choosing a Traveling Laptop Case

I travel with most of my gadgets, especially if I'm heading out to a special family event. This past weekend, I traveled half-way across the country to a wedding and it was the first time I took along everything but the kitchen sink. I packed two iPods, a laptop, a Sony CyberShot DSC-F828 camera, and a Cannon Elura 100 digital camcorder. I never realized how important a good gadget bag really is for traveling until I had to squeeze all my gear into one laptop bag and my over sized tote bag.

So I learned two things: Don't carry two shoulder bags, and find a computer/gadget case with wheels for zooming through airports. You can do a search online for wheeled laptop backpacks, cases or business cases to find one that meets all your needs.

I liked the Lowepro Road Runner Mini AW Bag because it's water-resistant, fits a large laptop and would help me organize and protect all my gear while traveling anywhere in the world. I can appreciate the water-resistant part after being rained on this past weekend while on the East Coast.

Another affordable option is the Router Wheeled Laptop Convertible which has a side-load laptop storage compartment that's great for easy access of your laptop while going through airport inspections. It also has plenty of room, comes in many colors and has small pockets that hold cell phones or PDAs.

Here are some things to consider when purchasing a traveler laptop case:

1. Laptop dimensions: Measure your laptop and find a case that fits your computer snugly so it doesn't get banged up.
2. Water-Resistance: Take the extra precaution now because you can't predict the weather tomorrow. Consider a water-resistant bag especially if it has wheels.
3. Durability: Some bags are made with cheap materials. Make sure it has plenty of padding, strong zippers, and consider bags made of durable materials such as ballistic nylon.
4. Shoulder-strap or Wheels: While you may not travel all the time, it's nice to have the option of carrying only one shoulder bag (especially for ladies) when you do travel. Some wheeled backpacks have detachable wheels or two padded shoulder straps that allow you to easily strap it on your back if you need to. Keep in mind that carrying heavy backpacks will cause back strain, so be careful and alternate your carrying method.
5. Size: Before you go over the top and purchase the biggest laptop case available, consider portability. If it's too big, you may not want to use it all the time, so find a bag that is easy to carry to work, school or while you travel.

Have any other tips? Share them below.