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review

Case Logic iPad and Laptop Messenger Bag

5
£39.99

VERDICT:

5
10
Great for carrying your iPad but best suited to short commutes on an upright town bike in fair weather
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.caselogic.com/en-gb/gb

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Case Logic iPad and Laptop Messenger bag is a shrunken version of a laptop bag. It's been scaled down so that it accommodates an iPad or a netbook or other mini-laptop without them slopping around like they would in a bag made to carry a 15in laptop. It makes sense really, having a smaller padded bag for these new slivers of technology which have equally small chargers.

There's enough space to park your iPad in a protective padded sleeve within the main compartment. It's further protected from the elements by a flap that has hidden magnetic fasteners. That works well unless you squeeze too much into the bag; easy to do given its small carrying volume. A charger and some sandwiches are pretty much all you can carrying the main compartment.

An organisational sleeve in the main compartment keeps your stationary like pens and other nik-naks neat. There is a zippered pocket hidden in the flap, ideal for stashing items that you want quick access to, like your keys or mobile phone. There's also a pocket at the back of the bag, big enough to put a mini D-lock in or a handbag-sized magazine.

The bag is made from padded nylon fabric that does a good job of protecting your iPad and is fairly durable and should take a few scrapes before looking tatty.

The padded shoulder strap makes the bag comfortable to carry even when it's loaded up with a D-lock but the material doesn't grip to your clothing, so the bag slips off your shoulder if you don't sling it over your neck. When you are cycling, the bag doesn't stay put, and there's no stabilising strap to help keep it in place. As a result, the bag shuffles round until it is swinging down by your handlebars and clonking against your legs when you pedal. Annoying. This wasn't such an issue on a more upright bike like a dutch town bike but on a road bike the bag refused to keep out of the way.

The bag is only shower proof and there is no provision to cover it from the elements. You could pop it in a shower cap but that would look daft.

This is a neat bag but it's not really a cycling bag. there are no reflective bits and no tab to clip a light on as well as no protection from the great British weather. With the addition of these features it would be a great mini messenger for carrying your tablet gadget thing on your bike.

Verdict

This little bag is great for carrying your iPad but best suited to short commutes on an upright town bike in fair weather.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Case Logic iPad and Laptop Messenger Bag

Size tested: Blue

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Aimed at commuters but more the type that travel in an air-conditioned carriage not a bicycle. It works fine walking with it in dry weather.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Made Dedicated compartment is sized to fit an iPad®

Main compartment fits a 11.6'' laptop/Chromebook™, daily notebook, headphones or other accessories

Spacious organization compartment accommodates a charger, pens and small accessories

Zippered, nylex-lined front pocket keeps your smartphone secure yet accessible

Magnet closure for easy access, quick closure and quiet opening

Quickly stash away a map, magazine, snack or ticket inside the back panel pocket

Comfortable shoulder strap with shoulder pad for easy portability

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Made to a high quality, backed up by a 25 year warranty.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Not designed for bad weather, your contents will get wet in a heavy, continual downpour. The material is too slippery for the bag not to keep sliding round to the front, dangling off your neck when stooped over the bars cycling.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

It has a 25 year warranty but it isn't designed for the kind of abuse that, say, a courier would give it day-in day-out.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
5/10

The pad on the strap makes it comfortable but the bag doesn't stay put it, which makes it annoying.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

£40 for this little bag is ok if you didn't want to take it on your bike but it doesn't work that well when you do.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It is a product that is designed and works best for pedestrians who are sheltered from the elements, travelling in a bubble.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

it is neat, compact and the magnetic closure adds to the uncluttered design.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It doesn't stay put on your back, making you constantly adjust the position of it while riding. Annoying.

Did you enjoy using the product? Occassionally.

Would you consider buying the product? Not for cycling with, no.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Only to someone who commutes by train with their iPad.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Small tweaks to make this more biker friendly would make this a sweet little messenger bag for transporting a tablet.

Overall rating: 5/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 179  Weight: 75

I usually ride: Condor pista  My best bike is: Condor Pista fixed. Look KG241, Jean Thomann vintage

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed, bare back

 

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