I am exremley pleased with this product. Brenthaven designed a bag that is comfortable, with great function, style and durability. I use this bag daily lugging my laptop and business material, walking the city all day I don't feel the weight of the cargo it's properly balanced with good padding on the back and thick shoulder straps.
The design is well thought out nothing hangs from the bag that can snag, the zippers are large and easy to use. The amount and size of the pockets and are accurate for day use and airline carry-on. Going through airport security is a breeze. I can easily take the bag off in a crowd and unzip to lay flat in the storage bucket; I don't take my laptop out of bag. On the backside there is kangaroo pocket to store the shoulder straps, which again makes it easy to carry in large crowds without out the worry of snagging.
I receive compliments from colleagues and fashion conscious friends for same reasons. The bag does its job without attracting attention to itself. Even though I use it daily in all weather the bag looks good and functions as the day I got it.
I am reassured that Brenthaven offers a lifetime warranty and is dedicated to creating a zero impact product.
This backpack has been to Korea, where it endured 8 months of weekly commutes between Seoul and the suburbs carrying a full load of gear (dSLR, external hard drives, 15" MacBook Pro, and tons of accessories, cables, and knick knacks). It has survived an additional year as a commuter in NYC, where it has been subjected to daily subway and bike rides. The bag has gone to CES, twice, where it saw countless bags that were far more expensive and it laughed. It's been to the tops of mountains in Colorado as well as to the beach, filled with sand and water and who knows what else, and my Brenthaven MetroLite still looks just as good as the day I bought it.
Well, okay, not quite as good, but pretty close! ;)
The second inside pocket (aka not the one meant for a laptop) turns out to be the perfect place to stash printed documents, folders, sketchpads or even my iPad. The bag generously grows to accomodate quite a bit of additional gear--I've stuffed it with tripods, video cameras, studio monitor headphones, Lacie firewire drives, clothes, wine bottles, and more. It takes it all. Yet it is comfortable, fairly adjustable, easily x-rayed, and somehow manages to fit under the seat in front of me in coach every time, no matter how meticulously packed.
The vast array of interior pockets initially confused me, but turn out to perfectly fit a variety of accessories. My pocket camera loves the padded pouch, and my iPod touch, Magic Mouse, and styluses have perfectly designed homes. The exterior pockets house essentials like toothpaste and hair gel and I have no fear of them exploding and taking out the rest of the bag.
The zippers are solid, and it's always quick to open and fish gear out of. This is huge--when you're on the go, you need a bag that works with you, not against you. My only complaint is that it doesn't offer much in the way of rain protection. I keep a plastic bag or two inside at all times to wrap precious electronics in case of emergency. This may be less of a concern if you have a car and aren't often caught walking endless blocks in Manhattan without an umbrella. That said, I've been caught unawares in a number of sudden downpours and haven't lost a single gadget yet, so maybe I'm just a tad paranoid.
Over the last two+ years, this thing has been my lifeline and hasn't let me down, not even for a minute. I could not possibly imagine recommending a product more. The price has dropped considerably since I first bought it at full MSRP--if you're in the market for a sleek bag to fit your 15" laptop, look no further--this is the one you're looking for.
Buy Brenthaven MetroLite BP XF Laptop Bag Now
Purchased this bag with a recommendation of the brand from my brother. Perfect size, its a slimmer profile than most laptop backpacks, but the compartment where your laptops goes is great, well cushioned with little jostling around, I know its safe. For me it was suggested to have a dedicated laptop bag and this fits the bill. I do put charger cord and small miscellaneous tech stuff in one of the outer pockets. Still keeps slimmer look. If you want to use for other stuff there are plenty of zippered pockets with smaller inner pockets for organizing. The zippers and materials are high quality!
Read Best Reviews of Brenthaven MetroLite BP XF Laptop Bag Here
I first saw Brenthaven backpacks here:The comments under the product review was actually what sold me on this bag. I received this bag this past Saturday and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It feels like it was MADE for my Macbook (well... it was). I highly recommend it. The dedicated cord pocket at the bottom has been a major hit with me so far. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the fact that there is no outside pocket for pens and pencils; you have to actually get into the main pockets for that. As a college student, I'm frequently having to whip out a pen to jot something down quickly. Other than that though, this bag is a wonder.
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Having gone through about 10 different laptop bags over the years, set out on a mission to find the perfect bag. The Brenthaven Metrolite is it. Great quality. Lightweight. Smart organizationnot too many useless pockets, not too few. TSA friendly.
Minor drawbacksno water bottle holder. Top handle could be a bit larger and beefier. They could add a side handle such that it can be carried on its side.
Truly a fantastic bag
I first discovered Crumpler a few years ago while looking for a camera bag. Ever since then, I have been an avid fan. The design of these bags is absolutely superb. Top quality fabric and construction that would put any worries to rest. Add in the lifetime warranty, which states if any part of the bag, like zippers or stitches break or tear, they will replace the bag for free without any receipt whether you are the original owner or not, and you have an irresistible purchase or your hands.
