Bluelounge Laptop Tote Bluelounge Laptop Tote

We each have our own idea of the perfect laptop bag. For some, it’s a messenger style, for others, a case or backpack with built-in sleeve. Personally, I like to carry a laptop or tablet, wallet, water bottle, keys, iPhone, compact camera, and notebook and pen all in one place, whether it’s a large purse, laptop bag, satchel or messenger.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

Bluelounge recently sent me a 13” laptop tote to test drive. I’d already admired the detailing on this tall, slender bag at last month’s CES in Vegas, so I was prepared to pack it right out of the box with my go-to tech gear.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

This award-winning brand strategy/graphic design studio was started in 1999 by designers Melissa Sunjaya and Dominic Symons. In 2005, Bluelounge began designing products and has grown to an international manufacturing enterprise.

Headquartered in Singapore, Bluelounge also has two R&D divisions in Jakarta, Indonesia and in Pasadena, California. Their products are available in 46 countries worldwide.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

Bluelounge uses 100% PET post-consumer plastic bottles in creating this design-worthy bag. The process involves cleaning and sorting PET bottles, crushing and shredding them into small flakes, melting the flakes into a hot liquid, filtering and extruding the liquid into long strands, and cooling, spinning, and finally spooling the strands to produce an environmentally-friendly fabric.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

The practical tote has two side pockets, a hidden zippered pocket in front, and a top main zipper to keep your stuff safe from prying eyes and dry from rainy jaunts around town.

The main compartment can stow a number of magazines, books, water bottle, a wallet, small personal items, and just about anything else that you can imagine fitting inside a space of 12.25” x 15.25” x 3.25” (31 x 38.7 x 8.25 cm).

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

A larger version (13.5” x 17.5” x 3.75”; 34.3 x 44.5 x 9.5 cm) will accommodate a 15” MacBook Pro.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

Other features include a custom aluminum carabiner, adjustable shoulder strap, and large zippered main compartment adjacent to the laptop sleeve with a velcro strap to keep it in place. If you’re not using the shoulder strap, the two clips that attach it tuck away nicely inside the tote’s side pockets.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

I particularly like the carry handles on the tote and the overall sturdy construction. Looks like I’ll have this bag for a long time to come due to its quality hooks, rivets, and zippers.

I did find the neoprene laptop sleeve fit pretty snug; count on fitting a 13” MacBook Pro in there without a case or sleeve. This bag would also be great for toting a tablet or small notebook-style laptop.

Dimensions

12.25” x 15.25” x 3.25” (31 x 38.7 x 8.25 cm)

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

If I could add one thing

When filled with all my stuff, the tote weighs in at about four kg (close to nine pounds). It would be great to include a shoulder pad on the strap for added comfort when hauling the bag around town or when travelling.

Bluelounge Laptop Tote

Bluelounge’s Laptop Tote retails for US $129 (US $149 for the 15” version) and is available online.

I was sent the laptop tote in Small for the purpose of test-driving it for this feature.

2 Comments

  • Comment by Monika — December 15, 2015 @ 12:46 am

    Thanks for the detailed review ! Really helpful 🙂 I just had one question, about the larger size bag that supposedly fits 15-17inch laptops, I have a dell that is much thicker than a macbook 15inch, do you think it would fit in the laptop sleeve in the bag?

  • Comment by Ariane Colenbrander — December 15, 2015 @ 10:21 am

    Hi Monika,

    I would contact Bluelounge via their website and ask. I only fitted the 13″ MBP into the bag and wouldn’t want to guess incorrectly! Hope that helps 🙂

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