A sling backpack (also known as a laptop carrier) is a bag that allows a laptop to be carried on the shoulder, with the bag tucking in under the chin. It can be a very convenient way to carry the laptop or notebook around. The reason for this is that it takes up very little space, is comfortable and is ideal if you want to multi-task and often need to work whilst you are on the go. There are some drawbacks however. Firstly, when using the sling backpack as a carryall, you do need to ensure that your laptop is safely tucked into the case, otherwise the bag could sway around and cause damage to the screen or even result in the screen becoming blurry.
Secondly, the design of the sling backpack means that it doesn’t offer a great deal of protection to your laptop computer. It is designed to protect the laptop from the realities of day-to-day use, but the laptop is still vulnerable to damage when not protected. This is especially true if you have purchased a laptop that has had a lot of handling. Whilst there are cases that are made specifically for carrying laptop bags on the shoulder, these are generally expensive and may not fit into most pockets. The result is that you will need to buy two bags, one to carry the laptop in and one to store it in. Not only is this a lot of extra luggage to carry, it also means that you cannot bring your laptop with you on an aeroplane.
A sling backpack laptop carrier is perfect for student travellers. These types of bags are designed to be extremely compact and incredibly durable, which is great for students who may spend hours every day carrying their laptop. Many of the models available are very similar to bags used by professional IT staff. These bags come with shock absorbers so they are comfortable to carry and have several different storage pockets, including one for a mobile phone. They have built in water resistant casings and rubberized grips, which prevent the laptop from sliding around in the case. They fold up neatly when not in use and have padded backing for shock absorption.