Buying a new laptop is a great feeling, and you no doubt want to keep that shiny new exterior in pristine condition. A case is great for bumps and scrapes, and a bag is handy for carrying, but what about something that sits in-between? We've rounded up the best laptop sleeves for a number of uses right here.
WaterField Executive Folio
Premium Professional Sleeve
WaterField handmakes its sleeves and bags in San Francisco, and the quality is always top-notch. This sleeve is primarily made of ballistic nylon or waxed canvas, with full-grain leather accents to make it pop. It's cushioned to protect against bumps and drops, and the main pocket is lined to keep from scratching your laptop. Choose 13- or 15-inch sizes and add any extra straps you'd like for easier carrying.
tomtoc 360
Thick Corner Drop Protection
Dropping a laptop on a corner often spells disaster, but tomtoc's 360 sleeve aims to fix this problem. All four corners have extra thick padding, as well as the usual protection and soft lining throughout. A handle on top makes it easy to carry, and two external zippered pockets are ready to handle your smaller accessories. Grab it in several sizes and colors to best suit your laptop.
Thule Gauntlet 4.0
Hardshell Protection
If you're often working with your laptop in less-than-ideal conditions, a hardshell case might be the right choice. Available in 13- and 15-inch sizes, the Thule Gauntlet opens in a clamshell format, allowing you to use your laptop without entirely removing it from the sleeve. The solid exterior offers robust protection, the inner pocket is padded with soft lining, and there's a sturdy zipper to keep it all together.
Maroo Premium Leather Sleeve
Pro Sleeve for Surface Pro
Have a Surface Pro (or another similarly-sized tablet) and want some slim protection? This sleeve from Maroo is made of premium leather for a professional look. It doesn't have a ton of padding, but it does have a lined interior to prevent scratches. A magnetic flap keeps your tablet in place, and there's even a Surface Pen holder built in to keep it nearby.
ProCase Sleeve Case
Lots of Colors
If you're tired of the usual black sleeve colors and don't mind some no-nonsense protection, this ProCase sleeve should no doubt satisfy. It has a zippered, lined pocket with padding, carrying handle on top, and slim pouch on the back for smaller accessories. It fits several laptop and tablet sizes, and it's available in seven different colors, including pink, teal, and mint green.
Dell Pro Sleeve
Briefcase Style
Whether you have a 13-, 14-, or 15-inch laptop, Dell's Pro Sleeve should work well. This weather-resistant sleeve has a soft lining to prevent scratches, and it's padded throughout. Straps on the back can be used to attach the sleeve to a suitcase handle, and external zippered pockets are ideal for keeping your smaller accessories organized.
AmazonBasics Sleeve
As Budget As Possible
Sleeves don't need to be expensive, and this option from AmazonBasics holds true. It's a simple single-pocket zippered sleeve with average padding and soft interior. It comes in sizes ranging from 7 inches to 17.3 inches, so you should be able to find something that fits no matter your device. Choose from five different colors.
WaterField SleeveCase
Vertical or Horizontal
Another high-end option from WaterField, the SleeveCase is available in a horizontal or vertical orientation. It comes in a ton of different sizes for different devices, and it's available in waxed canvas with Grizzly leather or ballistic nylon with micro trim. The inside is lined to prevent scratches, and there's a pouch on the back for smaller accessories.
Velomacchi Speedway Impact
High-Speed Protection
Cycling (or motorcycling) is a great way to get around when the weather is nice, but strapping a laptop onto your back or into a saddlebag might require a bit of extra protection. Velomacchi's Impact sleeve is designed to take a lot of abuse, and it's available in three different sizes. The ballistic-nylon exterior can withstand road rash, and a polyethylene plate inside is meant to absorb the shock of a crash.
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Any of the above laptop sleeves will add some much-needed protection to your device, but you might be wondering exactly where to start. Those working primarily in a professional or collegiate setting might want to check out WaterField's Executive Folio. It comes in 13- and 15-inch sizes to fit a majority of laptops, with a padded and zippered main pocket. It's constructed of either ballistic nylon or waxed canvas, and there are multiple choices when it comes to a full-grain leather accent color.
Opening the Executive Folio reveals separate pouches for phone, pens, and laptop, as well as space for a legal pad if you're keen on jotting down notes. Straps can be added for easier carrying, and there's a zippered pocket on the outside of the sleeve for quick access to your smaller accessories.
If spending upwards of $90 on a sleeve doesn't appeal to you despite the high-end quality of the WaterField sleeve, you can always check out something like tomtoc's 360 sleeve. Its main feature is robust corner protection, which prevents your laptop from coming apart if dropped on its corner. The main zippered pocket is soft-lined to prevent scratches, and there are two more zippered pockets on the outside for carrying smaller accessories. A handle on top makes it easy to carry on its own.
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Cale Hunt
Senior Editor, Laptop Reviews
Cale Hunt is formerly a Senior Editor at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on laptop reviews, news, and accessory coverage. He's been reviewing laptops and accessories full-time since 2016, with hundreds of reviews published for Windows Central. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
