Slappa Ballistix AURA Laptop Sleeve Review

Upon first impressions, the Slappa Ballistix AURA sleeve appears to bea small laptop case. With a sweeping design along the front thatalludes to a hidden pocket and a nearly invisible magazine pocketzipper along the back, it would seem this small bag contains a fewhidden goodies. As it is, this laptop sleeve is a simple notebook coverfor use inside a larger laptop bag; if you don't like carrying largerbags, the AURA can also be used as a pocket-less bag option with abuckle for those time you only need to carry your laptop, and perhaps abook, around campus, work, or the library.

Slappa Ballistix AURA Laptop Sleeve Review

Published May 12, 2009 at 10:20:49 PM, by Blair Mathis

Slappa Laptop Sleeve Review

Upon first impressions, the Slappa Ballistix AURA sleeve appears tobe a small laptop case. With a sweeping design along the front thatalludes to a hidden pocket and a nearly invisible magazine pocketzipper along the back, it would seem this small bag contains a fewhidden goodies. As it is, this laptop sleeve is a simple notebook coverfor use inside a larger laptop bag; if you don't like carrying largerbags, the AURA can also be used as a pocket-less bag option with abuckle for those time you only need to carry your laptop, and perhaps abook, around campus, work, or the library.

The Ballistix AURA is available in two designs: black and silver,which is quite professional looking, and light silver and brightorange, which is a bit odd upon first appearance. The laptop sleeve ispriced at a very modest $29.99, with a shoulder strap available for anadditional $19.99. The price includes a 360-day extended warranty.

Design - External

The AURA from Slappa is made using ballistic nylon, which, accordingto the Slappa website "was originally developed to protect soldiersfrom flying debris and shrapnel caused by bullet or artillery shellimpacts." Given the sensitive nature and high price of a laptop,porting around the gadget is always a risky task. The fabric, which istear and water resistant, will help keep rain and snow from the insideof the sleeve, and the high-quality of the fabric will prevent tearsthat could scratch or gouge the chassis.

The front design of the AURA is silver over thick black fabric witha raised, round beveled Slappa logo, which is silver with a blackhandprint in the center. The back of the back is completely black witha single back zipper running along the top edge. The zippers are thickand high-quality; they are large enough for someone with large fingersto grasp easily.

The edges of the sleeve are where the seams are. There are twohalf-circle steel black loops on the front and back of the bags, wherethe included shoulder strap can be attached. The shoulder strap, whichis not included with the sleeve but available for a short additionalprice, is approximately 3-inches wide with very thick, high-qualitybuckles on each end and a thick shoulder pad with the Slappa logo; itis comfortable to wear and very high quality.

Design - Internal

There isn't too much to the inside of the laptop sleeve, as it is asmall bag. The inside appears to be insulated, almost like a foodcooler; the Slappa website calls it 'super-cush padding', which seemslike an appropriate name. It is a thick diamond-stitched lining thatseems durable enough to keep any bag safe, and is quite impressive. Thedimensions of the bags are available in 15.4 and 17-inches. We arereviewing the 17" version and it fit a Dell Precision laptop snugglybut not too tight.

Features

This bag only offers two features: two small loops for a shoulderstrap and a magazine pocket on the back. The magazine pocket is largeenough to slip three magazines into, or a notebook and couple of paperfolders. The outside pocket is not cushioned, but given the verydurable nature of the fabric, you don't have to worry about a teardamaging papers.

Performance

I carried this bag around for the better part of a week, using itcarry my 14.1" Dell Latitude laptop, it's power cord, as well as anotebook/ink pen/mp3 player/earbuds in the back magazine pocket, usingthe additional Slappa shoulder strap that was shipped with it. Thelaptop was well-cushioned--I never worried about knocking therelatively thin sleeve into the sharp edge of a bookcase or side tablebecause the fabric is so incredibly durable.

The bag withstood longish treks in the spring rain with the internalcontents always remaining dry. The true test came when a short stop inthe car sent a cupful of Sprite cascading over the bag (which had myprecious laptop within). I shook the liquid off the bag until the nextstop light and, upon examining the inside of the bag, discovered thelaptop dry and pop-free; the liquid beads and rolls over the ballisticnylon.

Conclusion

After using this bag for a week, I'm addicted. While touted as asleeve, it somehow feels like so much more. The thick, durable fabric,as well as the stylish design and roomy interior, make this sleeve anexcellent tote bag for minimalists, offering a thin, sleek design withjust enough room to hold your essential papers or gadgets.

Recommendation

The Slappa Ballistix AURA laptop sleeve is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED foranyone who wants a small portable case for their laptop that ishighly-durable, virtually tear and waterproof, that has a styleappropriate for both a college campus and a business meeting, and thatcomes in a relatively low price. This bag fell short of the LaptopLogic Editors Choice award for two reasons: as this bag can double as asmall laptop case, it's disappointing that zippers have no space for asmall lock; the second reason is the separate price of the shoulderstrap, which costs almost as much as the AURA itself.