Review: Laptop totes for fashion-conscious bagaholics

The bags women hook over their shoulders don't simply help them haul their stuff, they broadcast their sense of style. Consequently, the simple black nylon messenger bags that have become the standard for notebook carriers just don't cut it for some ladies. It should come as no surprise, then, that there has been a minor explosion in recent years of gear sacks sporting funky colours and feminine shapes.

Of course, being a man, I might not be the best judge of women's bags. I can capably evaluate practicality and functionality, but I've no established credibility in the world of fashion.

That's why I've recruited the help of my wife, a veritable bagaholic who can always be found with the latest Coach and Kate Spade purses hanging over her arm. What's more, she's spent the last five years carting her laptop to and from work, which has given her a good instinct for what makes a good laptop sack.

Over the years, she has come to swear by Lululemon's laptop backpacks, which she views as practical and trendy. Let's see if any of these other notebook carriers can change her mind.

With a tough black nylon exterior and a foam shielded laptop pouch, this bag provides the same sort of protection offered by a traditional laptop messenger bag. Yet it still has feminine appeal, thanks to a classic tote shape, royal red lining, and a plethora of spacious, purposeful pockets-five in all, including magnetically sealed and zippered pockets on each side suitable for personal items and smaller bits of gear.

My wife's two cents: More functional than fashionable, but it looks nice. Just a bit conservative for my taste. I'd probably be more tempted if I were a lawyer or an accountant.

Not quite as rugged as the Hughes, the Empress is clearly targeted at fashion-minded women. Dark grey puffy metallic fabric gives it a soft, luxurious look, while a tougher leather-like material covering the base and bottom corners adds a bit of protection. A 17-inch laptop fits easily into its cavernous innards with loads of room to spare for papers, shoes, portable mice, or anything else a woman might normally carry in her purse or laptop bag.

My wife's two cents: Perfect for a semi-dressy work environment. Plus, it's huge. I could see using it as a purse, though my bags are already pretty heavy. Adding several pounds might break my shoulder.

Sometimes all you need is a dab of colour. The Venice is a small, simple backpack with a fuzzy, padded laptop compartment that snugly fits a 17-incher. It doesn't have a particularly unique shape, and there are only a few pockets, but the shoulder straps are thick and comfy, it has a subtle but pleasant diamond pattern on the outer pouch, and you can choose from a rainbow of colours. It's feminine, functional, and very affordable.

My wife's two cents: Backpacks make my life easier by spreading the load over two shoulders, but they're often super ugly. This one isn't. Love the candy apple red-so cute. And just 30 bucks? This one might be my favourite.

This green satchel from Toronto-based Lug is my favourite of the group. Its funky colouring and uniquely styled trio of vertical pockets makes it the most eye-catching of the bunch, but it's also quite practical. Those three pouches are made of water resistant fabric and big enough for power cables, mice, and other accessories. Plus, it has a surprisingly cushy shoulder pad, a soft, well protected interior, and an elastic strap for securing papers to the inner wall. Bonus: The back of the bag has a built-in mouse pad and a zippered compartment for flash drives.

My wife's two cents: I usually find messenger bags ugly and uncomfortable, but this is probably the hippest one I've ever seen-feminine, but more because of its colour and fabric than the shape.

Borne from the imagination of a woman who was tired of lugging around bags that were either eyesores or didn't offer adequate protection for her notebook, The Sage tote has a girly shape and a pretty pink-and-white striped lining. A tough chocolate-coloured canvas exterior and thick, padded walls offer good shielding for your gear. It also has a flap designed to protect a laptop's screen from its keyboard, a zippered power port so you can compute without removing your computer from the bag, and a couple of spacious outer pockets to store accessories.

My wife's two cents: I want to like this tote; it's the one that seems most elegant, kind of like a designer laptop bag. But something about it-maybe the outer pocket with the elastic top-says diaper bag. Still, it would make a very pretty diaper bag.

With netbooks becoming ever more popular, it could be that you don't need a big bulky laptop carrier at all. Belkin's answer is this tiny bag, which can either act as a mini-notebook sleeve that you can toss into your purse or serve as a small, over-the-shoulder bag. Quilted fabric and foam inserts provide adequate protection for your netbook, but with no additional pockets it feels pretty barebones. Plus, the price is off; it costs the same as Belkin's full-sized Venice laptop backpack.

My wife's two cents: The removable strap is a good idea-lets me carry it like a small purse. Fabric feels cheap, though; kind of like the handle of a reusable grocery bag. And would it have killed them to add a little pocket for a wallet, cell phone, or transit pass?

Lug's netbook carrier, available in pink or navy, is made of the same water-resistant fabric as the Flatbed and has an attractive mild sheen. Its fuzzy interior is thickly padded on all six sides, providing good protection in case of a drop-which could very well happen, since there's no shoulder strap. Most women will simply throw it in their purse, but it has its own handle, as well as a small outer pocket good for USB drives and other small accessories. The built-in pad on the back will prove handy for those who'd rather use a real mouse than a touch pad.

My wife's two cents: If I had a netbook and wanted to keep it in a sleeve I'd probably choose this one. It's cute and tough. And it has an extra pocket. Pockets are important.