The 10 Best Rolling Laptop Cases
This wiki has been updated 37 times since it was first published in March of 2016. Considering when the wheel was invented, it's hard to believe how long it took us to attach them to our luggage. Fortunately, nowadays, if you're going on a short trip that requires you to take your laptop or tablet along with other business materials and a change of clothes, these rolling cases will make it easy for you. Plus, they'll protect expensive electronic devices, too. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Solo New York Walker
2. AmazonBasics 16-Inch
3. Samsonite Xenon 3.0 Mobile Office
Editor's Notes
December 05, 2019:
While we all want our bags to look good and offer all the pockets and functionality we need, durability is often actually the most important factor. If luggage isn't durable enough, whether that be a backpack, carry-on, or messenger bag, nothing else matters, since it will most likely fail in some manner before you get a chance to take full advantage of the other features. It was with this in mind that we eliminated the London Fog Chelsea.
We also eliminated the, admittedly stylish, McKlein USA La Grange. Though we feel many women will find the bag itself is quite fashionable, the detachable wheel and handle system seems more gimmicky than anything else. Not only is the trolley large and bulky, but the eight-pound weight of the bag itself when completely empty makes it seem unlikely many will want to carry it for very long when loaded with stuff. Because of this, we thought it better to include an attractive model that remains sleek while still boasting wheels, like the JKM and Company Uptown Ostrich. We also think anyone would be proud to showoff the Solo New York Walker, which has a classic aesthetic and is crafted from a premium full-grain leather.
If maneuverability is your top priority, the Samsonite Xenon 3.0 Mobile Office and Perry Ellis Mobile Office WT-1100, both of which feature spinner wheels, are smart choices. They also have a very professional appearance, along with the Travelpro Crew Executive and Solo Bryant.
For those who value capacity above all else, we recommend the large Alpine Swiss Attache, which is ideal for bringing along a lot of papers and folders. It also features two combination locks, so it will keep your sensitive documents safe even if your forget your bag somewhere.
Special Honors
Samsonite Novaire Wheeled Underseater With 360-degree spinner wheels, dual USB ports for keeping devices charged, and a roomy main compartment for clothes, the Novaire Underseater will make traveling a bit less of a hassle and a lot more convenient. It also features a hard shell that will keep your laptop and other contents well-protected. samsonite.com
Zero Halliburton Geo 3.0 If you can stomach the cost, the near-indestructible aluminum Geo 3.0 will serve you faithfully for years to come. It is available in three metallic finishes, has TSA-approved combination locks to keep your contents out of the hands of nefarious individuals, and is equipped with recessed wheels to minimize its bulk. It also offers a removable laptop sleeve. zerohalliburton.com
4. Wenger Swissgear Granada
5. JKM and Company Uptown Ostrich
6. Kensington Contour
7. Travelpro Crew Executive
8. Solo Bryant
9. Perry Ellis Mobile Office WT-1100
10. Alpine Swiss Attache
The Benefits Of A Rolling Laptop Case
If you've ever dropped your laptop bag, you know how devastating this can be.
For many of us, packing a bag and slinging it over our shoulder is reminiscent of our childhood days. We did it first with our backpacks in primary school, later with our messenger bags in college, and finally with our briefcases or shoulder bags in adulthood. It's possible, though, that you've been putting a strain on your body through these types of parcels every day for decades. Doctors are seeing a rise in adolescent back pain, likely due to the heavy loads children carry in their school bags. While children are probably carrying text books, lugging a laptop around can be just as damaging to your back, neck, and shoulders. If you're an adult who has upgraded from paper books to tablets and laptops, your health is still at risk should you carry a single-strap laptop bag each day. A rolling laptop bag is the ideal way to relieve your body of the stress of carrying these bags.
Once you no longer have to rely on your physical strength to hold up your laptop, files, and other items, you can actually pack a little more, too. Rolling laptop bags give you the freedom to tow a few extra items without putting too much weight on your back and shoulders. Navigating cramped spaces like busy subway stations and buses also becomes a bit easier with a rolling laptop bag. When you carry a briefcase or bag on the side of your body, you take up a lot of room. But you can easily tuck a rolling laptop case between your feet, and not feel like you have some awkwardly large appendage protruding off the side of your body.
Rolling laptop cases also help you move around faster. Since their wheels and frame bear the load, rather than your back, you can move at a higher clip. They can easily navigate sharp corners, as well. If you're always in a rush, you can't afford to carry a heavy laptop case that slows you down. Another great benefit of rolling laptop cases is the added protection they offer your device. If you've ever dropped your laptop bag, you know how devastating this can be. Even if you have your laptop in a protective sleeve, dropping it from four or five feet above the ground can have tragic consequences. When you keep your laptop in a rolling case, however, it's already near the ground and can never drop very far.
Other Features To Look For
Our society is becoming more and more reliant on computers. In fact, one day, many jobs will be done by computers rather than human beings. Needless to say, they are valuable commodities that need to be protected. If your life would come crashing down should you be without your laptop for even half a day, make sure your rolling laptop case has secure combination locks. These can reduce the possibility of someone stealing it from your bag. As for protecting your laptop from your own mistakes, look for a case with a padded interior. If you travel often, carrying luggage and a laptop case can be a pain. Fortunately, many models have extra pockets and large interiors, doubling as your suitcase and computer carrier. You may also want to choose one that has a few exterior pockets where you can keep items you want to be able to access quickly, like pens, keys, and your cellphone.
If you travel often, carrying luggage and a laptop case can be a pain.
If this case will act as your briefcase in important meetings and presentations, the style is important, too. Many have elegant leather finishes, attractive bronze and nickel hardware and other details that will impress your colleagues. Speaking of impressing colleagues, if you don't want to walk into a meeting with a rolling laptop case, some detach from their wheeled frame and can be carried like a standard messenger bag.
For the smoothest navigation, look for cases with inline wheels that don't protrude too much. Finding a case that is lightweight, while still durable, will also make it easier to move from point A to point B quickly. If you plan on dragging your case through busy metropolitan streets, make sure it's water and scratch-resistant. Even if you're very careful, you never know when a stranger might bump into your case or a sprinkler might turn on just as you pass by. A stable base that lets your case stand upright on its own will also help to prevent damage.
A History Of Rolling Luggage
Even though wheels have been around for millennia, nobody thought to add them to bags until the late 1900s. We all owe big thanks to airline pilot Robert Plath. Tired of carrying his suitcase through airports every day via a stiff top handle, he invented the Rollaboard in 1987 and filed a patent for it in 1989. Prior to Plath's invention, most luggage was oriented horizontally. Plath created a bag that stood vertically on two wheels with a retractable handle, very much like most carry-on luggage today.
Prior to Plath's invention, most luggage was oriented horizontally.
At first, Plath simply operated out of his garage and only sold his invention to fellow airline staff. Naturally, airplane passengers became jealous of the pilots and flight attendants, who were effortlessly whisking their suitcases around in front of them, and asked where they could buy some for themselves. These inquiries inspired Plath to move his little business out of his garage and into a warehouse in 1991. Plath became so busy with his rolling luggage business that he quit his work as an airline pilot and started selling his creation full-time.
The Rollaboard set off a number of changes in the air travel world. Airport security had to change its scanning equipment to accommodate this new shape of luggage, and airlines had to redesign their overhead bins to hold accommodate it. The Rollaboard influenced far more than the travel world, though, and eventually prompted the creation of other rolling parcels like rolling laptop cases and rolling backpacks.
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.