Slappa Ballistix AURA Laptop Sleeve Review

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 to be a small laptop case. With a sweeping design along the front that alludes to a hidden pocket and a nearly invisible magazine pocket zipper along the back, it would seem this small bag contains a few hidden goodies. As it is, this laptop sleeve is a simple notebook cover for use inside a larger laptop bag; if you don't like carrying larger bags, the AURA can also be used as a pocket-less bag option with a buckle for those time you only need to carry your laptop, and perhaps a book, 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 bright orange, which is a bit odd upon first appearance. The laptop sleeve is priced at a very modest $29.99, with a shoulder strap available for an additional $19.99. The price includes a 360-day extended warranty.

Design - External

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

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

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

Design - Internal

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

Features

This bag only offers two features: two small loops for a shoulder strap and a magazine pocket on the back. The magazine pocket is large enough to slip three magazines into, or a notebook and couple of paper folders. The outside pocket is not cushioned, but given the very durable nature of the fabric, you don't have to worry about a tear damaging papers.

Performance

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

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

Conclusion

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

Recommendation

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

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Technical Specifications

No specifications are available.