Trager Twister Laptop Brief

A nice bag with a slight self-esteem problem
November 06, 2002

After reading some positive reviews on this website and others I purchased the Twister as a replacement bag. Thus far, I'm very impressed with the quality of materials and construction. Made with thick rip-stop nylon (double-stitched everywhere) it’s quite compact—not much wider than my 14” Dell. The bag has an interesting design with a dedicated, padded compartment for the laptop. This compartment is lined on the back and bottom with a stiff plastic that the manufacturer claims provides the greatest protection from drops. It also features removable padding on the side and bottom to accommodate various laptop sizes. Since it’s designed to be carried courier-style across the back, the straps are not symmetrically attached to the bag. That makes it slightly awkward to carry over only one shoulder. There are two exterior pockets, one mesh and a “cell phone” pocket with a Velcro flap. To my delight, the latter is large enough for my iPod. The interior is standard with a PDA pocket, key leash, business card and pen holders, etc. The main compartment easily holds a large stack of files, an extra drive, and cables. Overall this is a great little bag. My only complaint is the bag will not stand up on its own. It will flop "forward" when loaded with the laptop or unloaded. Perhaps it would behave if the hard, protective plastic lined the entire bottom instead of just the laptop compartment.

very good bag !
July 12, 2004

I am very pleased with this purchase. The bag is cool and sturdy. It fits my 14.1' Compaq laptop well( also it can fit my Dell Inspiron 8200, but u have to squeeze a little). I love this bag very much. One thing that might need to improve is the belt. The sliding pad of which is not cushioned much, so if I carry the bag long my shoulder feels strained and tired. All in all, this is a fairly great bag and I am satisfied with it~

Fantastic Bag
February 16, 2008

This is just about the best laptop protection money can buy short of hauling around a Penguin, Anvil, or Haliburton hard case (and those are seriously heavy). I used one of these for about 3 years for one of my laptops. It held up just as well as my more expensive Tom Bihn bag and getter than a Timbuk2 backpack I sometimes haul. The only reason I gave this one up is because I bought my mom her first laptop and she loved the bag so much I couldn't say no.

neat commuting bag
May 20, 2003

When I received that bag, it turned out slightly bigger than what I had expected. But that aside, it has plenty of room for my laptop (I have a 14" Dell). I use it to bring it to and from work everyday. Plus it has plenty of handy pockets - I especially like the one on the side for my MP3 player. Oh, and the handle on the bag is nifty. I guess one thing I would like to see would be velcro in the front pockets areas (so that stuff does not spill out). But all in all, a really good ergonomic bag.

Fits like a glove, a little too tight....
April 03, 2002

This is a brand new product and I could not find any review anywhere on the internet. This may be the FIRST internet review of this bag. First of all, the bag is quite light. I compare d this bag to my current Targus bags, and this bag is significantly lighter. This is a plus because my Inpiron is already almost 8 pounds, I don't need the bag to add extra weight. The bag has two main compartments. The notebook computer compartment has a hard shell around the two big sides and the bottom. The two smaller sides are padded by soft material only, and the top is not padded. Unfortunately, the soft side padding material does not extend all the way to the top. I think this bag has excellent protection from side impact (to the wide sides) and drop. If you drop it upside-down, however, the bag provides no protection at all. I was able to fit my Inspiron 8100 with a 15" screen into the computer section. The spec. said 13" wide for the exterior. This is not true. It is actually 13.5" wide exterior and more than 13" wide interior. I can easily fit my Inspiron. The challenge, however, is to close the zipper. The recommended maximum length is 10.5" or so, my Inspiron is about 10.8". I had to press a little bit (no enough to cause any damage) to close the zipper. Maybe this will improve over time. The other compartment is a good size compartment for all kinds of stuff. Because the computer section has a hard shell, this section is perfect for files, books and other items that you do not want to wrinkle. For extra protection against worn corners and better organization, one can drop in regular file folders. This section is also big enough for three-ring binders. The bottom of this section is soft padded for some minimal protection when you set the bag down. The outer pockets are somewhat organized for keys, pens, wallets and etc. These pockets are under the front flap for easy access. There are two additional small (thin) zippered compartments. One under the flap and one on the flap. The one on the flap is easy to access for maps, instructions and other small paper items. The one inside is probably good for items that need more security like wallets and passports. On the outside, there is one covered pocket (velcro) and one mesh pocket. I would rather keep my cell phone in my PDASkin gadget bag, but others may prefer this pocket for easy access. The mesh pocket is good for water bottles. The shoulder strap of this bag is sewn on the bag. That attachment is not symmetric. This means the bag is comfortable when you carry it from upper left shoulder to lower right hip, not the other way round. I guess that's okay for most of us. The bag also has a single handle right between the computer compartment and the other main compartment. This is actually better (if it proves to be just as sturdy) than the dual handle design. There is no need to find both handles to carry the bag. Unlike the bigger Trager bags with an included Transporter, the Twister has the computer compartment built-in. This saves some room because there is no need to leave enough space inside the bag for the entire Transporter. The other main compartment has a generous size for all kinds of school or business stuff. The bag probably will protect my Inspiron in most daily activities. However, if I drop the bag upside down, or bang on the smaller sides hard, the computer may be damaged. For all round protection, nothing beats Pelican cases.

Heavy Duty -Looks Good
November 10, 2003

Strong Fabric w/ stylish look.

Good laptop bag
September 20, 2004

This is a really durable bag. It will last forever. It could use some more organizer pockets for all the cords, power bricks, cell phones, etc. that business travelers need. Also tends to fall over quite a bit.

Powerbook G4 just barely fits...
December 20, 2002

Bought this bag for one of Apple's titanium Powerbook G4 laptops and it is a perfect fit. In fact, if the laptop were a quarter inch deeper or wider, the bag would be too tight. That said, the bag is comfortable to wear, provides plenty of protection against dents and has tons of pockets for cables, mice, phones and whatever else you drag around with you.

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Good value.Some nice features
April 25, 2004

I use this to carry a 12 inch powerbook. Cons: The fit is not snug. I wish that more removable padding had been provided to decrease movement of the computer during transport. The bag has trouble standing on its own which I find frustrating as I have to lean it against something with the front toward the object since it falls forward even when the computer is in its compartment. Pros: Highly rated for its protective abilities. Light. compact. Comfortable carrying either with the strap or handle. The 2 compartment design is very convenient for easy access to the computer. The other large compartment is large enough for the work I bring home. The price I paid for it was a good value.