Laptop-friendly backpack?

Hey all, I'm a working nomad. But have yet to find a decent laptop-friendly backpack, that is, one speciafically designed with a compartment to carry a laptop. Does anyone know of one that might be out there? Or does anyone have any other alternatives for traveling with a laptop, if one might be on the road a lot? Thanks in advance!

Just to add that I have been checking out brands such as Tamrac "new Adventure" and "Pacsafe" as recommended by others in similar threads here on Thorn Tree. Has anyone used these before?

In this thread they proposed a padded sleeve. I found that a smart idea.

What country are you in? I don't know why you would have any problem finding specifically designed for laptop backpacks, a quick Google will find you lots of them.

The padded sleeves that kilo-fox recommended are great and inexpensive, i have used them taking laptops onto oilrigs before - if they can survive that they can survive pretty much anything!

Cumpler are a good make for photographic and laptop backbacks but they are very expensive! But they are more like daybags with a laptop space, if you are after a backpack fro all your gear plus a laptop, then use your normal one with a padded sleeve for the laptop.

So the real question is does the OP mean a full size backpack with a compartment for a laptop or a daypack designed for a laptop? I've never seen or heard of an actual backpack designed to take a laptop. My first assumption was the OP was simply using the word 'backpack' loosely and in fact meant a daypack.

Neoprene type foam 'sleeves' are indeed easily found for laptops. They don't have anywhere to carry much in the way of accessories though, just the laptop itself. If I were going to take a laptop that is what I would use thesedays.

Foam sleeves inside a normal daypack works really well. Take it from the original working nomad ;o)

I have a really big daypack by Swiss. I'm carrying a fairly big laptop (15") and my first trip with it was a long haul from North Carolina to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I wanted something that would let me take several books, a long-sleeved top in case the plane was drafty, maybe some snacks, the ever useful toothbrush. You get the idea. I needed something for my laptop and all the detritus I want with me on long journeys. It's too big most of the time, but it has worked out well so far. I carry a lightweight cloth bag with me to use as my actual 'daypack'.

However, after a year, the carrying handle on the pack has started to ravel. I'm not terribly pleased about that.

Take up knitting stilloutthere and fix it. LOL

..while i have no laptop at present i am currently in the market for one but it has to be able to fit into my mountainsmith fanny pack upon which my LLbean daypack rests..therefore it can't be more than 12" ..the mountainsmith on it's own is sufficiently padded i think...but then time will tell.

this won't work with those giant backpacks i see on the road though...i won't have one as they are not allowed as carryon on most transportation & i refuse to let my belongings out of sight

I've seen a really nice daypack (+-30 litres) made by Dakine that has a padded laptop sleeve. I'm using a Crumpler zip-up neoprene protector for my 14" laptop, which allows me to stuff the machine into any old pack without too much worry.

OP, if you're still in NZ, The Warehouse advertised them, laptop backpacks. They didnt have any at our local so cant say what they're like.

It would have been nice if the OP came back and clarified whether he is looking for an actual backpack or a daypack.

I'll even guess that the laptop backpack you are talking about westwood is in fact a daypack. I've never seen or heard of an actual backpack with a laptop compartment.

Just because you havent heard of one doesnt mean they dont exist!!!!!!! Unfortunately the flyer it was advertised in has been recycled otherwise I'd give more details.

OK westwood, I'll concede that a backpack might indeed exist with a compartment for a laptop. That wasn't my point. The point is we don't know whether the OP is actually looking for a backpack vs. a daypack. There's a big difference, no pun intended.

Daypacks are small, backpacks are big. Daypacks are designed to carry enough for the day, backpacks are designed to carry enough to live life out of.

Daypacks designed to take a laptop are common. I have yet to see a backpack designed to take one. Simple statement.

I am actually looking for something in between a daypack and a backpack. When I travel, I travel light, but a daypack is just a tad small....
Up until now, I've simply used a sports-type bag and housed my laptop in a padded sleeve. The problem is that its a pain trying to get anything out of my bag as the laptop takes up all the space right at the top. Hence, my search for the ultimate laptop-friendly pack...I might hav eto design my own. Who knows, it might be a good business.

Look at Targus, everyone I work with basically has one.

http://www.targus.com/us/cases_notebook_backpacks.asp

None of them looks big enough to carry much of anything radson. They are all daypack size.

Vidaboa, why not simply buy a small backpack and use a laptop sleeve? Or, I might even suggest a travelpack with a removable daypack. Find the right one and where the daypack zips off, you can slip the laptop between the daypack and the backpack if you get my meaning. Or use the daypack for your laptop.

Here is an example. http://www.eaglecreek.com/bags_luggage/adventure_travel_packs/Voyage-65L-10051/