Laptop bags have become more than just a means to protect your precious mobile computer. These days, they’re expressive symbols of individuality: who you are, what you’re into, and what brands you associate yourself with. Besides being functional, they have gone on to become fashionable everyday accessories. Unsurprisingly, laptop bags have also become prime targets for corporate and entertainment merchandising. Here we look at 10 awesomely geeky laptop bags that show, once and for all, that it is hip to be square…
15. Star Trek
Since the original series first aired in 1966, Star Trek has gone on to become synonymous with geek subculture - and this stylish, officially licensed laptop bag will be perfect for fans. Its science officer blue colour may bring to mind the uniform of fan favourite Mr. Spock, and since it’s designed to fit a 10” screen, it’s ideal for keeping tablet devices, netbooks and Kindles safe. The bag comes with a handy stylus and is also available in “Captain Kirk” yellow. True science fiction fans will know the worth of retaining the original packaging…
14. Marshall Amp
Some days in the office can be difficult, especially if you’re a fan of music and would rather be strumming your guitar. Perhaps the working day will go a little quicker, though, with this brilliant Marshall Amp laptop bag to admire. Taking its inspiration from a Marshall amp, the water-resistant case is big enough for a 15” laptop plus all sorts of accessories. It also includes a cool input channel for your headphones so you can listen to some tunes on the way home. Faithfully replicating the look of the iconic amp, the zipper even looks like a jack plug.
13. Marvin the Martian
Created by animation director Chuck Jones, Marvin the Martian first appeared in the 1948 Looney Tunes cartoon Haredevil Hare. Originally known as Commander X-2, Marvin has become a cult figure for Looney Tunes fans around the world. Unlike Bugs Bunny’s other famous adversary Yosemite Sam, Marvin is quiet and understated - but perhaps even more destructive. The side of this bag shows Marvin at his most threatening and he is accompanied by a variation of one of his trademark catchphrases: “Oh, you have made me very angry, very angry indeed.” The message is ideal for someone caught in a heated rush hour commute, and the bag can be yours for US$30.
12. Domo
This fuzzy laptop bag is sure to grab some attention. Domo, “a strange creature that hatched from an egg,” is the mascot for Japanese TV station NHK. Known as Domo-kun in Japan, the character first appeared in a series of 30-second stop motion sketches in December 1998 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of NHK’s satellite broadcasts.
After the Internet brought Domo to an audience outside of Japan, Domo has achieved semi-cult status. This officially licensed Domo laptop bag is made from canvas and features a plush front and several different pockets - which might come in handy for all the other Domo merchandise you’ve collected.
11. Firefox
A discussion on preferred web browsers can lead to some pretty heated geeky arguments - even amongst recreational computer users. Boldly, this laptop bag makes it clear where your allegiance lies. Made in partnership with designer bag company OGIO, this laptop bag features Mozilla Firefox’s signature bright orange design and a super slick embroidered logo, for which one happy customer hoped he would “totally get some geek-cred.” This rather large case can handle a 17″ laptop, as well as iPods, cameras and all manner of extra gadgets. One online commenter wrote, “Geeky, yet ever so fashionable! You’ll be the envy of the geekheads.”
10. True Blood
This ultra-chic vinyl True Blood bag shows that something doesn’t have to be old to build up a cult following. It also proves that geeky bags can be stylish and turn heads. The recent vampire craze ensured the popularity of HBO’s critically acclaimed TV show True Blood, and this laptop bag is part of a wave of spin-off merchandising related to the series, combining the show’s logo with a hip retro design. It is available in both black and white, but both versions feature deep red blood dripping from the front.
9. Batman
Since his first appearance in May 1939, DC Comics’ Batman has perhaps become one of the most well known comic book heroes of all time, and fans have carried the bat symbol with pride on their lunch boxes, coffee mugs, and shoes. So it’s no surprise that in recent years the Dark Knight logo has made the transition to more modern accessories, like this geek chic laptop bag. Featuring the classic iconic black and yellow emblem also used in Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman, this official piece of Warner Brothers merchandise urges you to go to work or school in “superhero style.”
8. Doctor Who TARDIS
Unlike a lot of science fiction shows, Doctor Who didn’t invent a vehicle for the show’s protagonist. Instead, it adopted a distinctive part of British culture - one that may have disappeared from public consciousness had it not been for the show’s success. Five decades after it first launched, the show has kept the design of the 1960s police box alive as Doctor Who’s time-traveling spacecraft or TARDIS. The distinctive design works perfectly with the bag’s simple colouring - and it’ll add a little brightness to your day if your office restricts you to a sombre suit. However, Whovians may be slightly upset to discover that it’s not larger on the inside.
7. Nintendo Controller
First released in Japan on July 15, 1983, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is one of the most successful videogame consoles ever produced, selling an estimated 61.91 million units worldwide. In fact, in Japan, it was only discontinued as recently as September 2003.
While Nintendo software icons like Mario and Link (from The Legend of Zelda) have made a huge impact on popular culture, the hardware and distinctive controllers of the NES remain cult symbols among gamers. This laptop bag featuring the classic retro controller design is reversible, so when you flip it inside out the design switches to include a pattern of smaller controllers.
6. Spider-Man
Part of Spider-Man’s appeal is that his alter ego Peter Parker is such a geek. Parker’s transformation from shy, bumbling outcast to web-slinging superhero is the ultimate fantasy for comic book fans the world over - he’s an aspirational poster boy for geek subculture. Here, the classic Spider-Man mask is emblazoned across the side of this striking laptop bag - and, since it’s so eye-catching, there’s no chance of being unable to find it before work on a hectic Monday morning. As one happy customer proclaimed: “A ‘must have’ for any Spider-Man fan!”
5. Halo 3 UNSC Commander
On November 15, 2001, Halo: Combat Evolved was first released exclusively for Xbox, and since then the series has sold over 50 million games worldwide, grossing more than US$3.4 billion. The franchise’s success has led to a plethora of merchandise and the kind of cultural influence that comic book writer Brian Bendis has compared to Star Wars. If you are a member of the so-called “Halo Nation,” then this could be just the laptop bag for you. Featuring the game’s United Nations Space Command (UNSC) logo, it’s as rugged as you could hope for and is made from super strong 600 denier polyester with a truck tarpaulin bottom. Inside, a padded neoprene pocket fits laptops up to 13” in size.
4. DIY Floppy Disk
While floppy disks are hardly sold in connection with laptops these days, they can provide a neat and recycled way for people to show their love for all things technical, as this DIY laptop bag shows. Constructed from a few easy-to-find materials, the bag uses 42 floppy disks and boasts a literal capacity of 60.48MB. The original inventor has provided step-by-step instructions encouraging the DIY construction of the bag online, as well as released updated versions of the retro-inspired case.
3. OMG Pwnies!
This geeky laptop bag is for the girls and is based on the luggage carried by Air Nippon stewardesses. The bag was created by ThinkGeek and Tokyo Bay, and is described as “retro-futuristic.” The phrase “OMG Pwnies” is a play on the gamer word “pwned,” meaning you just got owned, and Thinkgeek also includes the side note that “girls pwn boys.” It’s not just a pretty design either, as this stylish red bag is big enough for a 17” laptop plus all the accessories. It even includes pockets for other items, and is a steal at US$69.99.
2. Chewbacca
Star Wars is a hugely successful merchandising machine and this laptop case is inspired by Chewbacca’s very own bag with its bandolier strap. This bag is finely crafted using faux leather, complete with magnetic and buckle closures. It’s even subtly embossed with the Star Wars emblem. Inside, the bag has enough room for a 15” laptop and also includes three storage compartments and additional pockets for any tool you might need to fix the Millennium Falcon. Or maybe just use them to store your smartphone and diary.
1. LEGO Brick
In 1949, Danish company the LEGO Group first introduced its construction bricks, and since then LEGO has gone on to become an incredibly popular toy. The LEGO subculture has encompassed movies, video games, board games, children’s clothing and even theme parks.
This laptop bag offers fans of the multi-coloured bricks an unusual way to show their support and appreciation for LEGO and is available in a variety of traditional colours. It is made using two fused layers of pool table felt and 100 percent recycled wool. The edges are sewn together with thick white stitching, so it should be rugged enough to survive subway and bus journeys.
Top image: Star Wars Chewbacca Messenger Bag
