I’ve always just put my laptop in a padded sleeve, then put it inside my pannier bag, sandwiched in between my change of clothes.
Never had any issues.
I have ortlieb panniers and just stick my laptop in a padded sleeve and toss it in. I’ve never had any issues even when my bike has fallen over on the train.
This. Ortlieb by far has the best mounting system where I don't have to worry about it detaching while riding, and having a nice padded case helps to also make you feel that it is protected.
I've bike commuted for decades now, with laptops that had both SSD and spinning drives. Never had an issue with either. I just slipped them in my pannier vertically and off I went. For more 'delicate' builds, I'd put them in a neoprene sleeve. For more robust builds, no case at all. As long as you don't have an accident, you should be fine. Waterproofing could be an issue (I had dry panniers), so do pay attention to that.
Shifter's Tom Babin swears by twowheelgear backpack panniers. A colleague uses regular Axiom panniers and hasn't had any issues over 5+ years of commuting and carrying his laptop everyday.
* Laptop goes inside a hardened sleeve like this one:
* https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B091HP4F78?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
* Sleeve goes into pannier.
EDIT: Fixed link.
I use the [Tule Gauntlet](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1781041-REG/thule_3204902_gauntlet_macbook_sleeve_14.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh30b7YbrmXFfoZnXvWiTkUyn&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aAYyYbBXOMOz2HHT940dyuVSXNfH5QTYIRqLRvX5Bn2xxpc87KUHEhoCJl0QAvD_BwE) laptop sleeve for my 13” MacBook Air or my 14” MacBook Pro work computer (not at the same time). It’s a bit pricy, but very durable. I like that I can use it in any backpack, pannier, suitcase, whatever. When it’s in my Ortlieb pannier, it’s secure and waterproof.
Maybe I’m taking huge risks but I just throw my laptop in my ortlieb pannier without any sleeve. 7 years so far without breaking the laptop. Crashed a couple times and no damage to the machine. I might buy a cheap sleeve just in case
It 's really great. First I had normal panniers which I then had to carry after I arrived at my destination or the train stop. The Ortlieb really is a game changer. But it may have a little more drag.
There are other brands with similar products too. For example Valkental. The ValkBusiness could also be good for commuting with a Laptop, but I don't own it, so I don't know if it is any good.
I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences, too. I've always worn a backpack and carried my computer in it; having my phone in a mount on the handlebars made me feel like I was probably shaking it apart, and my laptop is issued by my employer. There's no HDD, it's a Macbook Air, but.... I wasn't sure I wanted to risk having it in a pannier. But if it could ride in a pannier, I could skip the backpack.
I started carrying my laptop after the pandemic. Panniers in the summer, backpack in the winter (freezing temperatures). I've haven't had any issues, but the company replaced my (company issued) laptop a little more than a year ago because it was too old by their standards. The panniers are regular Vaude panniers. I have a plastic bag inside and a rain cover. It's enough to keep my laptop dry in a serious downpour (serious enough to have all my clothes soaked, including my underwear, in a couple of minutes).
As people are saying, padded sleeve will protect it, but I did crack a laptop screen in the pannier once. Laptop was in a padded sleeve, and my lunch was in an insulated bag, so plenty of padding to go around. But I use glass containers (think Pyrex brand). The bike fell on its side, and the hard glass punched the closed laptop hard enough to crack the screen on the other side, even with padding.
Despite this, I haven’t changed anything, because my bike rarely falls over. If I decided to make any changes, it might be to put my lunch in a second pannier, or mate the largest glass surface to the laptop (to spread the impact), or add a paper notebook for additional padding.
Carry an extra trash bag and/or large ziplocs for unexpected downpours. I had a supposed 100% waterproof pannier bag, got caught in a downpour, and when I arrived home there were several inches of water in my bag. Brand new tablet was ruined. Amazingly the warranty replaced it, even with telling them the truth about what happened. Bottom line, do not trust that 'waterproof' label, and carry a trash bag and/or some ziplocs that will hold your electronics.
This padded case - Safely holds my PC and external monitor when in rough transit in my pannier
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NY9UXM](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NY9UXM)
I use this backpack
https://www.rei.com/product/170689/ortlieb-velocity-ps-pack-17l
I didn’t like the idea of banging it around in the pannier, but if so, get a padded sleeve to add some extra protection.
I’ve always just put my laptop in a padded sleeve, then put it inside my pannier bag, sandwiched in between my change of clothes. Never had any issues.
I have ortlieb panniers and just stick my laptop in a padded sleeve and toss it in. I’ve never had any issues even when my bike has fallen over on the train.
This. Ortlieb by far has the best mounting system where I don't have to worry about it detaching while riding, and having a nice padded case helps to also make you feel that it is protected.
Neoprene padded sleeve and Ortlieb pannier gives waterproof solution for the Pacific Northwest.
I've bike commuted for decades now, with laptops that had both SSD and spinning drives. Never had an issue with either. I just slipped them in my pannier vertically and off I went. For more 'delicate' builds, I'd put them in a neoprene sleeve. For more robust builds, no case at all. As long as you don't have an accident, you should be fine. Waterproofing could be an issue (I had dry panniers), so do pay attention to that.
Shifter's Tom Babin swears by twowheelgear backpack panniers. A colleague uses regular Axiom panniers and hasn't had any issues over 5+ years of commuting and carrying his laptop everyday.
* Laptop goes inside a hardened sleeve like this one: * https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B091HP4F78?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title * Sleeve goes into pannier. EDIT: Fixed link.
the link is not working
Oops, sorry! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B091HP4F78?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I use the [Tule Gauntlet](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1781041-REG/thule_3204902_gauntlet_macbook_sleeve_14.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh30b7YbrmXFfoZnXvWiTkUyn&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aAYyYbBXOMOz2HHT940dyuVSXNfH5QTYIRqLRvX5Bn2xxpc87KUHEhoCJl0QAvD_BwE) laptop sleeve for my 13” MacBook Air or my 14” MacBook Pro work computer (not at the same time). It’s a bit pricy, but very durable. I like that I can use it in any backpack, pannier, suitcase, whatever. When it’s in my Ortlieb pannier, it’s secure and waterproof.
Maybe I’m taking huge risks but I just throw my laptop in my ortlieb pannier without any sleeve. 7 years so far without breaking the laptop. Crashed a couple times and no damage to the machine. I might buy a cheap sleeve just in case
I am using the Ortlieb Vario PS with the commuter insert. The insert ist oriented towards the bike. It can also be used in other panniers
checked it out, I really like it, especially that they made it both a backpack and a pannier
It 's really great. First I had normal panniers which I then had to carry after I arrived at my destination or the train stop. The Ortlieb really is a game changer. But it may have a little more drag. There are other brands with similar products too. For example Valkental. The ValkBusiness could also be good for commuting with a Laptop, but I don't own it, so I don't know if it is any good.
I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences, too. I've always worn a backpack and carried my computer in it; having my phone in a mount on the handlebars made me feel like I was probably shaking it apart, and my laptop is issued by my employer. There's no HDD, it's a Macbook Air, but.... I wasn't sure I wanted to risk having it in a pannier. But if it could ride in a pannier, I could skip the backpack.
I started carrying my laptop after the pandemic. Panniers in the summer, backpack in the winter (freezing temperatures). I've haven't had any issues, but the company replaced my (company issued) laptop a little more than a year ago because it was too old by their standards. The panniers are regular Vaude panniers. I have a plastic bag inside and a rain cover. It's enough to keep my laptop dry in a serious downpour (serious enough to have all my clothes soaked, including my underwear, in a couple of minutes).
As people are saying, padded sleeve will protect it, but I did crack a laptop screen in the pannier once. Laptop was in a padded sleeve, and my lunch was in an insulated bag, so plenty of padding to go around. But I use glass containers (think Pyrex brand). The bike fell on its side, and the hard glass punched the closed laptop hard enough to crack the screen on the other side, even with padding. Despite this, I haven’t changed anything, because my bike rarely falls over. If I decided to make any changes, it might be to put my lunch in a second pannier, or mate the largest glass surface to the laptop (to spread the impact), or add a paper notebook for additional padding.
I’ve used my Mission Workshop backpack (inner sleeve), the add on laptop pack for the ARKIV, and an Ortlieb Pannier for 10+ years and zero problems.
Thank you everyone for your responses
I ride with a messenger bag, and if I crash my computer is fucked. Speaking from experience.
Yeah just protect it in case you go down and keep it dry
Ortlieb panniers with a SSD laptop in a sleeve. It's a nearly indestructible combination.
Carry an extra trash bag and/or large ziplocs for unexpected downpours. I had a supposed 100% waterproof pannier bag, got caught in a downpour, and when I arrived home there were several inches of water in my bag. Brand new tablet was ruined. Amazingly the warranty replaced it, even with telling them the truth about what happened. Bottom line, do not trust that 'waterproof' label, and carry a trash bag and/or some ziplocs that will hold your electronics.
This padded case - Safely holds my PC and external monitor when in rough transit in my pannier [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NY9UXM](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NY9UXM)
I use this backpack https://www.rei.com/product/170689/ortlieb-velocity-ps-pack-17l I didn’t like the idea of banging it around in the pannier, but if so, get a padded sleeve to add some extra protection.