17" and Above Laptop Bags

17in and 18in laptops are desktop replacements, and they need a bag made for them — most 15in cases simply will not take one.

Two practical points at this size.

Fit is tighter than the label suggests. A 17.3in gaming laptop is not just wider than a 15.6in machine, it is usually much thicker, and its power brick is large and heavy in its own right. Compare your laptop’s actual dimensions against the stated internal size, and check there is room for the charger.

Weight is the real issue. A 17in laptop plus charger is commonly 3.5kg or more. Carried on one shoulder that becomes uncomfortable quickly and is a genuine cause of back and neck strain. For anything beyond a short walk, a backpack is the right format — it spreads the load across both shoulders.

A toploader with a shoulder strap suits short car-to-desk journeys, and a sleeve works inside a larger bag.

Look for a trolley strap if you travel, and a suspended compartment that keeps the machine off the base.

The range covers Targus, Kensington, Hama, Lenovo, Dell and StarTech.