Canvas laptop bag goes from biz to beach without skipping a beat [Review]

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toffee laptop bag
Genuine leather along the base of the Commuter Satchel provides extra strength and durability.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Best List: Commuter Satchel by Toffee

After years of depositing my MacBook into an oversize, freebie laptop bag, it was time. Time to forego the ugly, embrace the new and, most importantly, get some real protection for my Mac.

The Commuter Satchel by Toffee arrived at the request of one of my colleagues. He, too, recognized the deplorable excuse of a laptop bag I was lugging around.

I can’t emphasize how much I love this sleek and stylish satchel.

A perfectly designed laptop bag

toffee laptop bag
The Commuter Satchel works well for the busy professional.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

When I unwrapped the Toffee bag, its clean and simple design struck me. The styling looks very contemporary and streamlined, with modern black accents.

I received the Commuter Satchel in khaki, which appears light gray to me and happens to be one of my favorite colors for its versatility. The black accents are in fact genuine leather. They run along the entire base of the bag for extra protection and durability, and around the bag’s front flap and interior and exterior zipper pulls. The leather accents continue inside the bag.

The front flap “snaps” easily into place with two hidden magnets in the bag’s body. The interior is swathed in a striking, pinstripe lining, reminiscent of a train engineer’s hat. The large interior pocket is padded with this striped material, and lifted from its base to protect my laptop from bumps or short drops. Several interior compartments provide ample space to stash various cables, chargers, a phone and whatever else I plan to carry.

Toffee: Mac lovers with a passion for design

toffee laptop bag
Toffee knows a thing or two when it comes to protective cases with strong aesthetics.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

These design details are the highly intentional doings of husband-and-wife team Hassan and Natasha, who founded Toffee in 2004. The Sydney-based duo takes its design cues from past inspirations, combining retro forms with contemporary styling. Mac lovers themselves, they designed the Commuter Satchel to be slim, beautiful and appealing to the Apple customer in particular.

The bag is made of waxed canvas, a material the couple always loves working with due to its quality and durability. The slash-proof material provides a water-resistant casing for any important electronic devices stashed inside. The canvas remains quite soft and molds nicely to the bag’s shape.

Versatile for work or play

toffee bag
Deep exterior pockets and a large interior make Toffee’s stunning satchel perfect from work to weekend.
Photo: Toffee

Quality continues with the robust YKK zippers as well as the adjustable shoulder strap. The satchel also comes in navy with deep brown leather accents. It’s available in medium and large for 13- and 15-inch laptops, respectively.

I can easily stash items other than a laptop into this messenger bag. It’s surprisingly roomy and easily transitions from workdays to weekend activities.

I’ve used Toffee’s Commuter Satchel every day since receipt, and it goes with me after work. This versatile bag is is smart and subtle enough to go anywhere. This beautifully designed bag is sleek, protective and made with great materials — the perfect laptop bag for someone on the go who loves to be organized and stylish simultaneously.

Price: $129.95

Buy from: Toffee

Toffee provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See Cult of Mac’s reviews policy; and check out more stuff we recommend in our Best List reviews.

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