Not too long ago, I waxed poetic on how much I loved my Waterfield Sling bag. It is roomy and sturdy and well designed. WaterField Designs does it again with their Racer-X line of Mac laptop cases.

The main computer compartment is incredibly well padded. I am not daring enough to put my precious MacBook Pro in the bag and do a drop-test, but it more than stands up to everyday knocks and bangs. And the reason behind the strenghth? Layers and layers of padding. It is lined with thick neoprene, and beneath that, corrugated plastic surrounded by a plastic padding that is similar to Styrofoam - but more durable. The bottom of the bag is solid for protection and to maintain shape.

A second compartment offers enough space for papers, notebooks, or a magazine, along with padded pockets for your iPod and mouse, and non-padded pockets for cables and miscellany. A slim back pocket in the back allows for your laptop to be safely and securely attached to your luggage. Like all of WaterField’s bags, this one is made of ballistic nylon, gussied up with colored trim (mine has blue trim to match my Sling bag). The hardware is industrial-quality, the removable shoulder strap has a no-slip grip, and you have a choice of leather or mountain bike grip handles.

One of the best innovations is the bright gold lining of the bag. Most bags are lined with black, even purses. Trying to find a pen or lip gloss in a black-lined bag is like swimming through a black hole. With the bright gold lining, it reflects light rather than absorbing it, so you can actually see what you are grabbing.

This bag is durable, it holds everything I need, and does it safely. I can fit in my laptop, mouse, wall charger, portable hard drive, firewire cable, and card reader and still have room for a lip gloss. My only “complaint” is that all the safety features make this a very heavy bag! Great for travel, but for a my weak, girly arms, it is not practical for day-to-day use. Luckily, I travel for work, so I am not short on places to take it!