Booq makes a lot of really beautiful high-end bags for a variety of Apple products, many of which I've had the pleasure to review over the past few years. Today I'm taking a look at the Booq Cobra brief (US$295), a sweet-looking laptop bag with the MacBook Pro-toting frequent traveler in mind. Check out the review, and then enter to win this briefcase that will be your constant companion on the road.
Specifications
- Exterior Dimensions: 17.3 x 13 x 4.9 inches (440 x 330 x 125 mm)
- Interior Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.4 inches (400 x 300 x 35 mm)
- Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg)
- Fits: 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display
- Materials: Exterior is 1680 denier nylon with water-repellent coating, Interior is 420 denier nylon twill, genuine leather trim, YKK waterproof zippers
Design
The Cobra brief has very clean lines, with very few protuberances to catch on things as you're running through the airport. The bottom is trimmed with leather backed by waterproof ballistic nylon so it's not an issue if you accidentally set the case down in a puddle.
The main compartment zipper wraps all the way around the case, making it simple to open and find what you're looking for. There's a separate compartment for your MacBook Pro, then a big lined compartment with pockets for chargers, your iPhone, your wallet, and pens. Seriously, there's a lot of room in here for anything you may want to carry. You can also choose to put your iPad and iPhone in the open exterior pocket for fast access.
What's nice about this case is that while it's good looking, it's not ostentatious. Sure, there are a lot of really high-end cases that are probably even more good-looking, but that could act as an attractant for thieves.
The materials are top-notch. I've had several bags (not made by Booq) that use the same ballistic nylon and they are impressively tough.
Functionality
Among the functional features of the Booq Cobra brief that I like the most are the following:
- Those YKK zippers are wonderful and smooth-running
- Leather zipper pulls on all of those zippers
- Leather grips on the carry handles
- Detachable keychain inside
- Foam padding in the MacBook pocket
- Terralinq Serial Number for return in case of loss or theft
- Removable shoulder strap with a removable pad
- A tube of zipper wax is included. Zipper wax. Think about it.
- There's a loop for attaching the Cobra brief to the handle of a roller bag
Other than that, the Cobra brief does what it's supposed to do - carry your laptop and a pile of accessories while you're traveling. It may be expensive at $295, but it's probably the last laptop case you'll need for a long time thanks to the quality of the build.
Conclusion
Booq has created a wonderful laptop bag for the road warrior in the Cobra brief. It holds a surprising amount of stuff, with more pockets and places to stow gear than you can imagine. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is certainly apt here, as the high price may put off some potential buyers. Those who are willing to open their wallets will have a laptop bog that will last a long, long time.
Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Giveaway
For one TUAW reader, the Booq Cobra brief is closer than you think. TUAW and Booq are giving one away, and all you need to do is enter for a chance to win this amazing laptop bag. Here are the rules for the giveaway:
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
- To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
- The entry must be made before September 28, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
- You may enter only once.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Cobra brief laptop bag valued at $295
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
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