by Brook Wilkinson

Looking for a Father's Day gift? How about the new earth-friendly laptop travel case from Ecogear? It's made with nylon that's free of PVC (a possible source of dioxins, which have been linked to cancer and other diseases) and nontoxic dyes. I've been testing one out for a couple of weeks, and if I didn't have to return it to the manufacturer it would be replacing my current laptop case. The Tiger model that I tested has two wide top-zipping pockets, one of which has a Velcro compartment for your laptop. It was a very snug fit for my 13-inch MacBook for the first few days, but eventually the bag material relaxed a bit and now the computer slides in perfectly--safe and secure (the Rhino backpack fits 17-inchers). The gray interior with orange accents nicely straddles the line between business and casual, and there are more pockets and compartments than I know what to do with--plenty of places to store valuables and documents. The lightweight material and wide padded shoulder strap make for a comfortable carrying case--though I still like to store my laptop in my rolling suitcase when I'm trekking through airports and such. And the price is a cool 40 bucks. The verdict? A bag any dad would love.

Further reading:
* Where to find a checkpoint-friendly laptop case
* Responsible Traveler: Making a difference