Editors' Rating
| Design |  |
8.0 |
| Features |  |
9.0 |
Published: 11 Oct 2007
Most 15.4in. (and even some 14.1in.) notebooks are too heavy to carry in a shoulder bag. However, the £50 (inc. VAT) Kensington Contour Balance Notebook Roller, which can hold a notebook with a display size of up to 15.4in., solves that problem with a set of wheels and a telescoping handle so you can roll the bag as you would a suitcase. This design may be overkill for some, but the compact and manoeuvrable Kensington Contour Balance can take the work out of lugging your notebook through an airport or during your commute.
Made of water-resistant microfibre and measuring 44cm wide by 37cm deep by 19cm thick, the black Contour Balance is sized more like an airplane carry-on than a typical notebook bag. In exchange for the bulkier shape, though, you do get three roomy compartments to carry all your gear. On the front, a double zipper opens to reveal organiser pockets for a MP3 player, mobile phone, flash drive (or lipstick), three pens, business cards and discs. Two handy concealed zipper pockets — one on the outside of the front flap and one above the front flap — offer additional security and are large enough to hold more discs, a wallet, keys, a passport or plane tickets.
Inside the Contour Balance's main compartment, easily accessible via a double zipper that opens three-quarters of the way down the sides of the bag, you'll find a padded notebook space with a Velcro strap to secure the computer, as well as an expandable pocket to hold file folders or magazines. When we stuffed the compartment with a Dell Latitude D630 and two bulky file folders, there was still room for a thick bound journal in the middle.
A double zipper on the back opens to reveal where the telescoping handle attaches to the bag. Kensington included two mesh pockets in this space that could be handy for power cables, and an additional small pocket for your (if you choose) Kensington security lock. We were delighted with this bonus space until we noticed that opening the cover to extend the telescoping handle leaves the compartment exposed. The gap isn't huge and is mostly sheltered while you're pulling the bag, but we've suffered enough soggy commutes to be wary of placing electronics in that back pocket. On the positive side, we love the Velcro strap on the back of the bag that can slip over a suitcase handle and attach the Contour Balance on top of a larger rolling suitcase.
We loaded up the Kensington Contour Balance with all our requisite electronics (a 14.1in. notebook, camera, phone, MP3 player) and cables, plus a travel mouse, a thick journal, two full file folders and a magazine — far more than we'd ever want to lug with us on a business trip. All these objects fit into the Contour Balance with minimal struggle, and the bag kept its shape. Although the stuffed bag was heavy, the retractable, heavily padded handle on top made it easy to lift the bag to table height (as though going through a security checkpoint) and to carry up a flight of stairs. The Contour Balance also includes a detachable shoulder strap; the covered clasps, though aesthetically pleasing, made attaching and detaching the strap difficult. The loaded bag was too heavy to carry on one shoulder for any extended length of time, but we carried it long enough to appreciate the bag's contoured shape, which helps transfer the weight of the bag away from your shoulder and closer to your midsection ('your natural center of gravity', says Kensington).
The best way to transport the Kensington Contour Balance, of course, is by pulling it behind you. The telescoping handle feels sturdy and includes a hook on which you can hang a purse (or man-bag). The T-shaped rubberised grip makes it easy to keep a firm hold on the handle. We pulled our loaded Contour Balance across unevenly tiled walkways and across rough city pavements; we also dragged it up and down stairs and over a kerb. We were impressed not only by how quietly the bag rolled but also by its inherent stability; even when going down stairs, the bag never felt the slightest bit likely to flop over.
Although the Contour Balance's price is higher than that of many other notebook bags, £50 is less than we'd expect to pay for a similarly constructed carry-on suitcase. The price also includes a lifetime warranty on defects in material and workmanship. If you travel frequently with a large notebook and lots of other materials, we think the comfort and flexibility offered by the Kensington Contour Balance is well worth the cost.
- Share this article:
