I Never Liked a Laptop Sleeve Until I Tried the Bellroy Laptop Caddy

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Luke Larsen raves about his love for his Bellroy Laptop Caddy. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice.

I’ve never been someone who uses a laptop sleeve. I’ve tried many of them over the years, but the laptop compartment inside my backpack has always felt secure enough—especially considering I don’t commute or travel much for work. But then, I tested a laptop sleeve that somehow also functioned as a full bag, and it quickly became my daily carry.

The sleeve in question is the 16-inch Bellroy Laptop Caddy. Unlike most laptop sleeves, this doesn’t just have a single compartment with a couple of little pockets here and there. The main pocket is quite large and can handle just about any laptop you can imagine, including the chunkiest 16-inch gaming laptops.

For a petite computer, like a 13-inch MacBook Air, there’s lots of extra space. So much space, in fact, that it’s not hard to slide a second device in there. As a laptop reviewer, it’s not uncommon for me to carry two at the same time, so while I enjoy the capaciousness of the 16-inch sleeve, know that there’s a smaller 14-inch option that might suit your needs. But even if you don’t find yourself carrying two full-blown laptops, you might be in a situation where you’d like to slide in a tablet or an accessory like a portable keyboard or laptop stand. With this amount of space, almost anything’s possible.

My biggest frustration with most laptop sleeves is that there’s generally not a large enough pocket for the power adapter. That’s especially true if you’re carrying around a larger laptop with a heftier power brick, like the 16-inch MacBook Pro. With the Bellroy, though, this isn’t an issue thanks to two large pockets in the inner flap, one of which is perfect for such an adapter and cable. I’ve used the other pocket for things like my phone, an external SSD, and earbuds. The pockets are made of a stretchy mesh, making them effective for storing thicker items as well.

Between the two interior pockets are two pen holders, which could work for carrying a stylus like an Apple Pencil. There’s also a large empty cavity there for something like a notebook, a Kindle, a book, or any other odds and ends you might be carrying at the time.