Targus Spruce EcoSmart Laptop Bag

April '09 | Click to link to this page

Accessory Overview

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Type: Laptop Bags

Price: $89.99

Weight: 2.34lbs

Accessory Pros

Very comfortable and well padded in both the interior and exterior

Environmentally friendly - fabric made of recycled plastic bottles

Many useful compartments and pockets for storing MP3, etc

Accessory Cons

Somewhat pricey at just under $90

Only available in black with green stitching and pockets

Targus is a particularly popular brand for manufacturing laptop bags. The Targus Spruce EcoSmart is one entry that is certainly going to do well. At a fraction under $90 this laptop bag is constructed from recyclable plastic, 100 percent recycled nylon and nickel-free metal. It is an environmentally friendly bag which has some useful features.

Design

The Spruce EcoSmart is designed to protect and carry widescreen laptops up to 15.6" in size. Like many other laptop bags, there are several useful compartments such as pen loops, a key clip, business card holder, water bottle holder, and a few others for accessories and your MP3 player.

This Targus backpack comes equipped with a quick-access front pocket, which makes it convenient and fast to get to your items or store them away. Carrying your laptop and accessories is comfortable. The Targus Spruce EcoSmart bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and padded back panel so that users can adjust the bag to where they feel most comfortable.

The bag weighs 2.4 pounds and measures to 13" x 18.75" x 8.25" and feels solidly built. The EcoSmart is available in black with green stitching and pockets, which we think looks rather smart. In total there are 6 exterior pockets, along with several interior pockets too. A 15-inch laptop does feel quite snug inside the bag, but there is also a zippered pocket for storing cords, books and magazines.

Padding and Protection

One of the first laptop bags I ever owned was surprisingly uncomfortable, with little padding. This is where the EcoSmart certainly doesn't let itself down. Targus have added more than enough padding to protect your body and the laptop itself. On the exterior are two thick pads that protect the shoulder blades, with another pad spanning horizontally at the bottom of the bag to protect the lower back.

Inside the bag, foam padding encases where the laptop is stored. This protects the laptop and any accessories you also want to carry around. Velcro strapping holds everything in place in case your bag is knocked over, upturned or dropped.

What We Think

Overall, there's not much more that the average user needs from laptop bag than what the Targus Spruce EcoSmart provides. At $89.99 it is a rather expensive bag, but the quality cannot be argued. There are plenty of compartments and pockets on both the interior and exterior of the laptop bag, and although it is only available in a black color, it does look great and is an excellent all-round choice.