SKIVVY'S AND LUNCHEONS AND HORSEMEN,
OH MY!
Browsing Crumpler's Flash-heavy website is, at
once, amusing and frustrating. After you figure out the bizarre
combination of clicking and dragging images, you can actually start
looking at their products. In my opinion, usability has been completely
thrown out the window for the sake of cuteness.
But this isn't a website review. Tucked among bags with names like The Dreadful Embarrassment and Sheep Scarer, we find the comparatively tame Skivvy. It is available in sizes to fit 12", 15" and 17" laptops and comes in four color combinations: gunmetal/dark grey, dark olive/olive, dark brown/oatmeal and navy/light blue. I received the navy/light blue Skivvy 15 for 15" laptops.
The Skivvy 15 features:
- Padded laptop sleeve with velcro closure
- Zippered front pocket
- Carry handle
- Adjustable shoulder strap
SKIVVY: A FEMALE DOMESTIC SERVANT?
(all images link to higher resolution)
Figure 1: The Skivvy 15.
The Skivvy 15 is a great looking, well-made bag though the connection between British maids and laptop bags escapes me. One of the few complaints I have, the lack of padding on the shoulder strap, can be seen in the picture above.
Figure 2: It's YELLOW inside.
The only other thing I disliked was how much noise the large velcro closure made when opening the bag.
Figure 3: The zippered pocket.
The zippered pocket is surprisingly roomy and the zipper pull is heavy-duty with the cool Crumpler logo guy on it. Nice touch!
Figure 4: Carry handle.
Figure 5: A tight squeeze.
A word of warning: this is a tight-fitting bag. I could barely squeeze my 15.2" Powerbook inside it and my 15.4" Dell wouldn't even go near it. That's not a mark against the product as it is clearly advertised for 15" laptops but it is something buyers should be aware of.
PURCHASING
The Skivvy 15 can be purchased from Crumpler's
website for $57.50 USD
PROS
- Quality materials and construction
- Stylish
CONS
- No padding on shoulder strap
- Large, noisy velcro closure
OVERALL IMPRESSION
If you're looking for a minimal laptop sleeve with
quality and style, look no further. The Skivvy 15 has you covered. It
isn't perfect. Some padding on the shoulder strap would be a nice
addition and I wish the velcro wasn't so noisy. But those minor
quibbles don't detract from the fact that this is an excellent
bag. I give it the following score:
