The thing that annoys me most about backpacks is that they tend to block out ventilation to your back (naturally), thus causing you to sweat and overheat no matter the weather. So I was more than pleased when I took the Logitech Kinetik out for the first time and, because the bag was slightly contoured (just right!), I felt a nice breeze on my back as I walked down the street. Thank you Logitech, for hearing my silent pain.

The Kinetik is designed to fit up to 15.4-inch laptops, plus the Apple 17" MacBook Pro. My wee little laptop, the 12.5-inch widescreen Dell 700m did just fine. I was able to secure the laptop so it didn't move around as I went through my day. I've had that problem with many a laptop case, many of which seem to focus more on bigger notebooks.

Other features I like: the handle at the top of the bag is super sturdy and soft, convenient for lugging the bag a short distance or tossing it onto a luggage rack. (Most of my other backpacks have handles like this, except they're totally frayed and uncomfortable to hold for more than 10 seconds.) I love the bag's overall design, the contrast of orange on black is a nice touch. The outer shell of the backpack is the softest material ever, seriously, yet it can take a beating. The Kinetik is also well padded on the back, so it works for all-day wear.

Like any good laptop case, this one is lousy with pockets, pouches, and places to slip just about anything: gadgets, files, notebooks, pens and keys. There's even a small zippered pocket on backpack strap, perfect for enabling easy access to your metro card, train ticket, ID, or what have you.

Finally, this bag solves yet another backpack pet peeve. Most backpacks fall over when you set them on the floor, and I've pretty much resigned myself to this fact. This can be particularly inconvenient when riding on public transportation, and just plain annoying otherwise. I was pleased that the Kinetik was stable enough to stay upright at all times whether it was open or closed. (See image at top of this post--it's real!)

Get your hands on one for $99.99 from Logitech.