I don't own a laptop bag, but I do have a sleeve for my MacBook. Still, I get a queasy feeling when I put my computer into a backpack or tote. To help ease my nerves, I tested out the Waterfield HardCase laptop bag ($229) for my 13-inch MacBook. "HardCase" means the bag is reinforced by impact-resistant plastic.

Outside of the bag is a sleek, black-leather flap. The outside leather is smooth, but the treatment of the leather on the inside is more textured and softer. The interior of the leather flap which I tested was "kiwi green," but it also comes in black and pink. The stylish buckle is one of the bag's best features: It's black and has two gold levers on each side to open it.

The bag's cushioning is very thick--I'd guess at least an inch. My laptop was secure inside it: There's no room at all for the laptop to move or shift around.

Pockets on the outside of the case are protected by the leather flap; these could hold a few pieces of paper and a couple of pens, but not much more than that. This bag is designed for minimal storage; it's even a little difficult to fit the power adapter inside. There's also one pocket with a zipper on the outside of the case, but again, that can only fit a small folder or something very thin.

The strap is very sturdy and durable. It's connected by either nickel or matte black hardware--mine had nickel, which I prefer. The strap has a pad for your shoulder, but no matter how hard I tried to adjust its length, the pad never fit on my shoulder the right way.

There's a sturdy handle on the top of the bag if you don't want to use the strap. The handle is pretty tight though, so if you happen to be wearing a thick pair of gloves, you may not be able to fit your hand into it.

The bag ranges in price from $229 for the 13-inch version to $249 for the 17-inch MacBook Pro case. If you're looking for a sleek and stylish bag to keep your laptop safe, this may be the perfect bag for you. But, if you're the type of person who tends to carry more in your laptop bag, you'll want to keep searching.