Help Picking a sleeve/case & bag for the 16?

Framework Laptop 16
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1

Hello everyone. Just got my ‘16 with the dgpu.

After getting the device, its clear my current bag wont be able to fit it comfortably. Ill be ok for a little, but I need a larger bag. I also really want to keep the laptop as safe as possible so I am going to be looking for a sleeve/case to provide some extra protection.

For the Sleeve/case, these are the options I have found.

CushCase Sleeves. Mentioned many times here elsewhere.

  • Has orange color that will go along with the orange bezel.
  • Very thin looking???

I dont know what the difference is between the Everyday Plus and the Pioneer Canvas. Looks to be the same product, but the Pioneer has some slightly more expensive materials?

AldonaShop Leather Case
https://community.frame.work/t/aldona-fw16-laptop-case-with-the-discrete-gpu/53116

I dont know how protective it actually is from drops. I cant imagine the zipper going along the sides provides any protection :/. But it is probably more protective from the sides compared to the CushCase.

Waterfield SleeveCase
https://www.sfbags.com/collections/sleeves/products/pc-laptop-sleevecase?variant=10458228421

Probably the most protective option here. I think I will get this option unless there is something I am missing. Please let me know your thoughts.

Maybe I get the CushCase and a slightly oversized Waterfield and use one ontop of the other haha.

The Messenger Bag options:
TimBuk2
Specs seem to be very spacious. I am probably going to get the XL size since this is my everyday/everything bag.

Waterfield Messenger bags.
I love the look of the Shinjuku Messenger Bags, but the LARGEST Shinjuku Messenger bag is only 10 liters large. That is smaller than the small size TimBuk2 bag. Waterfield’s “Large Capacity” bag holds 14.5 liters. Smaller than the medium size TimBuk2 bag. In comparison, the Largest TimBuk2 bag holds 32 liters.

If these guys sold a larger bag…

TLDR:
I am looking at the Waterfield Sleevecase and the TimBuk2 XL Messenger Bag to carry my ‘16 + dgpu. LMK if I need to know anything or should look at any other options.

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Hi there!

I’m the guy who originally posted about the AldonaShop Leather Case. As an update, I had an issue with this case during the humid summer, and the leather strip on the inner pocket discoloured the light coloured skin I had applied to the lid of my FW16. The leather also didn’t age well, and became really scratched up, but not in a good way, as the scratches appeared in blotches due to rubbing on things in my bag. I tried wiping the surface, and the colour transferred to the towel. As a result I no longer recommend this case

I also purchased the CushCase Sleeve after my less than stellar experience with the above leather case. The only issue I have is that the fuzzy interior transferred to the edges of my Dbrand skins, especially around the antenna plastic window cut out in the lid. Not a major issue, but something to be aware of.

I don’t think any of the cases you listed would provide drop protection of more than a few centimeters, but the Cushcase would definitely provide more than the Leather one.

Cheers!

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I got myself a TimBuk 2 custom to match my Framework, and I love it. That said, I looked at those watershed sleeves and I love the aesthetic of that. I might pick one up for when I’m just going to the cafe and don’t need everything with me.

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yeah, I saw you earlier and thats how I found the TimBuk2 :).

What size did you get? I am concerned that anything smaller than the XL will be too small, but that the XL is too large lmao.

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Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. I found your post earlier and I really appreciate you posting it to let me see how the thing looks in person.

Do you think that fuzzy issue would happen if I don’t have a skin?

Speaking of skins, I wish framework offered a less shiny choice of frame. maybe some carbon or some darker alternative haha. when I first got the laptop and picked it up, I thought it came with a massive dent. turns out its my hand print temporarily heating up the aluminum or whatever.

6

Here’s my config, I got a large and it fits the dGPU no problem. Medium would probably also fit it tbh, there’s plenty of extra room.

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Hey again,

If you don’t have a skin on, I don’t think there would be an issue with the fuzz sticking to the FW16.

I would have preferred a darker colour choice of frame too. Jet black would look darn nice.

Cheers.

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I’ve spray painted my laptop before. With the framework being as modular as it is, it should be relatively simple to do so on it if you really wanted. I hear you on it not being a factory-provided option though, yeah.

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As a cheap option, I have this one: Sounix Laptop Rugzak - Laptoptas 17 inch - USB oplaadstation - Heren | bol

It’s a 17 inch laptop bag but it fits like a glove and can contain loads of other stuff as well.

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Not sure how helpful this will be, but I’ve been looking for vertical case/sleeve designs (so I can put the FW16 (with dGPU module) in my existing backpack, and pull it out vertically). Most of these seem to be marketed as side openings, since for typical usage, that’s what it would be, I guess. In any case, finding one that had an opening in the right direction with dimensions snug enough for the laptop to not move around too much, while not being too small, was a challenge. The only one I found on Amazon was this one from “tomtoc”. It was a little too snug on the sides so it was difficult to pull the laptop out of the bag, and it was just barely too tall so it was difficult to zip my backpack over it. I actually had better luck looking on AliExpress. I found this one that actually fits very well, although the padding could be better (and it’s a toss-up if this link will still work in a month). Aside from that, the CushCase looked somewhat promising, but I wasn’t sure about how much protection it would actually provide. I might honestly just buy a second, slightly larger sleeve on AliExpress and put it around the first one, lol.

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I’ve got the LTT backpack(classic) and it’s a bit tight but I’m able to fit my FW16 + GPU gen 1 into the laptop compartment, and repeated use has stretched things slightly making the fit more natural. What I don’t love is getting the laptop out of the bag, the zipper can kind of get in the way and has to be held down as I withdraw the laptop… been kind of difficult with a broken wrist. I use a backpack to allow for packing other bulky things like keyboards, my DSLR camera and lens etc, not necessarily something matching your use-case.