For an executive summary, read only the bold items. This review may apply to Tucano's similar models as they differ only in color, and size.

Laptop or notebook bags are a liability as it alerts thieves that you are carrying a laptop.

Theft is so common such than insurance for laptop theft has risen greatly over the last 10 years. Worse yet, you loose your work, data, and risk identity theft.

A more secure way to carry notebooks today is in a regular work bag or carry-on, or any bag other than a dedicated laptop bag. One should fit all needed accessories too, like an AC adapter.

As notebook have diminished in size, the need for a dedicated bag is uncommon. However, inside a work bag, a notebook can be scratched, bumped, or wet by contents of a bag. Loose objects could find themselves into a port or drive slot, risking damage. Coins could slide into a closed laptop, and could crack the LCD with the right jar. Rain or open beverage bottles could seep liquid into a bag, and risk damaging a notebook.

These conditions define a good sleeve: seal against the environment while being water, scratch and bump resistant. Sleeves have to be light weight, to reduce what a user hauls.

Proof versus resistant

In engineering circles, to call something 'water proof' one has to define the depth and time of submersion before water enters a device. To be bump or 'drop proof' one has to define the drop height onto a hard surface, like concrete not soft sand, or a description of the jarring force applied to a device in kgf or newtons. Without such a specification, manufacturers often call a device 'resistant' since it has no quantitative meaning.

Neoprene's Basic Qualities define 'proof'

Neoprene is an artificial rubber commonly used, in foam sheets, to make diving suits. As a foam sheet, thickness increases its defined properties. You can find sheets for sale on ebay easily.

http://www.allproducts.com/plastic/shangyung/neoprene-fabric.html

Neoprene will hold its properties under a wider range of conditions. For consumer use, know that 1mm thick neoprene foam is waterproof, feels like thick cotton, can be stretchable, weighs as a handkerchief of the same size but a tear resistance of thin shoe leather. Such basic quality neoprene is typically about $10 square meter, enough to make at least 1 notebook sleeve.

Tucano Sleeve

It ships in a zip lock like plastic container that is useful in itself, it fits my AC adapter well. The sleeve is essentially a notebook glove of 1mm neoprene: a zipper bag with no pockets. If you buy the right size, it will fit a notebook with no room to spare, as tight as a stretch glove.

The zipper pulls are 1 inch long, and easily allows one to grip and pull a tight fit. Note, while the material is waterproof, the stitched seams and zipper are not. However, its well made and tight stitches resists water very well, and placing the sleeve over a flowing faucet did not cause water to penetrate.

The zipper is another story, its a simple garment zipper and while it will wick water, it eventually will leak. The zipper lining of the sleeve has a border that will redirect water from the zipper teeth away from the laptop edges toward the casing; this reduces the risk of water penetrating into the electronics, but it takes some maneuvering to position it properly.

At first, the user will wrestle to get the notebook in the sleeve, but once material stretches a bit, it will be far easier to insert but you'll always wrangle the sleeve in some way.

Due to a tight fit, your notebook will use as much room as not having a sleeve at all.

The sleeve comes in 3 colors, and while I prefer bright colors [red, in this case] to make the sleeve visible easily, only black sleeves were discounted.

Cost

You'll find a Tucano sleeve widely available and many sizes, for anywhere between $15-30, and its typically sold for $25. Tucanos are well stitched and have good quality control, so you'll likely get the right size for what you buy. No name brand sleeves can be found for around $10 but one can never be sure if the sizes are truly right. I happened on the Tucano for $15, with free shipping, or so it seems.

Conclusion:

It does the job properly and is recommended. In over 2 weeks of use, its workmanship has held together.

For 5 stars, I would prefer the neoprene be of thicker, 3mm or more, to provide more bump protection. I'd prefer large toothed zippers with bigger zipper pulls, and side pockets to carry the AC adapter when the notebook is carried without a bag. For 10/5 stars, I'd prefer the zipper and stitching be waterproof too.

As is, the 1mm material will protect the notebook against the contents of your bag, but will not add bump protection against dropping your bag. The Tucano adds substantial water resistance to notebooks in backpacks exposed to rain or water.



Recommended: Yes

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