I hate walking everywhere. Cycling is so much faster, and anything that lets me slap the snooze button one more time before I get up in the morning is a good thing in my book. Unfortunately, commuting by bicycle or motorcycle is not without its dangers. Aside from the obvious personal safety risks, it is quite important to ensure the safety of any items you might be carrying with you. Anyone who has ever dropped a laptop computer, even one in a carrying case, can attest to the damage that can be done by even a moderate impact. That’s why, when I got my TiBook last year, I immediately began searching for a backpack (read: case that straps securely in place and out of the way) that would allow me to carry it on a bicycle, and occasionally a motorcycle, without the risk of severe damage in the event of a crash. I wanted something that could also double up as my main laptop case. Enter the $189 Boblbee Megalopolis, an ABS-and-nylon hard-shell backpack, which fits a 15" PowerBook or smaller laptop perfectly.

The Megalopolis comes in a range of colors, all of which are very “hip” and showy, meaning you won’t blend into a crowd wearing this pack unless the crowd is watching the X-Games. metis laptop backpackA chrome finish—yes, chrome is actually available as a color—costs an extra $20. pivoter backpackI got mine for $119 on sale from a local outdoor equipment retailer, proving that it pays to shop around for the best deal.ranger hardshell 16 laptop backpack-silver The design of this pack is at least partly functional. pedlars backpackThe shape claims to offer lumbar support and superior weight distribution, an endeavor aided by the inclusion of a chest strap and (supposedly included, but absent from my unit) waist belt. best randonee backpack

The Megalopolis also includes a very useful external cell phone pocket that clips onto the shoulder strap, and a waterproof “rain fly” that can be quickly thrown over the pack to protect its contents from the elements. backpack yagi antennaWhile the pack doesn’t advertise the presence of a laptop computer, it is unusual enough that it might still attract the attention of potential thieves.american tourister laptop backpack - buzz 2 Boblbee claims the Megalopolis “accommodates all major laptops.” In reality, if your laptop is significantly thicker than a TiBook, good luck. The 14" by 10" by 2" maximum dimensions are somewhat generous in the thickness department. There’s no way, for example, that the retaining straps inside the pack would accommodate my Wall Street PowerBook G3. However, with a “shell” case (like the Brain Cell), any laptop that physically fits into the opening will be well-protected, albeit at the expense of a great deal of the internal storage volume.

There are plenty of pockets inside the pack, including six that are almost perfect for CD jewel cases and one large, flat zipped pocket that would hold a file folder or two quite nicely. The single external zipped pocket, on top of the flap, is plastic-lined and should prove to be nearly weatherproof, making it ideal for carrying your PDA or calculator and a writing utensil or two, or other small accessories that would be easily lost in the depths of the larger internal pockets. Although a hard-shell pack is probably unnecessary for ferrying the laptop in the back seat of the car, I have no problems tossing my TiBook, CoolPad, various AC adapters and a large pair of headphones into the bag for vacations. If I’m going to class, I can take out the AC adapters for my cell phone and iPod and throw in two or three notebooks or binders instead. I can then hop on either bike (motorized or not) and I’m off with all the essentials. One of the most interesting, though probably little-used, features of the Megalopolis is its multiple external mounting points.

Nylon straps on top of the pack allow for the attachment of anything up to the size of a bed roll, and with a few dollars’ worth of hardware and some ingenuity, a great deal of “stuff” can be strapped on near the waist of the pack, in the lumbar indentation area. Boblbee’s Web site (which leaves something to be desired, unfortunately) shows a number of users engaging in extreme sporting activities with such items as skateboards, snowboards, skis, and mountain climbing gear strapped to their packs. Like Tom Bihn’s ID messenger bag, the Megalopolis is lacking in one major area: internal cargo volume. The Megalopolis won’t work as a “take-your-office-with-you” backpack, though if you’re in this demographic you probably don’t have a two-wheeled commute to work, nor would you associate yourself with the “extreme” image Boblbee tries to present. Compared to a Zero Halliburton or Pelican case, the Megalopolis is cheaper, wearable, and in general much more versatile.

For two-wheeled commuters, students who tend to toss bags around, or for the chronically paranoid, the Megalopolis bag offers peace of mind and value found in few other products. Boblbee (also expressed as BOBLBE·E when used on their products; English pronunciation: , BAH-bəl-bee) is a corporation that began in 1997 as a think tank for research and development of sports and recreational equipment. This led to the design and manufacture of hardshell and softshell backpacks. Corporate headquarters are located in Malmö, southern Sweden where the products are made and assembled. They have received two Good Design Awards. Jonas Blanking, an industrial designer, has a background in the automotive and sports industries having worked with such companies as Alfa Romeo, Volvo, Porsche and sports-gear maker Salomon. As an outdoorsman, he had trouble with conventional backpack designs that would render his books and papers soggy in inclement weather or allow damage to his laptop casings. Therefore he felt the need for a backpack unlike those considered suitable for sports such as hiking and biking, it would have to be rigid and provide adequate volume.

Blanking looked to the air cargo industry for his first attempt in working out his predicament, which led him to employ the use of aluminium and ABS plastics. Prototypes were developed in 1996. The prototype featured a concept in which the outer shell could be implemented such that the outside surface area is as useful as the internal volume. Fasteners located all over the pack led to one being able to carry a skateboard or snowboard with simple straps that could be taken off with ease. Later, accessories were made to fit around the sides and the crevasse situated at the bottom of the pack for lumbar support. The concept was finalized in April 1998, leading to the birth of the Boblbee monocoque hardshell backpack, now known as the Megalopolis. In July 2014 the company became part of Point 65 Sweden and moved its HQ from Malmo to Solna. In spring 2015 the complete range of products was relaunched under the new brand name 'Point 65'. The Megalopolis was their first backpack.

It uses a design that reminds some of a toboggan or even a jetpack. So individual is the form that the Megalopolis (and the identical but smaller Peoples Delite) have appeared as accessories in movies such as Charlie's Angels, Hitch, Jason X, The Fast And The Furious, The Italian Job and Bicentennial Man. The Megalopolis comes in two versions, the Executive and Sport models. The difference between the two is the color selections - the Sport version has in-mold primary colors, whereas the Executive has been painted and lacquered in a myriad of colors. The Executive has a partition of the interior, where the Sport has a removable laptop sleeve instead of an actual laptop compartment. Boblbee bills itself as a sports enthusiast company, but the vast proportion of their products are used in urban situations. Couriers, cyclists, motorcyclists and DJ's are buyers of Boblbee packs, especially the Megalopolis. Popularity has been achieved particularly in Japan where a big portion of Boblbee items are sold.