After doing some research, I settled on the Brain Cell Laptop Bag from Tom Bihn.

It comes in a tall, vertical version for backpacks (the one I got) and a fat, horizontal version for messenger bags, flavored in a variety of colors, depending on their stock.

The bag is made of 4mm corrugated plastic with 8mm thick foam padding. At the bottom of it, depending on which version you get, there’s 12mm of memory foam to further protect your computer from sudden bumps.

Before I graduated, I used it to take my lappy to class inside my backpack a dozen or two times without worry, even with a walking commute. I’ve also taken it on road trips back to the folks’ and to the girlfriend’s. I don’t think I’ve ever taken my computer anywhere without it.

The aluminum chassis on my MBP can heat up like crazy sometimes and the last place I want it right next to is my future children. As an added bonus, with its rigid form, the Brain Cell can double as a pad for underneath your computer when you actually have it on your lap.

They say their Brain Cell is designed for use with Tom Bihn laptops and messengers, but it’ll work just fine with any other bags. Just make sure you check their site for dimensions before you buy.

When I bought mine, it ran about $60, which, admittedly, is a lot, but I’d say it’s worth it. Also keep in mind that their factory is in Seattle, WA, so you’re paying for American craftsmanship. Without getting too political, it’s important to support your local economy. On a mildly related note, this is the same company that got into some controversy a couple years ago for calling the President stupid in French on their tags.

All right, I think that’s all I’ve got for this one. It’s weird talking about bags.

Pros: Durable, slim, safe, minimalistic yet rugged
Cons: Expensive, not entirely waterproof, not much pocket space

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0390