Thule Gauntlet 13″ MacBook Attaché

, February 1, 2017

To boost your confidence for the day ahead, throwing Thule’s Gauntlet MacBook Attaché is a handy measure, confirming your ultimate preparation for anything life throws at you. At a glance, the robust casing and water-resistant zipping makes the Gauntlet well-qualified to fetch odd looks – the relatively fortified exterior does look more military than city slicker. But you would expect nothing less from Thule; Swedes know what works and how to corrugate a frame for a turbulent future.

Volume

In fact the subtle ‘clamshell’ design of Thule’s messenger bag enables its best feature – some volume in a streamlined package. Whereas other messenger bags either come in too wide or too slim – including other ‘sleeves’ or ‘envelopes’ from Thule’s own range – the shape of the Gauntlet attaché creates enough room to throw in a charger along with some other essentials – optics, snacks, or a change of whatever. With the extra volume you can be secure for an entire day or even for an overnight mission.

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Interior

Slip inside the Gauntlet and you’ll discover an assortment of storage options. A row of three elasticated pouches can house items like USB wires, spare phones, backup batteries or a couple of cosy snacks, each attached to the central and single ‘leaf’ of the case. On the other side of this divider, a single elasticated pouch is perfect for safely storing your 13-inch MacBook Air or MacBook Pro into.

Return to the side facing the three small pouches and you’ve got a netting to cradle odd items – your charger, or flimsy items like a quick-dry towel, swimmers and pair of goggles. On the opposite side you have a casual elastic band to secure a book or magazine. Admittedly, this strap on this side could offer a little more security or include a cross-hatch – items do bump around a little.

An exquisite comes in the form of a strap that reaches from the side with the elasticated pouch, over the central leaf and the slot for your MacBook, to meet a velcro patch around the belly of the MacBook pouch. This creates a brilliant fixture to make sure your valuable electronics are as compact as possible, in case your Gauntlet launches itself into life a little too abruptly.

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Straps

Now to return to the carrying options. The Gauntlet comes with a shoulder strap that it well padded and extendable. One of the neat details with the shoulder strap can be found in the way it is connected to the pack – either side of the zip to promote a neutral carrying style. If you want to carry the messenger bag by your side, a pair of straps are very comfortable and robust – true bodyguard mode.

Thule’s Gauntlet MacBook Messenger bag comes in at $80. A sound price for a safe house.