Pakuma Akara K1

For regular lugging of your laptop, the K1 is a worthy candidate. Inside is a dedicated "Cocoon" foam-padded pocket that will accommodate a machine of up to around 400 x 280mm (more if you're prepared to put up with a tight fit) and any thickness up to a couple of inches. With the laptop in place, there's still around 20 litres of space left in the main section, allowing you to carry a few extras. An excellent touch is a rounded pocket on the outside that will accommodate a coiled VGA cable or two, and it even includes a soft CD carry case able to accommodate up to a dozen discs. And if you fancy a romantic hiking holiday with your computer, there are proper waist and sternum straps, and side mesh pockets to accommodate water bottles too.

Author: David Fearon