Expert's Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
For the business traveler or fashonista looking to protect their MacBook Air in style, Pack & Smooch’s Laptop Sleeve Hampshire for 11-inch MacBook Air is an easy choice.
Hand-manufactured in Germany, the landscape-orientation sleeve—€64, or currently $69 on Etsy, plus shipping—is made of layered, 3mm-thick, mélange-wool felt in either gray (the model I tested) or black. (The company also offers the Hampshire in sizes for each of Apple’s other laptop models.)
Soft yet durable, the sleeve’s felt doesn’t pick up much dust or outside elements, and it has an almost marble-like look from a few feet away. A 4.5-inch-tall pocket on the outside of the sleeve is perfect for small gadgets such as an iPhone or USB cable, while a single felt flap with two large rivet-snaps holds both your MacBook Air and those accessories safely in place. Along the bottom of the sleeve, a vegetable-tanned, brown-leather strip with a debossed Pack & Smooch logo provides a stylish accent and a comfortable place for your hand while carrying.
The MacBook Air fits snugly into the sleeve, and adding a few accessories doesn’t bulk it up or make it lose its shape. The top flap also lies flat against the sleeve without curling or warping. The Hampshire adds about a half a pound of weight to the 11-inch MacBook Air, but the package still feels slim and slender.
While the Hampshire’s price may cause casual buyers to shy away, those looking for a long-lasting, sophisticated, and elegant sleeve should be more than pleased.