The 10 Best Rugged Laptop Cases

If the laptop has to ride in a truck bed or a boat, the Pelican 1495 is the case to get. Its plastic shell closes on a rubber seal, so rain, dust and a dunk stay out, and a valve lets air pressure even out after a flight. Pick-apart foam fits the machine. Pelican makes it in the U.S. and backs it for life. It's heavy, and the laptop has to come out to work.

Most people want protection that still slips into a backpack, and the Pelican Ranger sleeve does that for mid-size and larger laptops. A stiff molded layer sits under tough nylon, with soft neoprene against the screen. Corner straps hold the laptop in place, so it can be used open on a desk without coming out. A mesh pocket holds a charger. The zippers shrug off rain, but the sleeve isn't sealed, so a dunk will get inside.

For a sealed box without a big bill, look at the Durabox All Weather. It follows the classic hard-case recipe: a plastic shell, a rubber gasket, a pressure valve, holes for a padlock and layers of foam to pick out around the laptop. The seller lists it as safe for a dunk to about three feet. It holds most laptops short of the biggest, and while it's lighter than most sealed cases, it's still a box to haul around.

People who work from cafes and trains get a second use out of the Spigen Rugged Armor: its back panel folds into a stand that props the laptop at a typing angle. The shell is firm and textured, with foam inside and straps that grip the corners. A small slot holds a tracker tag, sold separately, so a lost bag is easier to find. It only comes in one small size, so bigger laptops won't fit.

The Nacuwa Shockproof wraps the laptop in a hard molded shell with raised ribs that take the hit when a bag gets dropped or squeezed. Inside, several pockets hold a mouse, cables and cards, so it can travel on its own. A water-repelling skin sheds spills. It's sold in three sizes, from small notebooks up to mid-size machines. The pockets add thickness, and there's no shoulder strap, only a handle.

On a tight budget, the Finpac Hard Sleeve covers the basics. A semi-stiff shell sits under tough polyester, padding protects the screen, and it closes with a name-brand zipper, the part that usually fails first on cheap sleeves. It's thin enough to slide into a backpack's laptop slot. The trade-off is a shell that flexes under real pressure, and there's no outside pocket for a charger.

Big 17-inch laptops are hard to fit, and the Mosiso Hard Shell is built for them. A thick molded shell with an X-shaped brace guards the lid, a handle sits on top, and a strap on the back slides over a suitcase handle. A zip pocket on the front takes the charger and mouse. It's bulky, as a case this size has to be, and there's no shoulder strap for long walks.

Urban Armor Gear, the phone case maker, builds the UAG Large Sleeve from heat-molded foam that holds its shape like a shell. A soft suede-like lining keeps the lid from scuffing, a padded handle sits on top, and an inner mesh pocket holds cables. UAG says it passes a military drop standard, but that's the company's own claim, not a certification. It's new, with little owner feedback yet, and there's no shoulder strap.

School Chromebooks get dropped a lot, so the UZBL Work-In lets students leave the laptop inside all day. Rubber grips hold the screen corners, the case opens for class, and it zips shut for the hallway without taking anything out. A side pouch holds a charger, and a shoulder strap comes with it. It fits only small 11-inch Chromebooks, so check the model before ordering.

The Domiso Shock Resistant is a low-cost hard case for larger laptops. Angled ribs stiffen the molded shell, and a handle pops up from the top edge when needed and tucks flat when it isn't. Inside, a strap holds a phone, cards and cables in place. A water-resistant outer skin handles a rainy walk. It's on the thick side for a sleeve, and there's no shoulder strap.