Gear Review – Hip Slip on Faded + Blurred : The online magazine for photographers and photo enthusiasts.

hipslip

I’ve owned quite a few laptops, so consequently I’ve used a number of different laptop bags. Recently, I bought a new MacBook Pro, and decided to shop around for a new case to carry it around in.

As luck would have it, we were just getting ready to do the review of the Shootsac Lens Bag, so we asked the folks at Shootsac if we could do a review of their Hip Slip as well. They thought it was a great idea, so they sent one out.
My first impression of the Hip Slip out of the box was pretty much the same reaction I had to the Shootsac, which was that these products look very well made. The fit and finish on the Hip Slip does not disappoint (except possibly for the strap, but more on that further down). The out shell of the Hip Slip is made of a thick, wetsuit-grade, textured neoprene. Also on the outside, you’ll find two pockets, front and back for storing things like papers, magazines or a small power supply. Just like the Shootsac Lens Bag, the Hip Slip allows you to change the style and look by attaching various “covers” via velcro tabs in the back pocket. Inside the main zippered pocket (which features an inner flap that protects your laptop from being scratched by the zipper) is a main padded compartment to store your laptop. MacBook Air owners will appreciate the silver mesh pocket that fits the Air perfectly. Though I love the look of the mesh, I wonder if it would scratch the surface of the laptop after a long period of being jostled around. So we’ve covered the aesthetics, which though important, don’t really matter if it doesn’t hold what you want it to.
The functionality of the Hip Slip may be a bit of a mixed bag (no pun intended) for some. The $99.00 price tag may lead some to believe that this is a more full featured laptop bag, than it actually is. The Hip Slip is more of a laptop sleeve than a bag. It will allow you to carry some accessories, but not a lot. While reviewing, my “testing” load out included: my MacBook Pro, the power adapter, a magazine or two and my sketchbook. While this type of load may be perfect for a traveler or business professional, I found the capacity a bit limiting. As a Photoshop instructor, I use my laptop for class, and in addition to the items mentioned previously, I also carry a mouse and a medium sized Wacom tablet, which didn’t really fit too well in the Hip Slip. I did manage to get everything in, but it wasn’t the most comfortable thing to carry with that number of accessories. I would like to have seen some sort of pad available for the strap, rather than only the thin rubber grip. The grip looks nice, but even a small removable pad would be a welcome addition when carrying a bit more gear. The only other quirk I had with the Hip Slip was the placement of the quick-release connectors in the back pocket. The back pocket is where I keep my sketchbook and the placement of the quick-release strap connectors made it a little awkward to my sketchbook in and out without resting the hip slip on a table or something. Moving them to the sides, may help to alleviate this, but it’s really only a minor annoyance that will likely only affect a very few people.
Overall, the Hip Slip is a fantastic choice for those of you who don’t plan on carrying a lot of accessories. The design and build quality are excellent and with only a couple of exceptions (I prefer something that gives me a little more room for accessories), the functionality is spot on. For more info, visit Shootsac.

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