Review: ColcaSac

We have had the change to review a number of cases for Apple’s portable computers over the years. In recent years, as laptops have become more mainstream, we have found that a number of cases are designed with aesthetics in mind, rather than just something to protect your computer while in transit. The $33 ColcaSac came across our desk and we were eager to try it out.

The first thing we noticed was that the ColcaSac can be easily compared to the similarly-priced (depending on the exchange rate) Foofbag. Both are simple sleeves for various-sized MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Both are designed to avoid the neoprene “laptop case” look that is common for Mac users these days. Both can be used by themselves, but also work well inside another bag.

That is where the similarities end. The ColcaSac is made of “heavy 18.5 oz basketweave hemp canvas and lined with thick, cream, 100% polyester sherpa fleece”, giving it a durable, yet understated feel. The outer hemp canvas is thick enough to be durable. In fact, according to the manufacturer, hemp is stronger than cotton. Furthermore, it grows faster than cotton and flax. The inner fleece material provides a soft lining to prevent scratches on your computer and provides just enough cushioning for the rigors of daily use. Both the regular (brown) and black versions should be appropriate in all but the most professional settings.

The ColcaSac features a velcro flap to ensure that your computer does not slide out, and there is a small 7″x6″ pocket on the side for a power adapter, mouse, discs, or anything else you can think of. The benefit of the sleeve using velcro over a zipper is that it cannot get hung up on your computer or cause scratches (only some sleeves have the protective inner liner around the zipper).

For those who want to “go green”, the case is made of sustainable materials, and 1% of all purchases goes towards buying land in environmentally sensitive areas. We think this a good added bonus, especially since everyone—including Apple—seems to be pushing environmentally friendly products.

In our use, the case held up well, and worked as expected. The actual styling mat not be for everyone, but for those looking for a natural, earthy, and unique alternative to the standard “laptop sleeves”, the ColcaSac may be a product to check out.