From experience I had found sleeves could vary dramatically, often ill-fitting or providing no protection, so I wanted to get it right. I began searching for a potential option and immediately opened a can of worms – there were hundreds to choose from! I did not know where to begin. 

It was immediately obvious that sifting through pages of reviews and websites would be very time-consuming. Instead, I made use of social media and asked my eco-conscious followers in the industry for some recommendations.

Fortunately, my friend Laura suggested Tomtoc. I had never heard of them, but in 2020 they upgraded their best-selling range with RPET (recycled polyethylene tetraphyte). According to their site, this transition has led to a huge reduction in plastic waste and carbon emissions –

This sounded very positive, but is it any good?

I was surprised at how good this sleeve is. Not only does it have sustainable credentials, but the level of protection is truly impressive. The aides are heavily cushioned with what they describe as 'High Resilience Edges'. On the corners, they have adopted a system they call 'CornerArmor'. In 2020 the product passed the Military-Standard-Drop Test – whatever that may be?

Above and below the laptop protection is provided by a soft, thick, padded lining. The complete sleeve is constructed from 100% post-consumer material made from PET plastic bottles. Lastly, they state that the sleeve is also waterproof – although I would not be prepared to put that to the test!

After prolonged use, the sleeve has continued to perform well. It has maintained its shape and still fits the laptop snuggly. They have used quality YKK zips, which are still working well – a common weak point I have found with previous sleeves. In addition to this, it also includes an enclosed, zip-up pouch for paperwork, cables or a memory stick.