Best For: Remote workers and field photographers who travel with a laptop they can't afford to wet, crush, or scratch.
Fits 13" to 15.6" laptops - hook-and-loop adjusts to your machine, not a fixed size
Two modes: fast access or fully waterproof - integrated rolltop drybag liner inside
Foam padding absorbs bumps - drops, knocks, and pack-toss shocks
External zipper pocket - chargers, cables, mice — no separate pouch needed
420D nylon shell with UTS coating - field-tough, abrasion-resistant
Hypalon™ + bartack reinforced - the stress points won't tear
Top carry handle - grab and go between client meetings
"Best winter travel gear of 2022" — Outside Magazine
*Internal sleeve fits laptops from 33-39.6 cm (13-15.6 in).
Picture this: You're in a coffee shop in Mexico City. The barista trips. A Big Gulp lands on your tote. With a regular laptop sleeve, your MacBook is now firmware-toasted. With this? Roll the drybag liner shut and it doesn't get a drop.
Padded sleeve outside. Drybag inside. - The integrated waterproof liner can be folded over for fast access — or rolled three times and clipped for full rain/spill protection.
For people whose laptop is their livelihood - Designers. Engineers. Photographers. Anyone who can't replace the machine in 48 hours.
The old setup hurt - Bare sleeve in a wet bag means a wet laptop. Hardshell case adds weight and doesn't waterproof. Drybag alone gives zero impact protection.
The new setup - One layer that handles bumps AND water. Hook-and-loop closure means the same sleeve fits a 13" Air or a 16" Pro.
REAL QUESTIONS FROM REAL TRAVELERS
"Is it actually waterproof?" Yes, when you roll the drybag liner. Roll it 3+ times and clip the hook-and-loop closure. The seams are taped and the rolltop seals against rain, spills, and brief splash submersion. It's not a scuba bag — don't submerge it intentionally.
"Will my 14" MacBook fit?" Yes. The adjustable hook-and-loop closure handles 13" to 15.6" laptops. A 14" MacBook Pro fits snugly with the padding compressed around it.
"Will it survive being dropped?" The foam padding absorbs everyday drops onto carpet, a chair, or out of a pack. A 6-foot fall onto concrete is still going to risk the laptop — no sleeve fully prevents that.
"What goes in the front zipper pocket?" Charger brick, USB hub, mouse, a couple of cables, maybe a small notebook. The powermesh expands so it holds more than it looks like.
"What if it tears?" Matador repairs everything — in warranty or out.
"Can I use it as a standalone bag?" It has a top carry handle, so yes — short trips between meetings. It's not a full briefcase replacement; pair it with a real tote or backpack for cross-city moves.
ABOUT MATADOR
Matador® - Designed in Boulder, CO Started in 2014 by two designers tired of travel gear that didn't work. They build equipment that solves problems you didn't know you had.
THE NUMBERS
Fits
13" to 15.6" laptops (33-39.6 cm) - adjustable hook-and-loop closure
Waterproofing
Integrated rolltop drybag liner Roll 3+ times for full waterproof; fold once for fast access
Padding
Closed-cell foam - absorbs everyday bumps and drops
Built to last, and backed if it doesn't.
Matador repairs its gear in-house — in warranty or out. They fix it and send it back.
Stop checking if your laptop survived the day.
You’re Backed by Our 60-Day Ironclad Guarantee
Try it for 60 days. If it’s not right for you, send it back.
We stand behind our gear. If you’re not happy with your purchase, just return the full package within 60 days and we’ll issue a full refund—no fuss, no forms, no hoops to jump through.
What Happens After You Order
You’ll get an instant order confirmation email with your receipt.
We’ll pack your order the next working day and send you a tracking number once it’s on the way.
From the moment you order to the moment it reaches your hands, we’re here to keep you updated and supported.
When will I receive my gear?
Singapore: Delivered to your doorstep in 4–6 working days.
International: Arrive within 10–14 working days.
Returns and warranty
Every product comes with a 1 to 3-year replacement warranty (depending on the item).
If anything isn’t working right, just let us know. We’ll make it right.
FREE Gift with Purchase: Limited Edition Ember Shard Whistle
Spend $99 or more today, and we'll automatically include a limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark Ember Shard Whistle when packing your order.
Charge it quickly under sunlight or your flashlight, and enjoy its subtle glow throughout the night—perfect for marking gear, emergency kits, or attaching to your bag.
Limited quantities. These will be swapped (at our discretion) to other gift items if shards are unavailable.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.7 / 5 from 58 reviews.
I love it 😍👍🏻. I like it, I love it, it fascinates me... just what I was looking for with a touch of elegance and resistant👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Being a traveler and a photographer, my laptop is of the utmost importance. Keeping it safe is high on my priority list and this case does just that. It even has water resistance which is not super common in carriers of this sort. Awesome to have such peace of mind.
I really love this laptop case because it is practical without being bulky. It is compact, flat, waterproof, and easy to carry under my arm, which made it so convenient to use in the car while traveling. The closure feels strong, my laptop fits even with a case on it, and the front pocket is perfect for my charger and charging brick. It just works, and I can see myself reaching for it every time I travel with my laptop.
Read closely about the waterproofness. It's IPX6 meaning it is only waterproof to an extent. If you leave your laptop in this bag out in wet conditions, there is still a chance it'll get wet. I have this bag and it is pretty nice and convenient since it adds a small layer of protection for my laptop inside the thin material of the Freerain 22. However I originally wanted to get this for the water protection. Now that I'm looking at the description more closely and see that it's only IPX6, I don't think you can trust this for being truly "waterproof". It's water-resistant. It's unlikely that I'll be in a super wet environment with pouring rain, but sometimes when traveling, a situation like that may happen. That means I'll still have to wrap a sturdy plastic bag around my laptop to make it more waterproof even though I have this laptop sleeve.
Matador Laptop Sleeve: Built for Weather, Not for Drops. If you want a lightweight, adjustable, travel-ready sleeve with top-tier weather protection, the Matador Laptop Base Layer hits the mark—especially for MacBook and slim laptops. Just be mindful: it’s not shockproof, and thick gaming rigs may not fit. If you want more structure or drop protection, check out Thule gauntlet Sleeve for commuters
Laptop Baselayer is a winner. Really great piece of essential gear for those on the go if you may find yourself in the weather. I use it all the time on my boat so that I can work from the lake!
Light but strong. Lightweight but feels sturdy. Haven't put the waterproof factor to the test and likely won't, but this feels like a good little bag in all other ways. Fits my 16-inch computer with just enough space to roll the top the required 3 times if I strong arm it.
Exactly what I needed. Great product, exactly what I needed to quickly grab from my overhead bag to my seat. Easily carries my 14" MacBook Pro, a snack, and my iPad mini.
Bought two. I bought two to protect my 12.9 inch tablet and my 16 inch laptop from water damage. Light and offers some protection against scratches. It did not work with my older 15.4 inch laptop due to size.
Simply the Best. Simplemente la calidad es superior. Su mano factura es impecable. Los recomiendo 100% y debería ser el complemento de todos los viajes de vida. Matador simply the BEST!!!!
Good but not perfect. I have two laptops. One 15.6 and one 14 inches. I got the sleeve to fit both. The 14 inches macbook pro fits perfectly. The 15.6 inches Lenovo ThinkPad though is a very very tight fit. So tight i almost never use it with this laptop anymore. The top also doesn't roll on the 15.6 ThinkPad so it's not even offering the ipx6 waterproof. I really hope it would fit 15.6 laptops better to be truly adjustable for all/most 13-16 inches laltops. I can't imagine a 16 inch laptop in there.
perfect for MacBook Air 15"". I desperately searched in vain for a suitable case for a new MacBook Air 15" that did justice to its thin form factor and then found this when I went to buy the Matador base layer for my camera (Nikon Z7 fits a treat). The laptop base layer is perfect for the Air 15", I also own two Matador backpacks and have been very impressed with the quality and attributes. This case keeps the Air profile very thin, and the handle is great for carrying it around when without a bag. Waterproofing is a nice bonus. Delighted to have found it.
This is great! I can take work anywhere without always having to bring my heavy laptop bag. I don’t even need a rain cover for my bag with the laptop base layer.
Quality. Style. Epic. Really happy with this product! Really well designed and crafted. My new MacBook Pro 16" fits in like a glove! Would be great to get some more cost effective post options to this side of the world though.
As advertised and fits more. I hesitated at first but then eventually bought and I don’t regret it. I have my 2019 15-inch macbook, 12.9 inch iPad Pro and my Remarkable tablet in it. In the front pouch I have the macbook charger, iPad Pencil and my drawing glove. That’s a lot! Granted that makes carrying the case insanely heavy but I’m carrying it short distances. So far the case is holding up and I like the sleek design.
Perfect for an Ultrabook On the Go. I've now owned this for nearly two years and I often wonder how I lived without it previously. I travel via motorcycle often and I carry an X1 Carbon ThinkPad. This base layer is perfect. All the protection you need and none of the fluff you don't. Waterproof is a requirement for me and I've never once doubted that feature. Would definitely buy again, and definitely will when this one finally wears out if it ever does.
Why did I wait so long to get this?. Surprisingly light, amazingly useful, and transforms all types of bags into laptop carry. Fits my aircraft carrier 16" MacBook Pro. What can I say, it's amazing!
For Apple users, this fits great for any pre-M1 Macbook Pro 16 or 13 inch.
It still fits my 16 inch M1 MBP for the most part, but because it's a bit thicker, the laptop won't sit flush inside the sleeve so there's a bit of empty space for a half inch or so in the bottom.
Otherwise 5 stars.
Good case but it does not work well if you plan to use it in conjunction with a laptop backpack with computer access from the top. This is so because the case needs to be removed to access the laptop if the rolltop function is used. Otherwise, the top flap used in the rolltop can be tucked into your backpack and the rolltop fabric will also have to be tucked and untucked with every access. Though the rolltop feature, I'm sure, is functional for water protection, I personally don't plan to have water enter my laptop bag other than in the case of a mistakenly opend bottle. Still, I prefer a zippered closure on my laptop case. In the event that I will be in inclement weather then I choose a water resistant pack or add a rain cover.
First let me say I love this bag, fits my Mac book perfectly even have extra room to throw in my iPad or notebook if I want and the front pocket is great for a charger or other small items. My only issue with the bag is that the handle feels very thin. Feels pretty secure but I wonder how much wear and tear it can handle long term.
Just got the bag, and it's exactly what I was hoping it would be -- a very functional stand-alone laptop sleeve/bag that can be used on its own, but is also form-fitting enough to fit into small backpacks as a protective sleeve. VERY excited that the Laptop Base Layer (with my 13" MacBook Air) fits into the On-Grid packable backpack's "laptop pocket" (which has zero protection otherwise).
I was a little worried that this bag would be too wide for my 13" MacBook Air -- it is wider than the laptop by ~1.75", so the laptop can move a little side-to-side. However, since the bag is padded and relatively flat, it doesn't feel like the laptop is swimming in there. I feel confident that it'll do a fine job protecting from common bumps, and I don't think the motion will be too much in practice.
Not a factor for me, but if you're buying it for the waterproof aspects, note that the front "accessory pocket" is a stretchy mesh, so will not be waterproof.