Booq Viper Hardcase 11 slim travel case for your Chromebook [Review]

While we are an Android site, we also have a number of other Google products. Chromebooks being one of them. We also know many of our Android constituents also have Chromebooks, so this still fits into our realm of coverage. Keeping our Chromebooks safe and secure during travel is just as important as keeping our phones and tablets safe. Booq has quite the nice little slim travel case to help you on your journeys, the Viper hardcase 11.

The Overview

Im sure some of you are loving the photo above. Yes, this is created and marketed for a MacBook Air (is listed for Chromebooks online too), but works just as good for the Acer Chromebook and anything else that is similar in size. Heck, it would be a great product for your tablets too. The Viper hardcase has a number of features that make it more than just another zipper case product to tote around.

The outer casing is 1680-denier ballistic nylon with a water-repellant coating.  That doesn’t mean you can dunk the whole thing underwater, but it will give you some protection for those trips through the rain or those accidental spills.

The case zips up with two long-lasting YKK premium zippers. It is nice to have the dual zipper function. All too often you find a single zipper product and always end up looking on the wrong side first. It isn’t a critical addition, but a nice one none the less.

Inside you have a series of neoprene pockets. On the left is where you can slip your Chromebook or tablet. On the right you have 3 other pockets. Two smaller ones for battery packs, pens, business cards, power cord or whatever. Behind that you have another full size pocket to slip a magazine or some important documents if you need to keep them handy and safe as well.

 

What we think of the Viper Hardcase 11 by booq

An Acer Chromebook fits just fine inside and I was able to pack in the charging cord. However, it did feel ‘bloated’ a little bit. The exterior hard shell is flexible and bends. While it is technically a hard shell, I wouldn’t beat on it with a hammer. After all, the MacBook Air is 0.68″ and the Acer Chromebook is 1.09″. Just shy of double its thickness. This is clearly made for the the Samsung Chromebook which is much thinner and comes in at 17.5mm (0.68in). That is MacBook Air size.

The look and feel of the Viper is nice. There is a leather binding cover on the fold with the booq branding and makes it look a little more professional. The three raised bumps on either side of the covers gives the whole thing a rugged look and displaces pressure when setting on a flat surface. I poured some water over it to make sure no liquid penetrated the outer shell and am pleased to say the interior was dry.

It does have one very important component missing in my book that would make this a real hit. There is absolutely no handle. That may or may not be important you, but it is to me. While I can zip my Chromebook or tablet inside and toss it inside the laptop bag for double protection, it would make life a bit easier if there was a simple little handle on the back binding or a double strap type that was attached to either side of the flips and folded over the zipper area.

Overall

If you are looking for a slimmer, but safer, way to transport you Chromebook, tablet or other similar sized tech devices, the Viper Hardcase 11 is a pretty great little addition to your life. Even missing a handle it beats carrying things around without it. You can pick up a booq Viper Hardcase 11 directly though booq if you choose. They are also available on Amazon and other places as well. Interestingly enough, they are also in the Play Store. There are two color options, Red and Yellow.