Extra Protection for Weekend Warriors Pelican Products has long been known for making durable cases for military and industrial fields. Seeking to reach a wider audience of consumers, the company recently began offering a new line of portable protection for laptops, tablets and smartphones. The new line, Pelican ProGear, includes backpacks, hard cases and micro cases. The best in the line, the $300 Urban Elite Laptop Backpack, has a built-in rigid case that can accommodate a 15" laptop, or a 17" MacBook. The case is shockproof and waterproof and has a pressure valve that prevents a vacuum lock. I had no worries about the safety of my laptop when I took it on a recent flight to Orlando, Fla. At first, I noticed the laptop knocking softly against the inside of the case when I walked, so I added some padding provided by Pelican, and it held the laptop firmly in place. But the extra protection comes with a tradeoff. The backpack is heavy, weighing eight pounds when empty. When it wasn't strapped to my back, I was wishing it had wheels to make it easier to lug. And it's quite big, so don't expect to stow it under the seat in front of you. It won't fit. But even when full, the backpack was comfortable to wear. It has an ergonomic design and extra padding for your back. The exterior is made of ballistic nylon, and it has adjustable compression straps to hold contents tight. And there are plenty of pockets, which I find crucial for a good backpack. I hate digging for keys or change at the bottom of a backpack. Because of its weight and bulk, the Urban Elite is not really a good fit for the casual or business traveler. Its audience is still pretty niche: weekend warriors and other adventurers who need to travel with their electronics.