The Vertical Brain Cell, like the Horizontal Brain Cell, provides superior hard-sided protection for your laptop.

Inside the Vertical Brain Cell, your laptop hangs suspended, cradled in a sling of 8mm thick soft foam padding inside a 4mm hard corrugated plastic shell that protects from the front, back, and bottom. Below the padded sling, fixed to the bottom of the corrugated plastic shell, is a 12mm thick strip of memory foam (manufactured to our specifications in U.S.A.). This memory foam acts as an extra layer of cushion as well as an effective shock absorber. The sides of the Vertical Brain Cell are protected by dense cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam.

This combination offers the toughest protection you can get for your laptop in a case that is still light and minimalist. It closes on the top, like a cereal box, with two padded flaps that seal with Aplix® strips (like Velcro®, only longer-lasting.) Your laptop will be protected from every angle.

The Vertical Brain Cell is designed specifically for use inside our two backpacks, the Smart Alec and the Brain Bag, which come with removable clips that secure the Vertical Brain Cell in place. If you already have a favorite backpack, chances are the Vertical Brain Cell will fit inside of it. Be sure to view our Vertical Brain Cell Fit List, which lists the interior and exterior dimensions of each size of the Vertical Brain Cell, to compare the exterior dimensions of the Vertical Brain Cell to the interior dimensions of your backpack.

Should you choose to carry it on its own, the Vertical Brain Cell features two front mesh pockets (perfect for your power supply and other small accessories) as well as attachments for a shoulder strap.

We offer three different shoulder straps that can be used with the Vertical Brain Cell: the Simple Shoulder Strap and the Absolute Shoulder Strap. The Simple Shoulder Strap is a great choice for those who carry smaller, lighter laptops; the TerraGrip Shoulder Strap offers the security of a grippy strap pad that won't slip off your shoulder; and the Absolute Shoulder Strap offers the ultimate combination of a non-slip underside with the comfort of a neoprene internal control-stretch system.

The Vertical Brain Cell is available in six sizes to fit a wide range of laptops. Three sizes are designed specifically for Apple laptops: Size 6 (MacBook), 4X (15.4" Macbook Pro), 4Z (NEW 15.4" MacBook Pro), and 1 (17" MacBook Pro). Sizes 2S, 3, and 4 fit a wide range of PC laptops. We recommend using our Laptop Bag Fit Guide to determine which size of Vertical Brain Cell you need for your laptop. If you can't find your laptop in our Laptop Bag Fit Guide, or if you have further questions, please feel free to email or call us.

Please note: In order to get the most laptop protection from the Vertical Brain Cell, it must be carried in the vertical (portrait) position. Therefore, it is best to use this bag with the Smart Alec, Brain Bag, or your current backpack. If you require a protective laptop case to use with a briefcase or messenger bag, in a horizontal (landscape) position, please see our Horizontal Brain Cell.