Whether you carry it in your bag or simply tucked under your arm, a basic notebook sleeve can prevent the bumps, scratches, and bruises of everyday wear and tear. However, their protection level is basic, and many lack any extra features, such as inner or outer pockets and carrying handles. Plus, the simplicity of their design often makes sleeves checkpoint-friendly, meaning you can leave your notebook in the sleeve itself when passing through airport security.

Though sleeves come made in a variety of materials, such as nylon or polyester, most employ a form of neoprene. This material helps provide excellent padding, and is usually water- or weather-resistant. If you take your notebook on short trips and like to travel light, you might want to look for a sleeve with carrying handles and pockets—perfect for bringing a few peripherals on the go. This type of sleeve may sacrifice the checkpoint-friendly functionality, but that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re not a frequent flier. We took a look at five affordable notebook sleeves to see how well they fared with different-size notebooks and accompanying peripherals.