Since its debut in April, the new 12-inch Retina MacBook hasn't seen that much in the way of functional, protective travel cases showing up either online or in brick-and-mortar stores. Fortunately, San Francisco-based accessory manufacturer Waterfield has released not just a single travel sleeve for Apple's newest MacBook, but an entire line of bags and cases for early adopters of the device.

Waterfield Review 2
Waterfield sent me the "Dash MacBook Sleeve" to review, and the case is covered in a black ballistic nylon outer shell but houses a plush, smooth inner liner to ensure your brand-new MacBook won't scratch or scuff while resting inside the case. The Dash's backside comes packed with a mesh netting that will hold accessories like cables and headphones, and to ensure your MacBook doesn't tumble out, there's a single elastic band attached on top.

Waterfield Review 1
After a few days taking my MacBook around with the Dash sleeve, I barely have any big quibbles with the case. While certainly a downside for some, I found Waterfield's decision to stick to stark, bare-bones color options -- all-black or with a copper trim -- refreshing over some of the more out-there case options on the market. Notable as well, the case barely gains any thickness while housing the Retina device, retaining the 12-inch MacBook's sense of lightness even in a protected environment.

File Jul 03, 1 24 28 PM
The added mesh compartment on the back will add weight, though, especially once you begin adding content like the MacBook's USB-C charging cable. It'll also make the well-proportioned case slightly less seamless if placing the Dash within another bag or compartment while traveling. But, otherwise, the Dash's outer nylon shell is as protective and reassuring as Waterfield promises, and even feels like it can shirk any sort of moisture or accidental spill pretty easily. The material is also satisfying to grip, and won't easily leave your hands when walking for extended periods with the case.

Waterfield Review 3
Moving away from aesthetics, the Dash's one big hindrance may be the single elastic band that determines whether your MacBook is secure or not. The band is simple to move back and forth, meaning it won't be a hassle in speedy moments when you need to get to your MacBook quickly. But that's also a downfall, because I'm not sure I'd feel entirely positive about placing the Dash on its own within another bag -- which is what most do with sleeves like this -- for fear of the band popping open and releasing the computer to the bag's other contents.

The bigger, more likely concern is other contents getting into the Dash, since the case's top opening has no definitive closing mechanism, leaving your MacBook exposed on one side at all times. Waterfield angles that into a positive, in that you can charge your computer while it rests in the case, but users searching for absolute protection may not find what they're looking for here. The opening may hinder drop protection as well, with the elastic strap not fully keeping the MacBook behind the protective barrier of the inner foam when tilted upside down for a period of time.

Waterfield Review 5
The Dash MacBook Sleeve sells for $59 on Waterfield's official website in Black and Copper, and is even available for the traditional 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook options. Although its lack of full-bodied security for your MacBook hurts the case's overall protection selling point, I'd say that in normal day-to-day usage the Dash will be more than enough armor between your MacBook and the world.

At $59, the Dash is also a bit on the higher side of the average MacBook sleeve price point, but Retina MacBook early adopters aren't exactly being inundated by sleeve options this early in the product's life cycle. Still, even if they were, Waterfield's handsomely crafted, no-frills case would easily be one of the top contenders.

Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.

Related Forum: MacBook

Top Rated Comments

Porco Avatar
110 months ago
how much did they pay MR to 'review' this on the main page?
"Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review. "

Seems pretty clear.

I'd like to make what probably seems an odd request for future reviews - how does it smell?

I find a lot of neoprene and nylon cases and bags really smell horrible for ages after you buy them, a couple of items I had to just get rid of. I do have a sensitive sense of smell, but this information might prove useful to others too.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MBHockey Avatar
110 months ago
how much did they pay MR to 'review' this on the main page?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
110 months ago
Nothing, rtf full post. Also it's not on the main page, it's on the Mac Blog.
Read this:
https://macrumors.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201637503-Are-news-stories-really-advertising-in-disguise-
Thanks, Mike. What he said.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
110 months ago
"Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review. "

Seems pretty clear.

I'd like to make what probably seems an odd request for future reviews - how does it smell?

I find a lot of neoprene and nylon cases and bags really smell horrible for ages after you buy them, a couple of items I had to just get rid of. I do have a sensitive sense of smell, but this information might prove useful to others too.
First of all, as I write this I distinctly remember sitting at my desk, staring at the case and trying to come up with any positives and negatives I may have missed as I finished my review. First thing I did? Sniff it, and actually, thought it smelled pretty great. Like new school supplies, if that makes any sense? Like someone else said, smell is largely subjective, but I'd be shocked if someone thought the Dash smelled awful.

Secondly, Porco Rosso ftw.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
anker new xmas 1

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2 With Security Fixes

Thursday November 30, 2023 10:12 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, small updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems that Apple introduced in September. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 come a few weeks after the release of iOS 17.1.1, another bug fix update. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update....
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
paramount plus logo

Apple and Paramount Considering Discounted TV+ Streaming Bundle

Friday December 1, 2023 4:40 am PST by
Apple and Paramount have discussed bundling their TV streaming services at a discount, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The companies have talked about offering a combination of Paramount+ and Apple TV+ that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately, according to people familiar with the discussions. The discussions are in their early stages, and it is ...