Skooba R101-101 Checkthrough Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bag
Posted by admin | Posted in Notebook | Posted on 07-03-2010
5
- Designed primarily to hold all 15/15.4 inch laptops, but many 16 inch and compact/slim 17 inch models will fit. Laptop section interior is 15.5 x 11.5 x 1.5 inches (for reference, a 17-inch Macbook Pro measures 15.4 x 10.4 x 1 inches)
- Ballistic exterior, smooth nylon interior, file section, cargo pockets for metals, liquids pouch included. detector items and allowable liquid (3-1-1) bags, and more
- Approximately 20 pockets and compartments, including easy-access doc-pocket for ticket/passport, pass and passport, pop-out/no-snag hideaway ID holder, and much more.
- An exceptionally crafted business case, with brushed nickel hardware, fine tailoring and stitching details. Incredibly comfortable and beautifully executed carrying handle reinforcement at all stress points
- Designed to re-fold just by picking the bag up by the handle or strap at the end of security. Zip again when convenient. Check through bag is equally secure whether the inspection zipper is open or closed
Product Description
Skooba’s patent-pending Checkthrough Bag looks and functions like a high-end business case, but opens and hinges in the middle to separate and isolate the laptop compartment from the rest of the bag. For initial, immediate visual reference, the laptop can be seen by the inspector through a clear window that is exposed when the bag is unfolded. This quick-recognition window is one of several features for which the company has patents pending. With the window facing u… More >>
I got one of these and recently travelled internationally. This laptop bag, unfortunately, is a waste of money. I was asked to remove the laptop from the bag in three different airports, San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Maybe HKG and TPE don’t really care about U.S. FAA’s specifications of the bag, but San Francisco?
I could just use this bag as a regular laptop bag. But it is rather bulky for a laptop bag. It’s a waste of money.
Rating: 1 / 5
I haven’t traveled with this bag yet (it just arrived today), but I’ve traveled with enough other bags internationally to know what I really want. This bag has it all! My 17″ MacBook Pro fits into the laptop compartment without a hitch. The multitude of pockets are accessible and visually friendly with mesh screens that allow me to quickly see their contents. The exterior and layered pockets let me get at necessities quickly without digging through the whole bag…and I like the easy access large center space where I can organize more bulky items (headphones, book, sweater – and future iPad!) to my taste – unlike the reviewer who thought there should be more file folders (maybe o.k. as an optional add-on, but not for me!).
I wouldn’t have minded a large flat pocket on the backside under the velcro luggage handle strap – a place to quickly drop a magazine, map, or itinerary printout – but I doubt I will miss it that much.
Can’t wait for my next trip to put this bag to the test – and by the way the price on Amazon was really too good to be true. I have spent hundreds of $$$s on bags looking for the right one – I think this is it.
Some have commented that this is a huge bag. It certainly is not svelte and streamlined, but I need a bag to hold ALL my stuff, not just the laptop. It is reasonably sized for that purpose and won’t draw comment at check in. Now that I know I like the bag I’ve ordered the bungee strap to upgrade it. My next trip through security will be a breeze – and the added touch of not needing to zip up the bag all the way before carrying it away is brilliant. The quality seems excellent – durable and robust – and I see that Tenba is behind Skooba. Tenba makes great camera bags so I imagine this will follow the mold.
Rating: 5 / 5
I got this when Amazon had it at $[...] several weeks ago. What a bargain! Best [...] bucks I have ever spent. This case has tons of room and is VERY COMFORTABLE to carry. The handle is very nice. Some posts noted the strap was not very good but I found it just fine. I ordered the Skooba strap (~$19) which arrived 2 weeks later but I would have been fine with the standard strap. Lots of storage room, pockets and arranged well. I have used it at several US airports without taking the pc out of the case. In Canada, I have to remove it. Either way is no problem since the pc is very easily removed from its unique section used only by the pc. PC padding is fine. Overall construction is good. The size is about an inch longer than my old case. However, it still fits well under airplane seats. The only suggestion on future designs is to add a couple dividers in the file storage section.
Rating: 5 / 5
I bought this just before a plane trip to Boston. It made my passing through the security check point a breeze as I did not have to remove my laptop & place it in a bin then have to juggle it back in the case after it went through xray. It also has ample room to carry all the attachments & files that I needed plus I was able to put in my purse so I would have only one personal carry on to the plane..But it is on the heavier side even when empty.
Rating: 4 / 5
I figure I’m in and out of airports 30+ times a year, so a good laptop bag is a must. I’m pairing this with my lifetime warranty Ricardo Elite carry-on (likes to tip over, but otherwise, like new after all these years).
Highlights:
* Has a strap to slip over carry-on handle. Velcro in the center is okay, but comes undone sometime. Not as snug a fit as my Dell case.
* Checkpoint friendly. Case is a bit large for my 15″ laptop, so it moves a bit. You have to unzip two zippers to open it butterfly style for the scanner. I think a snap would be quicker.
* Enormous. Fits underneath the seat but no more room for your feet. Finally, I can fit all the accessories and electronic stuff I have to lug everywhere. Compartments galore.
* Do not believe people who say airport staff still requires the laptop to come out. There is a sign sewn into the bag that says the laptop can stay inside.
Okay, so it isn’t perfect – single weld on the handles and straps instead of double – but way better than anything else I’ve seen. If you’re still taking out your laptop, consider the time saving and theft risk. I was a bit concerned about its fit with my laptop, but the pros easily outweigh it.
Rating: 4 / 5