Review: 3 TSA-Approved Laptop Bags Compared – Belkin Flythru, Skooba Checkthrough Brief & Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer

Conclusions

First, we’d like to thank each of the manufacturers that sent us samples. We should also state that we tried to get units from other manufacturers such as Targus and Mobile Edge but were unsuccessful. As such, we don’t feel we can adequately give a recommendation or not to their offerings. We did find similar products from both in the local computer store, and got a general feel for them, and they both seemed decent and would probably live somewhere in the middle range of what we reviewed here. We will say that their products use a similar layout as the Belkin and Skooba units, but beyond that, we don’t feel comfortable commenting any further.

We also wanted to say that while each of these bags had some limitations that we found disappointing, we also found a lot to like about each of them. So which do we recommend? That’s a tough question. Each bag had different strengths and we really think it depends on your personal needs. Each was well constructed, and each can do what they claim to do (from a TSA security checkpoint perspective).

For instance, while we really liked the simplicity and compactness of the Belkin Flythru, we didn’t feel it was really well suited for travelers that needed to carry more than their computer and maybe a large book and accessories. However, it excels as a daily carry bag, especially given the price point. Conversely, the Skooba Checkthrough Brief looks and feels like a quality piece of luggage, able to carry all your gear, plus a lot of your clothes – enough for 2-3 day trips easily! But that capacity comes with the price of size and weight. We wouldn’t want to have to try to cram the Skooba bag into the overhead on a little commuter plane, or worse have it down at our feet. We would suggest looking into the smaller Skooba Checkthrough Messenger if you don’t need the larger capacity of the Brief.

In many ways the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer was the compromise between the two – good capacity, and good portability, but we found the layout a bit funky. Not funky in a bad way, just different enough that you really had to consider how to pack your stuff in it effectively. We loved the quality of the Checkpoint Flyer’s zippers, but wished they had used nicer pulls. It would work well as a daily carry bag (although, given the high price, that would be a tough sell for only daily carry use), but also as a regular travel bag. We also loved the interchangeable laptop compartment, allowing us to get a proper fit no matter the laptop we used. We just wish the price wasn’t so high, and at that price, not including at least a basic shoulder strap was questionable. But if you’re a heavy-duty traveler, and willing to spend the money, we felt the Checkpoint Flyer was quite possibly the best solution.

(We’ll caveat that by saying that the Skooba Checkthrough Messenger’s reduced size vs. it’s bigger brother might move it into the same category as the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer, but at less than half the cost.)

In terms of our experiences dealing with the bags through TSA security, the bags all worked as advertised. We traveled through Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Tampa and D.C., as well as smaller airports like Pensacola, FL, and the most we every got from TSA was the question of whether we had a laptop in the bag. We were never asked to remove it. So, in that regard, we were very happy. (Note, even with these bags, TSA has the right to request that you remove the laptop… So don’t get snippy with them if they do, that is unless you enjoy body cavity searches…)

In the end, we think you can’t really go wrong with any of these bags. They’ll each serve you well provided you pick one that fits your needs.

Comparison Matrix

(Disclaimer: Gizmos for Geeks received a complimentary review copy of these products.)