On the front panel there's an additional curved zipper that opens onto a small compartment to keep travel necessities within close reach. A shallow pocket near the top is perfectly sized for a boarding pass or paper tickets; a similar pocket next to it is the size of a passport. There's also a clip attached to the interior of this compartment, which helps you keep track of your keys. On the very front of the bag are two zippered cargo pouches with additional organizer pockets inside; in one of the cargo pouches Skooba includes a clear quart-size plastic bag that can be used to carry your travel liquids. On the side of the bag sits an ID holder that's attached to the bag via a retractable strap. About the only thing missing is a convenient pocket for the water bottle you doubtlessly purchase after clearing the security checkpoint.
The amount of space in this bag is remarkable. We recently traveled with a 15.4-inch laptop in the Checkthrough's laptop compartment, plus a 13-inch ultraportable and a 9-inch Netbook stashed in the front half of the bag. Though of course we had to remove the two laptops from the front of the bag, we did not have to remove the 15.4-inch system, which went through the X-ray machine without a hitch. (Our security screener even commented that it was the first TSA-approved bag he'd seen.) We appreciate that the Checkthrough's hinge is at the top of the bag, so you can carry it even with the central zipper open. We were able to sling the bag over our shoulder and clear the screening area without pausing to zip up the bag until we'd reached the gate.
The Checkthrough's heavily padded shoulder strap and briefcase handle are very comfortable, but a fully loaded bag can be a lot of weight to carry on one shoulder or in one hand. Some relief can be found via a strap on the back, which lets users secure the bag onto the handle of a rolling suitcase. But given the size of the Checkthrough, compulsive over-packers (and editors who travel with multiple laptops) might want to look for a bag that has wheels of its own.
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Where to buy
Skooba Checkthrough laptop bag:
$86.98 - $89.84
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$89.84 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$86.98 | See Site |
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