Review: Skooba Design Checkthrough Roller Bag
Skooba Design Checkthrough Roller Bag
Let’s face it, flying is a convenience that has become a huge hassle. There are so many rules on what’s ok and if it is ok, how much of this item you can have. The trek through security is less than fun: breaking out your approved liquids, electronics, taking off your shoes, and emptying your pockets. With that said, I want us all to be as safe as possible, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy the process. I dread having to take a laptop with me, because in the security line its all about speed. Once your items are scanned, it is a rush to grab your shoes, belt, wallet, laptop and all bags, while the people behind you are pushing to get by. I’m always worried about dropping or losing something. So, when Skooba Design came out with a Checkthrough approved roller bag, I just had to take a look.
Design & Features
When it comes to travel, I can never have enough pockets and storage. The Checkthrough Roller, which from here on out I will refer as the Roller, does not disappoint. It has a total of 18 pockets!!!
First, let’s talk about what makes this bag so special, the checkthrough-ability. With this bag, there is no need to actually take your laptop out of the bag. (As a note, security can still make you if they want to, just as a warning, so don’t go to jail arguing about your special bag.) The Roller can hold up to a 17″ laptop. In the design, the laptop section is completely isolated from the rest of the bag. The Roller opens in the middle, and can be laid flat on the x-ray belt. There is a special clear window so the security personnel can see what is inside.
When you pick your bag up on the other side, you just grab the handle and go. The zip section that allows you to lay the bag flat does not open any other section, so there is no worry about losing a single item. All I can say is, I LOVE THIS!!! Not only do you have padding and protection for your laptop, but you have a fast and secure way to get it through security. Honestly, I like having my laptop separate from all of the cables and other items I have in my bag. When they are all together, I have a tendency to have cables and chargers pulled out of my bag. In the Roller, the laptop flies first class.
However, the Roller is not just a one trick pony. Sure, the checkthrough-ability gets all the glory, but this bag has a lot of other things going for it as well. Obviously, its on wheels, which is a huge plus. Try lugging a 17″ laptop through the airport, and you will have one sore back and shoulders by the time you are finally home. Putting luggage on wheels is one of the best inventions ever, better than sliced bread. If you look closely at the front rest that the bag sits on, you can see that its actually a secondary handle. HOW CLEVER!!! This is so nice for grabbing your bag in and out of the overhead compartment.
Skooba Design Checkthrough Roller – inside compartment
Skooba makes sure to give you lots of pockets to handle keys, cables, mp3 players (Zune/iPod), or really anything you need to take with you. They even include a TSA certified clear plastic bag to pack your liquids in, and a pocket to put it in. If you don’t have any in your laptop bag, the bag can be left at home or use it in your checked luggage. Plus, there is also a special mesh zip pocket that I am particularly fond of. I have one of those chargers where you can charge many devices with just one AC or car charger. The catch is, there are many small little tips: mini USB, Palm, etc. In the mesh compartment, I know that they are save from spilling, and I can visually check to make sure all of them are there.
Roller – Inner clothes compartment
There is a flap that separates the inside organizer from a more open space that could be used for clothes. To be honest, I couldn’t use it for clothes. I could see maybe a pair of more comfortable shoes for the flight, but if I am going somewhere over night, then its going to be a checked bag or a separate carry-on. What I like to use this space for is entertainment material and snacks. Its great for throwing in a book or 2, and maybe some cookies. I always have much more room than I need. It also works great as spill-over for larger gadgets from the organizer, like a GPS or if you have a Kindle or other e-book reader.
Back compartment of Skooba Roller Bag
The last pocket is right in the back of the roller underneath the handle. This is the perfect place for boarding passes and magazines. Its zippered shut, so no worries about your articles being stolen. The handle also has extra thick padding, which is nice.
Material
Now let’s take a look at what this Roller is made out of. The material is a 1680 Denier Ballistic exterior with a smooth nylon interior. Every inch of the bag is water repellent. This bag can definitely take a beating. I have no worries about it ripping or tearing while be jostled in and out of overhead compartments or from underneath the seat in front of you. I gave it my other half to take for a test drive. She takes her laptop everywhere, and is very particular about her belongings. So the bag has been up and down stairs, in and out of cars, around two hyper puppies for over a month, and it looks as good as the day it arrived in the mail. I say you can do your worst, and the bag will not let you down. It’s also not very heavy at a total of 8lbs. I had no problems moving and lifting a full bag. My only negative comment is that I wish it came in a variety of colors or patterns. I wonder if this is due to the bag needing to be TSA approved. All of Skooba’s other bags and cases come in a variety of colors, so I couldn’t see why they wouldn’t have more than one for the Checkthrough line if they could.
Conclusions:
Pros: Quick checkthrough, extremely durable material, lots of storage, handle and wheels
Cons: It only comes in black, and the clothing compartment is a little too small for lots of clothes.
The Skooba Design Checkthrough Roller is available for order at their site for $189.95.
If you need a roller bag for travel, I most definitely recommend this. I think between us, we have had 4 or 5 different cases. All were nice, but just didn’t have everything. I believe this is the last bag we will need. Although, I’m thinking we will eventually need two, if we ever want to travel together. This truly is a FAB-U-LOUS bag!!!
I want to thank Skooba Design for sending me a loaner sample for review. I have to say that we loved the bag so much, that I bought it from them. After using this, there was no way I was letting it go.
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