Skooba and Targus bags to get your laptop through security, leave room for nothing else

Responding to travelers' woes about the laptop-out-of-the-bag shuffle at airport security stations, the TSA solicited bag manufacturers for "checkpoint-friendly" designs. Skooba and Targus are responding with their own line of bags to meet those requirements. What requirements, you ask? In order for a bag to be TSA-friendly, it must be small, have no straps or zippers, and leave no room for chargers, pens, or other detritus that could interfere with the X-ray image. Is it just us, or does that mean we'll be carrying another bag with us anyway? Nonetheless, the Skooba Skreener pictured here -- which doesn't seem to meet those requirements -- is available now for $119.95.

Update: Good looking out, readers -- the pictured bag isn't the forthcoming TSA-friendly bag from Skooba!

[Via Gearlog]

[Darkest Daze @ May 23rd 2008 5:37PM]

Sounds like the TSA is trying to get us all to use manila envelopes for our laptops.

[r3loaded @ May 23rd 2008 5:43PM]

Thatt'll be pointless, as the manila envelope suits the MacBook Air best, and we know TSA's reaction to that:

"It's so thin, it can't be a laptop!"

[prime @ May 23rd 2008 5:44PM]

TSA should just give us macbook airs in manila envelopes

[simon @ May 23rd 2008 6:01PM]

and small envelopes for dongles etc. that aren't built into the MBA form factor

[Tim @ May 23rd 2008 5:45PM]

That bag has zippers at the top, and a carrying strap, "and over a dozen other pockets and compartments for organizing office, school or tech accessories," so apparently meets none of the requirements. In fact, the image of the "contents" looks more like it would antagonize the screener than anything.

[Jonathan Keim @ May 23rd 2008 5:45PM]

The employees will still make you take your laptop out ;-)

I doubt they will care if you say, "But I spent $119.95 for this TSA-friendly bag"

[Infoclipper @ May 23rd 2008 5:46PM]

Ummmm... no. I don't know where this description came from, but it wasn't from the product-- it's full of pockets AND even says "they may not be enough to bypass airport security, but they certainly will entertain." The only thing about TSA is that they printed an actual xray image on the front of the bag.

And your comments about not having storage are a 180 from the description:

"Expansion pocket adds up to 30% more storage space when unzippered"

"Accessory organizer compartment on front of bag provides pockets for phone or other compact gadgets, CDs, pens, cables, keys, business cards and more"

"Two pockets on top with headphone exit port are perfect for music player or phone"

"Laminated mesh pockets inside flap hold smaller items in place"

[dukemang @ May 23rd 2008 5:46PM]

Why don't they just have a second bag velcroed to the skreener that hold your chargers, pens, or other detritus? Then you could just separate them for the x-ray and pop them back together for the flight.

[ddub @ May 23rd 2008 5:54PM]

Man your smart.

[Samboini @ May 23rd 2008 6:50PM]

ddub, it would appear you are not so smart, what with your most basic of spelling errors. Talk about irony, you tool.

[BowserUSC @ May 23rd 2008 8:46PM]

What the hell are you talking about Samboini? Not only did he not make any spelling mistakes, but not one of his past 10 posts have spelling mistakes either. If you're referring to his name then you're a dumbass. How do you know what he meant, maybe its two words like d dub, a nickname of sorts. You are the real tool. And I read your posts, how bout you stop being a douche to everyone and make a legitimate comment.

[Pavan @ May 24th 2008 12:43AM]

your=possessive; you're=you are

[ddub @ May 28th 2008 3:28PM]

YOU ARE right i made the classic mistake, big deal, my whole sentence was grammatically flawed.

And I didn't say, man I'M smart.

[tchapp @ May 23rd 2008 5:53PM]

You people are all morons, the bag doesn't show the contents of the insides of the bag, the flap has an xray printed on the outside of it, its just an image. You morons think that there is an xray machine inside the bag? Do you know the damage that would do to you if there was an xray machine inside your bag firing xrays at you all day? HOW do you imbeciles manage to breath?!

[rtdunham @ May 23rd 2008 5:55PM]

you forgot the sarcasm marks around your comments, moron. I mean, around your moron comments.

[Will @ May 23rd 2008 6:00PM]

You people? What do you mean by "you people?" I'm telling Jesse Jackson.

[Will @ May 23rd 2008 5:56PM]

"In order for a bag to be TSA-friendly, it must be small, have no straps or zippers, and leave no room for chargers, pens, or other detritus that could interfere with the X-ray image."

The article says that, then the pictured bag isn't small, it has straps(at least 2 of them) and zippers, and it leaves plenty room for chargers, pens, or other detritus. In fact, it's shown holding even more than that.

[Anthony @ May 23rd 2008 5:57PM]

I sure feel safer flying these days w/ my lotions & shampoo in a separate bag & now I'll have to option of not carrying pens.

I actually like that some airports (the 4 I regularly use) have 2 or 3 lines now for different kinds of travelers. That actually *does* save time.

[Doc @ May 23rd 2008 6:36PM]

one line for brown people, one line for the rest, what are the other lines for?

That I make that joke and it's not actually far from what could happen shows how sad things are getting... :(

[Anthony @ May 23rd 2008 6:43PM]

1 Frequent travelers (business)

2 Family (children w/ guardians)

3 Confused old people (or something similar)

[Irfan @ May 24th 2008 9:28AM]

@DOC

I'm brown... well said! I love getting stopped for screening. I think its because I have 2 traffic violations. What? youre saying not everyone gets stopped for that?!

[Mattazuma @ May 23rd 2008 6:04PM]

I think Joshua needs to reread the story at Gearlog. The Skreener bag was only listed as an example of what Skooba makes, it was not an example of a TSA-approved laptop sleeve.

Skooba, Targus and other bag makers are developing the sleeves with the TSA.

[Amrit @ May 23rd 2008 6:13PM]

so how is it different from a laptop sleeve ?

[BowserUSC @ May 23rd 2008 8:47PM]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[Samboini @ May 23rd 2008 6:53PM]

Diplomatic immunity, no bag search! Win!

[r3loaded @ May 23rd 2008 7:58PM]

Mere mortals who don't have that special black passport just go in their private jets instead :)

The situation with TSA and US authorities in general is quite sad, it's actually putting off potential visitors. I wouldn't mind the security so much if they at least stopped hiring Guantanamo Bay prison guards.

[Dean Heckler @ May 23rd 2008 7:38PM]

The final TSA requirements for what makes a bag Checkpoint Friendly have yet to be finalized. The prelim requirements do call for the bag's appearance to exude the fact that it is checkpoint-friendly. I too am concerned that the TS officers will not be trained and will force folks to remove the notebook computer anyways. Also, most CF bags will have pockets for paperwork and other stuff - most will not be "MacBookAir Envelopes." Most manufacturers planning CF bags are making them like a hanging clothes bag that folds with the computer on one side and the other stuff on the other side - so when unfolded, with one X-ray image from the top, the computer compartment can be screened without obstruction.

[Brett @ May 23rd 2008 9:30PM]

If you just carry your laptop outside of your backpack until after you pass through the checkpoint(s) are you safe?

[fd @ May 24th 2008 3:12AM]

I hope this will allow us to protect our systems in the near future as I am fed up with some of TSAs little security measures. Every little incident means one extra measure going into effect. All for a false sense of security.

What beats me is that you are not even allowed to a laptop or even a UMPC through in a clear plastic bag! Sure I am hiding something in between the clear bag and the notebook!

Even if you kindly mention that it is a brand new $2500 notebook and you don't want it scratched up in the shuffling of these scratched bins (happened more than once), they say you have to pull it out :/

I can understand it a little with padded sleeves and spandex wraps that conceal the content. But if there is nothing else in the sleeve but your system and some foam ... why insist on naked laptops?

Noting that while flying in Europe I have never even been asked to take my laptop out when going through security there. I would have to guess laptops are only an airline security risk in the US?

[Samboini @ May 24th 2008 5:11AM]

Have you not seen any movies nowadays? Everyone knows that terrorists can launch nuclear missiles and the like from a laptop! Obviously these security measures are to prevent that...

[ejordan @ May 24th 2008 1:02AM]

When I went through, I was glad I had a sleeve from RadTech. I'm sure other people make them, too. You could make them yourself, really. Just a felt or non-porous material that stretches a little (make it snug and secure). Now I wish I'd saved my money.


But really, macbook (or whatev) in a sleeve in a case. Easy.

[Jack @ Jul 7th 2008 3:25PM]

I've been using Waterfield Design's "checkpoint friendly" system for years. I don't understand why people are making such a big deal about this. They have bags and sleeve systems (I use the Cozmo) so all you need to do is remove the sleeve, put it face up in the bin and you're set.

If TSA had just done a bit more research, I think they would have found that the "checkpoint friendly" bags already exist.

http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm

http://www.sfbags.com/products/cozmo/cozmo.htm

[ben @ Jul 20th 2008 9:58PM]

The reason for a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag is so that TSA can look inside the alleged laptop. That's why a clear bag doesn't improve the process if the "laptop" is obscured by powersupplies, wires and other complicating articles.

A checkpoint-friendly laptop bag is designed to make it as easy to look into a "laptop" as if it were in a bin by itself.

The threat is not the laptop the threat is a bomb disguised as a laptop. With a massive battery, electronics, switches and metal the laptop (and other consumer electronics) need to be examined to make sure someone didn't replace the inside of a laptop with a dangerous device.

Once that is understood, it is easy to see why TSA is being cautious. It also becomes easy to see which bags are going to work and which ones aren't. Checkpoint-friendly laptop bags will bring the laptop into clear view of the X-ray beam. Some will do this by folding open either at the top or bottom and some will simply be sleeves or bags with no way to put anything else in with the laptop.

The Aerovation Products LLC bag which has been on the market as a checkpoint friendly laptop bag longer than other brand and has proven to be checkpoint friendly under actual TSA conditions. Their product was included in the first tests conducted by TSA.

http://aerovation.com

[Janet @ Aug 7th 2008 4:29PM]

It's a matter of taste, I suppose. Are you willing to carry that ugly-a$$ bag in order to save 15 seconds at TSA checkpoints? Not me! I have a sleek, sexy bag from Waterfield that comes with a sleeve. Takes me all of 5 seconds to remove the laptop in the sleeve and put it (protected) in the bin, and another five to reinsert it. There's no need for any ugly bag when this (and probably other) decent (sexy) options are out there.

[Janet @ Aug 7th 2008 4:36PM]

If you're interested:
This sleeve: http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm
in this bag:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/cozmo/cozmo.htm