Skooba's TSA-approved bag -- for real this time

Okay, third time's the charm -- here it is, a pre-production picture of the Skooba Checkthrough TSA-approved bag, direct from Skooba's CEO, Michael Hess. Michael got in touch after our last post to say that the Checkthrough will indeed be a multi-pocketed bag and have several unique and patented features, including a special 3-1-1 liquids compartment and a see-through window for rapid ID of contents. There's also a number of minor changes coming to the design, but no matter what, you should be able to get through security without having to take your laptop out of your bag. That's much more like it -- although now we actually kind of miss that gigantic nasty "Checkthrough" logo after all.

[alvaro @ Jul 8th 2008 5:09PM]

i just dont like it

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 8th 2008 5:12PM]

Thanks for ruining our moods Mr. Negativity!

[Towncivilian @ Jul 8th 2008 5:25PM]

You're welco- oh, wait, I'm supposed to be negative.

Go to hell! How's that?

[OneLove @ Jul 8th 2008 7:13PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AWw7t5zj0

[GatgetMan @ Jul 8th 2008 7:15PM]

It's just a matter of time before there's a dress code requiring clear clothing to pass through security...

[Tom @ Jul 8th 2008 7:25PM]

This will do for the idiots that seem to let their life revolve around airport security. You know the ones.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 8th 2008 9:04PM]

Hmm Clear clothing.

Bring it on!

[kidcanuck @ Jul 9th 2008 2:36AM]

@Tom- the ones that have to go through airport security, to get on a plane? Yeah, I know the ones, I guess.

[EricR @ Jul 8th 2008 5:09PM]

seriously -- TSA is going to make me take my computer out anyway.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 8th 2008 5:15PM]

I think the TSA is really stupid. First, they think the MacBook air isn't a laptop. Then, on one of my flights boarding from O'Hare to JFK, they SERIOUSLY thought my iphone could be a threat because it was to "Anorexic" (their words) for a phone. But they let me go because 2 other guys behind me owned iphones, and showed em' to the idiots.

[CraigJ @ Jul 8th 2008 5:37PM]

They were just giving you a hard time because the are pissed that they can't afford one on their TSA salary.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 8th 2008 6:28PM]

Yoda is correct yet again!

[linumax @ Jul 8th 2008 7:18PM]

@CraigJ

We just had a story on thousands of laptops which 'go missing' in airports weekly. There are probably some iPhones which 'go missing' as well.

[GatgetMan @ Jul 8th 2008 7:20PM]

Al-Qaeda's new secret weapon: AePhone...

[youngcalihottie @ Jul 9th 2008 3:02AM]

@ericr thats exactly what i was thinking

[farfisa @ Jul 8th 2008 5:13PM]

Anybody else think they're still going to make you take your laptop out and turn it on?

[you @ Jul 8th 2008 9:07PM]

based on my experience, yes. They made me take out my nintendo DS once!

[Iain @ Jul 8th 2008 5:14PM]

If it means less pain at the airport, I'll take functionality over form.

[xultar @ Jul 8th 2008 5:16PM]

Who is going to inform the TSA that we don't have to take it out of the bag. They'll never believe the passenger, nor will they remember when another passenger comes therough.

The whole thing is going to be people buying the bag, and TSA screwing it up making their purchase WORTHLESS.

[kevin @ Jul 8th 2008 5:51PM]

I agree.

While UGLY, I thought the logo on the front made sense. If there are 10 other companies all manufacturing bags, how is a slightly above minimum wage employee going to know that this is an approved bag?

Not to mention what does it accomplish. People keep saying X-Ray acceptable. Was my flimsy nylon canvas bag not X-Ray acceptable?? That doesn't make any sense. What a see through window makes it ok? Can I just put on of those on my own bags then?

Finally, the 3-1-1 pouch is nice, or at least it would be nice not to have to remember to keep a few extra quart bags in my luggage just in case I tear one. But again I go back to my first point. How will a TSA employee know that this is "an acceptable bag" that doesn't require the separate zip lock bag?

[Brian @ Jul 8th 2008 5:16PM]

I love how there is a mac in the bag. :]

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 8th 2008 5:18PM]

And I really hate my job, but no one cares!

[zomg0t @ Jul 8th 2008 5:25PM]

Why?

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Jul 8th 2008 5:27PM]

There's just no pleasing you mr. Engadget, is there.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 8th 2008 5:44PM]

So is the deal that they want to "see" the laptop but not open it? What will that accomplish? What if there is a bomb in the shape of a laptop?

Like Xultar says, they'll still make you take it out of the bag so might as well go with a laptop case you really like using.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 8th 2008 5:44PM]

So is the deal that they want to "see" the laptop but not open it? What will that accomplish? What if there is a bomb in the shape of a laptop?

Like Xultar says, they'll still make you take it out of the bag so might as well go with a laptop case you really like using.

[tande @ Jul 8th 2008 5:45PM]

I'm sure that you'll get some grief from it if you're an early adopter but, even with my complete and utter lack of faith in the TSA, I think that eventually all of them will get the memo and it will be just as common as anything else they've had to deal with.

So yeah, if you buy the first one off the line and fly the next day, I'm sure you will still have to take it out of the bag. Buy one a month from now and don't fly for another month and I don't think you'll have any problems.

I think it the long run its going to be a good idea and I know that I'll get one at one point. Who knows, maybe the TSA will actually get the memo out on time this time and there won't be any major issues.

[Aguiluz @ Jul 8th 2008 5:47PM]

I thought zippers are messing up X-rays?

(Sorry if double posted. I think I typed my password wrong.)

[tande @ Jul 8th 2008 5:58PM]

Yeah, on the side that the laptop is on it would be the problem. Thats where I think that some people were getting confused with the concept.

The way I took the whole thing, there wouldn't be pockets or zippers on the laptop side. The other side would have that stuff (as you can see in the picture). So effectively you are taking two bags with you. They just happen to zip up into one bag when all is said and done.

[tande @ Jul 8th 2008 5:51PM]

The concern has been that the other stuff that you put in your laptop bag (mouse, ten key, power cable, spare battery, etc.) gets in the way of the x-ray of the laptop itself.

Thats why they want it alone, so they can look at it and say, ok, that looks like what a laptop is supposed to look like on the inside and not just a laptop case packed with explosives.

[richardreid @ Jul 8th 2008 5:58PM]

When do they come out with a shoe that I don't have to remove my foot from when going through security?

[ddub @ Jul 8th 2008 11:18PM]

I used to be able to walk through with flip flops, but I think they may have changed that policy.

[BigD145 @ Jul 8th 2008 5:54PM]

Laptop theft will jump when everyone sees your expensive new Air.

[Will @ Jul 8th 2008 5:54PM]

So Skooba's CEO reads Engadget.....I wonder how many times he got FIRST post

[nospam @ Jul 8th 2008 6:00PM]

Can I just sew that little TSA-approved patch onto my bag instead?

[Yevon @ Jul 8th 2008 6:20PM]

Ok, so we lost the giant TSA patch, but now there's a massive "Skooba Design Preproduction" transparent layer floating over it wherever I go? There's always a catch...

[retro77 @ Jul 8th 2008 7:02PM]

They are still gonna make you open the bag. This saves me two steps. That bag is also very bulky. I like to keep my carry-ons light and slim [unlike me].

[Tom G @ Jul 8th 2008 7:30PM]

haha, have fun with this and let airport security obsess your life morons

[Matt @ Jul 9th 2008 9:02AM]

You're an idiot. If I had to travel every week, as a lot of people do nowadays, and I was constantly in an airport, I would get one of these. It's not a terrible looking bag, and the functionality far outweighs any shortcomings in the looks department.

[alex @ Jul 8th 2008 10:03PM]

Now if the TSA knuckle heads will know what to do with it ... I would guess probably not. they cut my TSA approved lock ( the kind they have a key for ) off my one of my bags yesterday to inspect it and in the past they also cut a lock of that wasn't attached to the other zipper in other words it wasnt locking my bag ...

[zargon @ Jul 8th 2008 10:08PM]

I need to find a bag for my laptop, but am having trouble finding one I like.

Right now my front runners are bags from STM, the Alley and Deluxe. Though looking at the Skooba's again because of this article, maybe the Satchel 2.0.

I need to find one soon, my new laptop should be here this Friday.

[Justin Nolan @ Jul 8th 2008 10:12PM]

For those that missed it, the same logo is still on the front of the bag, albeit smaller.

And I would be they will make you lay the bag flat and spread out as in the second pose in the image.The pockets and other compartments are on one side, and the laptop has a side to its own. That way not only can they see the laptop through the window, but the laptop wont be obstructing anything on the xray.

It has never bothered me or slowed me down to slip my laptop out and put it on a tray. I'm sure like most, I always have my laptop easily accessible for airport and flight use, so I don't get what the big deal it.

[Kwai Noi @ Jul 8th 2008 11:15PM]

I tried those TSA approved locks once on my luggage. They still cut them off.

The Fatherland Security.....(oops there I go again mistaking the Federal government for a fascist state that would conduct wholesale monitoring of its own peoples communications with out judicial oversight and hold people in prison for years without charges while torturing them.)

The Homeland Security is only looking out for our safety and well being.

[Joel @ Jul 9th 2008 12:58AM]

My gues sis they will still make you take it out of the bag.

I remember buying certified "airport Friendly" shoes, back when it was considered optional to remove your shoes at the checkpoints. At the time TSA was merely advising people it would be faster if they just took your shoes off, cause the metal shanks in the soles would set off the detectors. I continued on, and the TSA guy says jey you might want to take off your shoes (Still optional). I tell him, these are metal free "Airport Friendly" and even point to the small logo on the side. He goes ahead and lets me through, and I don't set off the detectors. Well of course on the downside, he did signal to the guy after the metal detectors, and I was put through a full frisk, removal of shoes, running them through the X-ray and hand searching my bags, starting up the laptop and everything else they could do short of a strip search. Worst part was the shoes were expensive and did not last long due to being made of flimsy "airport Freindly" materials.

[Kimmo @ Jul 9th 2008 3:58AM]

"What is this see-through window crap? Why is he so nervous about really opening the bag?"

*raises a gun towards the person*

"SIR, STEP AWAY FROM THE BAG..! PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND GET ON YOUR KNEES ...!!"

[jimmywash @ Jul 9th 2008 12:53PM]

This bag is just ugly.

[Amalie @ Jul 9th 2008 2:16PM]

so i'm looking at the skooba bag, and it's definitely NOT appealing. i read some articles earlier today about how there are bag companies that are claiming they've already got a checkpoint friendly bag. among them was incase and brenthaven. if comparing the bags, the incase sleeves with the brenthaven edges and this new skooba design, the brenthaven edges definitely take the cake. granted the skooba bag is a bit bulkier in design but it's definitely a sore to the eye. the incase sleeve is just too thin and doesn't do much in the protection area whereas the brenthaven edge is foam padded and thick all the way around, and it even opens up the same way the skooba bag does. best part is it's already on the market. i know because i got one as a gift a while back and couldn't be happier that it meets all the tsa regulations. all you do is zip zip zip and you've got a laptop that sits inside its case happily along with a complete full view of the laptop for xray scanning. here is a link to the edge: http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-edge-i-black.html

[Jay @ Jul 30th 2008 2:01PM]

OK, I have to get in the line of fire, I guess... I have several Skooba bags and they are very cool, built like tanks, and the company has been great to deal with. I don't usually plug anyone, but see for yourself at http://www.skoobadesign.com. I agree their Checkthrough bag looks much more conservative than their usual stuff, but if I had to guess, I'd say they need to appeal to the main target audience first (frequent biz travelers), see if the TSA program works, then cutloose with the funky fashion versions.

And for what it's worth, most of the the other checkpoint bags I have seen are pretty nasty, at least this one seems nicely tailored and "high-endy". I say we give it a chance, see what the real products look like when shipped, and how the program goes. But that's just me ;-)