Ask Engadget: Best TSA-approved laptop bag?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Addison, who now needs a shiny new laptop bag to house that shiny new laptop that arrived for Christmas. The kicker? TSA approval is passionately desired.

"I was lucky enough to receive a new Laptop (ASUS UL80Vt-A1) this Christmahanukwanzaakah. Hurray! The only problem is, my old LL Bean Messenger bag just isn't going to cut it anymore now that I'll be carrying around my precious laptop along with school books and a whole gaggle of cables. Perhaps your readers could suggest to me a replacement? I would prefer a messenger / shoulder style bag, but if there is an especially cool backpack out there, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. TSA compliance would be an added bonus since I have to fly quite a bit nowadays. What do you think, could you and the hive-mind give me a hand?"

Air travel just gets worse and worse these days, so we're emphasizing that "TSA-approved" bit for Addison's own good. We know the bulk of 'em ain't that pretty, but for the jetsetters out there who have had a chance to weed through and pick the best, we're hoping they'll share their secrets down below.

[Milo Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:59PM]

@r34p3r
wtf

[Eternity Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:01PM]

A Manila Envelope

[Jeff Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:03PM]

@Eternity

He said UL30Vt, not Adamo XPS.

[Eternity Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:07PM]

@Jeff Key Words: "TSA Approved"
Those guys are the worst... thus this is your safest bet.

[Ops Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:51PM]

http://www.uspatriottactical.com/acu-molle-code-alpha-laptop-bag.html

I loved mine, very spacious

[Eternity Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:56PM]

@Ops
I'm SURE that wouldn't raise ANY flags.

[cros13 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:03AM]

@Ops

I'm a frequent flyer trans-atlantic as I work 25% US, 25% Germany and 50% Ireland.

I have a custom Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger with the center load bearing panel in heavy ballistic nylon backed tarpaulin and the rest of the bag in X-Pac lightweight fabric. I cut and restitched the laptop compartment slightly to allow me to carry my macbook pro in a nomex sleeve. I also added netting to the back of the front flap. Took a while to figure out the velcro panel but i just moved them in the end.

When I get to a check point, I open the front flap, pull the velcro strap that's over the laptop compartment and pull the laptop up. The end result is that the laptop is secured to the top flap of the bag without obstructions and visible to the security staff. Takes less than three seconds one-handed and not looking.

[bakkermaarten007 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 10:05AM]

@Ops I'd be very surprised if one pulled a Sony or an Apple out of that LOL

[Eternity Posted Jan 22nd 2010 10:13AM]

@bakkermaarten007
I expect a Panasonic Toughbook.

[Techie Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:55PM]

@Eternity

Might as well use a ziplock bag =D

[NoOrdinaryMSFT Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:04PM]

ziploc bag. no xray required.

[xtekian Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:19AM]

@NoOrdinaryMSFT
I have a UL30A1, and I use a North Face Borealis + simple memory foam sleeve for my 13 incher. When I'm flying, I pull out my sleeve and leave the laptop inside, and my daypack can hold more books than I can carry. TSA friendly, practical, and fairly cheap!

[TheLonelyGod Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:06PM]

I bought at asus g71 and got a timbuku 2 messenger bag.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/breakout

I was just traveling to England and back to the states and with this bag you don't have to remove your laptop (or at least before the Christmas stuff you didn't.) it's really spacious and it wears really well as a backpack, although it's got a messenger bag feel to it.

Only downside is it's expensive as hell but I think it's worth it to keep my stuff safe.

http://www.timbuk2.com

Take a look :P

[TheLonelyGod Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:09PM]

@TheLonelyGod Forgot to mention I carry around my textbooks in it too. Like 2 heavy math books and a shit ton of notebooks.

[dman Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:16PM]

@TheLonelyGod +1 for TB2. They make great, high-quality stuff that's not too overpriced, and have a selection of different TSA approved bags. I'm a fan of the Blogger 2.0 myself because vertical form factor makes it easy to negotiate in crowded transportation stations. But all their stuff is great, get whatever suits your needs.

[CRA1G Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:07PM]

I'm partial to Victorinox's Eiffel bag, a vertical shoulder/crossover thin & light laptop carrier: http://is.gd/6Mjfi It might not be big enough if you want to pack along several textbooks, but take a look at it.

[kaibeezy Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:09PM]

.
WaterField Designs bags at www.sfbags.com
.
their laptop sleeves, bags, briefcases, zip pouches, small cases, etc., etc., are basically perfect for a constant traveler
.
for almost 10 years now, right after i place the order on a new laptop, my immediate next step is to order one of their padded laptop sleeves -- they are TSA OK
.

[alee Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:21PM]

I'm a huge fan of the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/TBP/TB1701). Pricey, yes... but extremely well made, and holds a ton of stuff.

I can have my bag snapped back together and be on my way to the gate in under 30 seconds from the point my stuff comes out the other side of the x-ray machine. Keeping my stuff together -- priceless.

[THJ Posted Jan 22nd 2010 11:04AM]

@alee I agree, Tom Bihn bags are fantastic. I got an Empire Builder and Brain Cell (I think that's what they call their removable laptop sleeves. I think it's the last laptop bag I'll need to buy for a decade.

[blomster Posted Jan 22nd 2010 11:23AM]

@alee

I love my Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer! When I'm not toting my computer, I remove that part of the bag and just use it as a regular briefcase.

[whatsagadget Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:23PM]

I really like Timbuk2 bags, especially the Commute 2.0 Check it out at

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/messenger/commute-2.0

Also, a buddy of mine just picked up the Tom Bihn "ID" bag, it's really nice as well, but I'm not as sure about the TSA compatibility of it compared to the Commute 2.0

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0805

[pika2000 Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:25PM]

I find it funny that the American public are so willingly bow down to the ridiculous things the TSA is doing, despite the obviousness that it's all a mere security theater. But if it's Leno vs O'Brien, everybody is up in arms. Can't wait till the TSA would only allow you to carry some leaves to cover your genitalia and nipples, nothing else.

[AckbarsFist Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:24AM]

@pika2000 It's not THAT bad.

I love the Timbuk2 Commuter. It's the best I've ever had.

[klew Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:34AM]

@pika2000 It's not a manner of accepting whatever rules they make, if you don't follow them, you don't fly.

[THJ Posted Jan 22nd 2010 11:41AM]

@pika2000 No one is forced to fly. You can take the train/bus/boat instead. That'll really stick it to The Man.

[dman Posted Jan 22nd 2010 6:57PM]

@THJ tru dat. you can take a handgun on the train. so that when the friends you're meeting who flew from twice the distance leave at the same time and text you an hour later saying they've landed, and you still have seven more hours of train ride left, it's easy to end the ride right then.

[Valorgu Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:31PM]

I'm not sure if this is TSA Approved, but I use an STM Rogue Backpack and I love it. I can three big textbooks, laptop, spiral notebooks, all my cable accessories. In short, this has lots of room. Super comfortable. Also has rain cover that is built in to the bottom of the bag, since you travel, you don't know when it'll rain. This helped me a lot when it rains.

http://www.radtech.us/Products/Backpacks/Rogue.aspx

[ImSpartacus Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:44AM]

@Valorgu Hey! I was looking at the 13" STM Evolution. So those bags have a lot of room?

My current backpack is a forst green Jansport that I got in 5th grade for $50. It's huge, but wearing out quickly.

Do you think I could fit 3 1" binders, 3 textbooks (1 hardcover, 2 paperback), a lunch and my MBP13?

I commute to college, but I don't have my own car so I carry everything with me. I would love to get it replaced with something a little sturdier. I was looking at the Timbuk2 HAL, but they don't have any laptop backpacks that are big enough for me.

[Addyct Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:33PM]

Hey! You posted my Question! Does this make me Internet Famous?
Anyways, I still haven't gotten a new bag, but I have narrowed it down. For the sake of discussion, I won't say which one's I'm looking at, so go ahead, try to convince me!

[auslander Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:52PM]

@Addyct Another +1 from me for the Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 bag for your UL80Vt laptop. When I got my UL80Vt I bought the medium sized commute 2.0 and it was perfect for the laptop and power brick to fit in the padded sleeve and then the longer 3 prong power cable just fit in the pocket in the laptop side. There is also plenty of room in the main pocket for books and notepads. Currently I keep my Kindle 2, a large moleskine, a 32oz water bottle, an apple wireless keyboard and mouse, and breakfast to work every morning and the bag still has plenty of room.

Too bad I hated the laptop and sold it on craiglist two months after buying it but I still have the bag and it's still holding up great. (It's holding an HP 311 at the moment with gobs of extra room) It should be the perfect size for an 15" i5 MBP.

[ImSpartacus Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:39PM]

@auslander You sold a UL40Vt? Why?

I heard those were great!

But nice bag and setup.

[Passion Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:34PM]

Ok, a good set of bags, and like you said, messenger style, u should check case logic, i bought one for my backbook, and for the laptop part , it has noprelene inserts to protect the laptop whenever in there.

http://www.caselogic.com/search/index.cfm?N=4011+20038039

caselogic is srs bsnss, dont forget

[thebetatester Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:40PM]

thinkgeek.com 's The Bag of Holding. It has tons of space (great for storing the laptop as well as all your books and accessories) I don't know about the TSA approved, but this is an amazing satchel style bag.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/

[Addyct Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:50PM]

@thebetatester
AAHHHH!
That's awesome, I'm adding that to the short list.

[nikster Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:42AM]

@thebetatester God how I love that name! I would buy it just for the name if it were even half good.

Unfortunately it's fugly, and it's not so much about how much fits in it as it is how do you carry around all this weight? I don't see any padding on that strap.

[Smorkiepol9 Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:50PM]

If Addison is a dude, I'll have finally met someone with the same name as I and is a guy! I only see girls with the name Addison, but joke's on them: Addison means Addie's son in old English (Addie was a nickname for Adam)

Anyways, there's this Targus TSA compliant laptop bag that I have and is absolutely great. Here's the link to it on Dell: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1985628&dgc=SS&cid=27530&lid=627063

Hope that helps!!

[Addyct Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:55PM]

@Smorkiepol9
Definitely a Dude.
Yeah, male Addison's are hard to come by. Too many little girls...

[Ops Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:51PM]

posted in the wrong area

http://www.uspatriottactical.com/acu-molle-code-alpha-laptop-bag.html

I loved mine, very spacious

[idiotekniQues Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:02AM]

i've had the Tom Bihn Super Ego for over a year now and in regards to the build quality, it is tops. I also agree about the feet on the bottom thing. Bags are flexible so the feet really do nothing, as the rest of the bag will hit the floor. I can say from over a year of use, with the Super Ego being placed on the floors of subways, airports, etc... it has exhibited no wear or tear.

However, in regards to TSA specs, i could care less about having to remove my laptop rather than be constricted to a very small amount of bags that follow TSA specs. Is it really that much of a bother to do so? I was flying over 30 times a year for my last job and I could care less about that. More important was having a great bag.

[TJM Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:06AM]

I have Timbuk2's Commute Messenger 2.0 (Large/Black), love it.

I spent about a hundred on it, and it's kept up pretty well through one semester of college. I have the large and it fits my MacBook Pro 13" perfectly. Holds the MBP, a couple binders and textbooks pretty easily. Straps and hooks are pretty sturdy, and the fabric/stitching has yet to begin to show signs of wear.

I'll definitely be buying Timbuk2 again soon.

[festriaqua Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:28AM]

timbuk2 commute 2.0

[Emcee Peepants Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:49AM]

I have an older version of this I take on the train every day and occasionally planes with a laptop, reports/documents/books, and a coffee thermos and I love it. It's soft and light enough to collapse when it's empty and fits a lot of crap and keeps little stuff organized in the front pocket. Plus it's very waterproof and reasonably priced. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat, highly recommended.
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/patagonia-lightwire-brief-shoulder-bag?p=49017-0-686

[mcdoomington Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:56AM]

I have a Commute 2.0 from Timbuk2. It's TSA approved, has a ton of pockets and ups your street cred because they're trendy as trendy can be. Buy one!!!

[petethefreeze Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:36AM]

To hell wilth ugly canvas and black leather TSA approved bags. I'll gladly take my laptop out of this bag and nod to the women and italians that notice that my bag matches my belt and shoes..

http://www.valentinesleather.co.uk/bridge07/bcase64365.jpg

Do you get a belt-holster for your cell phone with these bags?

[petethefreeze Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:37AM]

@petethefreeze
Damn the commenting system. This was not a reply to yours McDoomington...

[fantanmusic Posted Jan 22nd 2010 12:57AM]

Check out the Crumpler bags from Australia - very stylish - lifetime guarantee - I have had mine for 5 years - lots of travel and abuse and still all good. Not cheap though

[kozjegyzo Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:53AM]

@fantanmusic not cheap, but worth every penny...

[Paul Ryan Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:04AM]

I bought a Skooba Checkthrough Messenger for $40 on sellout.woot.com, but it would have been well worth the $100 retail price. It looks great, has an incredibly intuitive design with a surprising amount of room, and it hasn't lost its shape over time, like most bags do. I appreciate the high quality materials, especially the softer handle, which doesn't make my hands sore after carrying it for a long time.

http://www.skoobadesign.com/product/checkthrough-messenger-42/

[petethefreeze Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:38AM]

To hell wilth ugly canvas and black leather TSA approved bags. I'll gladly take my laptop out of this bag and nod to the women and italians that notice that my bag matches my belt and shoes..

http://www.valentinesleather.co.uk/bridge07/bcase64365.jpg

Do you get a belt-holster for your cell phone with these bags?

[tonywalk Posted Jan 22nd 2010 1:38AM]

+1 for Crumpler. I've got 3 - medium for medium lappies, big for my 17"-er and a backpack for photo+lappie.

Forced my Niece to buy a Crumpler when she needed a bag for her University lappie. She loves it to bits.