We could tell from the press shot that this here laptop bag was far and away the most beautiful of the TSA-approved bunch, and a recent review over at Gadling confirms it. Put simply, the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer is "fantastic," and even the reviewer found himself startled at just how much he dug it. The build quality was remarkable, the ease of use was commendable and the design itself was obviously worthy of praise. The only real rub is the bloated sticker; the price of admission is a stiff $220, and that's before you add in any useful straps or extra packing cubes. 'Course, you're probably wondering how this thing fared in real-world use, and we're happy to report that no cavity searches were required when passing through security on a flight from Chicago to Amsterdam. Check the full writeup and a hands-on gallery in the read link.

Now that the TSA has doled out the official verbiage about what it considers a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag, expect to see the usual players toss in an option or two for frequent fliers. Thus far, all we've seen are cases that get the job done while throwing style to the wind in the nearest dumpster; now, however, we've a better option to choose from. Tom Bihn's stylish Checkpoint Flyer meets all of the TSA's requirements while still looking like a briefcase we wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen with. The 2.6-pound bag is crafted from US 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura and includes a trio of pouches on the outside, splash-proof zippers and ten smaller pockets for stashing those increasingly rare bags of peanuts / pretzels. It's available now in three colors for $220 (yeah, we know, but it's made in the US of A).

[Via Electronista]

Yeah, Noon Solar's collection of sun-lovin' bags are pretty stylish, but outside of that, we haven't seen a single one we'd be caught dead (or alive) with... until now. sakku has introduced the Solar Buddy for those who just need something tossed over their shoulder, and while the solar panel is unmistakable, the bag still manages to go easy on the eyes. Reportedly, the knapsacks are constructed from recycled material, and while the "direct" model charges portable gadgetry directly (big shock, right?), the "akku" model actually includes a battery pack that can be juiced for use in darkened alleyways and the like. A tad steep at €175 ($271) / €245 ($380) in order of mention, but it's probably a design premium we'd be willing to pay.

[Via Gizmodiva]

It's that time of year again, folks (yes, summertime). Which also means vacation time for many USers, and that could very well pose a problem. All those gadgets you can't leave behind have to be toted along somehow, so we'll let Brendan explain his quandary further:

"My wife and I will be traveling to Europe for 5 weeks. Naturally, I have some perfectly portable gadgets which will need to come along, but I need a good bag (messenger or backpack style, preferably lightweight) to hold the goodies and also keep those pesky pick-pockets at bay. I've got a subnote, GPS, DSLR, PMP, pocket translator and a few other peripherals. What bag will keep all these items safe, yet not make me stand out like a big sore 'tourist' thumb?"

We're glad you asked, and we have all ideas quite a few others are too. What backpacks have you found useful for carrying around gadgetry, and more importantly, which ones are comfortable for hours on end? If you've got a question of your own to unpack, send 'er over to ask at engadget dawt com.

Not one to just follow the crowd, BUILT has thrown an interesting twist on the oh-so-popular Neoprene laptop case. The Laptop Backpack enables users to tote their 12- to 17-inch machine right on their back along with textbooks, LAN party flyers and a copy of The Daily Bugle; you'll also find a couple of smaller compartments for storing peripherals and accessories. The material itself is water- and stain-resistant, and the pack is available in two sizes to fit all but the most atypical of frames. According to BUILT, the new wave of laptop carrying should begin today at $80 a pop.

[Via BeSportier]

See that PSP case floating in our tears of ennui? What do you think it's called? If you said fat steaming turd of hyperconsumption... ding ding ding, you'd be right. Otherwise known as the overpriced pouch of fermented rat bile, this PSP sack of festering nipple sores from Cyber Gadgets costs ¥1280 or about $12.35. Ziplock baggie, 7 cents.

[Via PSP Fanboy, thanks Penny]

Trust us, solar-cell covered handbags are far from revolutionary, but Noon Solar's Fall Collection strikes our style bone just right. The Willow, Cortland and Logan (pictured) totes all boast a two-sided design that enables the "weather-proof" solar panel to face outward or inward depending on your mood, and all three provide slightly different internal dimensions to suit your carrying needs. Reportedly, the Power Bank within should fully charge after facing the sun for around six to eight hours, and it can be used to provide juice to a variety of DAPs, cellphones and other handheld devices courtesy of the voltage selector on the pack. As for pricing, you'll be looking at $274, $383 and $412, respectively, and the trio looks to be available in a couple of shades as we speak.

[Via Inhabitat]

In the heat of the moment, we've no doubt that many of you out there rushed home and set up your Rock Band drum kit smack dab in the middle of the den. Yes, it probably seemed like a splendid idea at the time, but as the days pass, chances are that other occupants (roommates, SOs, parents, androids, etc.) will grow increasingly frustrated with having to bypass it order to flip on the gas logs. Enter the Rock Band drum bag, which enables you to disassemble your kit, neatly tuck it within the bag's confines and slip it under the couch until your next "gig." Of course, we can easily think of solutions about $50 less expensive, but just how sweet is that official Rock Band logo to you? Click on through for a shot of the inside.

[Via Joystiq]

Turns out last year's kinda-clunky Alto isn't where Logitech's laptop-propping agenda comes to a close: today the company is announcing two new stands, the $29 Alto Express, a one-piece clear plastic and rubber laptop stand reminiscent of the iCurve; and the $80 Alto Connect, a slightly more advanced x-shaped stand with a four port USB hub. (Both Altos are available this month, peep the Connect in the gallery below.) Also up: Logitech makes the jump from producing accessories to producing accessories to carry your accessories with its Kinetik bag line. Priced at $100, this September your 15 or 17-inch laptop can sit snugly in an "exo-shell" encased bag from the same people who would also love nothing more than to sell you enough high-margin peripherals to fill its every fold.

K-locks and thick cables are well and good -- when they work, and when you're tethered to some relatively immobile object. But when your laptop's in your bag (which it is most of the time when you're on the go), you might want something a little sturdier than a plastic zipper and some nylon fabric. Enter Pacsafe's latest computer bags, which boast what's claimed to be "tamperproof" zippers and a middle-layer of "eXomesh" anti-slash wire mesh, and stainless steel wire for fastening your entire bag to that same relatively immobile object. Prices range start at $90 for the MetroSafe 300 up to $180 for the DaySafe 200. Be wary, though, we have a feeling Marc Weber Tobias may make short work of these things.

Check it hipster, Urban Tool has some new gear bent on turning you into a, well, urban tool. Meet the $50 hipHolster. Besides featuring that super trendy, non-conformist alterna-capitalization in its name, this modern "fanny pack" (apologies to our more sensitive British readers) comes loaded with plenty of concealed pockets for your iPod, mobile phone, wallet or camera. Pocketnow went to town with a unit and came away generally impressed without so much as a single geek-pummeling. They gave it a 4 of 5 rating even though that elastic leg strap (which can be removed) caused some chaffing. Eww.

[Via Pocketnow]

It's Ask Engadget time once again: you provide the questions (send 'em in to ask at engadget dawt com), you provide the answers (in the comments), and we provide the drinks! Well, actually, not really -- we're just here to watch. Yesterday we were looking at camcorders with Clancy, and now we've got Lisa looking for a gadget friendly purse to carry her gadget stash with style:

"I've been trying to find a good solution to carry all of my gadgets around, keep them safe, and keep them organized for years. I'm not talking about a laptop case here -- I'm looking for a purse. I'm looking for a bag that looks at least halfway decent and can handle my iPod, PDA, Nintendo DS, cell phone, eReader, and digital camera (and anything else that I "need" to have with me at any given time), and ideally give me relatively quick access to all of them. Oh, and I'd really like to not have to pay much more than $100 for it. Am I asking for too much? You guys covered a man-bag for a question similar to mine, but I'm really looking for a more feminine option."

We did indeed talk about man bags a couple of years ago, and while we'd love to hear your more recent favorites on that topic as well, let's help out the ladies in the audience in need of some gadget transport that doesn't involve a fashion dive.

If you just so happen to receive a boombox with a seven-inch display built right in, it's only fair to return the favor, so Bubble Gear is looking out the manly gift buyers out there with its LCD-equipped Multi-Media bag. Aside from sporting a presumably fashionable leather motif, it also manages to rock a seven-inch LCD on the outward side, which should most certainly grab even more attention (negative or otherwise) than the scrolling LED belt-buckles. Clearly aimed at the tech savvy (or attention-deprived) ladies in the house, it also throws in a rechargeable Li-ion battery, two headphone sets, a thoughtfully-included car charger, wireless remote, and measure 13- x 10- x 4-inches. The screen itself is used for "scrolling through pictures or watching DVDs," but we're not quite clear on just how this wonderful media actually gets connected to the said screen. Still, it's always the thought that counts (right?), but this idea will run you $399.95 and require "two to four weeks" to be handcrafted and shipped out.

[Via ShinyShiny]

Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?

[Via Textually]

Here at Engadget, we do have a certain love for the aesthetic appeal of gadgets -- when we do things we like to do them with style, and we appreciate it when others do too. So, in that vein we present to you what might just possibly be the first cardboard laptop case ever (except for those folks who tote their machines in pizza boxes). It was shown at London's recent [re]Design exhibition, and claims to be made from 100 percent recycled materials, so we're assuming that the leather strap counts as recycled cow. Still, as someone pointed out in Inhabitat's comments, it's unclear what happens if you use this case in the rain.

[Via Inhabitat]