Checkpoint-Friendly Computer Bags
October 7th, 2008, 1:49pm by MikeI’m sure that you’ve all probably heard about (and maybe experienced) the TSA’s somewhat new rules on traveling with laptops — that if you have the right kind of bag, you no longer have to remove laptops from the bag when you go through the X-ray machine. I think the idea is that you’d use a bag along these lines, with their unfolding design to accommodate the TSA’s directive:
For a bag to be considered checkpoint friendly it should meet the following standards:
- A designated laptop-only section
- The laptop-only section completely unfolds to lie flat on the X-ray belt
- No metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on top of the laptop-only section
- No pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
- Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself.
My approach to this has been to use a neoprene sleeve in my computer bag, which I can then take out and put into a bin, without having to remove the computer from it. I like that the computer is a little protected during its bumpy ride, and as Kelvin pointed out last time I saw him, even if the wetsuit doesn’t really protect the laptop from bounces and bumps, maybe it’ll at least keep it dry.
I know that we all travel pretty regularly with laptops — anybody tempted to get one of these bags? Does it really save any time or hassle at security?
October 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I was surprised to hear that you don’t need to remove the laptop from it’s neoprene sleeve. Personally, I wouldn’t buy a separate laptop bag just for travel– that would guarantee that I leave something important in my work bag when packing for the trip. I do really love my current laptop bag. It’s not one that opens flat; you slide your laptop in through the unzippered top and the sides and bottom have big rubber bumpers that protect the laptop. It’s actually very easy to slip the laptop in and out, so for the checkpoint, it would be fine, except for the vulnerability to water :).
These Checkpoint-Friendly bags seem pretty lame if you still have to unzip them for the x-ray machine. Seems to me that the only benefit of a specialized bag would be if you could just set it down on the conveyer belt without any additional handling (so you could concentrate on taking off your shoes). Granted, it saves one bin…
October 7th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
No plans to buy a new bag. The neoprene sleeve makes sense, but it’s just not that hard to pull the laptop out of the bag. Plus, right now there’s a huge premium to get these TSA bags.
But I do hope that everyone else gets one, that will make security go a little faster.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
About the sleeve being OK.
I personally think the idea of TSA-approved unfolding laptop bags is a little ridiculous, unless they also sell TSA-approved velcro shoes, TSA-approved non-metallic belts — I think those slow down the line just as much!
But I agree with Jake, I hope everybody else gets whatever it takes to get them through the line faster.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I have a Tumi bag in which the laptop section is essentially a padded removable sleeve (not neoprene, but a padded cordura-type material). I’ve had the bag for 5 years now and I’d definitely recommend it. It has a lifetime warranty and I can see mine lasting for another 10 years.
As far as I can tell, Tumi has not really changed the design of their bag from inception – and I always wondered what the utility of having the removable laptop sleeve was. Seems they had quite a bit of foresight.
I wasn’t aware of the new TSA rules, but should be able to try them out this Sunday when I travel to DC.