I took this bag on several flights and found it to be perfect for most of my shorter trips. The ample storage and well-organized compartments provided by the Checkthrough Brief made bringing along my iPod, chargers, cell phone and laptop accessories a breeze. Everything had its place. But the real fun came when I approached the TSA x-ray machine for the first time.

I unzipped the bag while it still resided on my shoulder. That way it was ready to be "filleted" open on the conveyor belt. Sure enough, a simply flip of the shoulder strap and it was lying on the belt - all set to be scanned. I was convinced I'd end up with some self-righteous ego maniac who would something like "I don't care what kind of bag you have, son, you need to remove that laptop and put it in the bucket!"

But lo and behold that never happened. In fact, as I approached the belt, the TSA employee was actually interested in seeing the bag go through, having never seen one before. They gathered behind the x-ray machine and checked it out, commenting about how this was "one of those new TSA-approved bags". Sure enough, everyone was satisfied - especially me - I didn't have to pull out my laptop. Possibly the coolest part was picking up the bag form the belt. I just lifted the shoulder strap and put it back on my person, never bothering to zip it up until I was at my terminal and sitting down in the chair. Since it zips open from the bottom, the bag is perfectly secure and stable in its unzipped state. It's a great design.

For those who think I got lucky, I passed through no less than 3 more security checkpoints before the writing of this review and all allowed me to breeze through without even a second glance. On this issue, the TSA seems to be up to date - at least in the cities I traveled to and from.

Conclusion

The Skooba Design Checkthrough Brief is a modern day marvel. As more and more bag manufacturers catch on, I'm sure the wonder will lessen. For now, however, if you're a frequent flier this bag will change your life. It's durable, flexible, well-padded and does its job well. It's also the perfect size and weight for short trips - you may not even need another bag assuming you have access to an iron and travel light. This bag may be the most used bag in your collection and will save you tons of time in security lines. Now if they can only create x-ray friendly shoes I'll be all set.

Skooba Design Checkthrough Brief Laptop Bag
$139.95

Skooba Design Inc
Division of Three Point Ventures, LLC
465 Paul Road
Rochester, New York 14624
877-435-5679
www.skoobadesign.com

About Skooba Design
The new Checkthrough Brief is available now, at a suggested retail price of $139.95. Skooba Design has set up a special section of its website at www.checkthrough.com for travelers to get more information on the checkpoint friendly program, as well as sign up to receive product updates. Full specs and dealer/ordering information can be found at www.skoobadesign.com.