- Get a FREE Gift! Laptop Bags and Cases ** SPECIAL CLEARANCE SALE - Buy One and Get a FREE Gift! What is it about airports that bring out the worst in humanity? Is it waiting in long, arbitrary lines?  Is it being forced to reveal to everyone the holes in your socks?  Is it the $100 beers at the airport bar?  I try pretty hard to be a “good citizen” when I travel: my carry-on luggage doesn’t exceed the maximum dimensions permitted by the airline; I make sure I put all of my metal objects through the x-ray machine; and I try to make sure I can whip out my laptop to send through the x-ray machine separately from the bag in which I carry it. Travelon has recently released its own line of TSA-approved Checkpoint Friendly laptop bags, designed to make it easier to get through the security screening without having to unpack your entire kit.  I admit that when I received my review models I exclaimed “WTF?”.  At first glance, it doesn’t look like these things will actually save any time. 

But for you, dear reader, I put myself through the indignities of airport security to provide an accurate review of these bags. The bags themselves are pretty nondescript, and look like just about every other laptop bag on the planet.  The fabric is rugged, and the overall construction seems solid. There’s ample padding for the laptop pocket, so your precious computer should sit fairly comfortably through the jolts and jostles of air travel. The backpack model has a nice criss-cross design for the shoulder straps, which surprisingly helps distribute the weight better, making it less uncomfortable to lug your laptop between terminals.  Interestingly, this design makes it less comfortable to hang the bag from a single shoulder. The backpack model has another minor shortcoming, in my opinion: the largest pocket isn’t very deep.  You can fit your cables easily enough, but I could not, for example, comfortably fit the body of my Canon DigitalRebel XT camera.  Don’t expect to use this bag for much more than your laptop and necessary peripherals: it’s not a general purpose bag.

The gimmick on the entire line of Travelon Checkpoint friendly bags is a sleeve attached to a tether that sits inside the laptop compartment.  So you place your laptop into the sleeve, and then place the sleeve inside the pocket.  At airport security, you pull out the sleeve containing your laptop, and slide the bag plus sleeve through the scanner together.  backpack galapagos islandsThis gives the TSA screeners an unobstructed view of your laptop, and also keeps your laptop close to your bag.voit backpack As I said, I didn’t see this saving me a whole lot of time.  backpack beutelBut at the security gate, I found it wonderfully convenient to keep the laptop tethered to the bag: when I cleared the screening, I was able to pick up the sleeve by its handle, and carry both it and the bag to which it was attached a comfortable distance away to put on my shoes and gather up my junk.  jujube backpack sale

I didn’t have to stand there at the end of the conveyor belt making a fool of myself with handfuls of loose, miscellaneous stuff. On the backpack and briefcase models I received, the laptop sleeve could be unzipped from its tether, allowing you to use it separately from the main bag.  embark backpack reviewThis might be handy in some situations.  laptop bags dohaAlso available from Travelon is just a sleeve, which you might put into an existing laptop bag.  Be sure to watch the video review, below, to see what’s so special about this sleeve! In addition to the minor complaints already made, I have two other beefs against these products.  First, they’re made in China.  Don’t get me wrong: I’m not some die-hard anti-globalization America First! But I would like to see American manufacturing deal with the largely American problem of insane airport security processes. 

Second, the TSA screeners have pretty much carte blanche authority to inspect any bag they want, at any time.  So even if you shell out big bucks for a fancy “TSA Checkpoint Friendly” approved bag, the TSA can still make you remove your laptop. These are good quality laptop bags that provide a surprising level of convenience to the frequent traveller.  It’s not likely to be your go-to bag for quick trips around town, but it will be the bag you want to take with you on a flight. Inside the laptop sleeve is a warning, admonishing you to follow the TSA screener’s directions since they can still require you to remove your computer from the sleeve.  You are also cautioned not to place anything on top of the laptop that might obstruct the x-ray view.  No paperwork, cords, accessories, or Les.  Poor, poor Les — always getting stuffed into laptop bags. Business travelers understand the importance of quickly moving through airport security lines. Speed up the process and keep your laptop secure with a checkpoint friendly briefcase from Mori.

Our carry-on briefcase selection includes brands such as Briggs & Riley, Tumi, Kenneth Cole and more. We have the best options around to keep you on the move and on time to your next meeting. Alpha 2 T-Pass Business Class Brief Pack Alpha 2 T-Pass Expandable Laptop Brief Alpha 2 T-Pass Medium Screen Laptop Slim Brief Classic Business Perfect Fit Two Gusset Laptop Bag Dorado Leather Express Scan Brief Executive Choice Checkpoint Friendly Slim Brief REACTION 'Keystone Back Up Plan' Backpack REACTION 'Keystone Easy Decision' Briefcase REACTION Keystone an Easy Pace Backpack REACTION R-Tech Checkpoint-Friendly Computer Case Xenon 2 Checkpoint Friendly Laptop BackpackTraveling for business is a common occurrence in today’s world. That travel requires lugging a computer and other devices which makes checking baggage difficult. Everki has become the default for designing stylish gear bags with tons of functionality that are checkpoint friendly while traveling.

The Atlas, at $169.99, is one of the newest offerings to the Everki lineup. The Atlas backpack joins an already awesome line of checkpoint friendly gear bag options. Airport checkpoints can often ruin a trip before it has started, so a bag option to alleviate this problem can be important. The laptop compartment opens up 180 degrees to allow the backpack to easily pass through checkpoint x-ray machines. You simply unzip the compartment and watch it ride the conveyor belt without having to remove your gear. While traveling through the airport, you can utilize the five point ergonomic strap system to comfortably carry your gear. The system evenly distributes the weight ensuring an easier time carrying the bag while walking. If carrying a hand trolly or rolling suitcase, the pass through strap on the back of the backpack will hold the bag tight keeping from being carried. Either way you choose to carry it, the Atlas will be comfortable and convenient. Carrying the bag is great, but what about the inside features?

The Atlas sports the usual Everki padded laptop compartment. The adjustable compartment will hold virtually any sized laptop from 13″ to a huge 17.5″ safe and secure. The padding is plenty to keep the computer safe during normal use. Since most people have multiple computers for home and work use, the ability to adjust for many sizes makes the Atlas usable in almost any situation. In front of the laptop compartment is an iPad/tablet pocket. Most of the older backpacks holds a tablet in another pocket in the front of the bag. I really like having my iPad in the same padded compartment as the laptop. It not only ensures it is safe and sound, but also much quicker to grab both devices for use. The velcro strap holds the tablet safe and sound. The rest of the Atlas is composed of many well designed pockets. There are three layers of zippered pockets that include more than enough space to carry just about anything I could think to take with me. In fact, it took me a few days to remember where everything was located since there was so many options.