When I first got it I was really looking forward to the check point friendly feature. I travel a lot and bought this bag specifically for this function. While passing through a checkpoint in JFK International Airport just yesterday (16th March), I was refused when I left my laptop in the bag split open as instructed. When it went under the scanner I was instructed to do it over, and this time take it out the bag. I tried to explain how the bags works but it was futile. This also happened in two other airports in two different countries recently.
Another thing i noticed (which was kind of annoying) is that the same zip that splits the bag in half keeps opening up a little when its on one shoulder. I think it should have some kind of hook or something in the new design (if it's going to have one obviously)
On a lighter note it looks professional and neat without all those straps hanging everywhere like other brands. It feels durable when you hold it but it didn't get a long usage test yet.
Hope this helps.....
Oh yes... I like this! But let's first put it into perspective, this isn't a magician's case. You're not going to get more than a day's worth of wearing apparel (and it had better be business casual apparel as well) inside along with your laptop and other techie stuff. But for a single overnight trip, this is by far the best marriage of utilitarian design with style that I've seen. The size of this even makes it a suitable option for those flights where fate (or traffic) has put you in the very last boarding group and "under the seat" is the only option for a carryon.
I won't get into the discussion with regards to the accuracy of TSA-friendly etc., as it's always been my experience that the TSA folks can be just as picky as they want. But it is convenient enough to pull the computer out and place it back in after passing the x-ray.
Actually, I can see a lot of people just using this as something of a mega-briefcase. You know the ones; the sales people with loads of brochures, the lawyers with tons of papers and the office jocks that have to tote along their softball or gym clothes.
Only time will tell as to the durability of the Caselogic 17 incher, but my inspection can't find any noticeable flaws or cut corners. I suspect this will last me for some time to come.
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I had purchased this for Dennis, so I had him help me do the review. Here is a Video Review explaing every detail of this item. I hope it helps.
From what I seen, personally.. The item felt very sturdy, strong, and it was a nice size. It had a lovely laptop case that fit perfectly inside, also had tons of zippers in the front. He explains a lot in the video. He used the item a couple times. One time he flew with the item, when he went to Texas. The airport did ask him to take the laptop out of the slot, but he didn't have to open the bag that the laptop was in. You understand? (he explained this to me since I question him about these things, so I can review them)
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I work at a university and need to transport various papers and sometimes bulky textbooks. I wanted a backpack to replace what I used to carry: a Land's End briefcase and a separate laptop bag. In buying a backpack, my criteria were:
1) My 13-inch MacBook must fit. It does, no problem. It can hold a substantially larger laptop, but I'm not sure how large. There's a lot of space around my laptop though. The padding is substantial and seems to be adequate.
2) I wanted the backpack to look neat without a lot of straps and stuff hanging loose and no open external pouches. I wanted it to be as streamlined as possible. This one is. About the only thing hanging loose are the zipper pulls, but they're really quite inconspicuous. I like the velcro thingies that keep the excess shoulder strap wrapped up and out of the way. I think I would rather carry a briefcase in a more formal business situation, but this could work in a more casual business setting.
3) I wanted a backpack that could carry all my stuff. It has a fair amount of carrying space for stuff besides the laptop. A lot of pockets in a few compartments. In the main compartment, I carry some folders, maybe a textbook or two, some small stuff and my lunch. One thing that I would have liked different would be one or two more small interior pockets at different heights. As it is, the small stuff tends to all drop to the bottom of the backpack. If the small stuff were spread out more, the backpack could be a little flatter and stuff would be more accessible. That's just a minor preference though and not a major complaint. This backpack can't carry ALL of the stuff that I used to carry in my briefcase and laptop bag, mostly because my lunch would take a beating, but I probably hauled around too much stuff before anyway. This backpack has a lot of space in it though and it really is well-designed.
4) I wanted it to be well made. Overall, the backpack is well constructed. The zippers are sturdy and stay closed. I don't see any apparent weak spots in the construction. The shoulder straps are nicely padded and comfortable. The material seems to be very strong. The single carrying handle on top is adequately padded and appears to be sturdily attached.
I have not flown with this yet so I have not tried out the butterfly feature that supposedly lets you run it through security without taking out your laptop, but the mechanism is nicely designed and quick to use and it would be extremely convenient if the security people let you do it. It would be easy enough to remove the laptop if necessary, so it's not a big deal. A couple of the smaller compartments are very easy to access and would be nice for grabbing boarding passes quickly when whipping through the airport. The flap that lets you slip the backpack over the pull handle of a carry-on bag is nice too. This backpack would be great to travel with. I would use a regular carry-on bag for clothes and all to be stuffed in the overhead bin, and this backpack would be the bag I keep with me and stow under the seat.
When I was shopping for this backpack, the only reviews I found appeared to be for a very different bag, so many of the comments do not apply to this backpack. I am not sure, but I suspect that this is the next generation of the CLBS-116. Some of the comments about that backpack do not apply to this one. For example, I have never had the side zippers for the butterfly feature creep open inadvertently. Someone complained that the CLBS-116 has no opening for headphones to fit through. The ZLBS-116 has no dedicated headphone opening either, which is fine with me. I'm sure I could run the wire through one of the zippered openings if I really wanted to.
Overall, I'm very happy with this backpack. I would buy it again and I recommend it.
UPDATE: I flew from Minneapolis to Orlando and back in early January, 2012. At both airports, I was able to use the butterfly feature and leave my laptop in the backpack when I put it in the scanner. That was nice. Unfortunately, I was so distracted by whether they would gripe about the laptop that I forgot to take out my liquids, so they pulled me aside and searched my suitcase. But not my backpack, so that worked. The backpack is still holding up very nicely. No wear or tear, other than some minor loose fuzzies on the outer edges where it sometimes rubs against things. But that is a cosmetic issue that can be easily remedied and it doesn't affect the structure or function of the backpack. I would still buy this backpack again and I still recommend it.
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The true test of this roller was taking it to India, loaded with my laptop, documents, clothes, and shaving set. It took a beating, and it never failed. With the numerous escalators, steps, customs, security checks, rough environmental conditions at my destination, etc., it came back looking good as new and held everything together in a compact manner after such a rough round-trip. The handle stayed sturdy even after being expanded/collapsed many times. I was surprised with the roller's capacity, and loved the laptop sleeve WHICH I NEVER REMOVED when my laptop went through security checks in the USA, Europe, and India. It was a great investment.
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This carry on bag fit very well under the seat or in the overhead compartment. I was able to fit a long weekend's worth of clothes into it. The bonus bag is great. The carry on is very attractive!
