Customer Reviews

Case Logic CLCS-116 16-Inch Full-Size Security Friendly Laptop Case (Black)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When TSA announced guidelines for laptop cases that allowed passengers to pass through the security checkpoint without unloading their laptops - let's face it, we all rejoiced. The most common result of those guidelines has been the neoprene laptop sleeve, which still doesn't act as a carry-on, but rather a "skin" for your laptop to keep it from bumping around and getting jostled too much. So in that scenario, you'd probably still have a carry-on bag in addition to your laptop sleeve. If you don't... well then you probably don't need to be looking at a laptop bag anyhow.

Unfortunately this is "Generation #1" of these security laptop bags, so there are still quite a few things getting kinked out. Not to mention the cost factor of having the newest, shiniest thing on the market. This Case Logic CLCS-116 MSRPs for $100 - is it worth it compared to a $40 bag where you have to take out your laptop and put it into a plastic bin?

Pros:
- Non-laptop half of the bag has lots of good segmented and non-segmented compartments. Good for holding gadgets like Blackberries, phones, MP3 players, power cords, pens, books, etc...
- Small semi-hidden "wallet" hole for hiding cash.
- Nylon close and rough woven mesh for handling the day-to-day stresses of lugging around a bag.
- Zipper sliders are metal, not plastic (a big plus in my book). Zipper teeth are mostly plastic with the exception of the front zipper which is metal. All zippers on my bag pulled nice and smooth.
- Holds my 15.4" laptop like a champ - lots of padding, plenty of room.
- Put my Inspiron 1720 17" laptop in, just to see if it'd fit. "Kind of" would be a good description - the laptop fit, but only because I removed the battery (Dell laptops have gone to a configuration where the battery hangs off the back end). The 17" laptop is pushing at the seams of the compartment, so not a whole lot of padding left at the sides. Not bad for a bag that advertises itself as a 16" laptop bag.

Cons:
- No headphones hole - thought that was odd for Case Logic.
- Very little padding in non-laptop half of the case - careful with your gadgets!
- None of the compartments allows you to open 180 degrees (other than the security zipper, of course); most of the zippers only run halfway down allowing "fish mouth" access.
- Sort of heavy - at 4lbs, the weight will add up quick on your shoulders. It's not as massive as some of the other laptop bags made of all leather and the like, but it's not a featherweight either.
- No laptop strap to secure laptop. So if you're putting a netbook or even a 15.4" notebook in that half of the case, there's no way to hold it in place.
- No expansion options - this is not a zip-to-expand type bag, so if you generally take a lot of things in your carry-on, this may not be the right choice for you. The non-laptop portion of the bag is made for mostly flat items - books, paper, folders, etc.

Conclusion:
All in all this isn't a bad stab at the quickly growing "Security friendly laptop bag" market. If you travel to and from the various airports as part of your life, then having something like this might well justify its cost. However if you're just looking for a laptop bag on the off chance you might take a flight to see relatives every six months or so, then you're better off buying a cheaper (probably more functional) laptop bag, and just grabbing a neoprene slip cover for your laptop when you finally do go to the airport. For the "Security Friendly" side of the house, I'd really like to see this bag get a little lighter (better materials) and a little more functional (fully opening compartments).

The Case Logic CLCS-116 Security Friendly Laptop Case is definitely a full-size case with vast amount of storage for your laptop computer and associated accessories. It is well padded, and although I find the overall look to be somewhat bland it is passable as a business case. It is made for laptops in the 15 to 16 inch range, which covers the most popular laptop sizes on the market today. I found the shoulder strap to be so-so, but I really like the padded leather carry handles. The included file compartment is great for stowing away folders and 8 and 1/2 x 11" documents. The compartment intended to store your laptop is nicely padded, but the other compartments include no padding for protecting items like your A/C adapter/charger, cell phone, wireless mouse, or any other delicate items you may wish to pop in this bad for easy transport. Weighing in at 3lbs. 14 oz., this bad is certainly not a featherweight but is fairly light compared to the executive leather case I usually carry on a daily basis.

So what is all the fuss about this case being security friendly? Well this Case Logic model is designed to open flat, for easy access at security check points in airports, and provided you have the shoulder strap attached you can simply pick up the bag by the strap and it will close up without the need to stop and zip the pocket closed. This makes exiting the security check point a swift and effortless task, compared to what one usually encounters with a traditional laptop case.

Things I like most about this case:

1. Makes entering and exiting airport security a quick and painless task.
2. Includes generous storage pockets for accessories of all sizes, as well as a file compartment for folders and documents, and even books.
3. Zippers are well made and open/close smoothly every time.
4. Covered by an outstanding 25 year warranty!

This I don't like about this case:

1. Padding around edges of notebook compartment is almost non-existent.
2. No padding in or around external pockets, leaving delicate items susceptible to damage.
3. Exposed openings on top of laptop compartment, allowing potential for fluids and/or debris to get into the case and potentially damage your computer.
4. Executives will likely find the looks of this case to be very bland.
5. Rather pricey for a plain looking case made of nylon material. I paid little more for a very attractive, all leather case.

Overall I am quite happy with this laptop case. It's very well made and is designed with the traveler in mind. However, due to its somewhat plain and unprofessional appearance, I still prefer to carry my leather executive case when visiting clients and when traveling by car instead of plane. The Case Logic CLCS-116 also prevents me from carrying other delicate electronics, such as my Kindle, due to the lack of padding in the exterior storage pockets. Still, for frequent flyers I think this case will be well received. With a few design improvements or a lower price this would be a 5 star product, but for the money this current model deserves a solid 4 stars.

I took my laptop -- as well as my Blackberry, Kindle, organizer, chargers, billfold, glasses, tickets, water bottle, and a bunch of other stuff -- through big and small airports last week, packed in this great Case Logic case. As other people wrestled their laptops out of their cases, juggled them with their shoes and suit jackets, and in one case dropped it on the floor, I opened a couple of zippers, laid the case flat on the conveyor, and sailed through the line.

That security-friendly feature would be enough to make this a great travel case for a laptop. Add thick padding, a logical design with compartments for files, chargers, other electronic devices, and all the little daily necessities you need to carry, and you've got a winner. There's even a sort of extra handle flat to the back surface so you can grab it quickly from any angle.

The case is well made of sturdy material, attractive for a man or a woman to carry, and it fits neatly under an airplane seat. I can't think of a single improvement to suggest.

I am in love with this case....I realize it isn't the sexiest of products... but to a lover of everything-in-it's-place such as myself? This case is a dream.

The laptop-holding area - one of 3 main compartments - is very well-padded. Though it's made for a traditional (16") laptop, I usually travel with my little 9" netbook and it feels very secure tucked in there - not to mention, that leaves room for the power cord and mouse. It closes with a rugged zipper that goes down both sides almost to the bottom.

The central compartment is the part that opens flat - the zipper opens down both sides to the bottom and a bit beyond for a true 180 degree opening. This is the advertised 'security-friendly' feature which enables you to go through security without removing your laptop - when the case is opened flat, your laptop is secure in it's little cocoon but it can go through the scanner because there's nothing obstructing the scanner's view of it. (I am not flying again til July - I will update WRT this feature when I do.) When flying I will leave this empty (though there are some pockets in there too which would work well for oft-needed documents like a boarding pass. But, just taking this sweetheart to work with me this week, I use that part for some (standard sized) files I need. You don't have to open it flat - you can just unzip the top and a little down the sides for secure access to files.

The 3rd main compartment zips as the laptop-compartment does, but is not padded. It does have a zipped pouch in the center (think, giant pencil case), with ample room on either side of the pouch for files, papers, books, magazines, writing pads, etc.

The front of the case has 2 (2! My heart sings!) zipped organizer compartments. One has 3 padded pockets for cell phones, ipod, etc, as well as a few other, smaller, pockets, pouches, and nets. The other is smaller - I use it for items I need the fastest access to.

This case is well made and sturdy, without being heavy at all, and the zippers are nice and rugged - not those little nylon jobbies that break - with big pull tabs. Bottom Line: It soothes my anal-retentive soul and makes me happy.

I got this laptop bag to replace my old Dell bag. I travel 1-2 weeks per month, and my laptop bag takes a beating. The new Case Logic case has plenty of storage space, and I like the security friendly aspect. Every TSA security check I've gone through has let me pass my laptop through inside this bag without blinking an eye, and it is nice to not worry about the step of removing my laptop from my bag.

However, this bag has one flaw: the strap for attaching your laptop to the extended arm of the rollerboard suitcase isn't big enough. I have a TravelPro rollerboard, and the handle is almost 8" wide. But the strap on the back of my Case Logic bag was closer to 7" wide. I had to take a knife and cut a larger opening in the strap in the back so the handle can slide through the laptop bag strap, and I can wheel my suitcase & laptop bag around the airport. It's still a very tight fit, and it's a pain to squeeze the laptop bag over the handle whenever I want to carry it like that.

So it's a good bag with one flaw, which is why it's a 4 instead of a 5 star product for me.

I haven't yet had a chance to take this bag through an airport to see how quickly and easily it passes through TSA screening. But apart from that, here are some other thoughts about this bag:

1) It's quite large and easily holds my 14" Dell. There are lots of different compartments of various size. If you carry a lot of accessories, you'll love all the room you have to store stuff. But if you travel light, then this bag will definitely be too big for your needs. It definitely is full-sized.

2) The strap is attached at an odd place on the bag. I understand it's part of the quick close design, but I found it makes the strap get twisted around sometimes.

3) The center compartment doesn't close completely. It zips on both sides, but both zippers stop at the corners and don't completely zip the top. It isn't a big deal, but it does make the center compartment more susceptible to spills or the rain so just be careful of that.

Overall it feels well made. I haven't intentionally abused it to find out how much of a beating it can take, but I feel fairly confident that it will protect my laptop from routine bumps and bangs, and possibly even the occasional drop. I wish there was an external "instant access" pockets for things like pens or a pack of gum, but otherwise I have no real complaints.

This is my second Caselogic laptop case since my original purchase of a case for a 15" laptop in 2003. When I recently purchased a 17" laptop, I needed a new case as the original one was too small to hold the new laptop.

I found the current one on Caselogic's website. I searched the model by selecting "Security Friendly" and checked computer model under "Will my laptop fit?" link to narrow the selection to the CLCS-116. I was impressed by the features, specifically the "open flat" design to speed through airport security without having to remove the laptop.

After receiveing the order from Amazon, I was skeptical as it did not look as rugged as my old Caselogic 15". The old case logic had a durable nylon frame running around the rectagular circumference with ample padding all around. It was also much heavier that the CLCS-116.

I loaded the new CLCS-116 with the laptop and took it to work and on road trips. I immediatelly like the new one as it weighed about 1/2 of what the old case weighed. This case also has good balance and does not fall over in one direction like my old one used to. There are plenty of compartments to hold your items, business cards, pens, memory sticks, airline tickets, mice, etc. There is a center zippered stand alone compartment in the middle that can hold a flat items such as cable and cords. One excellent feature is that the laptop unloads from the top, just unzip and remove. With my old one I had to unzip and open the case lid like a box and un-velcro the strap holding the laptop securly in place.

This week I went thru the airport and applied the open flat feature and breezed through the security x-ray inspection. This feature in itself was worth the purchase. With my old laptop case, I has to unpack the laptop and put it in a separate plastic bin for x-ray inspection. That was a real chore in itself and exposed the laptop to possible damage.

Whats nice about the CLCS-116 is that I can put a cel phone (Blackberry) and my wrist watch into the front zippered area prior to airport x-ray inspection. So when I went through the metal detectors these items were not on me to slow me down there as well.

The cons of the CLCS-116 are that the edge or side padding is skimpy and could expose a larger (wider) laptop to possible damage should something impact hard in that area. The front and back padding does curve around to the edge or side area to help protect in that area. This could be improved. This would not a problem for a smaller 15" laptop.

Over all I would still highly recommend this case and is an improvement over my old one. I take this case everywhere I need the laptop and its a good light traveler. Caselogic did an excellent job in the execution of this product.
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I bought this laptop case because I was tired of the airport hassle with my laptop. I made my first trip with this case recently and it went through security with ease. The case also fits well on the plane and has enough room to carry a few extra items. Overall I am well pleased with it and would buy it again.

Carried two laptops through security and just had to unzip main compartment! Extremely easy and time/hassle saving!

Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case is a storage and organizational device that is very useful for storage of both laptops and related accessories. I use this case when going on vacation and making other short trips. My laptop almost always accompanies me, and having a safe place to keep my computer is important.

This laptop computer bag looks much like other computer bags from the outside. Its black color and Case Logic metal badge with logo make it look like a briefcase when viewed from a distance. This gives the bag a more professional, serious look that makes it a good choice for businessmen and businesswomen. At the same time, the bag looks casual enough that others can use it as well. It could even double as a storage bag for other items and many students could use this case for hauling around a few books, folders, notebooks, and papers.

Opening up the Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case reveals an obvious fact: This is no ordinary briefcase/laptop carrying bag. There are separate sections and zippers galore. There are four main sections and these are subdivided into other storage sections with variations in each section that help users find the perfect place to store their notebooks, cell phones, calculators, pens, etc. One of the end sections is designed exclusively for your laptop and includes pillow- like walls to keep your laptop computer safe from damage. The other sections have a combination of pockets without zippers, pockets with zippers, deep pockets, shallow pockets, and even a nylon mesh pocket. With so many pockets and storage areas, one can quickly find the perfect place to store everything from cell phones, to calculators, to CD's, and more.

Carrying the Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case is made easy through the two available options: The briefcase- like handles and the optional shoulder strap. I usually use the handles, but if my bag is overloaded, I have found that the shoulder strap is the best way to go. Not only can this strap be used to carry the bag hands- free, it can also be used to strap the bag to a piece of rolling luggage, for even more freedom of movement. The strap is long enough to fit around most any piece of luggage, making a quick run through the airport fast and simple.

One other nice feature of the Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case is that it is designed with airport security in mind. This is one of the main appeals of this laptop bag because more often than not, when I am packing my laptop into a bag, it is for taking it on a trip and more than half of my trips involve flights. Case Logic designed this laptop case in compliance with TSA government guidelines so that you don't have to remove the laptop from the case in order to pass it through airport security. This is great for those who don't have time to waste and need to get to their gate as quickly as possible.

Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case has many great things to offer, so are there any cons? I can think of only a few. One is the lack of padding in the majority of the compartments. The laptop compartment is protected by padding, but the rest of the case is not. Thus, you have to be careful not to place anything delicate in one of these non- padded sections- particularly the one on the outside. These more delicate items will have to be placed toward the center of the bag instead of at the ends. Another possible con is that this bag is not expandable. Granted, it has enough storage space and is large enough that most anyone can find a place to store what they have. But the lack of expansion means you cannot place a large object inside this storage bag and it also means that some of the larger laptop computers may not fit.

Still, in spite of these minor inconveniences, the Case Logic 16-Inch Full Size Security Friendly Laptop Case is a very nice computer case with many great things to offer. It can be used to store your laptop computer and related accessories in many different ways, with a design that is both practical and imaginative.