13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This bag rocks, May 12, 2009
This review is from: Timbuk2 Checkpoint Travel Roller (Apparel)
I travel a lot.
I *never* check my bags when traveling on planes.
I dig this bag.
I always take one carry-on and one bag in the overhead storage bin when flying no matter where I go (yes, including India).
Best features:
Swappable skate board wheels!! (I really like the idea of customizing my bags and often do customize my bags with stickers, etc.) Hint: you guys should offer customizable wheels on your site. Better yet, offer customizable bags.
Outside pouch will hold my laptop - and it's padded! when going through security - easy to take out and put back.
Tapered end maximizing space in the overhead (this is a 'no duh' feature, surprise it wasn't out there earlier).
Zippered inner pouches so that my stuff isn't everywhere when I open the bag.
Handles on every side - you can grab and lug, throw, toss this bag where it needs to be, you don't have to wrestle with it.
What's needed:
The outside zippered pouch that holds my laptop has a couple of inner pockets, sure wish these had zippers on them.
Rotating hand grip on the extended handle when you are towing it.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, not quite great, November 13, 2009
This review is from: Timbuk2 Checkpoint Travel Roller (Apparel)
I'm a frequent traveler for work and I was looking for a durable, lightweight roll aboard to replace the slightly-too-large model I've been towing.
The Checkpoint bag succeeds in the lightweight category. It appears durable, but only time will tell. Replaceable wheels should help - those have gone bad on previous bags (e.g. after dragging through the streets of Paris for hours looking for a hotel). The handle feels solid and the plastic bumper guards on the back and bottom look sturdy.
The large zippered pocket on the front of the bag is great for storing a laptop and retrieving it quickly for TSA.
Unfortunately, the two smaller pockets inside the large pocket are almost useless. They *desperately* need a zipper or velcro closing mechanism. Anything I put in those pockets is going to slide out and end up in the bottom of the big section where it's difficult to reach and crunched under my laptop.
That leads me to my only other complaint: there aren't any small and quick external pockets - well, except for the ticket pocket, but that's only useful for tickets. The ticket pocket is tall and narrow and hugs tightly to the bag, though it also doesn't have any kind of cinch on top. It's a great place to store your ticket when you arrive at the airport until you get on the plane. When the bag goes horizontal, though, I'd put it somewhere more secure.
The ticket pocket is too deep and too tight to the bag to hold much else. Oddly, there are two of them, so I don't know what you'd put in the other one. Also, they hug the corner of the bag which makes for some nearly unusable pocket space.
What I'd really like is a small, convenient and secure exterior pocket where I can put my passport and my car keys. The Checkpoint doesn't have this.
I'd also welcome a larger and much less secure external pocket where I could put a newspaper or magazine. I'd like to suggest using the location of the two straps on the front of the bag. Actually, I could just slip my newspaper under these straps if there was something to prevent it sliding out the bottom - maybe the bottom edge of the bottom strap should be sewn to the bag.
But, onto more of the positives: the interior of the bag seems roomy and well thought-out. I like the shoe pocket which seems to be air-tight enough to hold my running shoes. The other two pockets also have zippers (yea!) and they're convenient and spacious for toiletries or other small to medium items that would otherwise slide around and get lost under your clothes.
I especially like that the bag is not rigid in all three dimensions (unlike my previous bag). It can collapse a little front to back and slightly top to bottom. That helps the bag only take up only as much space as you pack into it - if you pack lightly, you should be able to squeeze your bag into a tighter slot in the overhead. If you're going for a whole week, you can cram it full and it will definitely still fit if you get on the plane early enough. (Note to bag designers - a few tweaks to the shape of the rigid plastic shell could take this flexibility even further. Every centimeter counts those times when you're in the last group to board.)
The handles on all sides were a good idea.
In summary - this is a very good bag, but with a few minor changes, Timbuk2 could turn this into the greatest bag to ever go in an overhead bin.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wish I Waited For Updated Design, April 14, 2011
This review is from: Timbuk2 Checkpoint Travel Roller (Apparel)
I bought the first gen Checkpoint 22" at a ridiculously low price so I cannot complain much but I do have some concerns: (1) based on previous reviews on Amazon and elsewhere, the SINGLE ARM handle may break; (2) I've come to appreciate using packing cubes and the internal organization compartments just take up space; and (3) most notably, Timbuk2 has yet to get "onboard" with other manufacturers and adjust the height (not necessarily the depth) size for international travel. There's no way I could have used the Checkpoint during my trip to Peru. Even on some domestic airlines, 22" is now too big when linear inches are limited to 45" or so. Timbuk2 should seriously consider creating an Int'l version or shaving off an inch from the Checkpoint. On the pro side, this is where the Checkpoint's tapered front has most likely prevented me from getting guff from the Southwest flight attendant but we'll see. Also, the outside duffel style straps are super convenient for grabbing and tossing the luggage. I kinda wish I waited for the newer Checkpoint because not only does it have a dual arm handle, it's expandable, albeit in a limited fashion. Oh well.
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