Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Convenience and 'solid depth' over cushion; that's why I like this over the Targus, January 14, 2009
I agonized over picking this Skooba bag and the Targus Zip-Thru. It wasn't until I bought the Skooba that I found the Targus Zip-Thru video found on YouTube. (Just do a search there for 'Targus Zip-Thru.') After seeing that video, I firmly believe I made the right choice.
Of course, take a look at the Skooba video on this page -- it's also on YouTube.
First, the good: The Skooba bag is extremely convenient, in terms of accessing your things. The outside 'travel pocket' separates passport from boarding pass, which is great (the Targus does not). The boarding pass pocket is 'deep' enough to even carry 5-10 brochures, above and beyond the boarding pass.
The main travel compartment is really great, if you are looking for two features that the Targus does not have. (1) Mesh pockets. In some of my old laptop carry-on's, I have just had a large outside pocket, and then I have to throw everything in there, and root through a ton of stuff to find what I want. In the Skooba, there are 4 PDA-sized pockets in the main compartment (I have small Canon Powershot, a multi-mode memory card reader, pack of tissues, and a big pack of gum in mine: these items all 'poke' out a bit so I can see what they are without opening the pockets), and another 5 (decently large) pockets scattered around. The latter 5 pockets are *all* mesh (see the 2nd picture, the drawings are unfortunately inaccurate in that the pockets don't look like mesh ones). Which is great! Because I can open the main compartment zipper, and in 5 seconds I can scan the insides of the mesh pockets and be sure that everything I packed is still in there. If you watch the Targus video, you'll notice that virtually all the pockets are covered in a non-mesh material. That means that unless your memory can dedicate items to pouches or unless you develop a fixed routine for each pouch, you're gonna be spending a lot of time checking and re-checking that you packed something. I just want to throw a cord into one of the mesh pockets and be able to glance and check later.
(2) 'Solid width' in the main compartment. If you take a look at both the Targus and Skooba videos, you'll notice that the Skooba non-laptop compartment is much larger. More accurately, behind the panel with all the mesh pockets is another space, and the bottom of this space actually has a solid width, versus the bottom (well, both 'bottoms') of the Targus non-laptop compartment which doesn't (e.g. a true 'accordion' style)... This means that if you like to travel with bulky items besides your laptop, the Skooba is far superior. What kind of bulky items am I talking about? For example, the hard carrying case for my noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones (Audio-Technica's). And my rolled-up 'First Class Sleeper', which is about the size and shape of a rolled-up large umbrella. In fact, as a test, I took a 1,500+ page Business Law hardback textbook, and it fit in this part of the non-laptop compartment, with width to spare!... On this note, it's probably feasible to fit a whole change of clothes inside the Skooba. The Targus laptop video seems to suggest that the Targus couldn't.
(3) Stitched loop in the back, that can go over the telescoping handle of your checked bag. Great feature.
The bad: The Skooba is by no means a perfect bag. As others have noted, it doesn't have much cushioning. It does come with a detachable small cushion at the bottom, which probably provides some protection if your strap breaks and the bag falls while upright. But it certainly doesn't have cushioning for the laptop's 'face.' I dunno about you, but I don't exactly drop my laptop bag a lot, so I can see past this design flaw. Besides, it's not difficult to throw some air bubble packaging in there if you really wanted to protect your laptop.
Also, true enough, it is a pretty thick bag. I had kinda been hoping to use this for my everyday work bag, but like others, I will stick with my old bag. But if you like convenience and 'solid width' in your bags, then this is likely far superior to the Targus. (If you somehow anticipate checking your laptop bag, don't get the Skooba!) And if you want an overnight laptop bag, I believe this is about as good as it gets.
Hope this helps!
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable quality, worked just as advertised !, October 31, 2008
I just received my Skooba Checkthrough bag the other day and had the opportunity to use it while going on a business trip.
First off let me say the quality of the bag is unbelievable, the materials are all top notch and the finish is very fine.
I have had many laptop bag's in the past from $20.00 specials to top end Tumi. This bag is easily as good if not better than any of them, including Tumi!
Last week I went on a business trip from SF to NY and had my first chance to run it through the x-ray line. Just as advertised it worked perfectly, in fact the TSA person commented on how much nicer the bag looked than the other models he has seen so far! Needless to say it made my trip through TSA much faster and the bag fits all my stuff and laptop perfectly. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone, even if you don't travel.
It is perfect!!
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too big, no padding, December 31, 2008
First, kudos to Amazon that got this to me in ONE day, and I didn't pay for any overnight shipping, or any special handling.
The guidelines for underseat storage is 36 inches total. Unfortunately, I found this out after I bought this bag. The bag is 37.5 inches. I will probably return this bag. Skooba needs to take 1.5 inches out of the middle of this bag!!
I was also dissapointed in the lack of padding around the edges of the laptop. The pictures make it appear like there is thick padding, but there isn't.
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