What good are your gadgets if they are constantly holed up inside your home? You need to get outside and do a little traveling, but you need the appropriate bag to get the job done. Getting through airport security can be quite the hassle, so why not ease the process with the ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Backpack from Mobile Edge.
The ScanFast Backpack continues on the recent trend toward laptop bags that adhere to the TSA regulations, allowing you to keep your notebook in your backpack or briefcase as it passes through the X-ray scanner. This adds a lot to the convenience factor, but you also want a bag that is functional outside of the airport setting too. Let’s see how this one from Mobile Edge stacks up.
Scanning Quickly Through the Features
This first thing that hit me about the ScanFast Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Backpack was that it’s no small bag. It measures 19″ x 14″ x 7″. If you’re looking for something cute and compact, this is not going to be the backpack for you. That’s because it can accommodate up to 17-inch widescreen notebooks. If you’re rocking a smaller subnotebook and want something smaller, you may be better off considering a different solution.
In terms of main features, this bag is made from durable 1680D Ballistic Nylon, helping to repel damage from the elements while keeping the style factor in check along the way. There is a mild “shiny” texture to this bag, but it’s not at all gawdy. As previously mentioned, this bag also meets the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines for carry-on luggage.
Stashing All Your Gizmos and Gear
Even though this is largely marketed as a laptop bag, the ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Backpack from Mobile Edge also supplies you with plenty of pockets and interior space for the rest of your gizmos and gear as well.
Pictured above is the lower-front pocket. This is a good place for most of your smaller items, as there are slots dedicated to holding your pens and then there are pouches to hold stuff like notepads and portable hard drives. These compartments are open-ended and not zippered off though, so you probably want to avoid putting extra small items here. Going from top to bottom, you’ll find no fewer than separate compartments, not including the compartment dedicated to holding your laptop.
The upper-front pocket is very minimalist, not containing any specialized slots or zippered sections to hold smaller items. This might be a good place to stash some basic personal toiletries or your sunglass case, as it is quickly accessible. You’ll also notice that the entirety of bag is black, taking the safer route when it comes to fashion.
Files, Books, and Other Documents
Even though the ScanFast Backpack is not necessarily marketed toward the corporate end of the market, it contains a section specifically for your various paperwork and files, not unlike an attaché case or a briefcase. This might be a good place to stash your travel documents, for example. Realistically, you can put whatever you want in here, but it was designed for files.
A Musical Surprise on the Go
The Mobile Edge Backpack tackles the “fun” side of traveling too. In addition to the space for your business-minded file folders, there is also a zippered section near the top for your multimedia enjoyment. There is a small rubber pass-through where you can thread the cord to your headphones. It’s up to you if you want to use this in tandem with your music phone or with a regular MP3 player, but the option is there if you want it.
Flying through Airport Security Checkpoints
The Mobile Edge ScanFast Backpack’s main appeal, of course, is that it has been designed to expedite the process of getting through airport security. You do not need to remove your notebook from the backpack when you go through the X-ray scanner, just as with the similarly TSA-compliant Targus Zip-Thru Corporate Traveler and higher end Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer. The laptop is contained in a separate section and you open up the bag like giant book, laying it down flat on the conveyor belt.
Going back to the Targus for a sec, which is closer in price point to the Mobile Edge, there is one critical difference between it and the Targus Corporate Traveler. You see, with the Targus bag, the laptop section is completely sealed off. If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t even know that there is a laptop in there at all. With the Mobile Edge bag, on the other hand, the laptop compartment is actually exposed to the elements.
There is a semi-translucent pouch for your notebook, which is then held in place by a stretchy Velcro strap. Having the entirety of this strap and the top edge of the pouch across the top of your laptop, you aren’t really giving the security personnel an “unobstructed” view. That said, Mobile Edge does say that this adheres to TSA guidelines. I prefer the “hidden” configuration of the Targus bag over the “exposed” configuration of the Mobile Edge, myself.
That’s my 14.1-inch widescreen Dell notebook pictured above. As you can see, there is quite a bit of room left. So, unless you have a 17-incher, you’re going to have some wasted space here.
The Secret Hydration Compartment
So, let’s see here. The Mobile Edge ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Backpack has places to house your various gadgets and gizmos. It’s also got a spot that’ll easily swallow your file folders and other documents. And then there’s the headphone pass-through for your MP3 player and the security-friendly laptop compartment. What’s missing?
Well, there is a nondescript zipper along one side that appears to provide access to another pocket. You would assume that this is just another place to stash your gear, but unzipping it reveals a pleasant surprise.
You can actually pull out the hidden bottle holder from this small zippered section. While a lot of backpacks come with a place to store your water bottle, very few allow you to hide this pouch away when it is not needed. This is a fairly minor detail, to be sure, but one that is great appreciated by those who lead an active lifestyle.
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
If you’re a frequent traveler, there’s a good chance that the airport security process has frustrated you on more than one occasion. It can be such a pain and a hassle to take out your precious laptop every time you pass through that X-ray scanner and that’s why TSA-approved bags like this one from Mobile Edge are so valuable. What’s your time (and sanity) worth to you?
The ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Backpack comes loaded with lots of space to hold all of your gadgets, gizmos, chargers, documents, computer accessories, and so on. I like the inclusion of little features, like the headphone pass-through and hidden water bottle compartment. There’s also a cell phone pouch on one of the shoulder straps. The build quality and choice of materials is also quite good.
I would have preferred a completely contained compartment for the notebook though. The current “open pouch and strap” design makes the bag look cheap and it takes away from some of the protection for your laptop. The current design works, but it also needs some work.
If the backpack style isn’t your cup of tea, Mobile Edge also offers other checkpoint friendly laptop cases, including a messenger bag and fashion-conscious briefcases. Since I don’t have a 17-inch laptop, something smaller may be more appropriate.
Pros
- More than ample room for your computer gear
- Nice bonuses like headphone pass-through
- Rugged material that seems to be water resistant
- Adheres to TSA regulations
Cons
- Laptop compartment is an open pouch
- Larger bag may not appeal to everyone
- No metal hooks for carabiners (West Coast lifestyle!)
Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10.0
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