Swiss Gear SA1923 Black TSA Friendly ScanSmart Laptop Backpack - Fits Most 15 Inch Laptops and Tablets

I have been using this backpack daily for four months now, and its been holding up well to the abuse. I generally carry the following: - A 15.6 inch HP laptop - Power cord for said laptop - Extension cord for power at coffee shops - Power spliter so I can get power at coffee shops - Books of various sizes (for the most part, small - about 5x8 on average, 1/2 - 1 thick) - First aid kit - External Hard Drive - etc. As you can see, I carry a LOT of stuff, generally running about 25lbs worth of stuff in my backpack at any given time. I was hesitant to buy this backpack initially due to reviews about breaking straps, but so far I havent had any issues with it. Now, for me, I would prefer to have a bit more room in the backpack, but thats just because, as mentioned earlier, I carry a LOT of stuff. For the pro/con list people: Pros: - Good padding on the back, pretty comfortable - Decent number of pockets. Two large (one only for laptop, one for laptop + accessories), one medium sized (should be able to fit an iPad), and at least five small pockets (one hidden inside the medium pocket. - Fits my 15.6 laptop perfectly - Two water bottle carrying slots Cons: - The side zipper pockets cant carry much if you use water bottles since they interfere with each other. - Could use a bit more padding on the bottom of the backpack

I got this backpack on a gold box deal for $40, which was quite the steal. This backpack works tremendously for me going to and from work, as well as traveling for work or pleasure. I wish I had this backpack when I was in college, as it would have been invaluable then. This backpack is extremely roomy, well compartmentalized and very well designed. It has plenty of zippered compartments, and within the main zippered section there are small dividers at the bottom that can separate and organize folders, notebooks or papers into different sections...ingenious. There are zippered sections on the side that can fit my umbrella, and both sides have mesh pockets for water bottles. The front zippered pocket above the carabiner clip is small, and useful for items work such as pen drives, stopwatches, combs, lip balm, etc. And the frontmost section at the bottom also has plenty of dividers for my headphones, pens, wireless presenters, etc. I use it for going to work as well as traveling, and there is nothing better. The separate laptop compartment makes it a lot easier to go through security, and even when packed heavily the backpack still maintains a slim enough profile to count as my personal item on all the flights Ive traveled on. The main zippered section has a mesh pocket near the top where I keep my passport and other documents easily accessible. This backpack does everything I need it to and much more. The organization and design of it are impressive, and I will be using it for as long as it remains it one piece.

I got this as a gift for someone who travels a lot, so I cant really speak to longevity. Ive had dozens of laptop backpack over the years and this one has to be one of the best designed ones Ive seen. I initially purchased the larger one, since the detentions were only a half inch larger in each direction! That was a huge mistake. a half inch all around is way larger than one would think and no way that one would have fit under an airline seat. This bag, on the other hand is the perfect size for someone who has to carry a lot of gear, but needs to remain conscientious of size. The fact that it opens up like a clam shell is really nice. To think of all the times I had to manage two laptops, shoes, belt, wallet, carry on.....just shoot me already! This bag definitely keeps the line moving faster. Wish everyone had a similar set up going through the TSA checkpoints!

Got a great deal on this back pack! After seeing a similar model in a big name office supply store and refusing to spend over a hundred dollars for a back pack, I was happy to find this a few weeks later on Amazon while scanning the daily deals. My son is in eighth grade and we are hoping this lasts till senior year. Well, I hoping it will. He will probably be asking for a new one in another year. It is sturdy enough to survive a teenage boy who believes backpacks are meant to slung across the room and left in the busiest pathway until it is time to leave the house to catch the bus. Goodness only knows what happens to it in school. I love that it is black and does not show the dirt and grime the way his former red back pack did.

So I had a Jansport backpack and it was stolen and that left me in the weird position of having to buy another backpack. I figured this time Id opt for what was practical for me as opposed to what was in style at the time. I did some searching and discovered this bag and was intrigued when I saw it could serve all of my needs. First off, there are compartments galore. Three separate areas, one main compartment, one flat compartment designed for your laptop, and a rear compartment that can hold some extra stuff. All three compartments are very long, with the main compartment being the biggest. The padding on the backpack is unreal. It really feels like having a pillow on your back. The side mesh pockets are great for holding a bottle of water or coffee container, and the Swiss Gear logo really adds a bit of style to the whole thing. Overall, Im very pleased. Well worth the money.

After an exhaustive search of backpacks online and in-stores, I ended up buying this one for school. It looks a bit bulkier than expected-but Im not complaining. For those of you wondering about how the backpack will look like on you and need a reference on height, I am 55. This backpack has no problem fitting in my 17 MacBook Pro (including its Vera Bradley Case) in the laptop compartment. On days I dont bring my laptop, I store a 1 inch binder in the laptop compartment. It also has an additional pouch across from the compartment for storing a tablet in which I use to store 3 or 4 regular sized folders. The main compartment of the of the bag can be used to store up to at least 4 binders and a textbook. For those of you who dont have a laptop, you can also store 2 more binders in the laptop compartment. Or, you can store a 2 inch binder, two 1 inch binders 1-5 folders, and still have room for a book. The main compartment of the bag also has an attached mesh zipper pocket across from it that can be used to store your chargers and what not. (Ive also packed the bag varying ways of how to hold your supplies for those of you who were wondering about storage.) I use the side compartments hold my glasses while I use the other to hold a hairbrush. I would prefer the straps to have a bit more support like the Jansport bags have - other than that, I have no complaints :)

I had L.L. Bean backpacks for years, so when I was leaving for college three years ago I ordered their newest model with laptop sleeve built in. After only a few years of use, it was fraying at the edges and the zipper began to tear off on the main compartment. I returned it for this one, not knowing if Id like it. I really like the seperate laptop compartment on the back. It makes getting to my computer -- what I reach for most of the time -- quick and easy. The front compartment door could be a little larger but other than that I love this bag! Looks new to this day. UPDATE: after about a year with the bag, the left shoulder strap began to tear at the top where it attaches to the backpack. it looks like its a problem with the stretchy shock-absorbing component of the strap. Ive sent the bag into Swiss Gear for warranty repair, so well see if/when I get a replacement what happens. even with this Im still pretty happy with the bag, as its very functional and good looking. just wishing the straps were a little more heavy duty...

Used laptop backpacks since 1999, and I have gone through several brands. When I found SwissGear, I stopped changing brands. Pros: 1. Toms of pockets, slots and a HUGE main compartment. Place for mp3 player, batteries, Kindle and all the related electronic stuff you cant live without while on the road. 2. This backpack is significantly lighter than the previous two SwissGears packs Ive owned. 3. Airport security friendly. Leave the laptop in the bag, unzip the back, fold it flat and send it through the x-ray. 4. Comfortable on the back, and easy to hand carry when needed. Cons: 1. The light weight seems to translate into lower quality in a few places. One of the side grommets caught on a seat belt and was pulled out with no effort. 2. Zipper does not go down all the way on the bottom front pocket. 3. There is no divider in the huge center compartment, and small items tossed in there fall to the bottom and get lost. 4. The zipper sections in the main compartment are small. Given the room available, they could have been much bigger. The final comment is not really a Con, but the bag holds so much that you can actually make it too bulky to fit under the seat in front of you on the plane, and make it too heavy to comfortably carry on your back. Now you really can carry all the junk you want to carry with you!

Ive held off on writing a review for this for about five months now as I wanted to give this bag a chance to get some wear and tear. Now after two trips over seas, daily use, and a couple of rainstorms Ill finally toss this up. This bag has held up remarkably well for the abuse Ive put it through. I do some travel for work and I had to find a bag large enough for my ASUS laptop and this was one of the only ones I could find. I was a little hesitant to purchase the bag as it was pricey and some of the reviews were not that favorable of it. The biggest concern I had was the reported zipper issues, that almost kept me from getting the bag itself. Now after five months Im extremely pleased with this bag and its durability. Ive had zero issues with the zippers so far and its taken a beating in the London Tubes, the plane rides over the pond and back, and while wondering around London during my downtime. Ive been hit by a few random downpours and the bag has kept my belongings safe and dry inside. The abundance of pockets gives me room to store all my computer related peripherals so I dont have to worry about them loose inside the main pocket. The scansmart feature is wonderful for going through security at my local airport. Before it was incredibly nerve wracking time as you had to unload all your electronics from the bag and put them in separate bins. Now I can simply unzip the bag, lay it flat, and send it through. That being said, over seas you still have to pull your electronics out. This bag is only recognized by the TSA not world wide security. My first trip over I watched a couple with the smart scan bags arguing with British security about it, so keep that in mind when ordering this bag if you do. Ive enjoyed this bag so much I showed one of my coworkers who does a lot of traveling for the company as well and he ended up purchasing another SwissGear ScanSmart style bag.

Wow, this backpack is the best! I had ordered 2 different packs from LL Bean to replace a 13-year old JanSport laptop backpack thats finally coming apart. Neither of the LL Bean ones were big enough for me, despite sounding as-big or bigger than this one. And this pack offers SO much more padding for my laptop. I LOVE the separate laptop compartment and the HUGE main compartment. In the LL Bean packs, the laptop sleeve was inside the main compartment, so it took up a lot of main compartment space. To compare them more specifically, this packs main compartment is the same depth as LL Beans largest capacity laptop backpacks entire depth. For example, the main compartment of the SA1923 holds my SLR camera case -- with my laptop in its separate compartment with room to spare. Not possible in the LL Bean models. To provide more of a description than what is above, this packs bottom front pocket has all the pen holders and other organizing pockets. The top front pocket is one large thin pocket. The two side pockets are deep and very cool. The water bottle holders are very well-made -- I think theyre double-lined or perhaps just use a really nice, thick mesh material. There is a small pocket hanging from the top back of the main compartment for your iPod/phone, etc. and a headphone cord hole just above that. On the outside, the hole comes out under and slightly behind the large, sturdy handle. The straps and back material are very nicely padded. And the pack is the perfect height for petite (51) me -- other packs hit the back of my neck when I looked up, but not this one. Finally, the quality of materials is REALLY nice all around. I cant tell you how excited I am to have finally found my new backpack after over a month of searching and trying out different models. Dont hesitate, this is a great find!