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

I needed to replace my old laptop backpack and noticed many colleagues using the SwissGear line. The difficulty in ordering one of these on-line is that there are a number of variations and the differences are subtle. From everything I could learn an all websites, including Amazon, there were 2 models I was interested in. the SA1923 (this one) and the SA1900. The photos are misleading. They are not necessarily unique to those specific models. I had to order both packs and compare in-hand and send the one back that I didnt fit my needs. The only difference between these 2 models, besides the color, is this one has a full width pocket for a slim folder or notebook opposite the laptop compartment in the section that opens up to lie flat on the airports scanning conveyor. The SA1900 has a compartment for an iPad in that location. All other compartments and sections of the pack are identical. The pack is roomy and can old a lot. Probably more than I really want to carry. My only complaint is I wish it had just a couple of other small zippered sections inside for small miscellaneous items often needed on business trips (e.g. medications, snacks, sunglasses or reading glasses, etc.). Also, keep in mind access to the laptop compartment is one side only (right side while wearing the pack). The zipper goes from the top of the pack down the right side only. There are other models in this line that are smaller and more simple. If the features each offer is important, just dont rely on the pictures if they seem to be the same as other models.

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!

I have been using my Swissgear backpack for a number of months now and could not be more pleased with it. Not long after buying this from Amazon, I was given a new laptop to use. My Original HP 17 laptop fit in it perfectly with some room to spare. The new Dell developer 19.5 laptop pushed the limits. At first I thought there was no way I was going to get it to fit. I then figured out the right method of sliding the bottom corner in first, then follow with the top corner. It then slid in the rest of the way with just a gentle tug at the last corner to get it to fit in. The zipper has been holding up great for the last several months with no trouble! I love the durability of this backpack. It holds everything I need, including a 19,200 ma backup batter pack for my peripheral recharging needs. I cant say enough nice things about it, Enjoy yours!

This is my first experience of using a back pack so I carefully selected one for my needs. My job as a golf ranger requires me to carry a variety of necessary items for work and nourishment. This pack has lots of convenient pockets inside and out and is well suited for work and travel. The zippers are to my liking and I actually returned a more expensive pack because of the zipper action. I like smooth and substantial with generous pulls for ease of operation. I live in Arizona and black is not a good choice of color for being in the sun and I can see a slight fading starting but the sun is harsh and nothing can last in it for long unless it has thorns. This is a cool looking pack and I recommended it unless you dont like cool.

I have been using this backpack for almost a year now and I am really happy with the purchase. Swiss Gear makes great backpacks and is well worth spending the extra money to have a durable backpack that will last you for a very long time. I can manage to fit a lot of things in it without any issue for school or when I am going out on a trip. There is a lot of space and can put an extra laptop or device in it. There are plenty of compartments to it.

This is my second backpack like this. The first was stolen out of our rental car. It has so many pockets and is great for travel. It fits under the seat in front of you in airplanes. I usually haul my camera, iPad, one or two lenses and many other necessities needed on a trip. Side pockets hold a water bottle Little pockets inside are good for headphones, medicine, change. Use front pocket for items needed immediately such as wallet and passport. There is a separate zippered area for your laptop and you can throw a lightweight jacket in there too. It has traveled to Australia, London and Paris and it looks brand new still. The biggest drawback about this backpack is the weight. I dont know how much it weighs, but its pretty heavy.

For a while I had a messenger bag to cart around my laptop, but as I traveled around the country, I found my back and shoulders getting increasingly sore. Asymmetrical loading, as it turns out, is bad for your body on long trips through an airport. With that in mind, I knew I needed to find a more traditional carrier, like a backpack, but it needed to be well padded if it was going to haul around my Mac Book Pro. When it comes to fixing that checklist, the SwissGear SA1923 ScanSmart Backpack has exceeded by expectations in almost every way. Pros: + Really good capacity. With a laptop pocket more than big enough for 15 inches (it fits up to 17), a main compartment, two sides, and two small fronts pouches, theres plenty of space. Plus, you can also squeeze a tablet in the little pocket in the Scan Smart section. All that means you can keep a laptop, some electronics, and a couple days of clothes in there. + If you travel, the Scan Smart system is incredible. You can just unzip, lay it flat, and run it through the metal detector. No TSA trouble at all, and no extra bins + The padding is really thick and cushy. I dont worry about putting it down, or it riding through turbulence. + The price is really good for the main features of the bag. + Its comfortable and adjustable. The fiber in the back will let your back breathe. + It looks good too. Clearly less kid like than grabbing an ordinary backpack out of the local retailer. Cons - The only thing that I can really say is that it doesnt take two years of almost nonstop air travel well. The mesh is worn out and tearing. Most bags arent designed for that kind of abuse though. So its more of a nitpick, as its still fully functional. - The water bottle holders on the sides have a tendency to not hold onto liquids that well. A few times strangers have handed me things that fell out on my trip through the airport. Overall though, I love this bag. Its been very comfortable, protected my stuff, and fits almost anywhere on a plane. Id recommend it to anyone.

Ive had this backpack for 7+ years now. The best Ive ever had. No issues and everyone seems to want one, including my wife. I had a zipper issue that it went off the track, but easily fixed. I was so nervous Id not be able to fix it and checked out that they have a 3-5 year warranty, 10 if you buy right from their website (not amazon). If this was unrepairable, Id be getting another swissgear backpack - no doubt. Great product and lasted the test of time from travel, work, etc.

I have ~20 backpacks, but Ive been flying more often lately and wanted one I could keep my laptop in while passing through airport security. Ive had this for a month or two, but just did my first flight with it. Sure enough I was able to keep my laptop in the bag: I unzipped the clamshell and laid it out open on the belt, with the laptop in its own compartment on one side and everything else in the other half of the clamshell. It passed through security just fine. So as a travel bag it did what I wanted. Sweet! As a backpack, its very good. Its super-sturdy. The handle is actually rigid metal covered with rubber, so its indestructible and will never fail no matter how much you weight you put in the bag. The zippers and zipper pulls are rugged. I have no worries about this bag wearing out anytime soon. And it has plenty of pockets, so you can distribute the weight around and keep smaller stuff organized and accessible. My only minor complaint is that the actual laptop compartment is way thicker than I need, and the main compartment of the bag is therefore somewhat smaller than I might wish. I have a 15 MacBook Pro, which is ~3/4 thick. The laptop compartment has so much padding that it seems to be 4 times thicker than my laptop. The laptop stayed secure, and was definitely well protected, but I felt like the padding wasted a fair bit of space. So much so that the main compartment doesnt hold quite as much as my other backpacks with laptop compartment do. You can still get a couple of books in there plus some other stuff, so it holds enough. But given the size of the backpack, it felt like too much of the volume was given to the laptop compartment vs. the main compartment. Since TSA regulations state the laptop has to be in a compartment by itself, you cant stick anything else in with the laptop, so that empty space is wasted. But thats just a minor annoyance. Its a great bag, and it got me through airport security a little bit easier and a little bit faster, which is what I wanted it for. So Im happy with this purchase and have no problem recommending this backpack.

After many types of messenger bags I decided to switch out to a backpack for a lot of my work. I did some research online, checked out the reviews and decided on this SwissGear SA 1923. Good bag. its a very well made back and so far has held up to a lot of my punishment. Its easy to sling over my shoulder and when I have to carry something large I can wear it proper and not worry about it slipping off. It has ample storage space and a lot of compartments to store the odd bits. In the main computer compartment I store my Lenovo 14 laptop. The only addition I did was put a piece of foam at the bottom of the compartment from a Targus bag to keep the bumps from hurting anything. The bag is made to TSA specs so the next set of zippers inwards will cleave the backpack in two. In normal mode it allows me to store my iPad or bluetooth keyboard in a webbed compartment. Oh, quick hint. At the top, where all these zippers meet, theres a loop where I put a carabiner. All these zippers have a hole at the end where theyll easily fit onto a small carabiner. Do this or the weight of the laptop will pull the zipper down. No problem unless youre wearing the backpack, driving down the road on your motorcycle. VERY close call. Side pockets allow me to separate out my AC adapter and small amount of tools. Theres a large central compartment for my notebook (paper) and iPad and a front pouch that gathers all of my other bits and pieces. Oh yeah, theres a top front pocket, by the handle, thats perfect to hold quick to get at items. Great for drink mixes or granola bars. The material seems tough, it stores a lot of my junk and is pretty easy to carry around. Exactly why I purchased it. Easy to carry by the handle as well as one or both shoulder straps. Plenty of pockets and carabiner attachment points. And, is TSA compliant. But why not 5 stars? I only had two problems with this bag, both relatively minor. First, it will fall FLAT ON ITS FACE! The way the bag is made causes the bag to flop over onto its face no matter how its loaded. Not really a problem but I like to put my bag down so I can get at the pockets and the first time I did this it took a header off a chair and crashed onto a concrete floor. Kind of a pain to always have to hide away the pockets when you put it down. Second complaint is the lack of storage for small items. I have a lot of cables, adapters, and other small do-dads. There really isnt a good small item dividers. Like I said, small complaint but important to me. Ive gotten around it by purchasing other small zippered storage bags that I can stuff into the larger compartments. All in all a good bag. Glad I purchased it and would recommend to others but with those two caveats.