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

I bought this backpack in the hopes that it would be able to protect my macbook air and keep my college supplies (notebooks, pens/pencils, chargers, calculator....etc) and food containers safe. In terms of space, I would say that it is more than sufficient for that purpose. However, this is actually what I didnt like. I know that the backpack is meant for 15.6 and higher, but that really wasnt the biggest issue at hand. The main issue was that I noticed there wasnt enough padding for the laptop and the space was too big to properly house the computer. What I mean is that the laptop was noticeably shifting from left to right inside the backpack while I would walk because the Velcro strap was too wide to keep the laptop from shifting. Another thing I noticed is that the netting that allows for an easier scan in airport compromises the safety of the laptop if you were to put anything else beside it in the adjacent space. I also noticed that the zippers felt slightly flimsy for a SwissGear backpack. I also had a 32oz Thermos container on one side and on the other side I had a 25oz Camelbak Chute on the other so I could gauge the backpacks capacity. It was able to hold everything I threw at it, but it felt like I was running the risk of damaging my items in the long run. So, I opted to try out the SwissGear SHERPA Backpack. I was not dissatisfied in the least. The straps were more cushioned, the laptop padding was amazing, the space was for supplies was more than adequate, and the zippers even felt more durable than the scansmart. Overall, if you are a college student that needs something to hold two ~32oz containers, a laptop, kindle/tablet, supplies and some food. I would highly recommend getting the SwissGear The SHERPA Laptop Notebook Computer Backpack - Red/Black. You can get one from amazon, but if you want a better deal I would check Macmall because they are selling it for *25$ at the time of this review. * You must have 35$ worth of items to be eligible for free shipping.

I’ve been using this backpack for six years, and in that time have used it nearly every day for work or travel. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It has been durable, useful, and done almost everything I ask of it. On travel days it carries two iPad Pros, one in an Otter Box case, a Kindle Fire, two backup Lion batteries, a bundle of charging cables and plugs, AirPods, passport, USCG documentation, two bundles of keys, TWIC card in a case, water bottle, full-size umbrella, bag of snacks, bag of nips, bag of meds, bottle of Ibuprofen, gum, mints, etc. It swallows all this and more, and while it’s heavy, because of the contents, it’s manageable and fits under the airplane seat. The bag has survived 6 years of brutal treatment in airports and aboard the commercial vessels I drive. It’s been my constant companion, and I only have one complaint. It doesn’t stand up on its own when fully loaded. When I place it upright on the floor or other surfaces it slowly leans forward, and eventually topples. So, I have to lean it against things or place it in such a way that it doesn’t fall. I’m writing this after six years of happy use because I finally broke one of the many zippers. I blame myself for overloading the main storage area and forcing the zipper. So, I’m retiring this great bag and, after much research replacing it with the SwissGear 5358, which is slightly larger and has a few slightly different design features. I’ll let you know if it measures up.

I really like this backpack! It is so convenient to have the ScanSmart feature when going through airport security! The laptop compartment unzips to allow you separate the laptop from the rest of the backpack. This backpack has lots of storage compartments like many other reviewers have mentioned. I was able to carry my laptop, DSLR camera, a couple of changes of clothes, several magazines and books, and still could have packed more. Of course it was pretty heavy at that point, so I wouldnt have wanted to pack more. My point is that you can carry a lot with this backpack! It seems like it is good quality and will last a long time. However, this is a pretty large backpack. Im a pretty big guy (64) so it fits me fine, but it looks a little silly when my wife wears it. So you may want to get a smaller size backpack if you dont want to look like a pack mule.

At first, I liked the pack a lot. It seemed well-built, has pockets everywhere, plenty of room and is TSA-friendly. (No more removing the laptop through the scanner). Theres plenty of room for my 15 MacbookPro which is stored securely and is well-padded. After daily use for about 7 months the pack is showing its age. Im constantly forgetting to close all the zippers (its hard to tell when theyre open with the black-on-black color). It no longer wants to sit upright, but is always falling over. A couple of the zippers dont glide smoothly any more, but get hung up. Finally, some of the interior pockets are getting loose and floppy. Even so, its a better pack then I had before and Ill probably keep using it until it falls apart, but I cant say if this is one of the better SwissGear backpacks. SwissGear packs seem everywhere and I expected a little better quality. The pack is reasonably lightweight and I got it at a decent price. I would call it a good, but not great backpack.

I have used many different types of laptop bags usually over the shoulder Tumi or Targus laptop bags throughout my career. I started to notice that my back was starting to hurt and the doctor said that it was probably from lugging my laptop around. He suggested that I try a backpack style bag. I tried several brands of backpack style laptop bags which truthfully mostly work the same in that it puts the weight on both shoulders. However, I liked how the pocket compartments were in this SwissGear. I also really like the ScanSmart system whereby I can just unzip the backpack and it folds flat to expose the laptop without having to take it out. There are 2 file compartments for putting file folders in. There are 2 pockets on each side which can be used for a water bottle or other miscellaneous items. The outer pocket has a fairly generous amount of space. The only thing I would have liked would have been another zippered compartment inside the outside pouch. But this is a minor technicality and I would highly recommend this backpack!

I needed to update my backpack. I can definitively say that this is hands down the best laptop backpack you can buy! Pros: 1. Tons of space and usable compartments: - 1 padded laptop compartment - 1 thin compartment that can be used for papers and folders - 1 main compartment that contains vertical dividers to keep things organized, a smaller interior mesh pocket, and an ipod/cell phone pouch that leads to a slit in the top of the backpack for a headphone cord - 1 decent sized pocket on each side (I use 1 for my laptop charger and accessories) - 2 stretchy water bottle pockets big enough for the big 1 liter bottles (good for umbrella too) - 1 small pocket on the top front - 1 pocket on the bottom front that contains a bunch of small organizer pockets found in every backpack that nobody ever uses 2. Comfort: padded, shock absorbing arm pads, padded back, and a comfortable handle on top. 3. Appearance: In my opinion, this is one of the best looking backpacks out there, but I cant argue with taste so if you have one of those ugly backpacks, thats fine with me. Cons: 1. I have concerns on how zipper will hold up 2.The opening for the laptop is on the side (not the top) which makes it a little awkward to get in and out.

I purchased this bag once I started traveling for work. I have a HP ZBook - Bang & Olufsen computer (massive piece of equipment) and it fits snug. Ive used it for carrying files to and from our different locations in the US and it has several compartments that are accessible and convenient to have. Ive even used this for personal travels and was impressed by the durability, comfortability and capacity. Ive used it daily for over a year and I see no signs of wear. The zippers are all in the same condition as when I bought it. Its swiss-made! I would recommend this over other back packs. Note: Ive never actually tried to use the TSA friendly ScanSmart feature I always just take it out and put it into a separate bin but I might try it next time if I have some time!

Bought this for a quick work trip via plane. It preformed perfectly and I now use it daily. I have an old giant chunky Dell that fits perfectly. Along with an iPad, a small portfolio and 1” binder with room to spare in the main compartment. Loads of room in this thing. I use all the zippers daily and not a single issue. Going on two months now. My only complaint is this bag is still “off gassing” but mostly from the rubber handle. It took about two weeks for the initial stank to wear off. I am notoriously hard on pretty much everything I own and this thing is keeping pace. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend or buy again.

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.

I purchased this backpack for travel. After coming back from five weeks overseas, I really put the backpack through its paces. I used it for packing through the airport, to-and-fro the office, as well as a few side hikes without electronics. So far, no signs of stress on the seams or other stitched parts. First, the SmartScan feature is amazing. This is definitely a time saver in the security line where a few extra seconds can alleviate some serious headache in the masses. Even through international security lines, no one ever said anything and the pack went straight through the scanner. The side-load of the laptop is definitely something I am not used to or have seen before, but it actually worked great. This is one of those dont knock it til you try it type things. The backpack has plenty of storage and organization, overall. The mesh pocket inside is great for passports/documents and the mp3 player pocket is great for packing along an external hard drive. The lower front pocket has plenty of space for pens, documents, phone(s), business cards, and includes a nifty keychain that you can snap your keys to. The tall, zippered side pockets are perfect for a glasses case or something like that. I also slipped my mouse in there too. Heres the problem - the mesh pockets are fairly tight and not prone to stretching as far as other SwissGear packs of the past. So, if you load up the zippered pocket, you may not have room for a water bottle; maybe some gum or throat lozenges. If that zippered pocket is empty, dont even consider a Nalgene. You can hold a 20oz water/coke bottle at best. Lastly, on the storage parts, the main compartment is very well thought out. There are some complaints about how access is a little tight, but I had no issues. The good part about this is that the sides of that main compartment create a good shroud around everything you have in there. Heres that bad news - two parts. If you have read other reviews about padding on the bottom and the zippers, those are totally accurate. SwissGear could have added something ever-so-slightly to pad the bottom of the laptop better. There is plenty of room in there to add that in, even with a 17 laptop I had stowed. Then there are the zippers - ooooh the zippers! This design is clearly a product of the economic downturn design budget there at the head office! They look somewhat rugged. The zipper tags feel rugged. However, the zippers are prone to skipping teeth and you have to be somewhat gentle with them. Basically, you have to watch it when zipping to make sure its okay. You cannot just zip it quick and run out the door. What is needed are some of those trusty YKK zippers we all love. Dont get me wrong, though. Once they are sealed, youre good to go. All that being said, I would definitely purchase this again. Overall, it worked perfect for what I needed and everything has held up well. Dont go for the $80 price this bag has sometimes. Add it to your Amazon Wish List and wait for a price drop in the $50-$60 range. An easy 4 Stars (5 if they fix the zippers).