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One of the most tedious parts of going through airport security is taking your laptop out of your backpack.
The computer has to be placed in its own tray, separate from your other electronics, travel-sized lotions, shoes, and other personal items, then shoved back into your backpack to avoid slowing down the line.
This entire annoying process can be avoided if you use a “TSA-friendly” laptop bag.
What Is a TSA-Friendly Laptop Bag?
A TSA-friendly laptop bag is a backpack that can be fully unzipped, so both sizes can be lain perfectly flat. These backpacks have a dedicated laptop pocket, so your computer can be easily scanned by an X-Ray machine without any of your other stuff getting in its way.
This feature allows you to keep your laptop inside the backpack, so you can zip it up and quickly walk to your gate after you get through security. It’s important to note that using a TSA-friendly laptop bag does not guarantee a smooth experience every time you travel, and not all airports approve these bags. Individual TSA agents may still ask you to take your laptop out of the backpack. Still, it’s worth investing in one just for the protective qualities alone, keeping your laptop safe and close at hand.
What Are the Best TSA-Friendly Laptop Bags?
We’ve rounded up four of the best TSA-approved laptop bags that you can buy online, from slim and sleek options, to backpacks that let you pack for a weekend. Here’s what to shop now.
TOP PICK
OIWAS Lightweight Travel Laptop Backpack
We’ve worn this laptop bag for long hours at a time when traveling or commuting and it stays remarkably comfortable to carry. That’s thanks to its lightweight material and breathable mesh backing, which prevents your back from getting sweaty. The ergonomic straps are padded and adjustable for comfort.
Features-wise, this backpack has a separate laptop sleeve that can find a computer up to 15.6 inches in size. The sleeve folds down flat so airport security can easily see what’s inside. This bag also has a built-in USB port and an internal charging cable, so you can keep your devices powered up on the go. What we like: the jet black design is sleek and sophisticated but it also features subtle reflective markings on the sides so you stay visible even when going out at night.
Amazon
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack
If you travel with a large laptop, Matein’s Travel Laptop Backpack is the right choice. It’s designed to hold a 17-inch notebook computer, and has dedicated pockets for tablets, notebooks, documents, and other travel accessories like chargers. It also has a luggage strap, which makes it easy to transport along with your carry-on.
If you bring a power bank with you when you travel, you can connect it to a double-sided USB-A port inside the backpack. Once it’s connected, you can charge your phone by plugging it into the USB-A port located on the outside of the backpack. You need to supply the power bank and charging cable, but this is a nice-to-have feature nonetheless.
This bag is pretty big, but if you prefer traveling with a large backpack instead of a carry-on, this is the one to get.
PORTABLE PICK
SwissGear Mini 1900 Scansmart Slim Version Laptop Backpack
Swissgear’s ScanSmart Mini is a TSA-friendly backpack for those who want to travel light.
It’s designed to hold 13-inch laptops like the MacBook Air, with room to spare for cables, and adapters.
The backpack has a side-strap that holds your laptop in place while you’re walking around the airport, or getting your bag under your seat on the plane. The other side of the backpack has a dedicated tablet pocket on top, so you can keep both devices in your backpack as you go through security.
This may be smaller backpack than our other TSA-friendly backpack recommendations, but Swissgear optimized its design, so you can still carry all of your stuff. It has a sunglasses loop, RFID-protected organizer pocket, quick-access zip pocket, and a luggage pass-through strap. The only feature this laptop lacks is a USB port, which is more of a luxury than a necessity. If you only take the essentials when you travel, Swissgear’s ScanSmart Mini is the TSA-friendly travel backpack you need.
LARGEST CAPACITY
Mogplof 18.4 Laptop Backpack
It may be large, but this TSA-friendly backpack is a true carry-on replacement.
The backpack can hold up to a 19-inch laptop with plenty of room to spare for clothes, books, and tech (it has a 60L capacity). The backpack features a built-in USB port, so you can easily charge your devices while you travel, an anti-theft back pocket for your phone and jewelry, and a luggage strap that makes it easier to transport and slide over your carry-on suitcase handle. Given the size of this backpack this large, we highly recommend using that feature.
We like the super durable material which is water-resistant and tear-proof while reviewers praise the addition of a chest strap, which spreads the weight out so it’s not just resting on your shoulders. We also like the 180-degree fold down laptop compartment, which makes for quick airport security checks. Overall, this laptop bag boasts an impressive 4.8-star rating (out of five) from thousands of verified reviewers online.
If you want to avoid fighting over who gets the limited overhead compartment space on your next flight, and don’t want to spend too long at airport security, this backpack is your best choice.
TSA Laptop Bags Buying Guide
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right TSA-friendly backpack for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Size: The TSA-friendly laptop bags in this guide can hold laptops between 13 and 17 inches; be sure to get one that can accommodate the computer you currently have, or plan to get in the near future.
Weight: You’re going to be carrying your TSA-friendly laptop bag a lot while you travel, so we made sure our picks didn’t weigh you down. All of our recommendations are roughly two pounds, and have padded straps for added comfort.
Extras: Some of the backpacks in this guide come with useful design features, like a USB port that makes it easy to charge your devices using an external battery pack.
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