NorazzaSkooba Design Satchel V.3, Black, 15"

There is so much that I love about this bag. There must be, because I’ve just bought my seventh one, even though its predecessors have all failed in exactly the same way, each after about 1 1/2 years of use.Why do I love it? The combination of a compact, light bag with zillions of little pockets and compartments means that there’s a place for everything, and everything can be in its place. It’s one of few bags that I’ve found with a laptop compartment that isn’t one of those horrible, hateful, overbuilt laptop bags that unfold in half for airport security. And with one irritating exception, it’s really sturdy.The irritating exception is the main zipper. After a year or so, at a corner of the bag, the main compartment’s zipper separates from the body of the bag. Then it loses a tooth or two. Then one of the sliders comes off the track. Then the other one comes off and I can no longer close the bag, which means I no longer can use it and have to replace it.Do I recommend this bag? Well, sort of. It’s the best solution that I’ve found for my needs, and it’s inexpensive enough that I’m willing to put up with the short lifespan. As always, YMMV.

I own a previous version of this bag. The Skooba brand is excellent, however when I received this bag the Key FOB/Hook sewn into the top of the front section kept snagging on the zipper. This was one of the reasons I ended up sending the bag back as the constant opening and closing of the zipper would eventually damage the area where it was rubbing. The other reason for the return is because I own a previous version of this bag and decided to purchase the v3 model because the original had flaps over the pockets where this version didn’t have any flaps and had a slightly different configuration of pockets in the main compartment. What I didn’t realize when I ordered it was this one was actually not as long/wide as the original one I own by two inches. That two inches made a difference in what I could put into it. If you just carry a laptop, power supply, mouse and some files, this bag is fine. However, being in IT, I also carry a small travel router, misc adapters, a small/mini hub, usb cables, surge protector and a notepad. This bag could carry it all, but it was packed tight. When I put the items in my original bag I had room to spare. Skooba is an excellent brand, but the bag just didn’t live up to my previous version.

I don't usually write a review, but this one I wanted to mention.I've had a previous version of skooba, and it lasted me 6 years. After I got this one, it took a bit of getting used to (slightly different from factor), however there is one detail that i MUST point out:THE STRAP TECHNOLOGY!What I mean by that is this: I carry a 15" macbook laptop. not the lightest one, by far. along with a bunch of other crap that used to be pretty heavy. Now that I got this bag, i barely feel the weight! In fact, most of the time i have to check if i really got the laptop with me because the bag seems so light! What i think they did is there is something to the shoulder pad: it's hard to describe, almost like a band that's locked on two sides, and I think what it does is redistribute the weight very differently (instead of simply padding. I swear, the bag feels 20 lbs lighter every time! I have a bad shoulder, and the pain has gone away since i started carrying this bag.Long story short, definitely worth the money!

UPDATE - 10 Months LaterI've flown 115,000 miles this year, and I'm still loving this bag. All of the zippers and pockets have held up perfectly. Based on the wear so far, this bag will last me at least a couple of years.I fly almost every week for work, so having the right gear is essential. For the last few years I've been trying to find the right laptop bag that had the right amount of storage, was lightweight, and still looked professional. My search is over. I've been using this bag for 2 weeks and it fits my needs perfectly. The construction quality is really nice and I'm sure it is going to last. The massive number of pockets is ideal and they are perfectly placed. Because I carry a laptop and an Ipad, my bags get heavy. I'm not sure how it works, but my same pack feels 5 lbs lighter with this bag. I also bought the Skooba wire portfolio and it's a great compliment. There are many companies that focus on frequent travelers, but I think Skooba put a lot of thought into what travelers actually need. Well done.

So far so good. I have taken this laptop bag on one business trip (flying) and it served its purpose as promised by all the other reviews. Below are the things I find useful about it for business travelers. Don't get me wrong, I love this bag, and it is well worth the money, I'm just not going to get over the moon about it like some reviewers have.-The strap does help with the weight. This is probably the part I thought was overstated a bit in reviews. It's nice yes, but does it make your bag weightless...no.-The suitcase handle sleeve on the back of the bag is awesome for throwing this thing on your roller suitcase. It stays Velcro'd into place when not needed and is a good addition for flying because it is quick-access.-The quick-stash pocket on the front is brilliant. Fits a boarding pass perfectly. This was the one thing I really thought, "Wow that's REALLY handy!" during my time at the airport.-There is plenty of room in this thing, even with a full sized laptop. I fit a small (flattened) purse, large wallet, legal pad, laptop charger, granola bars, etc. in there without a sweat. I found this nice because I eliminated the carrying of a purse through the airport and onto the plane.-The laptop padding seems top-of-the-line. Great for lugging a laptop on and off of planes.All in all, buy this bag. I did A LOT of research before purchasing and the reviews don't lie here. For business travelers, this is the best bang for your buck.