Think Tank's "Airport Check In" Tested on the Road

There are enough challenges to airline travel without having to worry about your luggage. When I can, I try to fly with a small roller bag for my clothes, then slide the Airport Check In over the extended handle so I can move quickly through the terminal. The great thing about this combination is that I don't have to check any bags at all. The roller fits in the overhead compartment, and the Check In slides neatly under the seat in front of me.

When I land, the Check In looks great over my shoulder as I arrive to business meetings. It holds up to a 17" laptop in the back pocket. But I've switched to a 13" MacBook for the road. It's much lighter to carry around, and it leaves room in the back pocket for me to tote a mid-sized GorillaPod for my photography.

Speaking of picture taking, I have a couple options with this configuration. On more business type trips, I pack the Canon G9. It fits easily in the removable bag that slides inside of the Airport Check-In. When I need a DSLR for light shooting (not a full blown assignment where I would pack the Think Tank Airport International), I remove the lens from my Olympus E-30 or the new Canon EOS Rebel T1i and pack them flat in the Check In (plus the Canon G9). I also include a wide-to-medium zoom, and a fast prime such at the Sigma 50mm f/1.4. I round out the center pocket packing with a small cable bag, card reader, and reading glasses.

In the front pocket of the Airport Check In, I stash a couple portable hard drives, computer power brick, earphones, and pens. There are two side pockets, one is designed to hold a water bottle. The business card holder is on top of the bag beneath the handle, making it easy to identify the bag if lost.

There are plenty of wide, slim pockets to stash magazines, files, and other papers. When I'm not using the sleeve on the back of the bag to slide over my roller bag handle, I can zip it closed providing yet another storage area for newspapers and such. The shoulder strap is outstanding with thick padding and sliver clasps.

The Airport Check In gets an A rating for both craftsmanship and design. It's been my companion on over a half dozen flights, plus everyday use, and it looks as good now as when I first snapped on the strap.

It sells for $149 on the Think Tank web site. If you use this link, as a Digital Story member, you're entitled to your choice from a handful of bonus gifts, usually worth around $29. I have an affiliate agreement with Think Tank to provide this bonus.

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