Skooba Satchel V.3 Review: Comfortable, Durable and Stylish

A lot of thought went into producing the Satchel V.3. Not only is the outside made out of durable ballistic nylon, but Skooba included Hypalon coating in the front panel, blue coloring in the stitching, interior, and on the zippers, a metal Skooba logo patch on the front, and a padded laptop compartment. The dedicated laptop compartment is protected by what Skooba calls a BumperBar, or four thick bars on each side, for "additional shock absorption and improved air circulation." Moreover, the "Superbungee" shoulder strap itself is sold separately on Skooba's website and it goes for about $27 (it's included with the bag). It's military standardized for durability due to its webbing and twist-free design, as well as its removable metal clips. The V.3 bag has two carrying handles; both are made with Hypalon coating as well.

The satchel has 20 pockets in total, three compartments, and a removable divider with two pockets in the middle compartment to keep things better organized. There are separate slots for a USB flash drive, ID, key ring and water or soda bottle. Its design appears stylish and quite durable as Skooba suggests - that's not to say something inside won't break if you drop it from high up - but we are confident that it will survive the bumps and grinds of every day life and that it should hold up well while traveling. 

Should I Buy it?

The V.3 Satchel is intended for consumers who need a comfortable and durable (yet lightweight) laptop bag while traveling or on the go. Keep in mind that it most likely won't be able to fit a laptop over 15.6 inches unless it has a thin chassis; for a larger bag that's identical to this one, check out the "large" V.3 satchel. 

We were able to fit two medium-sized books in there, as well as a number of tech accessories, a cell phone and 15.6-inch notebook, water bottle, and a couple of folders. We're guessing the bag will be able to fit almost most of every type of tech you'll need while traveling, but it probably won't be able to hold all of your school books and materials (unless all your books are on an eReader, of course). In other words, it's designed to provide a more enjoyable experience for your shoulders, but it might not be able to carry everything you'd need throughout a typical day at school.

Keeping this in mind, we liked that there's a number of pockets of all sizes in which to put all of your things. The laptop compartment should be very easy to get to; which is especially nice while going through security in the airport. The bag was also able to provide one of the more comfortable experiences we've had while reviewing laptop bags. All in all, we say you should get it if you're in the market for a comfortable and durable black and blue laptop bag. The only thing that may deter you is the zipper tabs--they tend to jingle when you walk. 

Skooba Satchel V.3 Details:

• Twenty pockets in total with a dedicated padded laptop compartment
• Exterior made of water-resistant micro ballistic nylon; Hypalon accents on front panel
• "Self-repairing" #8 and #10 zippers
• Dedicated slots for USB flash drive, ID, key ring and water bottle
• Luggage strap on back (to secure it to your airport luggage)
• Black exterior, blue interior
• Dimensions: 15.5" (L) x 11.5" (H) x 7" (D)
• Weight: 2.68 pounds (empty)
• MSRP: $169.95 on Skooba's website

Pros:

• Very stylish
• Comfortable shoulder strap and handles
• Durable design
• Big enough to fit the necessities, lots of pockets

Cons:

• The eight zipper tabs jingle when you walk
• Probably won't be able to carry everything you need for a day at school (if you carry textbooks)