I broke down and picked up a new pack for my all too frequent trips to and through the airport(s). I've been using my old Trager bag since 2001 or so, and it's seen a LOT of miles. It's starting to look a little worse for wear, and, frankly, with the increasingly complicated and utterly undignified security process, having to go through three extra steps just to access and remove my laptop(s) was more effort than I was willing to endure. It's a matter of time before the TSA is going to ask us to bed and spread.

So now, I'm hauling around the Booq Boa3 . First and only rule when buying luggage if you happen to be a weekly traveler: if you don't think it can survive a drop from a four story window or an attack by at least one pit bull, don't buy it.

I've been looking for a new pack for a while now, and this may well be the best overall pack for the business traveler that I've seen yet. I've got some complaints, but the clean lines, the red interior, the hidden water bottle holders, and, most importantly, the separate, zippered, easily accessible and VERY padded laptop segment makes it ideal for the road warrior who wants to distinguish himself from the khaki clad clones with their corporate sponsored briefcases and the Tumi toting deal makers barking into cell phones.

Pros: Separate padded laptop compartment. This means you don't have to open the whole pack to get the laptop out for the security check. It's big. It's well padded. The red interior rocks. The external compartments on the front and side are clean and easily accessible - allowing me to get pens and GPS and biz cards again without opening the whole pack. It's big enough to carry a SLR, a couple books, a sweater and a whole shit load of power bricks but it looks relatively slim and crisp. It will carry well with a suit. Maybe not a tie, but definitely a suit.

Cons: I do see some QC issues in the construction and stitching. The water bottle compartments need to be wider. The padded waist belt is totally unnecessary for the road warrior. Leave that for the trekker. Same can be said of the sternum clasp. Ditch it. It could stand to drop a few ounces, but the zipper pulls, though nicely rubberized, could use to be beefier. Finally, shoulder strap pockets: WTF for? Just extra weight you can totally do without.

Is it worth two bills? Probably not. Is it better than most of the packs I've seen that cost that much or more. Certainly.