A Unique Carry-on Case with a Flip-up Table Built In!
Written: Jul 28 '04 (Updated Jul 30 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The unique fold-out tabletop!, well-padded laptop compartment, nice assortment of pockets
Cons: Tabletop is vulnerable to scratches and not as stable as you'd like it to be
The Bottom Line: If you are both a traveler and a lover of novelty items...it doesn’t get much better than this.
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| gadgetmaestro's Full Review: Mobile Office Vehicle Flightable Laptop Case C-100... |
Note: I'm in the process of trying to get a product photo added to this listing. A picture is truly worth a thousand words on this one! For now, you can find numerous photos of the Flightable case at http://www.flightable.com .
When I came across this unusual “gadget” in a magazine blurb a couple of years ago, the sight of it set my heart a-flutter. What self-respecting gadgeteer wouldn’t swoon over this ingenious little number! At first glance, the Flightable C-1000 looks pretty much like any other piece of 22-inch, vertical carry-on luggage. But this wheeled carry-on has a secret! It sports a hidden table which flips out from the back of the case to create a small desktop or general-purpose table for using your laptop, writing, or “dining” in an airport waiting area...or wherever. I HAD to have it.
If you’re also smitten by the flip-up table gimmick, you should be aware that Flightable carry-ons are also available in two other “regular” models in addition to this C-1000 “Computer Pac” case which includes a padded laptop compartment. Azpac International’s two Flightable “Travel Pac” models--the V-2500E (currently $79) and the V-1600E (currently $49)—are interesting, lower-cost options for those who don’t need the built-in laptop storage. The Flightable C-1000 Computer Pac model currently goes for $109 on the flightable.com website.
First Things First…Does It Work?
At the time I parted with hard cash for the Flightable C-1000, I feared in my raunchy little heart that this fold-out table business was too good to be true. So DOES it really work? I have to say that, yes, it does. The tabletop isn’t as solid and stable as I had expected it to be. It definitely sways and moves a bit when in use. But is it functional? Yes, definitely. For supporting lighter items, like a couple of over-priced Big Macs and Diet Cokes from the airport concourse shop, it’s just fine. Used for operating a laptop or as a writing surface, it certainly doesn’t feel like your office desk. As I said, it will sway some as you type or write. But you will be able to use it effectively without a sudden need for Dramamine. And, in my book, it certainly beats the alternative of balancing a computer, writing tablet, or gooey Cinnabon on your lap.
But be forewarned that the Flightable won’t have a chance of working at all if you don’t have enough space to set it up. For example, the wingspan of the C-1000 with the table open is definitely going to be wider than the width of a single seat in an airport waiting area. So, if you’re traveling alone, stuck in a crowded waiting room, and unable to hog two seats, you’re going to have a problem--unless you can snag a seat at the end of a row or don’t mind setting up at a more distant, less crowded gate area.
The Basics
So as far as the Flightable’s unique table feature goes, I’d give it a thumbs-up with the caveats noted above. As a straight carry-on bag, the C-1000 model offers the following basic features:
Airline Requirements......Meets typical airline requirements for carry-on bags
Stowing Onboard......Fits in the overhead compartment or under the seat. The first time I traveled by plane with my C-1000, I used the overhead compartment but found that the bag would easily slip under the seat of a Boeing 757. I guess the same is true for any vertical carry-on which expands…but if you use the Flightable’s expandable compartment and stuff it to the gills, you may have a problem with that under-seat clearance.
Color......Available in black only
Dimensions......22 x 14 x 9 (my measurements of the case exterior, unpacked). When the expander compartment is extended, the depth of the case increases by about 2 3/4 inches (again, that’s unpacked).
Fabric......1500D Ballistic Polyester. Although this fabric is not ultra top-quality material, I’ve found it to be completely durable for my usage over the past 2 years. Bear in mind, however, that I don’t travel very often and tend to baby this case because I like it so much.
Weight......The Flightable website does not provide a specific weight figure for the C-1000 model; it only provides an average weight for its 3 Flightable models--12 pounds. The presence of the solid plastic tabletop device definitely makes this bag heavier than most traditional 22-inch carry-ons, but I haven’t had any serious problems handling it. However, when you’re traveling with a loaded Flightable, you’ll be very thankful for its wheels and even more thankful if you don’t encounter too many spots where you have to lift this bag by hand.
Weight Supported By Table......55 lbs. according to the Flightable website. I'm not sure I buy that spec, but I can tell you that the table-top easily supports my 8 lb. laptop and an 8 lb. puppy in a 2-lb. Sherpa bag.
Other Features
The Flightable C-1000 also offers other very decent features for a wheeled carry-on case at this price point. For example, the capacity of the case can be increased via the zippered expansion feature. When the expander is unzipped and opened, the depth of this case is increased by about 2 3/4 inches, as noted above.
Now I must say that because of the weight of this bag, I was a little disappointed in the quality of the C-1000’s telescoping handle. It is adequate, but not fabulous. The single-stage handle extends up about 14 1/2 inches and is sturdy enough to get the job done. Operation of the handle is fine but not totally smooth. The handle does not have a button release; so you have to yank it up with some force. And the handle also resists being pushed back down. You can’t be shy. You’ve got to give it a firm shot to get it to glide back to the down position.
I am pleased, however, with the decent-quality zippers on the C-1000. The main compartment and the two main front pockets have double-zippers; however, only the main compartment has a double-zipper with the hardware feature that allows you to interlock the zipper pulls and easily connect a padlock. So the C-1000 comes with only one small padlock--a keyed lock, not a combination lock. If you want to lock the front pockets, it is “do-able,” however. The pewter-colored metal zipper pulls have holes on the ends that are large enough to accommodate a luggage padlock (which you should be able to find in any travel accessory department). The look won’t be first-class, but your cell phone and laptop will be more secure.
I guess I’d award a B plus to the C-1000’s carry handles. There are two soft plastic, flexible carry handles located on the top and side of the case which flex up for carrying and down to be out of the way and a little more flush to the case. The carry handles aren’t padded, but they aren’t hard plastic either. So I’ve found them to be fairly easy on the hands. And the handles do have finger ridges underneath for a better grip and more comfortable toting.
The C-1000 also comes with a piggy-back strap for hooking on an additional travel bag or purse. (The piggy-back mechanism is also designed to double as a stabilizing device when the tabletop is open and in use.)
And the Flightable C-1000 is also a lined case. The interior lining is not luxurious, but the bag is fully lined. The lining is a thin nylon material which is black with the Flightable logo visible faintly in gray over the entire fabric.
Pockets and Main Compartment
I always love luggage with lots of interesting compartments, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Flightable C-1000 was equipped with a nice array of pockets for organizing my travel goodies. The front of the bag features 2 zippered pockets: a small upper pocket and a larger lower pocket which houses the laptop compartment. Both pockets also have outer zipper compartments for stowing things that you need to access quickly.
The interior of the upper pocket has these features: a hook for your keys, an inner zippered pocket across the back of the compartment for thinner things, a cell phone pocket, 2 nylon slots for credit cards, 2 sturdier mesh slots, and 3 holders for pens or pencils.
The lower pocket is primarily for access to the laptop compartment of the C-1000, but it also has 2 gusseted folder separators for business paperwork, travel guides, or what-have-you. And across the front of the computer compartment are 2 mesh pockets with Velcro flaps for storing floppy disks, CDs, or DVDs.
Inside the main compartment of the C-1000, there are two adjustable straps for lashing down your clothes and one zippered compartment along the backside. When the bag is open, the back of the laptop compartment is to one side of the bag’s top flap. On the other side, you’ll find a fairly roomy nylon zippered compartment for holding laptop accessories.
The Laptop Compartment
The problem with any computer case which has a fixed-size laptop compartment is that the laptop you travel with may not fit the compartment. And if the laptop you own now does fit, the new laptop you buy in 3 years may not. A harsh reality.
So, for your reference, here are the rough dimensions of the fixed-size laptop compartment of the C-1000 – 13.75” wide x 12.75” tall x 2.25” deep. But don’t go by these dimensions alone! If your laptop won’t fit through the front pocket opening to get INTO the laptop compartment, you’ll be out of luck. For example, I experienced great angst when I realized that my largest laptop--a Fujitsu Lifebook with a large footprint (12” x 11.5” x 1.5”)—would not quite fit through the front pocket of the C-1000 into the computer compartment. I could clearly see that the Fujitsu would, in fact, fit inside the compartment; but the laptop was just a little too long and wide to make it past the curved upper edges of that front pocket opening which provides the only access to the computer compartment. (You cannot access the laptop compartment from inside the main case.) So, that trip, I stowed my traveling companion’s Apple I-Book in the laptop compartment. I purchased one of those “form-fitting” padded sleeves for the large Fujitsu and stored it in the main compartment of the C-1000.
But if you can get your laptop into the computer compartment of the C-1000, you’ll appreciate how nicely-padded the compartment is. It also has a padded top which can be secured down with two Velcro strips—holding the laptop firmly inside.
And, finally, I should point out that you just can’t see the laptop compartment in photographs of the C-1000. Again, it’s accessed through the large lower front pocket of the Flightable; but it’s recessed into the main compartment behind the folder separators which are at the front of that lower front pocket.
A Few More Details on the Tabletop
Back to the nifty tabletop feature for a few more details. First, you should know that the table device is really quite easy to open and close. Pressing a button allows you to fold the tabletop up and away from the back of the case and then swing the supporting brace down into a vertical position. Pressing a second button on the bracing leg allows you to extend the leg to full height. To further stabilize the table, you then hook the curved plastic end of the piggy-back device over the edge of the table nearest the bag. And finally you reach around to the front of the bag and pull out a small metal stabilizer bar that helps balance the entire set-up. Very clever. You can find an animated graphic of how the table unfolds on the Flightable website at http://www.flightable.com. Click on the “How To Use” link on the left sidebar.
Once opened, the Flightable’s table is 26 inches high—a nice typing height for laptop use. And the dimensions of the flat usable table surface are 16.75” x 12.25”. The nice width of the tabletop is a big plus for me because it’s just wide enough to accommodate a mouse and my sawed-off mousepad alongside my large laptop. (Touchpads and trackballs really slow me down.)
By the way, the two rods which house the telescoping handle of the Flightable C-1000 are on the outside of this case allowing a bit more packing room inside the bag. When the table device is in the closed position, the tabletop covers and protects the rods. However, because the tabletop is really the back of this bag, it can get scratched fairly easily—for example, when you shove it into the overhead compartment on an airplane.
Uses for the Flightable
The most obvious use for the Flightable case is, of course, in an airport setting as noted above. The first time I used my Flightable at the airport, I didn’t need it for my laptop. But it was a godsend because, that day, my traveling companion and I were flying with a puppy in tow. We had a long wait at the gate but couldn’t take the pooch into any of the concourse restaurants to pass the time. So we picked up sandwiches and drinks and had a fine little lunch on our Flightable C-1000. The tabletop was also great for setting the puppy’s carrier up at eye level where we could goo-goo Cinnamon easily and constantly. And it really was awfully convenient in general to have a table right there in front of us for setting down coffee cups, purses, magazines, and other odds and ends. We also saw some people traveling with infants that morning; and, boy, did they need a Flightable! They had stuff spread all over the floor—bottles, toys, pacifiers, etc.
On that same trip, we found another great application for the Flightable in a hotel room setting. We were in a nicely furnished suite at a Residence Inn; but, for some reason, there was no table of any kind within reach of the armchair in the living room area. Suffering from brain sieve, we searched the suite in frustration for any kind of small table to use with the armchair—to no avail. It was hours later that it finally dawned on me that we had the new Flightable with us. Up it went, next to the armchair. Perfect.
From then on, I’ve taken the Flightable C-1000 whenever I travel—whether by plane or by car. It has continued to come in handy as an extra table to set things down on in hotel rooms or rental condos. In fact, I’ve taken to using the Flightable in my office at home as a portable table when I need a little more space to spread out on temporarily.
The flightable.com website also suggests use of its Flightable cases for athletic coaches, for sales reps working in a client’s office or waiting room, for students, and for writers or reporters.
An Airport Security Issue?
Before ending this report, I should caution you that if you do use the Flightable for air travel, you may encounter delays with airport security when traveling with this case. On a trip from Boston to Minneapolis/St. Paul, I passed through Boston’s Logan Airport security without incident. On the return trip, I was plucked from the line at the Minneapolis airport and experienced a significant delay. Airport security in Minneapolis not only went through the bag, they emptied it out completely and X-rayed the empty case. Security equipment was clearly detecting the metal braces which support the table, and the security officers apparently didn’t realize that the table back could be opened up for their visual inspection. After some time, I was finally allowed to move on and to carry the Flightable onboard. But I’ve got to wonder in these post 9-11 times if the Flightable case might eventually be banned from the airways as a carry-on bag.
Final Notes
First, a practical clarification. If you decide to investigate the Flightable carry-on online, don’t become confused by the model number for this bag as I initially did. This case is sometimes referred to as Model C-1000 and sometimes, as Model C-1000E. They are the same bag.
In closing, I definitely recommend this versatile Flightable case for almost any traveler--whether you’re toting a laptop or not. If you’re a frequent business traveler who works on the road, I can’t imagine that this case wouldn’t be tremendously useful. Yes, I’m definitely sold on this unusual product and haven’t been able to find a similar case in all my searching. So I leave you with a 5-star rating on the Flightable C-1000 for the ingenuity of its unique table design and its decent overall quality for the price.
Bon voyage, then. Enjoy your Happy Meal on the Flightable C-1000!
Recommended:
Yes
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gadgetmaestro
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Location: Greater Boston
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