The Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX Review

You can always get a laptop or a gearbag to handle your larger electronics, but what about the little things — the cables, cords, chargers, memory cards, flash drives, dongles, batteries, and miscellaneous doo-dads — all of the “stuff” that winds up getting lost or forgotten when you’re traveling? Say hello to a possible solution – the Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX, which features “over 15 intelligently organized, flexible spaces hold cords and cables, AC power blocks, adapters, batteries, USB drives, office supplies, even compact cameras and MP3 players.”

Similar in style to a zippered binder, the Cable Stable DLX is composed of a black nylon twill shell with a strategically placed neon green racing stripe and contrasting stitching. The CS DLX measures 10.75″ tall x 8.25″ wide x 2.25″ thick, and it weighs about 13 ounces empty.

A comfortable 1.5″ wide neoprene handle on the binder’s spine makes the Cable Stable DLX easy to grab and go.

There is a single 9″ x 8″ pocket is on the DLX’s exterior, and it is perfect for holding miscellaneous flat items which don’t necessarily need padding or protection.

The interior of the Cable Stable has a bright neon green nylon pack-cloth lining, which really makes items held in the mesh pouches on the left  and the elastic bands in the middle and right sections pop. In other words, you won’t overlook a black memory card in the zippered pocket because you couldn’t see it.

We developed the innovative, “floating” elastic hold-down grid in 1999, and have updated and enhanced it for this latest version of the Cable Stable. The system provides fast, simple and very versatile stowage without the hassle and constraints of fixed-size pockets and pouches.

On the left there are two 4″ x 4″ mesh pockets with open elastic tops, which are perfect for holding mobile phones, slim MiFi- type devices, or other gear that should be segregated. Directly underneath there is an 8″ wide x 4″ tall zippered mesh pocket, which would be the perfect place to stow loose memory cards and other small items which tend to mysteriously disappear when not monitored.

Two rows of three elastic loops each on the binder’s spine can hold batteries, pens and other similarly sized items. A series of elastic loops on the right side create eight slots which can hold everything from a small digital camera to the various cables, chargers and adapters we all travel with.

I realize that the Cable Stable was originally developed for gadgets and gear, but I get a lot of ideas when I look at this interior just waiting to be filled; evidently I am not the only one! Here are some shots from the Skooba Design site showing alternative ways the Cable Stable DLX can be used …

The Cable Stable DLX as an organizer for school supplies

The Cable Stable DLX as an organizer for personal grooming items

The Cable Stable DLX as an organizer for an auto or home tool kit

The Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX is a product with so many organizational uses; gadgets, tools, personal items, sewing kit, makeup bag, junk drawer organizer, battery storage, first-aid kit … the question becomes: How would you fill yours?

The Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX is available directly from the manufacturer.

MSRP: $39.95

What I Like: Perfect way to organize small items which tend to scatter, get lost, or get forgotten when traveling; Can be used to carry all sorts of things; Zippered pockets, open pockets and elastic bands allow you to hold many odd-shaped items; Bright interior displays the items held for easy identification

What Needs Improvement: Nothing … it’s ingenious