Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Especial Medio

This is a great bag. One small con is that it is not 100% waterproof. The bag itself is waterproof, but if you are stuck in a big rain some water may leak where the zippers are. Not a big deal just something to note.

Good bag. 3.5 Stars. I use this backpack for school. Can carry quite a bit, but not as much as i thought it would be able to carry. Although its a deep bag, it can't hold a lot in terms of expansion. Books/Folders can't be stacked on each other. BUT, i did go grocery shopping and fit a bunch of stuff in it =]. The velcro strap for the u-lock is also slightly awkward. Its a bit hard to just shove the u-lock in the pocket and ride off without taking the backpack off. Would've been much better if the strap was not a velcro. I would recommend this bag to a friend if it wasn't as expensive. Don't get me wrong, its a good backpack, but for some reason i expected more for what i paid, because ~190 +/- after taxes is a bit steep.

I've been using a North Face Recon for a few years and was looking to swap out for a new backpack.i really like Timbuk2 and the Medio Especial looked amazing. Some reviews gave me pause, but I ordered it anyway. Unfortunately, the small organizer pocket felt was indeed too tight to use. It's also so deep and would be a huge pain to get anything from the bottom. It lacks any fleece lined pockets, which may have to do with the water resistance, but I just couldn't see using it day to day with how I'm organized. It looks amazing, though. The reflective pieces, the design, all look great. Watch some reviews and decide if it's right for you. It just wasn't for me.

The number 1 reason I bought this bag is because the description said it is waterproof. I am getting rid of my car and will be riding my bicycle or vespa around the beach. It hasn't rained on me yet so I cannot rate this I only used the bag once since purchased; I took it on my bike grocery shopping. The plus side to its size; the amount of items I could fit inside with room to spare, a designated place to put my keys, top outside pocket for my phone (I wish this was soft inside like my North Face backpack then it would be perfect for a pair of sunglasses), there was a pocket for my helmet, a huge plus, but a bit cumbersome and not a fast transaction to get my helmet into. I'm a big fan of many pockets. The front pocket is a little tight to get stuff in and out of. The back hidden pocket does fit my passport but not sure if it will fit much more. I wish it had separate inner zip panel like the Osprey for shoes. The bag is a little too big for me but was the only bag designed with the cyclist in mind and was at the right price point for my budget (I purchased with a 30% discount). I almost bought the especial roll down but wasn't sure if the water resistance would holdup to a down pour in Miami. Love the side pocket for my ULock the water bottle outside pocket does not fit my slender IL Hydroflask water bottle. the pocket narrows unnaturally near the bottom of the pocket...so i may not be able to use this pocket. The top of the bag hits the back of head while riding. I would love to see this bag built just slightly smaller 25 or 26L to fit an average women. 1 soft lined pocket for sunglasses or iphone, and fix the narrowing side pocket for the water bottle. To be fair I have only used this bag once and plan on using this bag a whole lot more in the near future. Thanks, Jennifer

Overall the bag is pretty great. Nice organization, comfy, ample space, enough waterproofing at least for Socal. The only real probem I have is with the water bottle pocekts. Despite all the thought that went into making this a fantastic commuter bag, I am blown away by how poorly designed the side water bottle pockets are. For some reason the water bottle pockets taper inward at the base, which prevents your water bottle from fitting securely inside.

Have used the bag for my daily bike commute and overall the bag is great...except when it rains. contents stay mostly dry but on two occasions my laptop was completely wet, as were the contents in both outer pockets. At this price point I expected a water/weatherproof bag.

Daily commuting, bike/train/car and travel carry on. I had a similar/related model from Timbuk2 that lasted me 11 years. I threw it away sadly in February when the zippers failed. This model thrilled me with how similar it is. Lots of pockets and expandable to a fantastic size, can hold my camera bag, my computer and more. Overall I like how it looks at lot until I turn it over--- But, and this may sound silly, but I'm a visual person, the imprint of an eagle on the back looks awful and makes me think of the government or the military--its a hideous logo and seems so incongruous with the idea of bike messengers and San Francisco and the old swirly logo. I don't know why it is there and I dislike it every time I look at the bag. That may seem like a small thing, but its not for me. Secondly, and I hope this will get better as I break it in, but the padding on the back is very rigid and instead of making the bag more comfortable, it actually digs into my back. I've tried to adjust it but its seems to be the nature of the materials used to make the padding.

Been using the bag for 2 weeks now, good materials, straps and back support excelent, plenting of compartments (happen to spend time to locate where items are!) . The only issue that I found is the bottle carrier whose shape does not allow to properly fit a regular coffee bottle.

I've had a Timbuk2 messenger bag for years, and I assumed "water resistant" for the Especial Medio would mean the same level of protection as the messenger: waterproof in anything short of dumping it in the bathtub. Not even close. I have a half-hour commute, and my stuff gets wet in the main compartment and the top pocket in even light rain.

I've known of timbuk2 for quite some time now and have had a couple of their bags that I've really loved and that have worked great for what I needed. I bought this particular pack for a friend's birthday about a year ago thinking it was going to exceed my expectations . He rides a bike daily and was in need of a new backpack and I thought this would be the perfect fit for what he does. As far as being waterproof, it was and he's had no complaints on that front. What we did find is the pack is a bit on the longer side and it's more narrow at the bottom than the top, which leads to a bit of discomfort and and issue with being able to fit things in the bag. Also, because if it being a bit more narrow at the bottom it gets a bit top heavy and doesn't balance very well and will always fall to one side when setting it down and while loading it. I bought this bag with the intention (and hope) of being able to fit a u lock, water bottle, small packages, food, clothes, and some other odds and ends on a daily basis, but both he and I were disappointed by the lack of space. The front pocket isnt gusseted very well which renders it useless if the main compartment is full. The straps are a bit close together at the top which causes a bit of an issue as well. I think the pockets on the inside could be designed a little differently for better functionality and the sunglasses pocket isn't actually big enough for a pair of sunglasses and since that lacks any gusseting as well, I worry about them being squeezed in to tight and possibly breaking. We do think the bag is very stylish and very durable, just not quite as practical as what I thought it should be, especially for the cost. I would recommend this bag to friends, but not if they ride and need to pack the necessities that go along with it. I think this bag would do well for someone going to school, work, or maybe a short hike.

I've been using the bag for about a week. I haven't gotten wet so I can't tell if it's seriously waterproofed. The bag is pretty long I think if they made it shorter it would be better. The pocket for your helmet is very small it's a tight fit for a small helmet and anything in your main compartment is extremely difficult to put in or take out. You basically have to take out your helmet in order to grab anything from inside. Also the front pocket is basically unuseable if you have a helmet in there good thing I don't need it. Other then that I really like it pretty comfy. I'm not a small person but the bottom rubs my lower back the wrong way like I said if it was maybe 2 inches shorter the bag would be better. I definitely like the hidden side pocket wish it was bigger for a phone I can barely fit my wallet and if you put anything bulky you'll feel it in your back poking you. Overall great bag just needs a little re thinking.

While this bag is comfortable, well made and full of features it just goes a bit overboard on the number of compartments it offers. Finding stuff you forgot you had in pockets you did not realize existed is a little bit annoying at times.

I did a lot of searching for a weatherproof bag that would be comfortable on my 60 min (each way) daily commute. Many website reviews - many in store reviewing. I passed on the Chrome models as they did not have a nice fat and rode up too hight blocking my view over the shoulder - I passed on the roll top dry bags as they had no compartments. When i found this bag i thought it was the holy grail. It does have the rubber waterproof zippers and they describe a waterproof compartment. - unfortunately during all of my wet weather days this bag leaks at the seams soaking the laptop, papers and clothes. That aside it has a lot of room, great pockets for all your kit, sensible water bottle holder and secret pocket. Everything you could want in a commuter bag.

Overall good product, but as pointed out in some youtube videos - the shoulder straps are positioned too narrow for my neck, so it pinches my lower back neck. (I am 6,4' with 150lbs so very slender). I like the red fabric "inside" in the blue version - so it not that dark inside...

I recently purchased this pack for my 15 miles ( about 50 minute) each-way bike commute to work. I typically pack my laptop, extra charger, snacks and a change of clothes for when I get to work. I am 5ft 9 inches, about 135 pounds, female. Most of the path I ride is sidewalk style with a good amount of bumps and climbing. So, I love all the storage this pack offers and it fits a TON of stuff. BUT, the straps are painful, and there is not nearly enough padding on the back panel. I actually had bruising on my spine after 1 day worth of commuting. I tried cinching the straps up high, making them more relaxed- nothing worked and the pack was uncomfortable and downright painful for most of the commute. I am a strong woman, and a pretty average size and I felt like even on a man my size the back panel design of this pack would be lacking the appropriate fit. I'll need to continue my search for a more comfortable pack now.

I was looking for a backpack to replace the messenger bag (also a Timbuk2) I had been using for commuting to work for the last 2 years. My commute generally consists of taking buses, subways or hitching a ride on my colleague's car, followed by using a kick scooter for the last 1km. The kick scooter was a recent thing and it would be much easier to kick with a backpack, hence the replacement. I had wanted something bright and as my preferred colors are black, white, grey and blue (yes, boring I know), the "Stormtrooper" color stood out instantly. I already had a rolled-up waterproof backpack from Overboard (in hideous faded rubbery red), so I was looking for something more stylish and accessible without the rolling, so the Tres was out. The final shortlist was between the Medio and Vuelo. What won me over was the Medio's good looks and that sneaky expandable helmet compartment. The great things I like about it: Very good looking design. People notice it. That blue lining inside. Don't know why!? The top zipper compartment for sun glasses. Removable waist and stenum straps. The large capacity. The bottle pouches on both sides. Great for holding both me and my toddler son's bottles. One of the pouch even had a velcro strap that can be opened to enable large and tall bottles to be securely carried! The not so cool part: It arrived with some cuts in the smooth glossy white area near the bottom of the bag. The cut left black marks (something rusty?) so it was quite heartbreaking. The packaging had a small puncture as well, so something sharp must have punctured the packaging and cut into the bag. As I was already mentally prepared that a white bag would eventually add to it's character from wear and tear, I decided not to bother with trying to get it exchanged, especially since I got a good deal on black friday. That same glossy white area was also yellowish instead of the greyish shade I saw on my screen. While I understand that screen colors may not be accurate, it is nonetheless disappointing, especially when the same folks who praised the bag also took notice of the yellowish tint and commented that I must've been using the bag for awhile and it's starting to yellow from age :( It is slightly uncomfortable to wear at times, when it just seems to dig into my lower back area, but it's not serious. I did remove the waist straps, so that may be the reason? The compartments are more than ample but afew are so flat that they are basically just layers of fabrics on top of each other. This means that when one compartment is filled, it swells and other compartments around it cannot be filled or accessed easily. This is especially so for the pockets under the front flap. I had the bag for only a few days but it's starting to grow on me, despite these issues. Given a choice, I would've coughed up the extra money for a black Medio instead. My current messenger bag is a Timbuk2 Core Laptop Briefcase in full black and it still looks virtually brand new after more than a year of near daily usage! Oh, speaking of which, the Core uses magnets for the flap, along with minimal velcro and a "hook buckle" (on top of zippers of course). All these made it a joy to open and access. The Medio is quite Velcro heavy and it is harder and noisier to open the main flap as well as the expandable compartment. I'm not sure if it is to improve the waterproofing, or just by default, but I'm definitely going to add strips of velcro to cover the existing velcro to silence them, as well as sandwich some small neodymium magnets in the velcro layers so they still stay shut. Hopefully it'll stay white for at least 2 years, when I can justify swapping it for a more practical color!

The front pocket is very difficult to access especially when a helmet is packed. The bag itself is heavier than expected and although rugged, it's very stiff as well. The side pockets used for water bottles could be made taller to be utilized for taller bottles.

The shape of the main compartment curves inwards towards the bottom not allowing a lot of room for anything beyond a laptop and maybe a book or two. It's long enough you can stack items. If the main compartment is packed tight the outside zipper pockets aren't very usable for much other than paper because they don't expand. The pockets can also be hard to get to bottom when main compartment is packed tight, due to the depth. The bottle holders on the side aren't swept enough to to hold much more than your standard store bought bottle water forget a nalgene container. The main compartment and laptop compartment are separated but not water proof. I had liquid leak inside my bag and it soaked through and wrecked my laptop (that one is on me). Would've been nice if laptop compartment was made of water proof material. The bag looks and feels great, it's just a narrow bag that sits tall and wide on your back but doesn't expand enough in the main compartment.

Just line the main compartment with rubberized material and put a flap over the "waterproof zipper", and you'd have yourself something. As it is, in a proper rain storm, this thing gets wet inside.

I'm using this bag as a daily driver for half a year now, and it's was nice. It's very good when it's sunny but as it is autumn, and rain started pouring down recently, all my stuff in this bag became wet too. And it's sad.

The star rating I have given for this backpack comprises my experience with the backpack itself, as well as the lack of customer service that was provided to me by Timbuk2. After just over a year's use, one of the AquaGuard zippers on the backpack gave up and refused to zip up properly. This zipper led to the only usable quick-access pocket on the top of the backpack. I contacted Timbuk2 and was told that they would only honour the warranty on the backpack with the condition that I ship the Medio back to their headquarters in San Francisco. It did not matter that I purchased the backpack online from their Toronto Flagship Store and lived on the West Coast of Canada. They simply did not care that it would cost me nearly the price of the backpack itself to ship the Medio from Vancouver to San Francisco. I bought this backpack with the peace of mind that Timbuk2 would honour their lifetime warranty without exceptions. At the time, there was nothing on their website that would have suggested otherwise. My friends and family had told me that I had nothing to worry about. What Timbuk2 fails to mention is that customers must spend upwards of over $100.00 to get any sort of assistance with their product. They provided no other solution. And that is completely unacceptable. Timbuk2 has stores in Tokyo, Singapore, and Canada. People buy Timbuk2's backpacks. They move. They travel. Life happens. So, it is appalling to experience this type of dismissive customer service and see Timbuk2 advertise themselves a global brand when they are so limited in their capacity. At this point in time, I cannot in good conscience ever recommend this backpack, nor Timbuk2 to any of my friends and family following this experience. Take heed of this.

This was a bag I wanted to LOVE. The large capacity with lots of options for smaller storage were exactly what I wanted. The weatherproof (waterproof) was what put this bag on the top of my list. In Seattle, where it drizzles a lot during parts of the year I find myself having to stop my ride to put on my rain cover and this was the perfect answer to that problem. I worked past the lack of hydration pocket by using the compartment designed to expand for helmet storage to hold my water bladder & routed the tube out the (existing) hole at the side under the velcro flap. There is no drainage from that pocket so if it leaked (or if you put a drippy wet helmet/jacket/shoes in there) it could be a bear to clean The inside portion is HUGE! Lots of room for storage of everything (though whatever you find you need will always be at the bottom!) There are 2 handy little pockets on the inside front of the main pocket that were handy for quick access items that didn't fit in the smaller compartments in the very front organization area. The laptop space is well padded and the retention strap is very long which would allow for a wider laptop to be placed in there. The front organization area is very tight to access, especially if the main compartment is full. That bit aside there is some nice organization options there and a nice flat pocket behind that which will easily hold a tablet or book. The huge downside to this bag was the shoulder straps. They are very narrow and were rubbing on my neck (on both sides) from the first ride. I thought I would get used to it or the pack would break in and the padding would relax a bit but no luck. I am 5' 2" and fit in a standard women's day pack easily but unfortunately this didn't work for me. I had to return it and the search continues...

Use for bike commuting.

The bag appears to become all scratched up if you put anything in the front pockets it makes look all scratched up on the outside like it carbon paper even though it all dark black in color??? The bag also stretches out after 2 weeks of around town light use and sags a lot, which hurts my back really BAD because it never quite feels sturdy or secure enough for safe travels on my E-Bike. Also the black stitchIng ALL throughout the ENTIRE bag is fading to a reddish color in random areas making the bag look lousy even though after 1 1/2 months use around town only??? I haven't even used it in the new Summer warmer days yet??? Also the stitching is coming apart inside in several places making it a HUGE disappointment in the area of QUALITY control . Another BIG problem for me is it used to stand up on its own and never tipped over??? Now it can't stay upright for 1 minute and falls over spilling all my things out all over the place.., I tried to talk to Timbuk2 about this being a Warranty Claim Issue and they just laughed at me??? I am gonna buy a new Mission Workshop Bag because they are WAYYY better!!!

AFTER 2 WEEKS IT STARTS TO FALL APART AND STRETCH OUT MAKING IT SO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MY NEUROPATHY AND UNSAFE... THE FRONT AREA BECOMES ALL SCRATCHED AND TORE UP EVEN THOUGH I PUT JUST MY KEYS SECURELY IN IT??? ITS LIKE MADE OF CHEAP CARBON PAPER MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO BE AN UGLY BAG TO USE!!! I TRIED TO TALK TO TIMBUK2 CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS WARRANTY ISSUE AND THEY JUST LAUGHED AT ME??? I AM JUST GONNA BUY A MISSION WORKSHOP BACKPACK INSTEAD BECAUSE THEY ARE BETTER WITH "CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINING" QUALITY CONTROL!!!