Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Hudson Briefcase

Overall great bag! Zipper and strap seem solid. Love the formal look. Even if I pack a lot into the bag the strap doesn't hurt my shoulder. Nice internal organization. Small con would be no shallow pocket for easy access business cards. Key lanyard in the outer pocket is a nice touch. Keep in mind this bag is not designed for massive storage. You can fit a Nalgene bottle inside, but the bag will slightly stretch. Things get tight when you try to fit a leather portfolio inside with a laptop/tablet in the side pocket. You can then just store the basics (water bottle, umbrella, etc.).

I got this because I travel a lot and carry two laptops. So I needed a bigger brief case with good structure and with a slot for the handles of my rolling bag. I've had it out on a few trips already and love it so far. My two laptops take up some space but that is the point. I lie how the zippered compartment has all of the pockets accessible very near the top. Although I would like a little more zipper on the front pocket for ease of getting all the way down to the bottom, everything I need to get to is easily accessible with out the extra zipper. Very well thought out. The pass through strap for the handles of my wheeled luggage works well, but is not as wide as some of the other bags I was looking at (Tumi, Briggs and Reilly, etc). It would be nice if it was a bit wider but it is not a deal breaker. On that last point, I chose this bag over some much more expensive other options because I really liked the look of waxed canvas and leather as it is both refined and unique in the office and the layout of the bag is very user friendly for my uses on the road. Also fully packed it really isn't as heavy as I expected, which is a bonus.

I had my eye on this briefcase for some time, as modern briefcases with pockets and laptop storage are in short supply. Really like the look of the bag - some concerns for longevity though, which is unusual for a Timbuk bag, in my experience. When recieved, you can tell there's a logo or something under the front leather flap in the center (see pic) and you can also see where the key lead in a pocket inside that flap sat during transit, creating a bulge in the leather as well. Just makes me wonder how the leather flap and corner supports will hold up given that when I got it, there were these two visible issues without any use. (Obviously, these aren't a big enough deal that I wanted to be without a bag to exchange it.) The strap could do with a subtle pad or support that matches the asthetic of the bag.

Nice looking bag, but biggest frustration is with the leather components. After just a couple months use the handles have begun cracking and the leather loops that hold the D-rings that support the shoulder strap are wearing out. They are too loose and weak to hold a reasonable amount of weight. My laptop is tiny (a 2017 12-inch MacBook). The D-rings slide around, putting unnecessary strain on the leather. See the picture below.

I typically use a large Commute messenger bag, which is fantastic but huge. I wanted the Timbuk2 quality but something I could pair more effectively with a suit for more formal meetings. The Hudson briefcase fit the bill perfectly. Build quality is excellent, there are plenty of pouches for odds and ends, and the leather accents make the bag look more expensive than it is.

Let me start with the difficulty one has in finding a highly functional and quality computer bag at this price. I was close to buying a tumi and looking like the rest of the world when I found this bag. Great look. Plenty of pockets. I use it daily to drag my 15" laptop to and fro with an iPad, cables, note pads, light files and more. I love the unique look. I should add that I was showing this off in the office and the next day my associate immediate bought the same model. So much for being unique.

I have been waiting to get a Timbuk2 bag for some time now and I am so happy that I finally took the plunge. Using their laptop fit guide I was able to find a bag that actually fit my laptop that is usually to large for most bags. I love the style, utility, and durability of the bag. Even though it does get cramped with the things I put in it, and I could use a little more space- I should just buy a backpack if that's what I was actually looking for. This is great for day to day commuting, a book or two, laptop, iPad, and plenty of room for writing utensils. I'm a graduate student who commutes about an hour to get to class and this bag works wonderfully.

I use this bag for work and it has been my best bag ever! Great looks and functionality! I highly recommend this bag for both business and travel.

Larger than it looks-takes what looked like an overstuffed bag and makes it look stylish. Great features, looks good, and still waterproof (more than my previous bags have ever been).

Overall great design, good looks, and a nice feel to it. The zippers are solid (these are YKK), so you get a good, satisfying feeling from them. I'm never buying another bag without YKK zippers ever again. This is a bag best suited for carrying in your hand. I tried carrying it on my shoulder and to be honest it wears you down pretty quickly. I tried carrying it backpack style with the shoulder strap but it just doesnt work. Wish they had a hidden backpack strap somewhere. This is a great bag for conferences and business meetings. Very professional, but without oozing the sleazy leather look. 8/10 would recommend.

I use this for my bus commute everyday. I love the durable look and design.

Wanted this for some time as I love the look and appointments...caught it on sale which was a real plus. Had gifted the 2014 version to a friend and he was thrilled. Its very sharp and well thought out. Perfect for a laptop and tablet...enough space for files and places for pens etc. Casual on the go or business meeting..it works! I don't think it for someone who intends it to be an office on the go....you may feel it lacks space to carry a lot of files/books.

Great bag, can't go wrong!

Lightweight, comfortable all day and easy to keep lots of stuff organised. Brilliant! Very sturdy construction, can't get it dirty. Works well as a doctor's bag, goes with me everywhere and keeps my laptop, paperwork and gear in order. While it looks very clean and professional, I do wish it was slightly sexier on the eye.

This is an incredible briefcase made with tremendous attention to detail, myriad compartments (within compartments) and a refined design. The quality is impeccable: tough canvas, heavy duty zippers, magnetic enclosures for laptop and tablet sleeves (no velcro anywhere!), durable stitching everywhere, and handles and outer pocket clasps made with real leather. The shoulder strap is thick and comfortable but not padded. Buy it--you won't regret it.

I use this product for daily commuting and regular business travel. I carry on this briefcase with a wheeled suitcase and this briefcase fits perfectly over the wheeled suitcase handle. This is super convenient and was a vital feature. The quality is extremely high along with exceptional durability. Probably my one complaint is it does not have an external mesh water bottle holder. Not sure how one would even fit properly given the design of this bag (and most briefcases for that matter), but would be nice.

I am impressed with this briefcase. The ability to go through TSA security without taking out my laptop is wonderful. That was the primary reason I chose this case. I am pleased to say on top of the functionality that pushed me to purchase this briefcase, it is very good-looking - more professional looking than the pictures show. I am very pleased with this briefcase.

My buddy loved the gift, but I included a gift message when I purchased it and had it sent to him that was not included, he was able to guess it came from me but would've been nice to have the gift card in there.

I travel for work >50% of the time. Flying is my primary travel method and this briefcase fits below most seats and upright in the overhead bin. I purchased this case as I needed to upgrade my business look and it had to work with a suit or business casual. The interior design works. The laptop pocket fits my 15 thin laptop, however I cannot fit the power supply in the same pocket. Annoying but not so bad as it goes in the other pocket. The strap is the biggest disappointment as it has no padding built in.

I use this bag for business and personal use. It has a great look, it feels very durable especially the zippers. I really enjoy the clever straps that close the front compartments. This bag fits all my needs. I travel for work frequently and it's TSA friendly and has plenty of space for all my tech and business gear. The only improvement I would like to see is in the first section of the bag. It has some organization compartments but with the amount of space there's a lot of potential to add more or allow for some customization in that area. Otherwise, this bag is exactly what I was looking for. The price is right for the quality, look and design.

May I say that it was a bit surprising not finding a single review or video about this product ANYWHERE! All of them refereed to the 2014 or older models. I hope this will help you prospective buyers out there. Lets start with one crucial detail... the lack of detail. One example is that the website specs are just a couple of sentences! It did not list that it had a key holder (a feature which was a maker or breaker in some of my older purchases). It also did not mention to have the TSA friendly perk incorporated into the design (which is now obsolete since all of the major airports I go to now in addition to Asia and the EU require me to take out the laptop. One thing to point out is since the bag is designed to a good amount of space (I usually carry a laptop, iPad, chargers, external power pack, sunglasses, a book, headphones, cologne, cosmetics, miscellaneous electronics, keys, bike lock...) so it will weight 6-8KG at full capacity and 2-4 at medium/light. So i find myself constantly adjusting the strap since it is a pain to wear! It could really use a pad there! The bag is not exactly waterproof as well bit thick enough to halt light rain to mess up for stuff. One last thing to point out is not incorporating the biker securing strap like in similar models that keeps the bag secure on your back and not swinging while you cycle. I find it a hassle when the 8KG bag suddenly swings to one side when i pedal. You only get the front strap thats function is to attach itself with your luggage at the airport... One small problem was that I have the best brand Victorinex travel bag and in addition to nearly all the models I have, didn't have a high enough handle to reach the strap to attached the bag easily with my luggage, so I found myself carrying it instead.

Great!

I bought the bag because I was looking for a bag with a combination of style, water resistance, and durability. While the bag checks the boxes for style and water resistance, it wasn't as durable as I'd expect for a bad at this price point. The leather handles started to wear out after 2 months of daily use for work, and that's with gentle care too. The zipper would sometimes jam as well. The bag was purchased online and I wasn't paying attention to the weight, but it does have some weight to it even when empty. The bag still gets the job done and it looks nice, but if the durability issues persist, I don't think I will buy another Timbuk2 bag.

This bag is amazing and happy I have it. Only complaint is I've owned it a month and the interior side of the bag, that rubs with the jeans I wear to work, is now blue. The bags rubs against my jeans when worn and I noticed the discoloration within a week. Not ideal at all given the price of the bag. Obviously this side is not seen by the public but the fact that is stains that easily is not good at all.

Almost bought this during summer 2017 but held off. Received it as a gift Christmas 2017 and the product has changed since I shopped around this summer, but website still shows old model. Interior lining is blank white now and is a much lower quality than the printed lining show in image. Exterior seems lower quality than I remember but I can't confirm any changes to it. Customer service was VERY poor, tried multiple times via phone and email to reach someone at Timbuk2 and got no replies. Took it to the store in person to ask about changes, was told there hadn't been any. Showed the sales rep differences online, she was reluctant to admit changes had been made to the product. She did try to help but even she couldn't get a response from Customer Service HQ, very disappointed because I really liked the model I saw over the summer.