Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - Extra Small

A friend recommended checking out these bags when I was looking to replace an old backpack that I use when cycling, and this messenger bag is perfect. It's exactly as described, with extra speedy international shipping. Two thumbs up.

This is the best dang bag a guy could ask for. I moved down in size from a large D-Lux so when I saw this in the mail I thought it was way too small and that I'd have to return it. Boy was I wrong. It holds everything and still looks slim.Oh, and its gorgeous to boot. Thanks Timbuk2.

I bought my first Timbuk2 bag in 1989, and I still use it every day. The Velcro doesn't work so well, water soaks right through, but I live in Southern CA now, so that's OK. I have another big Timbuk2 messenger bag I inherited from somewhere, and a custom laptop bag that looks very styly, but lives in the closet most of the time. I have shown this bag no mercy, and I just can't hurt it. I wanted to file a warranty claim for the loss of water tightness - but my wife said "don't you dare!" This is the kind of product you are lucky to run into once in your lifetime. Now I'm looking for the last seat bag I'll ever buy.

Overly complicated. Need the hard strap and the big open bag back.

I got my one and only messenger in what I thought was 1989, but maybe it was 1990. 1990 was the future. And so was my bag. I still use it, but the nylon was looking a bit shabby. So I got another. This re-jigged bag is called a 'Messenger', but it is a totally different shape, different material and different feel. I doubt if it's used by Messengers anymore. The waterproofing is on the inside - which makes me wonder - - the outside isn't waterproofed nylon. There are so many pockets I wonder if it's more a toiletries bag for Hipster travelers? You can't just put you hand under the flap and have a feel around. The fastening straps are long and gay, and for some reason they start at the back of the bag and hook all the way under and up. And if you don't clip them in they hang below your behind like big pieces of pasta. But probably the worse is the flaccid lightweight shoulder strap with a big sliding pad for all those hunched over malnourished shoulders that have whined about 'oh the discomfort'. I still have my original. Why bother trying to change something that can't be improved upon. Mind you, if you are running a business and your product is so good it lasts the lifetime of the customer then what do you do? The original was USA bag of USA values. The new one is good but different. It's really a laptop bag for people with short hair, Sad. But still a good bag. I need a map for the road, and for the pockets. "Now which pocket did I put my phone in"...Keep it simple next time. I'm off to get a sharp knife and do some serious cutting. I would recommend getting a pillow case and an old car seat belt for the strap if a friend asked about getting a bike bag.

I bought the small size of the pre-made bag to take with me on a week-long trip to Disney World, and it fit my needs very well. The strap is comfortable. For the size it fit just about everything I needed. The waterbottle pocket is something of a gimmick - it's only large enough to hold a small sized bottle, and it's inside the bag so if your bottle is cold and there's condensation (or if it leaks) it's going to get all over your stuff. However, that's a relatively minor quibble. The bag feels sturdy, there were lots of pockets (better pockets in the pre-made bag than in the design-your-own, it appeared) and I would buy again. I might have chosen the medium size, looking back.

Bag is exactly what I was looking for in size. I needed something small, light and not so bulky to take around while cycling, to work without carrying a back bak or while on the go on my motorcycle. Overall I'm happy with the bag but like previous reviews just wished it had a few more compartments on the inside. The inside waterbottle holders are awesome as it holds the case for my sunglasses.

I bought this bag for a recent weekend trip to New York which involved flying, and was very pleased with it. I needed something to carry my SLR camera in that would not be heavy and bulky, and would also hold other things like my phone, wallet, and odds & ends. This one is extra-small; I have a small Classic Messenger that I've taken on several trips to England which was great when out and about all day for two weeks, but it seemed too large for a quick weekend trip that didn't require toting as much stuff around. The bag was just the right size, and actually I can get my iPad mini in it with the camera although that's a tight fit. It is comfortable to carry, and I can verify that it kept everything dry when we were caught in rain - the new addition of small overhanging flaps at each end of the top opening is great. My only complaint is the lack of a side-zip pocket on the front of the extra-small bag. That's really handy on the bigger one since you can stick things in it without opening the bag. I love the addition of water-bottle-or-whatever holders inside, though (a tiny umbrella fits there perfectly) Even better, I'm still using the bag for work daily, to carry my mini and other work essentials (minus the SLR). I bought the Village Violet/Tropical Mist Pink and was really pleased with the color (much more violet than pink). I would definitely recommend it.

I've been using this bag for commuting and for rides in my city. So far, it's the best bag for ridding in my bike. I'm still testing the strap, but so far, so good. Thanks.

tl;dr - great bag, good size, great strap, and supremely AWESOME customer service. I LOVE nearly everything about this bag and the two gripes I had I've found fixes for. I got the Medium size in Dusk Blue with Surf Strip. I love the color; works well in professional environments with just a hint of fun due to the three-color straps. I've gotten a ton of compliments. The new compression strap layout is so nice - keeps the bag small on light-load days and I love that I can stash my jacket under the bag on days when I don't have space for it on the inside. The clips being under the flap looks very nice, but you do have the trade-off of it being not as fast to open. I prefer the 2014 look, but be aware that the clips are harder to get at. Not much, but noticeable. I love the organizational panel layout, though I would make them just a bit deeper to handle pens better. I love the size - perfect for carrying my work laptop around, lunch, books, and all my other EDC; it should go without saying that the side pocket (Napoleon pocket) is one of the best designs on a messenger bag. It just works. I did have a small quality issue - the zipper toggle on the Napoleon pocket slipped free. I can see how the design is supposed to work and I think the shrink wrap wasn't quite far enough up on the zipper to keep it from slipping off. I was able to re-thread the toggle and moved the wrap higher onto the zipper. A quick hit with the hot air gun and FIXED. I cannot say enough good things about the strap adjuster cam - it is inspired design and engineering. I was nervous that it would bind or require a lot of effort to move. But it is nearly frictionless. Again, it just works. I love it. And because it is so easy to adjust, I have a new method for carrying the bag - adjust the strap to its shortest length, and then I can quickly grab the bag from my car and sling it over my shoulder like a backpack when you only use one strap. If I'm just walking from driveway to house, this is the easiest and fastest way to carry the bag. When I carry the bag "normally" across my chest, everything is very comfortable. It took me a couple of tries to figure out exactly how the bag was supposed to hang, but now, it's effortless. The cross-strap works well, though it does cause the main strap to bunch a little. The default strap pad is nice and comfortable; I'd like to test a bit more before calling it perfect, but for my day to day use, it is very nice. The internal water bottle pockets are great, keeping everything upright and water-free. The medium sized bag is just slightly too short for my preferred Klean Kanteen 27oz bottle with a sport cap. With the flat cap, I think it would be fine. An 18oz fits perfectly, so for the short term, I've switched to that, but plan on getting the flat cap for my 27oz. Not a ding against the bag, just a trade-off. I did have two gripes, both concerning the cross-strap. 1) The elastic band that is used to capture the tail is basically worthless - it holds the tail out of the way only in the most simplistic of cases. But, I fixed that. I ordered a 3/4" thin bar slide online (Google it). Works SO much better, though it was a bit tricky to install; FIXED. 2) When I'm not using the cross-strap, the way it hangs annoys me, gets hung up on things, or nearly caught in my car door. However, Timbuk2 customer service rep Antonio absolutely made my day. I suggested that they make the female end of the cross-strap (the part that goes on the main strap) available for people to attach to the other cross-strap point on the bag to serve as a storage anchor. He agreed and is sending me one, no charge. AWESOME policy. Well done Timbuk2. Once that's installed, I'll just clip the cross-strap into that to keep it of the way. So, also FIXED.

I use it to go back and force to NYC and sometimes on my bike when the weather is good.

I'm old and forgetful, so everything I need to find often is in the bag. The old bag after 4 or 5 years of every day use, has started looking worn according to my wife, even though it still works just fine. The new bag has a few new features that are perfect. The pockets fit everything better then the old one, the shoulder strap is more comfortable, and the small handle on top is very handy.

I purchased this bag for a specific reason as having my own diaper bag for my daughter. Turns out I loved it so much that I use it every day not just when I'm out with my infant daughter. I carry it to work as an edc bag. It easily holds a 15" MacBook, ipad, Kindle, and daily need items such as moleskins, pens, etc. The large size is perfect as a bag that you need to hold things for all day use. My only complaint is lack of organization internally. Things tend to get jumbled around sometimes. Still a small price to pay for such a tremendously useful item.

I've used the older version of this bag for years. I traded it in for this update. The best changes are the handle and the new strap system. I can strap a tripod or stool to the bottom of the bag. This is much more useful.

great bag, if the shoulder pad could be more thicker it would be more comfortable. also it would be nice to have a small compartment on the side of the bag towards the person wearing for something more private/valuable.

I am an English teacher and I often have student papers, a laptop and various writing implements that I need to be able to do my job at home, at school, and wherever I have a flat surface and time to mark papers. This is my second Timbuk2 bag , my first one being a bag I bought for myself in graduate school 12 years ago, and I only bought this one due to the fact that a new kitten my wife and I adopted is rather fond of the old one and has made it his personal bed/scratching post. My original bag was brilliant and I fully planned to retire with it in twenty years. Since it has now found new life as a security blanket, my new bag was needed. I love the updates to the shoulder strap and design and I am very fond of the water bottle holder on the interior (I use them to store computer/phone chargers). My only complaints are that I would like a couple more smaller pockets for various items and deeper pencil/pen holder wells for my pens. Neither of these are deal breakers for me. I love Timbuk2, their corporate philosophy and general stewardship of the world. Keep making awesome bags and I'll keep adopting strays. I'm sure I will need another bag in 10 years

The new material is softer and more comfortable. The fact that it is more waterproof is a big plus. I will be taking it on a trip to Germany and it was exactly what I was looking for.

I bought this bag originally for the times that i go into the city and need a messenger bag that's going to be large enough to hold everything. What I didn't realize is how many different uses I was going to find for it, from carrying around my Crochet supplies, to filling in as an overnight/travel bag. This Messenger bag (I bought the Large one) has not failed me yet! I love that the clips are concealed/subtle, and the stabilizing strap helps keep everything steady when you're rushing to/fro. I never realized how much my old messenger bag (not from Timbuk2) used to slosh around if I was hurrying for a train/subway. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone for multiple different uses!!

Love the size and look. Great for carrying papers to and from work. Would like to have another small pocket inside but I can use a small pouch to carry loose items. Great strap length. Like the look and feel of the bag.

Very practical and good quality. I use it for my daily commute

I don't know how they do it. Everything fits with room to spare. The bag is gorgeous, very well made, very sturdy. I have a 13" MacBook Air and it fits along with everything else that I lug around on a daily basis. Sweater, umbrella, toiletry bag, wallet, external battery, water bottle, shopping bag, everything. Just everything. This is the best bag I've ever owned and I can't recommend it enough.

It is small yet roomy, stylish yet durable. It is my most favorite messenger bag both in size and style.

This bag is fantastic! It has a great amount of space, and it looks great, too!

I cheaped-out and got the non-custom, imported bag in large part because I didn't know what size to get and wanted the option to return it. The large is perfect. My 15" Macbook (in its own separate, padded case) fits well in the unpadded divider section. After a downpour, I can confirm that it is waterproof. I love the overall look of the bag, the side pocket that can be accessed without opening the main compartment and the compression straps. The compression straps are a bit too long...not a big issue but they do dangle quite a bit even when the bag it full to capacity. The shoulder strap is very comfortable but it is just barely long enough at full length (I'm 6'2").

I ride 8 miles to and form work every day with my Timbuk2 messenger. It easily fits my bulky laptop and clothes enough for 3 days, plus all the bike tools and other gubbins I need. While it's roomy, it never feels bulky, uncomfortable or unstable, and after three weeks I'm still finding compartments I hadn't noticed before. No negatives so far, other than the fact that my girlfriend is seriously worried that I love this bag more than her...