Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - Extra Small

I bought a Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag in Eco Monsoon design, size S on November 2023. Since I received this bag, I used it everyday no matter where am I going. For me, the design of this bag is perfect for a 13 inch laptop and also others EDC. Anyway, for most of the time, I carry it without laptop inside. I had used a lot of bags especially laptop bags before this, but Timbuk2 is the only bag I carry everyday since I bought it. I am satisfied with the big volume and compartments provided, and it doesn't seem too big for my 5' 10" body height. I should give it a 5 stars review, it lost 1 star for one of the design flaw. From the picture uploaded, you can see one side of the strap had been damaged by the velcro on the bag due to I closed the bag with flap attached to velcro only most of the time, and the velcro sticked on the strap then caused the damages. Timbuk2 should solves this design flaw, it makes my bag looks like a used item bought from roadside even though I owned it less than 1 year, or 265 days exactly.

I use the back to commute to work. I love the ease of access and the organizational pockets. I think some improvements would be to be able to zipper to secure the laptop in it's pocket and some more padding for back comfort

My daughter is using this messenger bag on her mission for our church. She will be serving in Ecuador for 18 months. We're excited to see if it holds up! The one thing we would change would be an external water bottle pocket. Her water bottle will not fit inside the bag and there isn't a pocket for it on the exterior of the bag, but she didn't need the small bag.

My wife got me this bag because my old one of the same kind that I have had for years is worn out. Well, actually the bag is still fine, but all the lining has been peeling off. I like it, but the pockets are smaller even though it is the same size bag. It also seems to be at a lower quality level than my old one. I guess every company is cutting corners these days. Decreased quality and increased price. It's too bad. I do still like the bag a lot, it's just not as good as my last one was.

This is my fourth Classic Messenger bag from TIMBUK2 and it is easily the best yet! It's my daily carry both on and off the bike and the new shoulder strap latch is a huge improvement over past versions easy to tighten with one hand and holds securely after adjusted. The front panel pocket has been nicely reinforced so that keys placed on the key fob can't easily chew a hole in the pocket. If I could make one change it would be to slightly enlarge the inner side panel (rand) pockets so that a Ray-Ban hard case is easier to slip in. This "classic" bag is surely that and I expect many years of service from it!

The only thing I would change is the extra strap material when you pull the shoulder strap tight. It gets loose and starts flapping around. If you come up with a design to keep that in place, its the perfect bag.

I needed a small carry for travel and going out. Versatile, can carry wide of items. Can carry on side, front, or back. Gripes: excess strap when bag pulled in tight can be bothersome (it helped me to double tuck the strap in elastic holder) and the tails get caught on the velcro (maybe wrap in some electrical tape). Still a great bag though.

This messenger bag is of great quality and comfortable. This is my 4th Timbuk2 bag and so far I'm satisfied. The only thing I wish it were there is a quick release on the strap. I have bag of other brands (ALPAKA, Chrome, Bellroy), they all have quick release with the straps.

The size is great- but the pocket sizes suck. There is NO way for a water bottle to fit in the net holder- way too small. The divider (document/laptop space) constantly flops down/open- basically a pain in the ass- it needs a magnet or a snap. The other miscellaneous pockets are useless - unless you're some old guy who wants to carry coins. There should be a pouch/pocket large enough to hold sunglasses and another large enough for a wallet- unless your intention is solely to sell to males (then that is a major disappointment). The cushion for the strap is a nice idea- but it is very stiff and you are very limited on adjustability. The fabric is very durable and is weather proof- you could offer more colors (not just old white man colors)..

The product works great but can't handle too much weight the strap tends to loosen throughout the day.

I love this bag, I just wish there was a pocket that fits my cell phone. It feels like a modern phone in an Otter box case is just a little larger than was designed for with pocket sizes.

Overall I like it. I wish it had more protection for the laptop and some bigger pockets.

Great travel bag. Excellent quality materials and perfect size for my needs. I wish the interior mesh pockets were big enough to hold a water bottle and that silencer strips for the Velcro had been included as they seem essential.

Great bag, only missing a water bottle holder. Have had it packed full and it is very comfortable to wear. As a woman wearing it, I am surprised at how much I like the added clip to keep the bag in place. Kept my electronics dry in a downpour.

I used to use an old TB2 bag for commuting to work. Now that I'm retired, I carry my art supplies out to the field in this bag. The several pockets make organizing my brushes, pencils and art boards a breeze.

Kid loves his bag! Simple and useful.

I like the size and all the pockets. The bag is very sturdy. In fact, the shoulder strap feels (and looks a little) like a seat belt strap. That is my only 'con' issue. The straps are *so* long, I'm going to have to cut the extra off, and I'm not sure how I'm going to do that. There is just too much extra material in the shoulder strap and the buckle straps. I understand it has to be manufactured to work for both tall and short people, but all the extra straps flapping around did not quite work for this short person.

The product is of good quality Side pockets would be an advantage. And the carrying handle should be positioned at the top and not on the side.

Here's what I LOVE about this bag: - It's insanely well built! The material and sticking are top notch. - The pockets are well laid out. They seem to be custom made for the stuff I always carry in a bag (pens, pocket knife, sunglasses, note pad, chargers, etc.) - The strap is the best on any bag I've ever used. It's easily adjustable and super comfortable. - The color. I chose the Army Green bag and it is true to the images on the website. Love this color! - There is enough room to pack for an overnight trip. The things I don't love: - The laptop compartment needs more padding on both the front and back sides. It would be nice if there was a hook and loop closure to keep it from falling open. - I chose the Large bag. It is way too big for what I need. The description says it can hold up to a 17" laptop but in reality, this could probably carry the laptop and a 24" monitor in the laptop compartment alone and still have room for a one or two night's trip worth of clothes. - The bag is a little floppy. I would like a little more structure so the bag could sit up by itself. This is a minor thing, but a little more structure would be appreciated. In the end, I will keep this bag for overnight trips or when I have to carry extra equipment but will buy the smaller, Medium sized bag for my day-to-day. It's super comfortable and easily adjustable. It's far better than any commuter-style backpack I've used. The large is just too much bag :) I recommend this bag for anyone who typically "one-straps" a backpack for work or fun. It's very comfortable to wear and the pockets and zippered compartments well laid out. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because of the the thin padding on the laptop pocket.

I use it for work every day and I love that is water proof ..

Like everything about this bag except the handle placement. It's too far back and needs to be more towards the top.

Great product! Well made and keeps my items organized. I wish it had a bit more padding on the bottom of the computer sleeve.

This bag replaces a very similar Timbuk2 bag I bought in the late 90's. As a software engineer on the go, I value the bag's ability to carry everything I need to work, safely and comfortably. I like the pockets and divider in this newer version, but the shoulder strap, particularly the buckle, is disappointing. The buckle slips, gradually leaving me with the bag hanging uncomfortably low, something my old bag never did. The sliding pad on the strap is a great idea, but it doesn't stay put and it never seems to be where I want it. As a cyclist, I miss the optional cross strap the old bag had. Not deal breakers, but I am looking for a third-party buckle with more grip.

My partner purchased this for me after we stumbled upon their brick-and-mortar store in SF. The size I got was small (new version). First, the positives, the Cordura fabric, quality buckle, and ability to quickly access the pockets with the side entrances even when the bag is closed are great. I've read previous reviews of their old version (look up Wirecutter's best messenger bags) and found the addition to tucking away the extra material after tightening the main strap is nice and doesn't go unnoticed. If you use it for some time however you'll find the straps holding the male side of the plastic connectors line up directly with the velcro of the pocketed outward-facing portion and will eventually pull at the fabric of the straps creating this horrible bunched-up material over time. This is exacerbated if you constantly overfill the bag (think anything more than the stock photos and the velcro will scrape the straps). Also unless you use a skinnier waterbottle such as the Zojirushi thermos for example the water bottle holders inside won't be able to hold anything larger than a standard bottle (looking at you Nalgene and Hydroflask users). Additionally inside there are multiple pouches I would like to see a version that has a zipper or even button locking mechanism outside of the main zippered pocket for smaller items. Last thing for me was the stabilizer strap works great, especially as someone who uses this mostly on their bike commuting however aesthetically it pulls on the main strap where its attached making it look just plain bad and at times uncomfortable. To get a better idea of what I mean imagine pulling hard with one finger in one direction of a seatbelt found in a car and that's exactly what it looks like under load. I would recommend this to a friend or peer. Ultra-functional and I love their lifetime warranty I just hope I can one day go to the shop to fix that velcro to strap issue and they replace it.

Using in a LDS mission, perfect bag