Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - Small

Love the color, overall design, comfort and durability. One product design recommendation would be to either eliminate the Velcro strips under the flap (and just rely on the straps/plastic snaps) or reverse the Velcro so that the soft fuzzy side is on the bag face and the prickly part is under the flap. Now the prickly side faces out, so if flap is not all the way down I snag my sleeves and/or flank/hip area if I accidentally put the bag on with the flap side facing my body when I'm in a rush. I love the bag, just wish the design could be modified a bit to avoid snagging my clothes.

After looking at several other bags this size, I found this bag to be perfect for several uses, especially traveling. I already have Timbuk2 medium and small messenger bags. This extra small bag is a perfect addition to my collection. I travel with my medium bag on a plane or by car because it has enough compartments and space for all my initial travel needs. However, once at my destination, I use my extra small bag, which was packed in my suitcase. It is small enough to be comfortable and light so not to be combersome touring , shopping, or walking around. But it is large enough to carry essentials like my wallet, sunglasses, eyeglasses, and minor needs. I love my Timbuk2 messenger bags.

I'm a control system programmer and work in the field a lot. I need to carry a laptop, a variety of cables, a few small adapters & tools, etc. The small messenger is the perfect size for my needs. My laptop (Dell XPS-15 9550) does not fit properly in the laptop sleeve, though the calculator says it will fit. I ended up purchasing a bag with the document sleeve instead...the way the corners of the doc sleeve are constructed, allows for a slightly larger machine, and mine fits perfectly. FWIW, if your machine's dimensions are greater than 9.25" x 11.25", be suspicious of how it will fit, regardless of what the calculator says. The highlights: -The strap, shoulder pad, and buckle are the best I've ever encountered. Comfortable and easy to adjust. There's a lot of other bag manufacturers that could take some lessons here. -The size of the (small) bag itself. There are plenty of >20L messenger bags on the market, but very few under 20L, that offer any possibility of carrying a laptop. -Material seems quite durable, and the waterproof liner material along with the well thought out closure gives me confidence if I get caught out in the rain. -Plenty of zipper pockets for storing bits and things. The issues: -I know I'm not using the bag quite as intended (carrying a laptop without a laptop sleeve), but I wish there was a bit of padding to the back panel. I ended up adding my own (automotive headliner foam), and it improved the comfort significantly. -The water bottle pockets are a bit small. Granted, they couldn't be made much bigger without increasing the size of the bag. -The basic, alloy zipper pulls rattle around more than I'd like. I replaced all mine with nylon pull tabs. Easy fix. -The largest, internal zipper pocket could be bigger...width and depth. -I hate Velcro, and would prefer to have it entirely omitted from the bag (not even an option if ordered custom). The silencer strips are an acceptable compromise. Overall, I think the bag is excellent. I can fit everything I need without an excessive amount of extra space. For reference, I can fit everything that you see in the picture, plus an iPad Air, notepad, a couple energy bars, and a small bottle of water. Highly recommended.

I got this bag on christmas and I love it so far. Got the medium size and it's perfect for school and cycling, at first I was a little afraid the bag would be too big, but it is actually of a pretty good size, and after a few weeks of using it I'm glad I didn't bought one size smaller, the bag it's super roomy, I usually carry a 15' inch laptop, a couple of notebooks, some snaks, essential bike tools and two water bottles on the sides with no problem at all. The most useful things about this bag are: The shoulder strap: super easy to use and gives you the perfect strap lenght within seconds, of you ride a bike it's even better cause the bag won't be hanging all around, and you add the cross strap which is great and gives you a lot of security. Compression straps: simply awesome, you can adjust the actual dimensions on the bag, so if you aren't carrying a lot of stuff, you use them and get a super thin bag, plus you can use them to carry a jacket of something under the bag. The lots of pockets: starting with the napoleon one, I normally carry my wallet,campus ID, and cellphone there and it's true you can acces to it without oppening the flap (if it's too full it might be a little harsh though). The rest of the pockets are great to distribute all your little stuff without loosing it. The fabric: the cordura seems very durabable and the TPU liner it's really waterproof, and when it comes to cleaning things off like coffee spills ir anything (hope you dont do it as much as I do) it's super easy. Overall the bag is awesome, great in every aspect and I would definetly buy another timbukt2.

Purchased as a gift for my husband in the small size in black. He loves the bag as it can hold so much stuff like his lap top, cell, a scarf and hat, gloves in winter, plus his lunch with plenty of room left over. He has worn in the rain and snow and all the contents have remained dry. He loves the long padded strap and the light weight of the bag plus all the pockets. The bag is very well constructed as my husband has had for months and it very tuff on his things and it still looks brand new.

Originally, I bought the bag for myself. Bit with Mother's Day approaching, I decided it would be a better fit for the wife. As a commuter, she carries her laptop, lunch bag & purse. I thought it would be too small. They all fit in great and she is happy to only need to carry one bag from car to train to walk to work and back again! Thank you Timbuk2

I purchased size M which is big for 13inch laptop, so S would be perfect, but my main aim was for traveling. It is very comfy lots of space to put whatever you need.

The large bag can carry large boxes and compact to a small size for small loads. I am a former SF bike messenger. The large bag is perfect for a "gravy dog"!

This was sent to my son who is serving a mission for our church this is the one he wanted.

I have had to return 3 bags do to last of pockets. Why do the messenger bags only have 2 in the front and no others? I have a lot of small gadgets I commute with. Phone, battery charger, cords, IPAD, pens name badge, wallet, passport and airline tickets and paperwork. See where I'm going with this. The especial bag was getting there. I'll say the front pocket unzipping to the side is a bit dangerous. Things can fall out if you forget to zip it. Hope this helps?

Work/gum

Boy I wish I had bought one sooner! This thing has a lot of room for my work essentials, paperwork, tablet and water bottle. On the weekends I use it to carry nerdy things too. The strap is nice and padded. Sometimes I carry heavy items from the office to home and the bag holds up well and the strap doesn't dig into my shoulder. One thing I would like to see changed is the size of the inner water bottle pouch. It barely fits my hydroflask. Other than that, it's an awesome messenger bag that will hopefully last a lifetime.

This bag is perfect for my needs. I walk to work everyday with the size small messenger bag slung across my shoulder; it holds my lunch and an umbrella among other small necessities; and has plenty of room if I need to bring my laptop home. It's very well organized with compartments for pens, eyeglasses, a water bottle, as well as a secret zipped pocket that's big enough to put documents in - which I didn't realize it was there for several days after using it. There's also a couple of pockets on the outside that could hold smaller, flat items. I like how flexible it is such that it handles items most Messenger bags of this size couldn't. When I have my soft lunch cooler/bag in it, it doesn't seem tight or unnatural, and a floor forms at the bottom, magically creating room for more stuff. One improvement I would like to see is an outside pocket that is accessible without having to open the flap; a small flat pocket I could put my key card in - which I need to get into my building. I understand the larger bags do have this feature, but I feel this bag could accommodate one as well. Nonetheless, you won't find anything better as far as a messenger bag that combines durability and functionality. I'll probably get the extra small size bag as well for train rides to NYC when I just want to take my iPad.

I use this nice messenger bag to carry all my peripherals my iPhone, my charger, my earbuds, car keys, and anything else I can think of in this technology age that we live in

This is the perfect day pack. Just enough space for the things I need. Doesn't look like a purse.

I love this bag. I've owned lots of bags, from lots of different brands, and what I have realized over the years is that the bags that actually see the most use are my Timbuk2 bags. This bag is no different. It spacious without being overbearing, has plenty of pockets for organization, and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This is my new EDC and I couldn't be happier with it! Only thing I would have bought differently is probably done a custom one with the laptop sleeve. But it's not that big of a deal as I have a padded sleeve for my laptop that I just throw into the bag when I actually carry my laptop.

This is a very nice bag. It's pricey, it has plenty of pockets. It us built in a sturdy manner. Glad I bought this small but extremely handy bag.

I have had 2 classic messenger bags for the past 12+ years. My first one was handed down slightly used and I was able to use it throughout my college years and as a work bag after. I didn't care much for it but it did the job and I had no complaints. Eventually the inner lining started to crack and peel and I took it back to a timbuk2 store and they sent it in for repair. I was shocked when they said that they would cover it under warranty for a nominal shipping fee. Alas I decided I'd part ways and instead I opted for a voucher towards a new bag. I've now used this bag for over 5 years as a work bag and it still looks new. The only thing that might give away its age is that the closure strap is a bit worn and frayed from getting caught in the Velcro. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if I ever need another messenger. Now for the cons, the bags durability comes at the price of weight. The cordura fabric is heavier than alternative fabrics that I've seen on other bags but then again I'm not sure how those bags would wear overtime.

This bag is such a fantastic choice! It's the perfect blend of style and functionalityideal for staying organized while on the go. The sleek, athletic vibe makes it versatile for both casual outings and active days.

Perfect size for use as a travel briefcase. Fits under seat for even the most restrictive airlines like Ryan Air. Multiple zipped pockets give some peace of mind for keeping things in place. The outside flap is secured by two clips and also Velcro, so a casual thief won't be able to easily open and grab your stuff.

This a great color I use it for the gym. Love the room for shoes and clothes.

Love this bag! I got a small and it's a perfect commuter bag for all essentials. If you're looking for more room, go with a medium.

My 15-year old wanted this bag. She loves it except for the loud Velcro sound when opening the bag. She applied felt to the attachment to keep it silent in class. Bag is attractive. Good size for a student.

This bag was a hit for Christmas. I bought it for my wife who was using a tote bag to lug files back and forth from work. The bag is roomy enough for her files and to also transport a 20 oz water bottle. She likes the design and the multiple pockets to keep office essentials.

Perfect size and the tricolor pattern looks great with anything. Just enough pockets to organize everything for work or a long walk.