Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - Medium

I am absolutely in love with this revised style of this bag! I love the updates, the stable compartment for papers/ipad, love the new strap cushion, the strap adjuster, the extra flaps on the side, two bottle compatments inside.... I am so happy and in love. Thank you so much, this made my entire year! I ordered the xs and comparred to the old model (which I sent in for warrenty issues) it is much lighter weight which is an extreme plus, I am so happy I got this one. Thank you!

I have owned a lot of Timbuk2 bags. Sometimes to a fault. Some I returned because I found better use out of different bags. The 2014 edition really encapsulates what I like best about my previous 2 bags (classic messenger and d-lux). This new bag has the best of both worlds. I use this new bag every day. To go to work. To go to school. To go to a buddy's house to record our podcast. I can wait to use it to travel and while biking when the weather warms up.

This bag is the best messenger bag i've ever used. Its lightweight, roomy, and all the small improvements that timbuk2 has made makes all the difference in the world. I've replaced last year's messenger bag with this one, and its worth the upgrade!

I bought this to replace my Timbuk2 messenger from the '90's that had seen it's final days. While it doesn't seem as indestructible as the older style it's still a good bag. I like the new material for the strap as it's softer and more comfortable on the shoulders, but I'm not sure how durable it will be with the test of time. I really like the pockets for water bottles. I have had no issues with the size of them like other reviewers mention. I can fit a one quart mason jar in them. I don't think a taller bottle like a Nalgene would work, but I don't use those so it works perfectly for me. My biggest complaint is the laptop sleeve. It's not that functional and it honestly just gets in the way while taking up space in the bag. I find the bag not quite big enough for what I wanted/needed, daily commute by car or bike barely fits my lunch and change of clothes, but that's my own fault for not getting the large. If I were to order another, I would get the large without the laptop sleeve. Otherwise it's a great bag and I love the monochrome honey yellow!

This was close to a 5-star review. This messenger bag is well made and feels like it will last forever. I use this almost every day, as I did the bag I had before. Why not 5 stars? No rear pouch. All the prior messenger bags I've had had an outside rear pocket. A great place for a newspaper, Kindle, or theater tickets. Also, I found the shoulder strap cushion too big and too firm to drape over one's shoulder. But Timbuk2 was kind enough to send a less bulky cushion free of charge that is working out well. So, kudos to Customer Support.

I bought this bag to replace a backpack for commuting and I love it. I have the medium size and it feels a good balance between carrying capacity and weight - particularly when I have my laptop in it. My only quibbles have been that my key holder and some of the zip pulls failed and the front pocket (which in mine is thin nylon) is starting to fail because this is where i keep my keys. Mine is the rasta colourway which is fun, but harder to keep clean as it sees lots of hard use. Would buy again.

I purchased this for a Christmas gift for my son after he showed us his first TIMBUK2 bag was showing some wear. Of course it was purchased when he was in high school & he is 32 now ! It is something he uses all the time.

Well made. My concerns are that the velcro is loud for quiet environments and the small size does not fit my water bottle upright. It is great however going to a cafe or library. It isn't as great for an office environment

I love the smaller pockets for keys, my wallet and other loose items. The two larger sections are spacious enough for my 16" MacBook Pro, several portable drives (that I keep in separate clear zipped vinyl bags) as well as notepads and other paperwork. I do wish the clips for the buckles were not as hard to press but this may become easier to squeeze over time. The water resistant exterior and water proof interior liners were a big selling point for me at this price point.

It's very roomy and well put together. I wish it had an easier time sitting upright, but I think I just have to space the things in my bag better.

High quality construction and materials. Would be a five star review but the central handle is a little too far back for the balance of the bag.

I learned about Timbuk2 20 years ago when I was in desperate need of a computer bag. For some reason there were no well made ones available locally that fit my laptop without being overly large. The one bag that I found was a Timbuk2 in Red. I really didn't want red, but I needed a bag. It was unbelievably well laid out and well made and lasted for more than 10 years until it was too dirty for me to consider carrying it any more. Now, I have 3 sizes of the Messenger Bag. I use the Small one in Yellow as a field bag. It's the right size for what I need to carry and doesn't allow me to pack it so full that it's too heavy to carry. The yellow color allows me to set it down in the woods and re-locate it easily, even when I walk away from the area where I stashed it--except in the Fall when the yellow blends in with the leaves on the ground and those turning color on the trees. I use the Large in Black as my every day lug-my-laptop-and-piles-of-paperwork around bag. It's a great size for that along with a light lunch, a vacuum bottle, and some extras, but it does let me get away with not cleaning old work papers out every day--that gets heavy. The Extra Small in Monsoon has become my "dress-up" bag when I don't need to lug much paperwork or my laptop to out-of-town meetings. There is room for my tablet. I love them all dearly, but I do wonder why the water bottle holders inside are smallest in the large bag and largest in the small bag. I can't fit any of my insulted commuter mugs or water bottles into the bottle pockets of my large bag. That's the one inconsistency in workmanship that I've found, and it drives me nuts!

I definitely love this bag and prefer it to any other! I just wish there was an option to get the bag without the click-to-close buckle straps as I don't really use or need those. Also, I find the large buckle on the shoulder strap to be really big and bulky - it seems to bump into things (including me!) often. I preferred the sleeker buckle that was on earlier models. But still overall, a great bag!

Upgraded to a medium size bag after using my last one for years. Still a great product and I'm very happy with the quality! I carry it everyday with all my essentials. Now my wife is eying one for herself!

I love it. I used it for a recent 2 day trip (I like to pack light) and it was just big enough. My only wish is there was more padding in the laptop area. Just a little more.

I use it for a purse. The cons are that the straps are way too long and I am not a fan of the tuck in access slots, nor do I like the strap lock system. I am a fan and owner of the older messenger bags w/the cordura straps and sharp teeth clamps. The straps are the reason for the 4 stars, instead of 5. The pros are that the bag is roomy and I have more than enough pockets to stick things. I even have some pockets that are empty It's still the same quality bag as my older ones.

I love everything about this new model except for the shoulder strap. I do like that there is more cushion with the bigger thicker shoulder pad, but how you have to adjust the strap length is a bit cumbersome. The previous model was super easy and no fuss. Now you need to adjust one side and push the excess strap in the pocket. The bag is heavier with the seatbelt style straps. With that said, I do like the extra loops to keep your flap straps from getting stuck on the Velcro. I also like the cushion strap in the back of the bag. Overall I do like the bag, but am getting use to a few of the new features.

The dimensions help wasn't that helpful This is my third bag am I still don't know my right size , I love your bags I will have to order a new one one size smaller. Bags are awesome

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.