Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - Large

Great bag, very versatile, would buy again.

I use this in lieu of a purse almost every day. It's the perfect blend of casual and practical, without being bulky or ugly.

Used this in a recent trip to Europe and it was perfect! Fit everything I needed for the day and then some. So happy I choose this bag!

I have 2 of these now and will get more in the future. I love the number of pockets and the way they are designed and I really like the separate section in the back for a tablet, e-reader or papers you don't want getting smashed. There are just 2 features that I would tweak. The velcro on the front flap is too big making a LOT of noise whenever you open it and the straps that adjust the width of the bottom hang loose and flop all over. It would be nice if there were some way to fasten them to the bag.

Had to replace my 25yo beloved and finally tattered Timbuk2 original black large messenger. It had served me well. I've moved on to a small and I love, love, love it. All the traditional bells and whistles, shockingly roomy and so worth it. Here's to another 25 years.

Came on time and as promised. New MD loves it and walks to work in Boston using it as his work bag. He works long hours so great to hold lots of items.

Plenty of room, even in the smallest size. I can fit a water bottle, iPad, phone, my lunch, everything! Very simple, but classic and professional-looking.

I use this bag every day to commute to the office. It has plenty of room for my laptop, lunch and anything else I might need. I have been a loyal Timbuk2 fan for many years and this is just one more example of the great quality they stand for.

Commuter bag

I bought it for my son 11 years old birthday this may and he loves it ... The quality is incredible. We will definitely buy more of their product in the future

I will use the Classic Messenger as my everyday bag, and on long trips it will fit my 16" laptop and tablet. The bag is rather comfortable and on my commute to and from work, the bag didn't hinder or interfere with anyone around me. The tassel to the adjustable straps are a bit long and could perhaps some day have an extra holder to keep it from dangling.

I got this bag for everyday usage to work and for weekend trips with my wife. When needed, I will have my Lenovo G500s Touch Laptop in the bag when I go on long trips but normally I will have my iPad Air 2 and other miscellaneous in the bag on an everyday basis. A couple of things I would change about the bag, the straps that tighten to make the bag less roomier tend to tangle, I would rather prefer that they not do so. Also the material that makes the back pouch compartment sturdy is a bit cheap, a slightly thicker plastic will do.

I added an old camera bag insert and carry not only camera gear, but everything I used to keep in my pants pocket. The small size is large enough for me. The bag is sturdy and easy to access. Looks great! I get compliments on it all the time. Note about color: the acid wash denim in my particular bag does not appear to be acid washed as in the picture, but actually I was pleased to see that it just looked like blue denim. I don't know if they all look like this or not but I could be happy with either denim look.

I bought this messenger bag for a friend's birthday. She picked the right model and was very pleased with it!

Plan to use this as a day pack for work. Whether I'm riding the bicycle or the bus, this will be a good size yet so much room for an extra change of cloths, laptop, ect. I was hoping this would be a bag that I could throw a laptop in easily, but it does not have any protection. I will need to put my laptop in a neoprene case before I throw it in this messenger bag, which isn't a big deal as I planned on this anyways. Only thing I could think of that would make this bag better would be a small lining of foam in the laptop compartment.

I use the bag to carry my laptop, my gym/bouldering gear, on my scooter, walking around. It is excellent. The strap can tighten so it wears right next to your mid back placing less stress on your shoulders and the cross stop just provides extra comfort so the back is secured well to the strap. There were so many pockets I actually couldn't find the cross strap for a day because I missed the inside zipper pocket. This bag is the medium and its great for my Mac Air, my iPad, and whatever else I need. It has two drink holders for my water bottle and reusable coffee mug. The streps loosen and the compartment opens up. It has enough pockets to fit all of my writing needs, my headphones, iPod, iPhone, wallet, and charger cables. And I got caught in the rain and it kept everything dry. It is also VERY light weight. At times I don't feel like I'm carrying anything on my back. I love this bag. Timbuk2 you've struck gold with this one!

TL;DR: this is still a quality bag, it is just different than older models--but not in a bad way. I'm glad to have my old medium and enjoying the new small as well. Very convenient. Nitty Gritty: I have had one timbuk2 for a little over 10 years. It is still going strong, it is a medium classic messenger bag. I love it a lot and had been toying with the idea of getting a smaller version for trips where the extra room isn't really necessary (biking to work/ small hiking day trips/ everyday purse-use/ etc) Honestly, I was a little worried about the quality of the new designs considering a lot of long-time users have mentioned a decrease in overall quality/ lack of as many compartments/etc. After using it for about 3 months I'm confident to write this a solidly nice review. I think that quality is certainly a little different from that of the old models, but I don't think it has decreased. Most of the differences for me are based on feel and weight. It is more lightweight (which is amazing! Although it could be due to size...) and I got a different (softer) cotton blend material for the exterior. Inside, it does have a a stiff compartment for books/ sketchbooks/tablets. It makes up for not having as many zippered compartments inside. Downsides? I'm definitely used to having that large inner zippered compartment, but for the small size bag I don't think it makes any sense to have it-- it would take up too much room. The main compartment can hold a decent amount, and it still has some small non-zippered compartments. I still feel organized and stuff is secured using them. And, even though I love the soft exterior fabric, it is certainly a little more absorbent than the traditional timbuk2 polyester. The outside does get slightly more damp in heavier rain. However, I feel the drying time is decent. Most importantly in this scenario, the inside is kept safe and dry so it doesn't matter as much to me. Lastly, I want to mention the compartment designed for tablets it is not padded. I don't own a tablet so I don't know what would happen if you dropped the bag with one in there. I probably wouldn't recommend putting it straight in without some sort of protective case-- just as fair warning.

I usually wear this bag for travelling and work, and in my opinion it is a very handy and useful bag with a high quality you can hardily find in other products. There are a lot of compartments for all your things (computer, block notes, pocket and etc.)

This is a relatively inexpensive bag, and what you get a is five star quality. I have been using the bag heavily every day for over four years, and there are only slightly signs of wear. This is a highly functional, sleek looking bag that is the perfect bag for a wide range of activities.

I use this for school and work all the time. just stash everything in there very quickly. It's been super useful and i've gotten a number of compliments. Also having a Timbuk2 conveys a certain mobility and hipness. The one downside I've noticed with this bag is that the laptop compartment isn't padded. Once it dropped to the ground with the laptop inside it and the laptop got dinged. Since then i've been keeping my laptop in a sleeve. That's really the only negative experience I've had.

I use this every day for work. It is my briefcase, my tote, my handbag, my everything. It has so much space but also great pockets to organize things in. I have two handbag organizers in it to create more organization and so that I can grab them and move them to another bag when I need something that functions or looks differently.

I have a friend who has a previous edition of the classic messenger, I borrowed it once and simply didn't care for it much. I have a Timbuk2 backpack but steered clear of their messenger for years because I was convinced that I just didn't like them - too bulky, heavy, uncomfortable, and not enough pockets. But about two weeks ago I decided to replace a busted but serviceable no-brand canvas messenger I'd been lugging around, and I came across the description of this updated classic. The demo video ft. Jared and the customer reviews convinced me, so I went for it. Seriously, best decision. BEST. DECISION. It's weird to gush about a bag, I know, but this thing is such a beaut. I got the small size, and my 13" laptop fits perfectly in the big slash pocket. It even fits my laptop's sleeve! What! All of the other things I need to take with me to school or work fit just fine as well, plus it looks sharper and sleeker than the previous version, and it's fantastically comfortable to carry. This is one of the smartest purchases I've ever made. The only thing that I would change about it is that I'd like for one of the inside organizer pockets to be slightly wider, something which could accommodate a passport-size wallet, for example. This is a tiny criticism for what is otherwise the perfect bag for my purposes. No joke, I can't wait to nerdily show it to my friends. Thanks for the update, you guys. I'm glad I came around.

Daily commuting and office work. Used Timbuk2 for over 10 years around the world. Keeps getting better.

I use this on the subway and It fits everything I need for my day. It has a great look and has lots of compartments for smaller items.

Being a graduate student I needed a bag that could go from the classroom to the office quickly and this is just the bag. It's lightweight and durable. Not to mention it's weather proof! The bag is a little stiff at first, which makes it difficult to open the buckles right away. However, once you use it a few times that goes away. Overall, this is the best bag I've bought from Timbuk2! (I own 3)