Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Robin Pack

It's very streamlined and I wish it had contact points to attach things to it more easily. Otherwise it's awesome!

Love the sleek look of the bag. Perfect for the professional that wants a backpack, with a pro look, keeping things tight and organized. Smaller than I thought it would be. Definitely forces you to organize your life before you head out for the day (which is a good thing and inconvenience when you really need the space). Love the fact the straps come off with ease and very adaptable. Would recommend!

I regret not getting the Clark commuter backpack, because this bag is quite small. I hoped to use it as a personal item for travel, but it is only useful for commuting locally. I was on the fence between this and the Clark, but chose this one due to price. This bag is stylish and, knowing Timbuk2 quality of past bags, will last for decades. It looks great, is effectively waterproof for biking in the rain and keeping contents dry, and the reflective fabric works well when biking at night. The water bottle side pockets are too small for even slim water bottles and coffee mugs - it seems like such a waste! I wish they were more elastic. The bag is also very structured and rigid - this is good for it being comfortable on your back, but bad for fitting belongings - I can't swing by the grocery store after work and load up into this bag like I can with other backpacks. One laptop, a travel mug, wallet, and few small personal items is all that will fit. If you are worried about it being too small and can afford the Clark, I'd say do it! It's a well-made, good looking bag and you'll wish you could use every day.

It's well made and styled very nicely but it's too small for what I need. It holds only 2/3 of what my current backpack.

Great, well-made backpack; however, will be returning given the size. I plan to purchase the larger size.

The color, look and feel of the bag are better than I expected. I didn't think I would like the magnetic closure on the front pocket but it's perfect for non expensive items like mask, hand sanitizer and tissues. This is my college book/ computer bag, so the top magnetic closures didn't bother me until I used it for flying. I wish there was a secondary, more secure way to keep the top closed in case the bag is very full and needs to stay shut while being jostled around.

I loved this backpack and wanted to keep it but the size matters. My 16 inch Macbook pro doesn't fit so I had to return it. But I really liked its design and functionality.

I absolutely love the design of the bag. The outer pockets are super easy to get into. It's light weight and extremely comfortable to wear. If this were 30 liters instead of 20, had a tablet compartment along with the laptop compartment and other internal organization, it would be perfect.

Great materials and sleek look. Could use a bit of expandability on the sides. Very happy with purchase.

I like the magnetic buckle idea, but two suggestion 1. The direction could be vertical instead horizon one, it is hard to open 2. The wraist and breast one could use same buckle design

I use it to commute to work part of which is on a bicycle (Go CitiBike!). Love that it is water resistant and has a large reflective panel that keeps me visible at night on the NYC streets in winter. Lightweight compared to other packs I have owned. Not enough compartments inside but I can deal with that. Unfortunately I have lost one of the Sternum Straps and this allows it to shift when I am on the bike - would love to buy a replacement set of straps.

I've used this backpack during college with a 13" laptop and on trips where I was flying. The exterior pockets are handy and subtle. I've found that when the exterior water bottle pocket is used or either of the stash pockets on the back it reduced the space you have for items on the inside of main compartment, I've wanted the pockets to take up more space on the outside of the bag more so than interior storage space. I've wished there were some organizational divide or storage in the main interior compartment. Storage cubes have been my friend with the robin. The pack does stand up to inclement weather; snow, sleet, rain, torrential rain etc and the rain cover is helpful in case you're especially concerned. The key land yard has been a great feature. I've moved to a laptop that's larger than 13" and my regular 1L size water bottle doesn't make the cut with this backpack, so I'll be in searching for something new. The robin has served me well for about 2.5 years!

I use this bag as a commuter to carry my PC and misc work stuff (headphones, etc.). Very comfortable to carry. Very easy to get stuff into and out of it thanks to the magnetic fasteners that are used for the main storage area and outside pocket - really like these. Negatives are the absence of an inside pocket or any interior storage except for the PC sleeve. It would be great to have a place to put a pen or passport without having to dig so deep into a pocket.

First off, this is the best backpack I've ever owned. The quality of the materials, the attention to detail, size, laptop sleeve, and inclusion of a rain guard is incredible. I would purchase this bag over and over again. This is my first Timbuk2 purchase and I don't see myself ever buying from another company. With all that said, this bag has one flaw. If you get the black color, as I did, be prepared as it does pickup dirt and scuffs quite easily. I take this bag everywhere in NYC, the office, subway, schools, etc., so it gets a lot of work. Everyday I'll find a new scuff or mark. The marks do come off easily, which is great, but a little annoying. Even with this minor flaw (hoping Timbuk2 can provide some cleaning instructions), i would not hesitate making this purchase, in black, all over again!

I'm commuting between NYC and Boston this year and have used this backpack on the subway and inter-city bus, as well as when biking. The pack is pretty good, but there's some room for improvement. First of all, it looks small but it holds quite a bit. When I commute I take my 13" MB Air in a felt sleeve (the whole thing fits perfectly in the laptop pouch -- I don't think it would fit a laptop larger than 13.5" though), overear headphones in their case, phone, various chargers, my wallet, a book and/or files, an umbrella and a water bottle, and other small things. Even when it's full the pack still feels very comfortable on my shoulders (I'm 5'4"). However, when it's full if you're looking for something small at the bottom of the bag, because of its shape you'll end up having to rummage and to repack, which is annoying. An extra compartment or pocket to store those things -- like a wallet -- that you need frequent access to but don't want or can't put in one of the outside pockets would make this pack just perfect. The pack looks especially cool when it's not too full, btw, because of its slender footprint. The outside pockets: the one with the magnetic closure is pretty spacious. I use it for my keys, hair ties, phone, phone charger and maybe a protein bar or two. The pocket with the zipper is not great, on the contrary. I find it hard to open and close smoothly and the zipper tends to get stuck. It's especially an issue when the pack is quite full, which obviously defeats the purpose -- ultimately I don't really use it, which is annoying because I don't like wasting space in a backpack. Access to it needs to be improved for sure. The side pockets for a water bottle/umbrella or u-lock: my water bottle fits, but again, if the pack is very full it does not fit comfortably. Same with a normal size u-lock -- a lot of it will stick out. This said, I've been enjoying this bag and recommend it. Now, please add an internal pocket and the Robin will reach backpack Nirvana!

Purchased the bag and returned it. Great looking backpack. Love the color and magnetic pocket closers. The rain flat is a key feature and I really wanted to keep it. However, it did not fit much of my stuff. Needed it for a work laptop and gym clothes but struggled to fit both. My size 13 gym shoes were hard to fit with a laptop and clothes. The laptop sleeve is definitely meant for a newer computer and not a work laptop that is a few years old. Had some struggles getting it out. Overall a very appealing backpack to the eye, but like the description says, definitely for someone smaller.

I use this for walking & commuting on the train. I was trying to decide between this pack and a 30L one and went for this one due to the top flap will keep out rain/snow better, has a rain cover, and is reflective both on the front straps and the back panel. I really wish it had more pockets - an inside one would be great. I also wish it was 5L larger as 20L is too small and 30L is too large.

I'm not a bike commuter, but I am a daily transit commuter, and I was looking for something streamlined and stylish. This bag caught my eye because of the colour, to be honest. It's hard to find a red bag, and this bag is RED. Almost too red, even for me. It's the first timbuk2 product to ever catch my eye, and I'm impressed with the attention to detail. Even the zipper pulls are red. On the plus side, this bag is very well made. And it's the first backpack I've ever owned that actually fits me and is comfortable to wear even when loaded up. I'm 5'6" with narrow shoulders and short torso, and this pack sits just right on my back. I like the front reflective panel and the various pockets. All the fasteners are firm and I love the magnets although I'm worried about putting my wallet or phone right up against them, so that takes some organizing. Two things about the bag gave me pause: the size, and the magnetic closure. I tend to carry a lot of stuff during my day: papers, laptop, (paper) notebook, pen case, wallet, thermos, lunch, knitting project, and I was skeptical that I'd fit it all in this bag. Everything fits, although it's snug, and takes some tugging to slide a book out when I'm on the bus. It wouldn't work for me to pick up the odd grocery item - there's no extra space. I also worried that the magnetic fasteners would be finicky, or maybe not secure, but so far they seem fine. The click when they close is extremely satisfying, and I like the sleek look of the top closure. But two hands are needed to close the bag properly. Also the fabric is very stiff and heavy. Which is good for durability, but makes the bag heavy for its size. Still, I'm pretty happy with this purchase, especially since I got it on sale. And to comment about ordering from the Toronto store - I got my order in about a week, and for free shipping within Canada. Dangerously convenient...

Its really a great backpack and the Timbuk2 description is accurate. Its truly 20 liters and makes for a great day pack. Other people have claimed that its too small, but if you understand what a 20 liter pack holds, its the perfect size. If I was simply traveling through a city and needed to pack my umbrella, camera, jacket with room to spare, this pack would be my go-to. The material feels heavy duty and will likely not tear or rip. The quality of the material also gives it a rigid shape. If you're looking at the pictures, that rigid sleek shape is true to form whether the pack is full or empty. The one draw back so far about the pack is the lack of organizational compartments. Each pocket is simply a pocket. There are no card or pen holders within the pockets. Your passport or wallet is simply thrown in with pens, keys, flashlights, etc.

This is a great, sleek and well-made pack but I do wonder if it is slightly too small. I love the light-weight feel and it wears very comfortably when I commute but it doesn't hold much more than a change of clothes and a packed lunch. I would like something in between this pack and the larger ones but I like the look of this one the best! I'm still testing it out but I am liking it!

Definitely happy with this product. Perfect for riding with.

The Robin is another addition to the long lineup of quality products by Timbuk2. I have been a fan of their bags for over 10 years and have carried one of their messengers throughout high school and college. This backpack is made of coated Cordura nylon which means that it is durable and very water-resistant. The flap style opening helps keep the elements out while expanding to fit your load. There is even a compartment in the bottom with an included rain cover. This makes it the perfect commute bag even up here in the rainy PNW. The straps are solid with a slight curve for comfort. The back panel has mesh to keep your back cool although these panels never quite work for me. The slim profile and colorway (I got the grey one) looks great out on the town or around the office. While this pack is really just a large main compartment, there are a few features to keep your items organized. The main compartment has a slip pocket on the back wall with a velcro flap. This is perfect for flat items like documents, a tablet, or a slim laptop. I was able to fit my Dell XPS 13 in that pocket. There is a bit of padding and the pocket doesn't touch the bottom of the bag so your items will be protected. There are two pockets on the outside of the bag. The top one has a really cool magnetic flap with a key-ring tether. Unfortunately, I do wonder about the safety of this pocket since it would be pretty easy for pickpockets to slip in without you knowing. The lower pocket has a recessed zip closure and a little harder to get to. There are also bottle pockets on each size which are large enough for the standard 16.9 OZ bottles but I wouldn't count on getting a 1L bottle into it. Overall, I would recommend this bag to others.

I have to admit, it wasn't love at first sight -- I didn't like the look of the bag when I first got it (it was a little too long and hiking pack looking for my taste) but it's grown on me. It's actually quite sleek so it doesn't look like I'm about to go hiking in the woods when I wear it. The bag does seem aimed towards urban bike commuters -- it's well padded, has comfortable shoulder straps, a ventilated back panel (though I can't comment on how that works in the summer yet as it's been quite cool lately), waist and (adjustable) sternum straps, a detachable mini ripstop rainfly and reflective panels. However, even if you're not a biker it's stylish enough to wear as an everyday bag and the reflective panels are quite subtle -- it doesn't look reflective at all until it's hit with direct light. I also like that the waist and sternum straps are removable if you don't want to use them as it's a style preference for me. I like the magnetized flaps and lock as it makes it easy to access, although conversely I wouldn't put anything of value into the smaller compartment as I'd be wary of someone being able to open it and remove items without my knowing. I don't have that issue with the larger compartment because you need to pull down to "unlock" it and the bag itself is very deep -- you'd have to really dig in to get stuff out. The inner laptop container holds up to a 13" laptop and has a very strong velcro flap over it so your computer will be secure, thought it does sometimes make it a slight pain to access. I do wish the bag had a small pocket inside the main compartment to hold smaller items that I'd feel more secure placing there as the bag is quite deep and smaller things can get lost easily. I do feel that the bag is a bit heavy when it's empty (which I believe is due to the heavy duty material and padding) but the padded straps make it comfortable to carry.

I use this bag for my workout shoes, shorts, shirt and headphones. The shoes take up 70% of the main pocket space, making it a tight fit for the rest of my stuff. The backpack is very well made, looks great and is extremely comfortable. I would use this more for small hiking trips, small work bag, or a great weekend bag to take to the beach etc.

Good quality backpack. I love the magnetic closures and the materials used are great. It is a little small though. The laptop area fits my 13" laptop but only without the cover on. With my laptop clothes to work out and daily items it was full. I also wish there were a few more full closure pockets. Maybe within the interior. Overall good bag though.