Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Lug Tote

This was a gorgeous bag! I bought two on sale for an idiosyncratic useto hang inside my van and hold my bike's 20" wheels when removed during travel. The width was perfect but I didn't account for the zippers not opening quite as wide as the bag. So, back they went, while I desperately tried to justify keeping them. The fabric is gorgeous, very rich, but tough. It has a cinch strap that is more for show than as functional as I would have liked. It just ends up pulling the zipper edge down a little, not cinching the contents as one would expect. Needs a redesign. But gorgeous!

This was a gorgeous bag! I bought two on sale for an idiosyncratic use-to hang inside my van and hold my bike's 20" wheels when removed during travel. The width was perfect but I didn't account for the zippers not opening quite as wide as the bag. So, back they went, while I desperately tried to justify keeping them. The fabric is gorgeous, very rich, but tough. It has a cinch strap that is more for show than as functional as I would have liked. It just ends up pulling the zipper edge down a little, not cinching the contents as one would expect. Needs a redesign. But gorgeous!

Pros: I was looking for a big, practical tote that was easy to carry. This bag has a great capacity-- I was able to fit my laptop, a pair of sneakers, a Pyrex of lunch, a couple of pouches for odds and ends, an umbrella, and a light sweater and still zip it comfortably. So-- this is a great bag in terms of capacity and zipping. The tote straps are long enough to comfortably slide over a shoulder, even with a coat on, and the crossbody-plus-chest strap addition seems like it would be comfortable for longer loads. It is a non-flashy, no-nonsense sort of practical bag for people of all genders and walks of life. Cons: where it fell down for me was in style. I want to use this as my everyday work and commuting bag, but I work in a cosmopolitan city and I want my bag to be spacious, practical, AND stylish. I was hoping that the sheen of the materials on the all-black version would look classy, but I found the bag simply utilitarian. The side utility loops, the plastic buckles and loose strap excess, and the exposed heavy-duty zipper at the top all just made it look clunky and unrefined. A flap or roll-top option and a more refined zipper would make all the difference. As it stands right now, it's a big nylon bag with smooth webbing straps. I'd definitely recommend this bag if you want something more utilitarian than flashy. It seems to be of high quality and manages to have a great capacity while still keeping a fairly sleek profile.

I have always been impressed by the quality of products that Timbuk2 creates, and this bag is no different. The tote is lightweight, well manufactured, and has multiple pockets to separate smaller items from the main compartment. The zippers and fabric are great quality. This bag easily fits supplies for work and/or school (laptop, notebooks, pens/pencils, etc). This bag is a little bit larger than I expected but well suited for these purposes. I have been using this bag for work and am really enjoying it.

Large, lightweight bag that's a great travel carry-on under the seat. My only complaint is that when the bag is loaded, the strap cuts into your shoulder because it's so thin. With thicker straps to distribute the weight this bag would be a winner.

I'm a fan of Timbuk2 and have been using Timbuk2 bags as my everyday bags for the last couple years. I really wanted to love the Lug Tote but for me it presented enough functional problems to be returned. For the size, volume capacity, and price point I would expect this bag to offer more nuanced organizing solutions; No water bottle sleeve, only one external pocket (in which I would accommodate my iphone but that's pretty much it), not enough internal pockets, no zipper or padding along the horizontal laptop compartment for protection. These are a few extras that would make its generous volume capacity a lot more purposeful. The dealbreaker for me was how uncomfortable it felt to carry when filled with what I'd usually carry if I went to my class. The cross body strap didn't feel much better. I wish Timbuk2 offered more options in the tote department, as I really can't see how anyone would choose the Lug instead of a better thought out, more comfortable messenger bag from the ones available.