Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

Full disclosure, I'm coming from a Booq backpack which I've had for 8 years and LOVED. That said, my new Timbuk2 NeverCheck bag has become my hands-down favorite backpack I've ever had. Organizationally there are tons of pockets that are easy to get to and easy to store everything in a sensible fashion. Its the most comfortable bag I've ever put on my shoulders. and it's SO WEIRDLY SPACIOUS for such a small bag. I've fit two computers in it, a change of clothes, and a ton of peripheral things in it and it still fits under the seat in front of me on a plane. There is a super cool handle on the top and on the side which is amazingly useful. This is by far the best bag I've ever owned. . .Now if I can only get them to make backpacks for all my climbing gear. . .

I am a frequent business traveler (1,2, and 3 days at a time) and also a minimalist when it comes to travelling. I have searched high and low for the the right backpack that is not bulky and not only carries all my clothes and laptop, phone and chargers, but something I can hop off a plane and walk right into an executive level meeting with and feel comfortable pulling out my laptop, notepad and chargers. Great product!

For a backpack that's sold as the perfect travel companion, I've been really disappointed with a few glaring flaws that make it so frustrating to use that I've ultimately decided to move on with a different brand. I purchased the Never Check Expandable Backpack exactly one year ago (May 2018) and have been using it 1) as a daily commuter backpack to work and 2) as a carry-on backpack for short weekend trips and longer vacations alike. The biggest problem is the flimsy shoulder straps that are so uncomfortable to use if you are hauling more than a few pounds in the back. Now imagine rushing through the airport with a fully-loaded backpack supported by these flimsy straps. Why Timbuk2 didn't simply use better padding on the shoulder straps is beyond me. Second, as others have mentioned, the shoulder strap adjustment pulls are made out of a slick material that slips very easily. With all my previous backpacks, I would only have to adjust the pulls the first time and they would stay put. Not with this backpack. I literally have to readjust the strap pulls every other time I use it. Frustrating to say the least. Third, the water bottle pocket on the side feels like an afterthought that was simply tacked on. It isn't actually tight or deep enough to securely hold a standard sized water bottle. Multiple times while entering and exiting cars, my bottle actually fell out and got scratched up on the concrete floor. Lastly, while I do like the look of the backpack (the main reason why I bought it), the two compression straps and hooks on the front are purely cosmetic and serve no purpose except to block easy access to the middle compartment. Some things I do like about the backpack include the easy-to-access laptop sleeve in the back and the small compartment in the front that's perfect for a passport or phone. Overall, I've been sorely disappointed with the quality and design of this backpack. Unfortunately, it's given me the impression that Timbuk2 is more hype than quality.

Great bag with amazing organization. Good balance and size.

The perfect carry-on backpack.

I think it is great for walking or uber or you car from home to office or your gym, everything on it, safe in you back and soft with it.

Perfect backpack to carry around my entire set of laptop, ipad, notes, books AND to travel around with!

I gifted this backpack to my husband for Christmas because his old one couldn't hold both his laptop and travel items. I never imagined it would be put to the test so soon. When the Palisades Fire forced us to evacuate our home with no warning, this backpack became a lifeline. It held all our most important belongingselectronics, passports, essential documents, and even some clotheswith room to spare. The expandable design and sturdy construction made a huge difference, and now this backpack means so much more to us than just a travel bag. It's a reminder of what we were able to save when so much else was lost.

I gifted this backpack to my husband for Christmas as his current backpack couldn't hold both his laptop and various travel items. Unfortunately, we've recently been affected by the Palisades Fire and had to quickly and unexpectedly evacuate our house. This backpack did the job. There was enough room to put our electronics, essential documents, passports, and clothes with some room to spare. Incredibly easy to organize everything. While the circumstance is absolutely devastating, we're lucky to have made it out with the things we need most.

I used the backpack a couple of weeks after purchasing it for a plane trip and it met all my expectations and beyond. I had plenty of room for all of my essentials and more. I like the durability of the backpack and all of the compartments. Thank you for its reliability and the thought you put into making such a good product.

I absolutely love the texture of this backpack. Its overall design is perfect for both urban life and travel. The front features multiple organizational pockets, and the interior's vibrant green color adds a stylish touch. The spacious interior offers plenty of room for all my essentials!

Purchased for my boyfriend as a gift - he loves it! He hasn't had a chance to use if for travel yet, but so far he loves it for commuting to work or quick overnight trips.

Well thought out details and design make this a great carry on bag! Material does take a tiny bit of lint, but love all the pockets, zippers, and compartments. Plenty of storage and open space compared to most travel bags.

So much more space than I realized.

Perfect bag for work!

I use this everyday for work and find the size and layout very useful. I do like that it has some extra capacity, but so far I have not needed that feature. The pockets and interior are also well laid out with good layout for organizing al my IT gear and regular office gear!

Very well-made, high quality product. Happy about the volume and about a separate laptop section that fits my 16-inch laptop.

Exactly as advertised. Cinches down to a very small and unobtrusive backpack for day-to-day activites, and the expansion allows for overnights or longer outings.

I'll be using this bag for the first time on a work trip this week, and just thought I would share (because I had the same question), the side laptop opening will fit a 16" Macbook Pro (M2). And it fits with no issues. So the 15" noted is a little conservative.

I have have had this bookbag for literally 5 years and it still looks brand new. It's gotten me through multiple moves, business trips, and weekend trips. Can't recommend highly enough.

Wanted it for business and travel, with convenient accessibility to routine items and you nailed it! I researched and compared, from website description to ordering and its arrival the backpack and experience has been exceptional.

This is more than the backpack we used for school. It's stylish and fits everything I need for a short overnight or short trip of a few days without feeling bulky. It's comfortable to carry. It has lots of pockets to organize stuff. And the pocket in back makes for a perfect and comfortable place for a lap top. All in all, I am delighted with this

I bought this backpack as larger addition to my earlier Timbuk2 to backpack, which is still in great condition and I still use. I just really wanted to have a different option for when I have a few more things to carry to work. I'm super excited about it and it's working perfectly, I honestly wish I had purchased it sooner. It has a great selection of pockets and features, and I feel very organized when I leave the house!

Purchased this backpack before a trip to CDMX and absolutely loved it! It's perfectly spacious with compartments/pockets that help you stay organized. I was able to comfortably fit 3 days worth of clothing and my toiletry bag inside. On the way home I was able to fit a few souvenirs using the extension feature. It fit perfectly underneath the airplane seat.

I love this backpack! It was able to fit all the clothes I wore on my week-long trip to Europe, plus more. Very comfortable to wear and it even fit under the plane seat in front of me. I would also like to add that Timbuk2 support was awesome: something odd happened to my original order; when I said to them that I needed the bag in less than 3 days, they help me get it in 1 day. Thank you.