Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

I love this bag and have used it for many years now. My major complaint about this bag and the reason I don't use it very much these days is that it doesn't have a luggage pass-through on the back so that I can secure it to my roller-board luggage.

Used for first time on a trip to Portugal. Was great but would have liked to have a strap to put over luggage handles for walking through airports. That addition would make it perfect

I have had the timbuk2 copilot carry on roller bag for years and I absolutely love it. I decided to get a backpack that would work as my second item so I can do all carry-on for longer business trips. The backpack itself - even empty - is quite heavy and full it's obviously even heavier. So I was pretty disappointed to find that it also doesn't slide onto the roller bag handle the way many Timbuk2 backpacks do. As a backup I have a long strap I use to attach it to the luggage but it's not fool proof. I probably won't use it for travel again. Kinda surprised they didn't just add the panel to the back under the straps they way they have it for other backpacks.

I bought this to use as my travel and daily train commute pack. Ive been using it for a year on ~60 flights and stopped using it for commute after one day. I regret the purchase for three reasons. 1. The way to attach to rolling luggage gets stuck on the luggage handle and is awkward as heck/ causes my rolly bag to be unstable. 2. The bag is just not comfortable to carry for long periods or adjust (sternum strap adjustment doesn't work) 3. The bag looks sloppy: those silly clips on the front get in the way and it's just a really big bag. The organizers are great and the expansion works well, but the rest of it is just frustrating and I only use it now because it was so expensive and I can't return it.

Not really functional as a travel backpack. The strap that attaches to a roller suitcase is too thin and places on the side which made it imbalanced and my luggage kept tipping over, the water bottle holder is too small, my 20oz hydroflask barely fit and kind of hung off the side (not secure). The front zip pocket is hard to access especially when the bag is upright. The computer pouch in the back kept my back hot. The middle (largest) zip pouch is hard to fill because of the flaps on both sides (it doesn't open wide).

somehow always has dirt on it ?? love the expansion feature and front pockets (although there could be some on both sides of from folding opening)...

I own probably over 10 backpacks or messenger bags over the years. The bag is comfortable and fits well on my back. However, it may just be me but I do not like the side zipper for the computer. I'm so used to throwing my computer from the top on other bags that I sometimes forget to zipper up and the computer can fall out when your are on the run. The other thing I don't like is that the front zipper only opens half way, you can't access as well.

This is my 7th or 8th bag, I like all the pockets and the quality. My biggest complaint is I don't like the side laptop zipper, I'm used to throwing in my laptop from the top on other bags I have without having to remember to zip. If you don't pay attention and zip up, your laptop will fall out. I also don't really care for the half zipper on the front as well--makes it hard to reach things on the left hand side of the bag.

I have used this pack for almost a year and am mostly very pleased. It has great capacity and thoughtful design. Use caution with the small mesh pocket on the inside top of the main pocket. The mesh is not made of very strong material. Almost any object that you put in there that has an edge (such as a phone charger) will cut through the mesh if your bag is full.

It's ok. The laptop pocket is a little tight. I have two 15.6" laptops and one of them doesn't actually fit in the laptop pocket. Only one of the storage areas in the front compartment zips, I'm guessing as the bag ages they'll stretch and everything will just fall out of them.

Great bag. It needs to be a mix between the Never Check and OS / Eco. Cushioning is great, but the laptop sleeve isn't big enough. I don't understand the point of the compression sleeves as they block two of the zippers. I imagine it would be frustrating with long-term usage.

Good size, versatility, and durability. This is called "never check" it has a picture of a guy on a plane. Why does it not have a luggage pass-through for your roll aboard? It is such a tiny but important feature for a bag meant for air travel. It was a deal-breaker for many of my friends. After trying to travel with this I have had to leave it in the closet. The back padding is comfortable but could use a couple more air channels in the thick foam.

I purchased this backpack to replace my well-used and worn out Crumpler Dry Red No. 6 backpack (sadly I can't get it repaired in the US). My old backpack was rugged, made from high-quality materials, easily carried a 15-16" laptop, tablet, pens, notebook, cables, chargers and featured an expandable main compartment that could easily fit clothes and a toiletries bag for short work trips. Replacement choices were narrowed to Tumbuk2 and Peak Design, eventually settling on the Never Check Expandable Backpack. The backpack is similar in design to the Crumpler with a laptop compartment at the rear of the backpack with a zip running along the side - very useful for quickly removing laptop and tablet when going through airport security. Disappointing that the compartment isn't lined with a soft fabric though. The backpack is smaller than I expected it to be and I doubt it'll fit a 16" MacBook Pro. The main storage compartment is expandable however it's not possible to open the backpack out flat for packing clothes. It would've been nice if elastic straps were fitted in the compartment to allow clothing to be secured flat against the laptop compartment wall. I found the zips on this compartment don't glide smoothly so you need two hands to open the compartment without a struggle. There are two front compartments, one of which could hold a passport and/or cell phone. It's adequate, although for a cell phone it could use a soft fabric liner. Although the compartment isn't overly visible, I'm not sure it offers enough security for storing a passport. The design of the second of the two front compartments is flawed. You have to undo two straps to be able to open the compartment, and then only half of the flap can be opened. Very inconvenient! Lose the straps and reposition the zips so you can open the compartment from the top, rather than the side. Drink holder is only good for very narrow bottles. Shoulder straps are thinly padded. A nice backpack, with flaws.

As soon as I opened the bag, I was impressed. The materials were high quality and there was a ton of organization in the bag itself. My purchase decision had come from a YouTube video, and in that video, there is a water bottle pocket that is collapsible with a zipper. The guy fits a pretty large bottle in it, and I was impressed. However, when I took a look at my bag, there was no zipper and instead was a thick elastic strap that makes it very hard to even put a small water bottle into the pocket. Also the stitching at the bottom of the pocket makes it so that the bottle only goes down half way. I was really expecting a perfect daily bag for myself, and it is still a very good bag, I was just looking for a good water bottle pocket and was very disappointed. Even in their product images and their official product video there is a zippered pocket. This bag is literally perfect except for that one thing.

Very durable which is what I wanted and I'm looking forward to using the expandable option. The backpack is a bit stiff and getting to the pockets isn't super easy.

Great design, durability, and quality of materials as one would expect from Timbuk2. However, in my opinion, this pack has two major flaws. First and foremost, the water bottle pocket is comically small. I can barely fit a standard Hydroflask in there, much less any bottle with a greater diameter. Not sure why it is so difficult to make a pack with a sizable water bottle pocket? And second, the exterior buckles/straps, while aesthetically pleasing, get in the way when trying to open the second exterior pocket. Overall, I got the pack on sale, so it's unfortunate that even the steep discount couldn't justify me keeping it.

I'm a pretty big guy (6' 7", 300 lbs). When I tried the pack on, it looked like I was wearing a kid's backpack. If I kept the straps short, they dug in to my upper shoulder and neck. If I loosened them to where I would be more comfortable, most of the strap was no longer on my shoulders. For someone of a slightly smaller build, I think this bag could be truly awesome -- the materials felt high quality and I liked the organization of the front pocket and how spacious the main compartment was.

The bag feels great to touch, it has some nice materials. I got the all black version with grey lining inside. Its spacious enough for me to use as a weekend getaway bag along with commuting to work. I have a few problems unzipping the main compartment, it seems to get stuck along the lining halfway through, and I have to use my hand to push back so the zipper goes all the way. The bottle holder is advertised as a zipper that can expand and also conceal when not using, however my bag came with no zipper and instead uses a stretchy band. Seems weird why my bag is not the same as its advertised, it also is very small and hard to put bottles in.

I've discovered the product from the Travelling Salseros Youtube review of the Opposethis Invisible Carry-on backpack, which I originally intended to get, but the guy on the video suggested Timbuk2's Never Check Expandable Backpack as a better alternative. First and foremost, it's an excellent high-quality backpack. I love design, organization, robust material, reliable zippers, and decent size, not too big, not too small. I was disappointed when I've received the pack because of the water bottle compartment. Firstly, it is not the same, that I saw on the pictures and video both on the website and youtube reviews; secondly, it bothers me for two things: 1) It completely messes up the whole aesthetics of the bag by noticeably sticking out from the side. (Pictures on the Timbuk2's website show that it's supposed to be a clean and minimal solution with a zipper.) 2) In my experience, this pocket is not usable in real-life grab-and-go scenarios. I've tried it with 0.5L and 0.7L bottles. I mean bottles can be fitted, but with a lot of additional amount of effort. Also, it looks like, seams of the elastic band which holding this compartment is about to tear down after a few uses I still want to recommend this bag, because it's almost a perfect bag for travel and daily carry if you don't mind a small aesthetic and usability issue which I talked above. P.S. I've got this bag on the Black Friday sale, and maybe the flaws described above are related only for discounted items.

I am a weekly traveler and utilize multiple Timbuk2 bags for different needs. I use monthly the Wingman (mostly as a backpack), the Ace laptop bag, Command backpack, and sometimes just the standard Messenger each with their own purposes. I was hoping to gain the additional capacity I sometimes need with the Never Check however, once I utilize some of the modular pockets the bag becomes cumbersome to use. It just doesn't seem "intuitive" to my needs and I find myself frustrated with its "functionality". The bag itself is well crafted and I do like the understated nature of it as well as the simple colortone design.

It is very welll made. My issues are many fold. 1. The 15 inch laptop sleeve is too tight. My other two non-Timbuk2 oacks have 15 in h laptop sleeves and my 15 inch laptop fits easily inside. On this pack it is like a puzzle to get it inside. I have to slide one end up into the top of the sleeve, and then pull hard on the bottom of the opening while twisting the top of the laptop further into the pocket top to get the bottom corner to finally clear the zipper. If the opening was even a 1/4" larger I don't think it would be an issue. It would benefit from top load pull straps to get the weight forward. Currently if I'm walking to buses and standing around waiting, it rides heavy on my traps with approx 12 pounds in it. What are the two side compression hooks for on the right side? I put my umbrella in them once this week, otherwise they get in the way of the main compartment zipper opening I love how it stands up every time I set it down. Very nice. I wish it had a built in rain fly. I'm not sure if it is marketed as waterproof, didn't find it specifically pointed out in the literature, but I assume it is only water resistant. It has lots of pockets and sleeves, but I haven't got it dialed in for my needs yet. My last two Incase backpacks had the lock on zippered pockets, but both failed after years in areas this Timbuk2 appears won't fail.

After a month or so of using the bag I really like everything about it with one exception. I really really wish it had a strap to slide over the handle of my suitcase. I've done 5-6 trips with it and that's all I really hat about it. The size is perfect and not bulky. I've been storing it under the airplane seat in front of me instead of putting it in the overhead because it's so slim. It holds everything I need.

This looks nice, I guess...if you can't find a new-old-stock Command. There is literally nothing this pack does better than the discontinued Command backpack. Where's the TSA laptop flap? The interior storage doesn't work as well...just look at the passport hanging out in the mesh pocket in the marketing photo, instead of in the perfectly-fitted slot of the predecessor. Adding a zipper to "expand" is trading a gimmick for a better solution too; the old model had cinch straps that worked better and didn't add weight and complexity. Please bring back the command, or make a Command2 or whatever with some thoughtful enhancements. It was and remains the perfect pack for someone who flies regional jets all the time (me); it's just barely small enough to not have to valet on those, and it kills with storage and features.

I travel, a lot and love to have a backpack to complement my carryon. Over the years, I've had enough mishaps that I like to have a backpack that can hold at least a day's worth of extra clothes. Nothing special, just enough to get through a day if they lose my baggage. I've tried a lot of bags. I love the size and the look of this bag, but the front pocket was a choice of aesthetics over function. Two things bother me. First of all, the phone/keys zipper pocket is too accessible to someone trying to pickpocket me and it should have been felt lined to boot. I would have placed that at the top of the bag, by the handle. More disconcerting is the side pocket under the buckles. Side access is rarely a good thing especially since all the organizational pockets are set vertically in the bag. So, it leads to a weird way of reaching for the things I might need. Finally, and this is a nitpick, if this is a never check bag, which you might use with a roller bag, you'd want a passthrough on the back so that you can easily carry both. Overall, a great quality bag, but like I said, form over function.

I was disapointed that is was uncomfortable after a short period. I am 5'10 and have fair'y broad shoulders, but this backpack might just be too big for a girl. I had a laptop and a change of clothes in it andy neck and shoulders were so sore. The bag is 3 different colpurs. Not quite black. A little disapointing. It has many pockets and easy access to all your stuff. I will probably gove it away. I can't make use of it, sfter trying it out on 3 different trips.