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Timbuk2's Laptop Messenger Bag Reviewed

by Simon Helton

Timbuk2

SRP / SP:	$90 / $90
Requirements:	None
What's Hot:	Tough and attractive
What's Not:	Built-in laptop sleeve not suitable for some computer sizes

Note: Because of the similarities between this bag and Timbuk2's Classic Messenger, portions of that review will be reused here where apt.

Timbuk2's Classic Messenger bags are exceedingly popular, and have become a staple on college campuses and among urban hipsters. Parlaying this into an extensive line of bags for a variety of uses, Timbuk2 has now entered the competitive laptop bag arena with their Laptop Messenger. This model is based on the medium-sized Classic Messenger, considered about the equivalent to a typical backpack for students, but with a sleeve for your laptop built into the bag. The sleeve can handle a 15-inch Apple portable or smaller.

The material used for the exterior is ballistic nylon, a very rugged material that also allows for good colors, which Timbuk2 offers a variety of. Inside the bag is a vinyl lining, which makes the bag very resistant to water. The interior of the bag includes a number of compartments, pockets, and pen holders, meaning it's not just a free-for-all inside. I was pleased to see how organized these features left me. One other nicety is that it looks like the handle to the bag has received some extra stitching compared to the earlier Timbuk2 bags I've used. I never felt like the handles were attached poorly in the past, but I think the new stitching will keep the handle and bag forever joined.

Of course, you're all here to read about the laptop sleeve included in the Laptop Messenger. The sleeve is non-removable and made of a semi-rigid felt-like material, meaning there shouldn't be any scratches. Instead of a full flap, the laptop is secured by a strap with velcro that goes over the open top. The velcro is positioned to avoid any contact with the laptop, which has its plusses and minuses. A longer strip of velcro on the strap would allow cinching down for smaller laptops, but also risk scratching a laptop case, but the current arrangement means a laptop smaller than a 15-inch MacBook Pro or PowerBook can be a little loose in the sleeve. Putting more velcro on the body of the sleeve where the strap attaches could be a compromise allowing for a better fit for smaller laptops.

I tested a 13-inch MacBook in the sleeve, and while it wasn't excessively loose, if you're a stickler for fit, this sleeve is best for a 15-inch laptop. I tried to see if a very light sleeve (like those from Foof) could fit within the Timbuk2 sleeve, but it was a hair too tight for comfort. Overall, the sleeve offers an acceptable fit for a variety of sizes, and the protectiveness is quite good, but offering multiple sleeve sizes or a greater ability to cinch down the sleeve. If you're not carrying a laptop, the sleeve provides a handy compartment for files, folders, and spiral notebooks.

The Laptop Messenger bag offers great construction, functionality, versatility, and value. I have no doubts that this bag could last years of hard use with nary a trouble. One of the great things about the bag, too, is that it doesn't look like a laptop bag. From the outside it is indistinguishable from a typical Timbuk2 messenger bag, so your laptop won't be screaming, "Steal me!" The only question you need to ask yourself is if the sleeve meets your needs, or if you'd rather buy a sleeve separately and toss it in the very-similar Classic Messenger (which runs $20 less at $70), which offers some other sizing and customization options. Considering a good sleeve fitted for Apple portables can easily run well over $20, it's up to you to decide what represents the best value.