Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I wish I'd actually been able to find this product review - I did sample both the 15" and the 17" versions of this product (medium and large). And let me be clear - I love me some Timbuk2. I do. I have an old messenger bag from college days that has been beaten until it called for momma, and that thing has been my friend for years.This is not that bag.Even at the 17" closure, the padding for the computer is not weather or spill or even coffee-proof, as evidenced by my harrowing ten mile commute through the Seattle region at sixty miles an hour through free-flowing traffic with no stops. Fortunately, my neoprene sleeved Macbook 13" tucked into the "expansive" cordoroy sleeve was indeed waterproof, at the time. But that waterproof main compartment certainly kept my CD case very coffee-proof. Yes, indeedy. I could sleep well knowing that my $1,500 laptop, tucked in the cordoroy pocket full of static electricity died, but that the $10 worth of cheap, scratched burned CDs didn't get wet.Oh, yes, and in the month I had these two bags, I took them through the TSA in seven different cities - New York, SF, Seattle, Chicago, LA, Tokyo, and Denver. In EVERY. SINGLE. CITY. The TSA told me that I had to remove the laptops from the bag entirely and place them in the bins."But can't I just unzip them?""No sir. Put them in the bin.""But the bag says...""Look, just put them in the bin."Not wanting to press the point and make intimate contact with a mouth-breathing government employee* who gets paid a whopping $14 an hour to scope the human cattle call of thousands of questionably hygenic travelers**, I took my laptop out of the cordoroy pocket and placed it in a separate bin.Then they dogged me. Turns out one should not carry bacon sandwiches while meandering through security in Denver unless you have an hour or twelve to kill.So that little advertising myth is bunked - guess what? That zippered pocket is useless. Not waterproof, not large enough to even hold a 15" Macbook without [*] itself, and god forbid anyone tries to put something larger than a 15" PC laptop from a year ago in there.As for the nylon - oh Timbuk2, bring the manufacturing back to the States. Seriously. The nylon was weak enough to fray at key points after only a month of such rigorous tasks as lifting the bag by the handle, carrying the bag by the shoulder strap, and opening and closing the zipper. The padded strap had a snag in it sufficient enough to allow stray padding fibers to escape.But you know, I really do love my Timbuk2 bags! I love the little things to pieces. I was just hoping that I would be able to prolong the "loving to pieces" part longer than forty days.Let me put it this way - if Timbuk2 shapes up, manages to get this bag made the way my old regular large messenger blue-and-white truck tarp liner Timbuk2 was made, I'll happily buy another one.But the lack of waterproofing, poor material quality, and sheer lack of ruggedness that I expect from a Timbuk2 means pretty simply that I'm not going to buy a lappie bag from these guys ever again.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

To start, I'd like to mention that you should also read the Timbuk2 (medium size) reviews for what are relevant critiques, in my opinion.
I bought this carrier after trying several backpack-type laptop bags because I carry a lot of stuff with me, needed some extra storage room and thought the packs would give me what I need. I quickly realized that, because I wear it mainly over one shoulder, I'd be better off with the messenger bag style than the backpack. If you need room for books, change of clothes for the gym, etc. this might give you what you need. I looked at too many bags that had a large total volume but dedicated too much of that volume, it seemed, to the actual laptop compartment and not enough where I would store everything else. This Timbuk2 seems to solve that- to an extreme.
PROBLEM #1: They say it will fit a 17" computer back there but I've got a Toshiba Satellite A105 w/ a 15.4" screen and it's a tight fit. I'd been hoping to be able to keep it in its thin neoprene dust sleeve for added protection (because the Timbuk2 protection at the zippers in the laptop storage space is minimal) but there was no way I could zip it closed like that. Keep that in mind when you size this up. I'm not a bike messenger so I'm not worried about this thing getting wet but it seems like Timbuk2 did neglect to waterproof the one compartment holding the most delicate freight. But whatever, like I said, not a big deal for me.
PROBLEM #2: The shoulder strap, while not uncomfortable, has absolutely no grip to it. I noticed this immediately at the store but thought that maybe once I had some weight in it, gravity would supply the necessary force to keep the strap in place on my finely sculpted shoulders. Nope. Turns out I do not, in fact, have finely sculpted shoulders and I worry about the strap sliding right off and dropping my beloved computer on the floor. Like one of the other reviewers I'll probably have to put some rubber bands on it or something. Not a huge deal but bothersome when you consider the price.
Overall, those beefs won't keep me from enjoying the bag but they might be something for you to keep in mind if you look at this item.

BOTTOM LINE: I can't handle the bottom line.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I bought this bag without realizing the horrendous design flaw that all messenger bags suffer from: they are entirely impractical unless you are an actual messenger! If you ride with this on your back you have to constantly adjust the bag, and forget about climbing out of the saddle with this on.

After dealing with this terribly awkward bag for two weeks, I swapped it for a medium Timbuk2 Hemlock backpack, which I highly reccomend. Same storage space and vastly more comfortable. It also sits perfectly in my 9X14X14.5 Basket.

Here's what the hilarious Eben Weiss of 'Bike Snob' fame wrote about messenger bags:

"However, for on-the-bike-use, messenger bags aren't always the great choice everybody thinks they are. This is because they're designed to swing around from rear to front quickly and without being removed. This is great when you're stopping every two blocks to deliver a package, but it's not such a great thing when you're just going from one place to another and you keep having to push your bag back around every five minutes. If you're not constantly going in and out of your bag, you very well may be much better off with a regular backpack.

Still, urban cyclists will continue to choose the messenger bag. Actually the messenger bag has become less a bag than another article of clothing. Really, a better name for messenger bags might be 'hipster capes'."

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

Just to be clear: when I described the tight fit for my Toshiba laptop this was with regard to its thickness. The length and width dimensions of the zippered laptop compartment do look like they will hold the size advertised. After I wrote that review I realized maybe I made the wrong impression with any potential buyers by not being clear enough on that point. The reason it was difficult (impossible with the sleeve on) to zip up the laptop was due to the computer's thickness. If you have a slim model you won't have a problem. It's designed to be a snug fit and my Toshiba's thickness is at the Timbuk2's outer limit. Hope that helps.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

This was a gift for my son at christmas and he uses it for his college books and he loves it....

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I bought this for work to carry my 15" laptop while traveling, which turned out to be 15.6" It was my own fault for not bringing the laptop to the store, I just measured and thought it would work. It seems like a reasonable bag, and I am keeping it for my next 13" laptop.

You might have figured out, this website feedback window somewhat disturbs my calm.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I planned to use this for daily work commute in Singapore: walk 800m to subway, 1 stop, change trains, 3 stops, walk 600m to office. Usually use nice Lowepro backpack, which works fine. A friend showed me his Timbuk2 and raved about it. Well, the laptop holding area is kinda small even for my HP6930p, tough to zip. The Large is really wide when it's hanging on your back, tough for places with a lot of pedestrian traffic; have to move it to the side. The overall compartment situation is in my opinion just so-so. Am stuck with this one, but think I'll try another brand that seems to deal with these deficiencies.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I bought this bag to replace a stolen XL Timbuk2 laptop bag from 2007. I was excited about the TSA laptop feature. Sadly, the zipper sticks and makes it hard to get the laptop in and out.

Also with the TSA approved laptop pocket the laptop sits odd in the bag and the hooks on both sides for the shoulder strap are shaped and positioned differently. As a result the bag hangs at a very odd angle. It wears as a messenger just fine, but if you throw it over your shoulder it doesn't hang vertically. It's hard to describe, but it's a pain.

Sadly this bag is going back. I sure hope the non-TSA Timbuk2 laptop bags are more like my old on.

Comments about Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Large:

I mainly use this bag to commute back and forth to my restaurant. Every now and then I bring my laptop and it fits everything perfectly including my change of clothes and random books etc. with no bulky feeling when strapped in.
The bag seems small at first but there are so many pockets and pockets inside of pockets that I've never run out of space, actually I've lost some things for a couple days because I forgot how many pockets there are. So that could be the only con if you need one.
The strap is easily adjustable with one hand using the latch system and able to adjust on the move with ease.
Easily cleaned with a damp cloth.