Timbuk2 Especial Spoke Sling Messenger Bag
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A messenger version of the Timbuk2 Raider Backpack, Spoke Sling lets you ride without weighing you down. It has superlight and durable ripstop nylon, an air-mesh back panel and an ambidextrous strap.
Shop similar products- Removable folding board keeps your work shirt crisp and the dedicated shoe pockets quarantine your cleats
- Subtle reflective hits keep you safe at dawn and dusk, making the Spoke Sling perfect for your morning raids, whatever they are
- Air-mesh ventilated back panel; ambidextrous strap with quick-release buckle
- Super-reflective bottom panel helps keep you visible in low light
- Dual side stretch pockets fit water bottles or your U-lock
Imported.
View all Timbuk2 Cycling Messenger Bags| Best Use | Bike Commuting Cycling |
|---|---|
| Bag Style | Messenger Bag |
| Gear Capacity (L) | 14 liters |
| Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 854 cubic inches |
| Number of Exterior Pockets | Unavailable |
| Carry-On | Yes |
| Material(s) | Ripstop nylon |
| Dimensions | 15.7 x 13 x 6.3 inches |
| Weight | 1 lb. 1.6 oz. |
| Gender | Unisex |
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Decent choice for full-time back carry
This mfr's products are always well made & reasonably well designed, & this bag is both . . . BUT I didn't realize from the pictures & descriptions that the shoulder pad on the main strap is permanently attached to the strap at one end. Thus, it is sturdy & comfortable when on the back in classic messenger rider style, but it cannot comfortably be carried for any length of time in an ordinary shoulder-bag or cross-body style. I believe I will miss the versatility offered by a messenger bag with a large moving shoulder pad and an old standard pressure buckle the allows it to be an on-the-back bag, a shoulder bag, or a cross-body bag.
Very except for the shoulder strap
I used this messenger bag everyday to go to work, short business travel, etc. I basically use it to carry my mac and my ipad with some extra pockets for keys, water, etc. I am a lightweight fanatic and this bag is very light and soft. I don't use it for biking to work but I am considering trying it and using the extra strap provided for that purpose. My only issue with this bag is the shoulder pad. It is sewn to one end of the strap such that when I walk with my bag the "shoulder" pad is in the middle of my back. I cannot move it. I looked at removing the stitches but even if I did that the buckle would prevent the strap from moving anyway. Maybe it makes sense when biking but it should be flexible enough to be able to use it while walking.
Another Excellent Extension to my Especial Family!
Ever since I bought an Especial Backpack last year, I've been a big fan of this line. The Especial Backpack was my main work bag, but having to sling it on and off any time I was on the go and needed to get something out of it was getting tiresome. Also, in tropical Singapore, having the pack on my back while cycle commuting got my top pretty damp. This sling solves all of these problems, except that the strap is too long for me and extra length flaps about after I shorten it. It also tends to get twisty, which bugs the OCD in me. I also love having dedicated pockets, which is what I miss in the Especial series over your regular bags, but understand it's a compromise for a lighter pack. All in all, the Especial series has proven to be GREAT for cycle commuting for work, where any savings in weight and bulk really are necessary with laptop and notebooks inside. Of course, I use regular Timbuk2 bags otherwise. :D
Mostly good but some odd features.. Shoulder bag not a sling
Have been looking for some time for a very light messenger/shoulder bag for travel which is small and light enough to roll up and pack in another bag for one bag travel but sturdy enough to stand up to some use, big enough to be useful but not too big. Not a briefcase..not interested in carrying a laptop but do want to carry an iPad. Importantly for a guy, it shouldn't look like a purse or be too heavy or too bulky with padding. This bag seemed ideal. But it's not perfect. When I got it home I found the shoulder pad is sewn to the side or bottom of the strap, maybe this is supposed to turn it into a sling but the bag really isn't designed as a sling and 90% of people will use as a shoulder bag and in this configuration the pad is useless. Think I will cut the stitches, but his may mean resewing strap. The bag comes with a stiff board for folding clothes that doesn't seem to fit with intended use of bag, I could see including something like this with a suitcase or carry on bag but not a messenger bag. The website claims there are pockets to segregate cleats. In fact there are only two small mesh pockets, the last place you would put wet or dirty cleats, easier to pack a plastic bag. So overall, I'm pleased with bag and will keep but the strap needs a redesign, toss the folding board and fix the website description.
decent for the price, some odd/impractical design choices
I've owned at least 12 timbuk2 bags, and another dozen competitor bags. I agree with some of the negative comments of the other posters. Particularly the odd strap with the pad sewn to the strap. When you extend the strap the shoulder pad is forced towards the buckle so that it is basically at the end of the strap and far from where it should sit on your shoulder. I can always replace the strap with another bag strap - so not a big deal. The strap from the original Detour was awesome. On the fly adjustment. :) The thing that bothers me the most is the rounded/semi-circle construction of the bag. Does anyone want a bag that is rounded in the front? Don't most people carry rectangular items that fit best in rectangular shaped bags? This issue comes up up in most timbuk2 bags of late. I purchased the bag because the overall dimensions were described as 15.7 x 13.0 x 6.3. While the rounded front does restrict this somewhat, it does allow me to fit a large binder; so still meets my needs. Basically I want a bag that fits what I need to carry without excess space in the bag. I find that timbuk2 bags are either too tall while fitting the width of my items (tablet, binders, books, folders), or too wide while fitting the height of my items. If the height and width fit nicely without slack, then the bag is 1'-2' deep, barely allowing me to hold anything. This bag was the closest I've found to something that fits what I want without too much slack (the 6.3 depth is greatly appreciated). My recommendation to timbuk2 is to make a bag or two that fit a bind, book and laptop without tons of slack. A couple external pockets for charger/mouse, phone. Stretch side pockets for waterbottle/mug. A couple bottom straps to hold a wet collapsible umbrella - you wont put this in your bag with your laptop and books, right? The large internal space should be 14"x11"x6".