Customer Reviews

Osprey Resource Astro Courier Bag

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After using this bag for half a semester and a trip to Italy, I can say that it has lived up to my expectations. During everyday use, I have never found myself wishing for more room. Here are my points of view:

As an office intern: Just this morning I loaded it up with my sneakers, workout clothes, drink container, sandwich, fruit, and snack. In the mesh side pockets I fit my 1 L Nalgene bottle, glasses, and sunglasses case. All of this, and it still managed to look small.

As a student: After using backpacks for years, I became accustomed to carrying 2-3 large textbooks in addition to a laptop. I quickly learned that this isn't possible with a messenger bag. While this bag will easily fit 3 textbooks and a laptop, that doesn't mean you'll want to carry all this. However, on the occasions where I've found myself overloaded, I've used the neat little waist strap that can take nearly all the weight off your shoulder.

As a traveler: One of my favorite features is the adjustable clips. On several occasions I've rolled up a blanket or and simply closed the bag around it. The capacity of the bag isn't just limited to what you can fit inside of it. As a carry-on, the bag has always fit under the seat on a plane, even on those tiny regional jets. The top zipper makes it easy to take out a laptop for security. There's an open outer pocket on the back of the bag that I've found particularly useful for keeping important items such as boarding passes, maps, etc., where they are easy to access for myself and only myself.

After a few months of constant use the bag looks as good as new to me. I'm 100% happy with the way it functions, and it doesn't hurt to know that it's made from recycled materials. If only more products were this well-designed.

I got this bag last Christmas as a gift and have used it for one semester and for work this past summer, using it again this semester. I can officially say now that I love this bag! I commute by bike to school and work and once I get this bag situated on my back it doesn't budge (love the waist strap to stabilize the bag). For school I can comfortably stuff my laptop (which is not super lightweight) and two binders or a textbook and a binder plus my water bottle and lunch/snacks. The bag has room for more than that but if I put much more weight in it its not as comfortable on my bike.
This bag makes it easy to stay organized: outside sleeve on the back big enough for quick access to a file folder, outside zippered pocket on the flap perfect for keys, wallet and headlamp, two outside water bottle holders, inside under the flap there is a great zippered pocket with slots to organize pens/pencils and highlighters, behind that is a larger zippered pocket which I find works well to hold larger items like snacks and power cables, in the main compartment you can stuff two or three notebooks/binders or textbooks, there is also an inside mesh pocket to keep smaller notebooks or files, the padded laptop sleeve is great at keeping my laptop protected and it also has a small divider pocket that holds files.
Another great feature is the back outside zipper that allows you access to the main compartment of the bag without having to unhook the outside front flap. This makes it easy to pull your laptop out for airline security. The bag also does a good job of keeping everything inside dry too. I am not sure if its actually 100% waterproof but I have walked/biked in the rain with it and everything inside stayed dry. This bag has held up great too, I have used it since last Christmas and it still looks brand new.
My only small complaint with this bag is the position of the cellphone pocket on the shoulder strap. I carry the bag on my right shoulder which puts the cellphone pocket under my right arm towards on my back. This makes it tricky to access my cell easily since I have to bend my arm at an odd, uncomfortable angle to get my phone out of the pocket. Its not in the way or uncomfortable at all just hard to get the phone out of the pocket. I tried moving the pocket to the other side of the bag but then it sits under the adjustable shoulder strap and doesn't sit flat. I would be better if it were designed to be movable anywhere on the shoulder strap so that I could move it to have easier access. It has to be attached to the loops at the base of the strap near the body of the bag. The pocket itself is a nice padded design just wish it was could be placed differently.
Other than this small inconvenience this is a great, sturdy commuter bag that comfortably allows you to carry a ton of stuff in a well organized way. Did I mention I love this bag!

So far this bag has been working great for office/college use. It can fit a laptop easily in the back slot and about 2-3 1" ring binders in the front slot. Plus it has tons of other zipper pockets and two side mesh holders.

The front pouch can only really fit enough clothes for an overnight trip. You may want to consider the larger version (Elroy, I think) if you would like to fit more folders/clothes in the front slot for longer trips.

It is built with high quality materials and appears that it will last for a long time (I've only had it for 2-3 months). I would recommend this to any person looking into messenger bags. I did lots of research on these bags and came across this one. It is my first messenger bag and I love it.

This is a terrific camera bag and better than bags "designed" for cameras which are invariably too heavy and look like camera bags saying "steal these cameras" ...The Astro is just the right size and the ONLY courier out there to have a truly satisfactory weather sealed top that still allows for easy access...A Nikon D700 with the 24-70 zoom for example fits nicely right into the laptop sleeve when not in use..There is plenty of room left over for other accessories wrapped in padded cloths or pouches..When traveling this bag works again. Laptop in and a small camera fit well..Boarding pass and passport pocket right on the front flap and at security the laptop comes out without having to open the flap...Seriously the only bag I can think of that works for travel and then is immediately ready to go for street shooting.. I earn my living doing international photo stories for an international magazine.. This bag works..

I needed a bag that wasn't so formal. I tend to carry a lot of stuff to work like iPad, water bottle, lunch, cellphone........and the bag swallows it with ease. There is a place for everything! Looks rugged, strap adjusts easily, and just plain works!!! Great bag!!

It doesn't fit as much stuff as everyone else said in their reviews. One looseleaf and laptop makes it a tight squeeze for lunch. However I do like the bag, the drink holder does its job well and I like the cell phone compartment.

I loved this bag for its size and organization. I was using for work. But I carried it by the hand grip and the recycled fabric handle started to fray after a week. If you use the shoulder strap all the time. It would be fine, I think.

I've been looking for a courier bag for quite sometime. Fortunately I found the Osprey. I use this bag instead of a briefcase or backpack. It has plenty of room for my MacBook Pro, file folders, water bottles, office supplies (pens, pencils,etc) and miscellaneous items. It's comfortable to carry. The padded strap is great. It sheds water easily but not 100% waterproof. You would have to be in a downpour for quite awhile to get contents wet. It also has an extra compartment on the padded back for last minute items you forgot at work and don't want to take the extra few seconds to open the bag. Cycling with it is a dream as there is an extra strap to put around your waist if you so choose. All in all I'm very pleases with the purchase.

I was very apprehensive about buying a new bag since I had had my previous messenger bag for about 4 years and had grown quite attached to it. However, I am very very glad that I ended up buying this one. It's a very sturdy bag that has thus far been quite water resistant. It is perfectly sized for my laptop (lenovo T420) although I have not tried using it yet with more than just a laptop, charger, and a few papers and ipod and headphones and such. The waterbottle holders on both sides is a nice touch and the shoulder strap is quite comfortable. All in all, I'd say this a great messenger bag and I highly recommend it

This is an excellent bag for my needs (commuting to school). The capacity is much larger than it seems at first glance, and I love having all the pockets to organize my stuff - it's particularly nice having one (big) pocket on the outside flap, for things I want quick access to without opening the whole bag. The laptop sleeve fits my computer perfectly (a 15' MacBook Pro), and the back zipper to get the computer out quickly is a nice touch. The elastic flap also allows me to lash down something like an extra jacket, on days with changeable weather.