Customer Reviews

Swiss Alps SA9153 Messenger Bag (Black)

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

 

 

I have read the other reviews on this product, so I guess I will address those issues first.

Number one: This is a HUGE bag, at least as far as messenger bags go (it's not huge like a baseball equipment bag). That should have been apparent to any purchaser who read the dimensions on it. For me that is ok, because that it exactly what I bought it for. I can carry my laptop in it, as well as 2 college textbooks, with a little room to spare for a small notebook or novel. If this is going to be too big for you, I definitely recommend a different product.

Number two: This WILL fit a 17" laptop, but just not in the "laptop" slot--it'll have to go in the front. There is a little divider on the inside, and one side is wider than the other. If you have a 17" laptop, you have to put it in the front, and forego the extra padding that is in the back section--put a book or some papers there instead.

Number three: This bag is made with very good quality, despite what someone else said. I used to live in Asia, and when I moved back to America I brought back 2 or 3 messenger bags that I had purchased there for different things. The reason I bought this bag is because the other two broke at the point where the strap connects to the bag. However, in this one, the sewing is very quality and it feels very sturdy. I carry between 20 and 30 pounds of stuff in my bag, because I use it as a backpack for college, and the strap firmly holds that much weight. It may not be up to your standards, but at least I approve of it, and the fact that is was made in China doesn't automatically make it a piece of crap. The only more quality bag I have ever come across is Timbuk2, but you'll definitely pay WAY more for that.

Number four: Made for a very tall person? Not really. There is an adjustable strap on it that makes it so it can adjust it to whatever height is practical for your needs. However, because it is so big, it is designed to carry a lot of stuff, so either it will be too big for your needs and be baggy, or it will be full of stuff, which will make it very heavy (the weight of about 3 college textbooks if full).


Having addressed those issues, I will give my own review. Like was mentioned before, there are two side pockets, one for a water bottle, and one that appears would be perfect for pens/pencils, glasses case, etc. But like was mentioned, if your bag tips forward or upside down, all that crap is going to spill out, which is annoying. So be vigilant about not letting it tip over or throwing it around, or else be patient in picking up pencils all the time (or better just, just put pencils in the pencil pouch behind the flap.

Another thing is that the front flap has a zipper and pouch on it, but like almost any other messenger bag, putting anything in it larger then a pencil makes it difficult to flip open and shut, which is the advantage of a messenger bag over a backpack. I recommend putting only very small things in it, if you use it at all.

This bag is very sporty, so if you are a professional, like a businessman or financial planner or something, you will want to go with something a little more professional looking. And probably something smaller, too.

Other than that, I thought it was great. Lots of little pouches and pockets in the front, which is what I like, and very large, which is what I love. I recommend it if it fits your needs according to the review!

****UPDATE****
I had a comment posted on my review asking about the long-term durability of the bag, so I will go ahead and say now that after a year and a half of use, it still works as well as the day that I bought it.

**Others may have different experiences**, of course, but my front zipper still works (which is remarkable because on most messenger bags this is on of the first things to go), the buckles still latch, and there is no tearing or fraying *anywhere* on the bag. Keep in mind that this thing is generally PACKED full with 20-30 pounds of textbooks/laptop/notes, and I carry it all around campus all day, year round. Also, because it is waterproof and very easily washable, it looks just as nice as the day I bought it, no real sunbleaching or anything.
So despite it being feather-light and FEELING cheap, it is still durable. Even if it suddenly snapped and broke today out of the blue, I have had over a year and a half of use, and I would buy another in a heartbeat.

I bought this thinking that I can use it as "MESSENGER BAG" as advertised! Boy was I surprized when I opned box!! It's HUGE and not well made. It's bigger than my carry on. Be careful putting anything in outside pocket, it opens side way! I dought that this thing is really SWISS. It's made in China, again cheap and VERY BIG. It's only for tall people (7.6 feet) and taller. Not anything like in picture on Amazon site.

Update (10/29/09): Just wanted to say that the bag is still going strong. I've used it 5 times a week and carry quite a bit stuff in it since I purchased it almost 6 months ago, and there's nary a rip, tear, or broken seam. The build quality is definitely better than I originally thought.

Only "downside" to the bag is that its price seems to have gone up for some reason. When I purchased it through Amazon 6 months ago, it was 12-13 bucks, and my original 5-star review was relative to that fact. At 2-3 times that price though, the SA9153 is no longer an amazing value, and though still a good bag, there are lots of other bags in that price range to consider.

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The very first thing I noticed about this bag was how light it was. I'm not exaggerating when I say it weighs almost nothing. The reason for this is because the material is very, very, very thin. These would be a good points if the bag were made from say, bulletproof silk, but since it's not, I think the reviewers questioning its durability have legitimate worries. I'd be very cautious about trying to cram too much stuff into this thing. Also, if you need something for long distance travel (say, you walk to work), I'd probably stay away from this particular model to be on the safe side.

On the flip side, in terms of functionality, I think the bag is great, especially considering the price. The best feature for me is the water bottle pockets on each side of the bag; I use the more durable-looking pocket to hold my coffee mug (approximately 10.5 inches in diameter) and the less durable-looking side to hold a typical pint-sized (or 20 oz) water bottle.

Other good characteristics of the SA9153 include its waterproof lining and very comfortable strap padding. No worries about your laptop, books, etc getting wet from rain. Also, I never noticed how uncomfortable my old Solo bag was to lug around until I started using this Swiss Alps bag- no more shoulder pain.

The interior of the SA9153 is large enough to accommodate a laptop (it has a padded section designed specifically for laptops) and a large book. Again though, I'd be very wary about trying to carry much more than that due to the questionable build quality. The bag also has a lot of various-sized interior pockets for odds and ends like pens, pda, phone, etc. The outside also has a small zippered section that can hold a small book, some snacks, or the like.

Finally, I'm not sure why so many reviewers are commenting about the bag's size being too large. It's no bigger than any other messenger/laptop bag I've owned. That is, if it were any smaller, I don't see how it would be very practical for everyday use. I think it's the perfect size for work or college needs, and I'm stumped as to what people are trying to use this thing for that they consider it too large.

Questionable build quality aside, I think this is a great bag, functionally and aesthetically (I want to emphasize that I think the bags only FEELS cheap). Also, considering the price, there's very little risk involved in trying it out for yourself. Of course, only time will tell if this bag is as cheaply-made as it feels, but as long as it doesn't rip open and spill my stuff all over the parking lot in front of my work or apartment, I can't complain. If something like this ever does happen, you can be sure I'll update this review.

In my opinion, I think the bag is worth it. It's very convenient for students because it is spacious on the inside, extra small pockets for your coins and stationary, and it has a laptop section. What more do you need?

Muy buen producto a pesar del incoveniente con el envio ya que amazon me lo envio con la caja mas grande y el envio del producto a venezuela me salio en aproximadamente 250 $ por favor traten de empaquetar los productos de la mejor forma...

I bought this bag for college and now that I ahve graduated I use it all the time. It is great for a carry on bag on an airpalne, it has tons of room and is heavy duty!

well i gotta admit it, I purchased this bag planning to buy a 15" or bigger lappie, and ended up buying a netbook(but that's another story)
pros:
*protective place, room, compartiment, whatever is called for the laptop
*lots of pockets(more than 4 I guess)
* a 16" laptop can fit inside this bag

that's all I remember... :S

Cons:
*the belt's rings are made of plastic(I bought it thinking they were metallic)
*looks huge while carrying it
*it's huge...

Recomended if you have a normal laptop or if you are big...

If you want a very large bag, this one could be for you. Like many other people, I struggle to find the right bag--and believe that bags should be leased since it's impossible to know if they are going to work until you use them for a week or so. This one is quite good, but in the end, I put it aside, simply because it's too large (thus heavy). The bag itself is not heavy, but you'll end up loading it with all sorts of things and then you'll be carrying more weight than you want to. But, if you want/need a large, good looking bag that's made well, this is an excellent choice.

its a nice basic bag. it is light, nice padding for laptop and i love the place for water bottle

great value. this bag is well made and easy to carry. a 17"inch computer won't fit.