Customer Reviews

Targus TSB07501US League Backpack Fits up to 15.4-Inch Screen (Navy)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I despised lugging my 17in laptop in its shoulder strap case across campus. Initially I wanted a SwissMade backpack, which are carried in Best Buy. However when I checked it out, it couldn't fit my laptop, and I was surprised how small the bag was. The price was high as well. Instead I ordered this Targus and was pleasently surprised. The built-in laptop case easily carried my 17in laptop, although now it carries my 15.4in equally comfortably. It has two waterbottle holders, carries all my books, is very well made, and has several layers of pockets. I use it for school, for vacationing, and for hiking; it suits all the above purposes very well. It makes carrying my laptop for long distances much easier. Highly recommended.

I am a law student, so I carry a laptop and at least 2 textbooks everyday. After the strap on my Adidas backpack broke under the strain from the weight of the stuff I was carrying, I spent several months looking for a well made bag with a laptop sleeve, room for textbooks, and a few smaller pockets for anything else I might need. Although North Face makes a multitude of laptop backpacks, they tend to be overpriced and surprisingly low on cargo space. Luckily I found the Targus League backpack before making the mistake of paying $80 for a North Face backpack! This bag has room for 2 large textbooks, two notebooks, and a laptop--and that's just in the main pocket. There are a total of four pockets: the large main pocket, the mid-size pocket (which is ideal for pens, pencils, keys, etc.) and the two smaller pockets. For the amount of stuff you can carry in it, the bag is also surprisingly compact, unlike so many other laptop backpacks, which tend to be bulky. So far this bag hasn't failed me. I have used it for school, recreation, and travel. I recommend it to anyone who wants a stylish, highly functional laptop backpack for a reasonable price.

I bought this computer backpack to carry a 15" HP laptop and there is more than enough room. I think this could probably hold up to a 17" laptop. The main compartment contains a sleeve for the laptop and there is reasonable room for some books, though I doubt that it has room for the classic two law books mentioned in an earlier review. The arms are reasonably padded so that there is not too much cutting into your skin or jacket when carrying an overloaded bag. The bag is very functional. It seems reasonably rain resistant, as I carried it through some San Francisco showers and there was no moisture inside. All in all, it is a good bag. Suggestions for a future version is to put a snapping chest band that connects the two arms. It would make the bag easier to carry and more secure on your back. All in all, it is a reasonable back for day to day use in my job as a university professor who carries his work around. I have not yet used it to ride my bike back and forth to work. That will have to wait until the spring thaw.

Liked:
- This is my first laptop backback, and I found it an improvement to squeezing my 15+" laptop into a normal backpack.
- Good price.
- Front part good for strapping large items on outside.

Didn't like:
- The metal loops near front rusted after getting wet (in a humid and wet tropical climate), and my backpack does not look good anymore
- Would have appreciated a middle pocket (like my L.L. Bean backpack) since the front pocket can get disorganized and it is difficult to find things in it, especially when the large pocket is full.
- Extra straps across the chest and across the waist would add additional support, especially since a laptop bag is naturally heavier.

Update (7/14/10):
Due to the rusted metal loops, I decided to get it replaced. I contacted customer service regarding the lifetime warranty, and I shipped my old backpack to them (I had to pay about $10 shipping), and then they shipped me a brand new one (free shipping) in about 2 weeks. Therefore, I was happy with their efficient warranty service.

I purchased this upon reading a review written by a law student who said that is was spacious enough for his laptop and several large law textbooks. I am a petite woman in graduate school and was struggling to find the balance between a backpack spacious enough to hold my laptop, notebooks and textbooks without appearing overwhelming large on my small frame. When I opened the box, I thought to myself, "there is NO way this bag is large enough to hold everything he claimed." I put my 13" Macbook (in its neoprene case, a 1 1/2 inch binder, the Atlanta White Pages, a 300 page textbook (trade binding,) a wool scarf, a small spiral bound notebook, a 300 page looseleaf notebook, along with an assortment of other things I had laying around... and I still had room! It is almost like Mary Poppins' carpet bag. Upon donning it, I didn't look like I was carrying around a 2nd body on my back. So far the straps are comfortable and it sits nicely on my back (which can be an issue for women.)

My one wish would be that it had more slots for pens and highlighters but that is hardly worth mentioning.

especially for the price, I can't imagine a better bag! I highly recommend it.

I looked at a lot of backpacks before committing to this one, and it was a great choice. Compared to other backpacks of this quality, it is much cheaper, and it has every feature you could need. I've used it daily for a month now and it has stood up to rain, snow, and the general wear and tear of college life. It's big enough for several large textbooks, most laptops, and plenty of accessories. It has two large pockets, one that will fit two or three large textbooks, plus a couple of notebooks, a laptop, laptop power cord and a pair of headphones, and a front pocket that has plenty of compartments for your things and more than enough space for a pencil case, wallet, water bottle, etc. It also has a couple other zipper pockets that are great for cell phones, MP3 players, keys, or lip balm. I will say that the water bottle pockets on the side are shorter than on some packs I've owned, so if you have a large bottle or thermos that you like to carry around with you, the side pockets may not be the best for you, as your bottle may fall out (mine did). But like I said, there is plenty of room inside. The pack also distributes weight well, making your load seem fairly light even when you are lugging a lot of stuff. I appreciate how easy it is to lift and carry around with me all day.

I believe that this pack is only water resistant, not waterproof, but I have not had any issues with water getting in, and I have used it to walk several miles in the rain before, including days when most of my classmates had their books damaged by water in backpacks of other brands.

This bag is also considerably more attractive than the pictures look. The blue is not nearly so dark, it's a pleasant, smoky color, and what looks like gray on the pictures is really a slightly lighter shade of the same. It's not too girly or masculine. So don't let the picture put you off -- this bag is great for both genders.

Overall, this is a great product and it exceeds all of my expectations. It's a great investment. Highly recommended.

I know there's been questions as to what you can fit in this bag, so here's what I've gotten in there:
2 texts books 8.5 x 11 x 2 inches thick
4 single notebooks
3 file folders
1 paper back
16 inch hp laptop and power cord

It's a tight fit and the bag is heavy but I still get my big wallet and TI 84 calculator in there.

The drink holders on the sides make nice cell phone pockets and hold drinks pretty snugly. The shoulder straps and padding are nice too. I like this backpack. I searched and read a lot of reviews before making a decision and am happy with this.

As a college student living off campus, having a sturdy backpack for lugging everything around is a must. Having used this for about a month now, I'd say it suits its purpose pretty well. The largest compartment I use to hold my laptop (there's a separate sleeve for it, which is pretty well padded on the bottom) and plenty of folders, notebooks, and on occasion a textbook or two (I'm sure the backpack can fit them, I just don't like carrying a lot of heavy things). The middle compartment

What's great:

* Durability. As expected from Targus.
* Design. When I was shopping for backpacks I didn't really care at all about aesthetics, but this looks really good in person!
* Comfort. The shoulder straps and back are amazingly padded. So squishy. I love it.
* Size. I'm a really short person, so I was nervous how I'd find a balance between a backpack large enough to carry all of my stuff but not too large that it'll make me look like a turtle. This backpack allows you to stuff everything you need in it without it looking like it's stuffed at all.
* Water bottle holders! I didn't think I'd need this at all when I bought the backpack since I rarely carry around water bottles; but they're really convenient! I throw random things in there when I'm on the go (like my cell phone, ID badge, small notes on index cards, etc) because I can access them without taking off my backpack.
* PRICE!

However, there are some things I'd wish were better:

* The buckle straps sometimes get in the way of opening the 2nd compartment; so far it hasn't been anything really annoying, and I think I've gotten used to just opening the top part and sticking my hand down inside to grab what I need, but it's still a feature I think could be designed better.

* More loops for pens/pencils! There's only 2 right now, but I'm so used to having more that I really wish this backpack came with more.

* There's a velcro mesh pocket in the 2nd compartment that's already tearing. It doesn't bother me enough to see if it's covered under Targus's limited waranty, but whenever I get around to it I want to cover the velcro with a piece of tape because it's more of a hassle to me than a way to secure a pocket.

Overall, I'd recommend this product. It's definitely cheaper than other options (ie: Swiss Gear...), but it doesn't sacrifice quality in the slightest.

EDIT: 1 Year Later. Still fits this description perfectly. :D

It's much more than what you see in the pictures, the two main zippers are as big as the backpack itself and the second one has 2 extra compartments where you can carry a great deal of things... It's very light weighted and very confortable... and for that price I'd buy two more if I had more than one pair of shoulders... ;)

I bought this for college, so if you were looking between this and other targus backpacks for that purpose I strongly recomend this one because of the size, the other backpacks are as good... but they were too big or too expensive for my taste...

I've given out 4 of these as gifts to my kids. The oldest was about 6 yrs ago and still going strong.