Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2018

I start saying that I truly like this bag and been using it for well over a year. Initially, the decision to go with Timbuk2 bag was the lifetime warranty promised for any defects in a highly saturated market. I highly depend on my bag as I travel every week and I can’t imagine going one day without it as it carries my entire office!
I was extremely dissapointed when I noticed the premature wear on the back of the bag and proceeded to initiate a warranty claim.
Once submitted, I received the email notification that I have to mail the old bag back and wait 4-6 weeks for the “repair”!!
I am just belown away. I have yet to meet another individual who has a backup $150 messenger bag while waiting 4-6 weeks for repairs.
I have emailed customer service for a solution and have not heard back. Not even, hey we got your email!
My business expectations and travel schedule care less about their environmentally conscious business model and I only care about a company that backs their products and offers a timely solution to their customers.
Just disappointing!

43 people found this helpful

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John in Missouri

The Only Briefcase/Messenger Bag You Need

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

I love this bag. Had been searching for some time for a replacement for my Nike messenger bag. I Fly somewhere every week and I carry a lot of stuff. Lots of pockets, two soft pockets on outside for soda/water bottles. Soft external sleeve big enough for two tablets, plus room for for my Anker 20A power pack. Inside more than big enough to carry my week's supply of healthy snacks, an Amazon Basics Nintendo Case which I use for carrying all my electronics cables and power supplies, vitamin case and a 1 inch Levenger binder. Interior zippered pocket protects the passport, company badge and other sensitive items. Convenient front pocket to stash my airplane bluetooth headset. To finish it off a very comfortable strap, quickly adjustable. Lots of room and I have jammed even more in when I needed to (thin laptop, sweatshirt, gloves, hat in addition to everything else already in there.) If you need a roomy bag that has a place for everything and helps keep everything in its place, this is the one.

9 people found this helpful

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Robert A Sparkman

Perfect bag for work travel.

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

Color: SurplusSize: SmallVerified Purchase

Recieved the Timbuk 2 Commute, small, from my friends at Amazon. Just right for work travel. Ordered a medium command but it was too big for my taste. Returned and ordered the small commute. Fits my 13 inch laptop, ipad and lots of storage compartments are really nice. Well made and quality material. Clasps look like they could be a little bigger and stronger but should be fine.

8 people found this helpful

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J

Great messenger bag

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2020

Color: BlackSize: MediumVerified Purchase

This is a great messenger bag! There were two main reasons I bought this Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag: it has a large capacity for items and it is water resistance.
1.) Large Capacity: The Commute didn't not disappoint with its ability to hold all of the things I needed. I was shopping for a new messenger back mainly because I wanted something that could fit the basics (my laptop, folder, a book, etc.) and had the flexibility to fit additional items that I may pick up during the day (say, I decide to get a take-out burrito for lunch or stop by an office/supply/grocery store on the way home). All of previous bags could barely fit my basics, which I thought wasn't even much. This bag can fit the basics and more! I love how the space gives me the flexibility to bring unplanned purchases/work/etc. in the bag with ease. The inside also has two mesh slots for water bottles/timblers and an organizer pocket for your pens and other supplies. The bag's material is pretty strong and has been able to hold various weights.

2.) Water Resistance: it hasn't rained much this season, but the few times it has and I used this bag, my items remained dry and undamaged. So far it does seem to have a good resistance to water.

The main downside to this messenger bag is that the strap will surprisingly get loose at the weirdest times, like when I'm sitting in an Uber/Lyft and all of a sudden the clasp will get loose and the strap extends super fast. Then it's a real pain to have to refit/re-size the strap again. This is also sometime happen when I'm just walking. This strap loosening annoyance probably happens once or twice a month for me. But the strap is still made really well: the material feels high quality and it's wide (unlike most other bags) so it feels comfortable on your shoulder instead of that digging-into-your-skin feeling of thinner strap.

If/when I need a new messenger bag, I will definitely be buying this (or a newer model) again.

One person found this helpful

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David Cain

Like this bag, but I wanted to love it.

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020

Color: BlackSize: MediumVerified Purchase

I bought this to try to take the place of a Timbuk2 Custom Commute bag I had built maybe a decade ago. I sold that bag off when I went to a smaller laptop, just bought a larger one and really wish I had my old custom bag back. I'd pay full custom price for the old one, even used.

The new bag, a "Commute 2" and not custom (would've had a custom Commute made, but Timbuk2 apparently doesn't offer that option for the Commute any more) is just OK.

Sure, it's off-shore sewn, and not custom for me, but it is a bit different. Looks like there might be about the same space inside, but the internal zipper pocket isn't as nice as the old Commute's non-zipper completely flexible area. The laptop/tablet space has been divided up differently, and this bag's MORTAL SIN is elimination of the Napoleon pocket. I probably wouldn't have ordered, had I realized this Timbuk2 bag didn't have one. I used to rely on that.

The top handle is an easily-findable grab-handle, but the bottom handle is a lamentable flat fabric strap, sewn close enough that finding it in a trunk in the dark is a lot harder than it should be.

The rollerboard handle sleeve that lets you stack this bag on your roller is just a strap across the back, vs. a full-height sleeve on the older bag.

There seem to be fewer useful zippered and other pockets. I definitely liked the older Commute bag much better - everything quickly had a home in that older bag. This one, I've had to adapt to.

Keep in mind, that even with my gripes, this bag far outclasses most office-supply-store cordura bags. It's worth buying and waiting for. It's my third Timbuk2 bag, and they really do make pretty good stuff.

Just wish this one was as great as in days of old...

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ct4now

YES! Water bottle pouches OUTSIDE!

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020

Color: BlackSize: MediumVerified Purchase

I use this as my carry-on for personal items while traveling and in all honesty only ordered it because it had Water bottle holders on the outside of the bag whereas many others stupidly put them inside the bag (this has them inside too, just in case you dont care for your other items).
Other than the fact it has proper storage for some high quality h2o while traveling, it has many other features that are great for travel. The zippered pouch on the front flap is great for keeping Identification handy and secure without having to open the whole bag up. The back compartment(s) are divided and padded nicely with a very soft liner suitable for a baby nevermind my MacBook and ipad. The strap is rapidly adjusted and padded well.
Theres also plenty of zippered interior pouches of different sizes.
The only one possible knock on it i have is I kinda wish the main compartment was a little deeper at the base. Still enough room to roll up a hoodie and toss in there tho.
I just received this and it’s replacing a jansport no longer made that lasted me 20yrs (that my son is now using and refuses to give back). I hope this one holds up as well as that one did/is.

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AngusTop Contributor: Photography

Great bag with a few nit picks.

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

First off, let me state that this is a fantastic bag overall. I am giving it 4 stars because I have some nit-picks with it so I can't call it perfect, but still it is a great bag.
I use this every day commuting to college. In it I typically carry two a 15 inch Macbook pro, two large folders, a hardcover book for reading, headphones, pens, portable hard drive, and a number of other small odds and ends. This bag has always been able to carry everything well, and with the items all inside it never has felt overburdened with stuff. On cold days what I will do is roll up a jacket and place it under the cover flap, then latch the flap down and pull it tight to hold the jacket in place. This is one of the major advantages in my mind for bags with large flaps like this. Also, since that large flap is waterproof, I never need to worry about the contents of the bag getting wet...
EXCEPT, the laptop compartment is not covered by said waterproof flap. This is the first big complaint with this bag. Since the laptop compartment is separate, which I'm sure is helpful in travel scenarios with the TSA, it's actually a hindrance in normal use. Not only will rain seep into the laptop compartment if you're caught in a large rainstorm, but when getting to class I must unzip the reverse section to grab my laptop, then flip the bag over to gather the rest of my stuff. While the latter is just a small nit-pick, the former is a huge issue. I have yet to actually be caught in a rainstorm for an extended period of time, and the laptop compartment does hug your back rather than being fully exposed, but still I do not trust that your laptop will stay completely dry if you use this bag say on a bicycle every day. Keep this in mind.
On the laptop compartment though, if you can get over the rain issue, it is very well padded. To confirm this, I was in a motorcycle accident with this bag on my shoulder. I hit the ground at 20 miles an hour with almost all the impact going into my left side where the bag was hanging, with enough force to dent the titanium plate on my riding jacket. But the bag protected my laptop completely. I was able to open it up and it ran as if nothing happened. This is a HUGE plus. Not only did my left side slam into the ground at 20mph, but I slid a good 20-30 feet and the bag and the laptop look nothing happened. I give this bag an A for protection I'm sure it could be padded more, but for general use it's fantastic.
One other nit pick though, is the strap. While it is nice and wide and easily adjustable, the padded section that is included feels very uncomfortable after short use if you have a laptop inside plus regular stuff. It feels stiff and the edges dig in uncomfortably no matter how I try placing it. If this is an issue for you, I suggest you search for a 3rd party padded strap to attach to the included belt.

So with all that said, do I recommend this bag? Yes I do. It does a great day to day job and is very protective of your equipment, sans rain. However if you ride a bike with this on your shoulder, it will become uncomfortable and your laptop may not be adequately protected from the elements, though everything else should stay dry. But for regular campus use, definitely recommend.

12 people found this helpful

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D. P.

Some compromises, but solid on balance

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2020

Color: BlackSize: MediumVerified Purchase

Have mostly traveled with this and the following thoughts pop to mind:
- the "back" compartment for laptops, tablets, etc.) is well laid out and arguably the best feature
- the "front" compartment is more cavernous and certainly functional, but I felt like I was rooting around more for stuff stashed in there. Smallish mesh pockets in the corners and internal zips help, but it's mostly just a big pouch.
- the quick release adjustment of the shoulder strap is OK, but not as technically simple as it ought to be. The clasp does not seem to grip the strap as tight as I want it to every time I close it. I feel like it needs to be pinched tight in order not to slip, even though it's only slipped once.
- I appreciate the option to use hook/loop or plastic buckles to close the flap, but the tabs to tighten the straps on the buckles are a bit too long and dangle if you are not using them.
- External pockets are generally useful and in good locations.

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Amazon Customer

Not Timbuk2 quality.

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2017

Color: BlackSize: MediumVerified Purchase

Hoping for typical Timbuk2 quality, I bought it to replace a previous model. I use the bag for business and I travel quite a bit making the shoulder carrying strap, water pockets, and laptop section ideal. The small phone pocket size and reduced amount of pockets in zippered (secure) sections force me to return the bag. Ok. I couldn't return the bag since I waited too long evaluating it. My first Timbuk2 was purchased in 2006 and retired in 2018. Darn good I'd say. It spent 900,000 miles traveling and being stuffed under seats and into overhead bins. This new bag was pressed into service and didn't last a year. The zipper to the computer side broke rendering it useless. I'd expect that performance out of a $30 bag, not Timbuk2. Sad to see what Timbuk2 has become. Gets one star because I can't give it zero.

3 people found this helpful

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ss427ci

Awesome travel bag for a MacBook

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

Very well made bag, Medium would have been a perfect size for a 15" laptop. However I have a 13" MacBook and felt it was not quite snug enough, so I am exchanging it for a small and hopefully that will fit better. Plenty of space in the middle for a neck pillow and the outside flap pocket is perfect for easy access to your boarding passes. I really like this bag & I will update once I try out the smaller size as well.

UPDATE: The Small fit the 13" MacBook Pro a lot better than the medium, although it says the Small can fit up to a 15" laptop. I kinda wish they made an even smaller size for the 13" laptops. It really isn't that much smaller than the medium. It has all the same pockets and depth to it, just a little more narrow is all. It should fit a little easier under the airline seat though.

Overall a very well made bag and I am a happy customer.

37 people found this helpful

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5 star		81%
4 star		11%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag

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