Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag 2.0

I had a need to upgrade from an urban sized sling bag to a more professional looking bag. I spent weeks researching different bags and decided on the Commute 2.0.Starting with the outside, on the back there is padded laptop sleeve that can fit my 15 inch laptop. On the back there is also another pocket with a zipper on top and a zipper on bottom. With both zippers open, you have a luggage pass through. If you don’t need that, you can keep the bottom zipper closed at all times and now you have a quick access rear pocket.The front does not have any pockets or easy access to pockets unless you pull up the flap to access a napoleon pocket. Once you unbuckle the straps, you have access to a pocket that has a key lanyard in it as well as the napoleon pocket. There is Velcro with a silencer pre installed cover the hooks.Inside the bag, there are several compartments. The first is a smaller compartment for smaller items. It does not have any organization such as pockets or pen holders. I purchased a medium sized cocoon grid it from Amazon that fits perfectly in that pocket and alleviates the need for pockets or pen holders.The main compartment is good sized. I can carry an expandable “red well” folder in there loaded with paper plus some legal pads in there no problem.There is then a soft padded separator that can likely hold a smaller tablet and cell phone.Behind that divider is another slot where another laptop 15” is able to fit.The bag comes with a removable strap. Unlike the Commute 1.0 which I also have, it does not come with a quick adjust strap. The bag carries well cross body and it appears to be designed to be carried on the right side of the body. In addition, the bag comes with a cross body strap.In black the bag looks sleek and professional. It does not replace a well made leather bag, but it is passable on a court room or for a business meeting.Overall, I am very satisfied with the Commute 2.0. I also considered the Chrome Kadet Max, the Tom Bihn Pilot, and Topo Designs Global Briefcase. I think the Commute 2.0 looks better and, from my research, has similar functionality.

I bought this because I'm a pre-service teacher. I needed something that would safely carry my laptop, multiple books, papers, lunch, etc. This bag is perfect for what I'll be needing as a public school teacher. It's not too voluminous and bulky, like most messenger bags, and the handle enables you to carry it like a briefcase. Still, it has the waterproof properties and ability to sling it over your body like a traditional messenger bag; it's the best of both worlds.

The front strap buckle is missing from the bag.

This bag would be the perfect work bag if the cup holder was a little bigger. I’m not even able to fit a water bottle in it. If that’s not a big deal to you, than this bag is great!

I am delighted with my purchase.I am a lawyer and make appearances in court regularly. If my file is not too voluminous, this bag is perfect. It is very comfortable to carry and it is very spacious. This avoids the need to bring a heavier briefcase or one with wheels.Plenty of secure and species compartments.Highly recommended.

A gift for my wife. She ended up returning it because she wanted a different style. But we both agreed that the quality was way better than similar bags she's owned.

This is exactly what I was after. The side pocket carries a thin water bottle (recommend getting a metal one). Plenty of interior room. I guess it could be a bit better if it had some smaller interior pockets, but overall I'm very pleased.

I bought this to replace my 1.0 Commute bag, which is now well-worn after 7 years of heavy use for daily work and international travel. I hoped I would love the Commute 2.0 as much as I did the earlier version, but I have to agree with other reviewers that this iteration is disappointing. Making matters worse, nothing else the current Timbuk2 lineup seems to be perfect replacement, either.On the upside, the Commute 2.0 seems to be built out of more premium materials and is overall higher quality and more professional looking and feeling than the 1.0 edition. I especially like the padded grab handle, waterproof bottom boot, the luggage passthrough, and especially the padded laptop compartment, which is just large enough to fit a 16" MacBook Pro. This compartment doesn't fold open completely flat as with the 1.0 edition, which may be a downside for going through airport security, but holds the computer more securely than before. The laptop compartment no longer has pockets, which unfortunately removes storage options on this side of the bag.The lack of pockets and storage flexibility carries over to the bag's main compartment, which is where the deal breakers begin. Beyond the Napoleon-style zippered pocket on the front, which was great for storing wallets, passports, and travel documents, the Commute 1.0 had numerous additional internal pockets and pen slots, which gave tremendous flexibility for organizing the bag depending on the trip, whether a short commute to work or a longer international business trip. Commute 1.0 also had two stretchable internal water bottle pockets, which I often used to hold adapters and chargers on longer trips. The new edition retains the Napoleon pocket but exchanges all of the other internal storage options for just one large and one small flat pocket, presumably for iPad and iPhone shaped devices, respectively. The lack of internal storage for pens, notebooks, chargers, and other items that need to be grabbed quickly during meetings is the reason I have chosen to return the bag and search for something better. If you are looking for a bag with internal pockets, this is NOT the one for you.For what it's worth, I also tried Timbuk2's "Lightweight Flight Messenger Bag" which is nearly a perfect drop-in replacement for the Commute 1.0, but misses a few key features from the Commute series, such as a dedicated laptop compartment and a padded grab handle. If the Commute 2.0 and the Flight Messenger had a baby, you'd have the Commute 1.0. As it stands now, the Commute 2.0 is more protective and professional looking, while the Flight Messenger is more versatile and has more internal pockets. I wish I didn't have to choose one or the other (or in my case, neither!) but perhaps Timbuk2 will create a Commute 3.0 that is the best of both!