Timbuk2 Especial Stash Weatherproof Messenger Bag

I had high expectations and they were met. The bag looks premium, and is sturdy. The straps and buckles took a minute to figure out how to use but once you get it, it's a well thought out system. They defiantly put some thought and experience into this.The bright lining is a nice touch for finding stuff. I never want to buy a black bag again without a lining like this. The key lanyard is long enough to unlock your bike or door without taking the keys off which is all great.The bottle opener is funny. Im a can guy, so whatever. I'm ready tho if I need one! I wish it was a little higher up so it could double as a carabiner point, as it is.. things hang out the flap.I use it for Bike Commuting, but I found it makes a great Dad Bag too. When on the go, it's nice to be able to grab stuff for your kids without having to take your whole bag off. Which is of course why messengers liked this style of bag.

I've been using this almost daily for the past few months. It's fine. Materials are quality. It's waterproof for Seattle weather. What I don't like is it's overall comfort. It doesn't sit well on my back. You can only carry it on one shoulder due to how the shoulder strap is configured. You can't use it on your left shoulder. The adjustment strap is clunky since it doesn't easily adjust and it opens on it's own easily. It's not a big bag. I say this since the bottom doesn't open very much. It's great for a laptop and papers, maybe a few food items, but nothing else. I won't get rid of it, but I wouldn't buy it again.I bought my first Timbuk2 messenger bag in 2006 for grad school. I've owned two since then. I like Tumbuk2. This one just doesn't hit the mark.

I needed a messenger bag for work and I saw this. I liked the "weather-proof" aspect and it is a bit more unique looking than typical messenger bags. When I looked online for reviews, there were very few, with one of the major standouts being someone who couldn't figure out how to use the straps. For me, not a big deal. Straps are easy enough to figure out once you focus on them for a few minutes. Love the bag! Has all the pockets I need and, while staying compact, also has ample space for all of my things, including a full frame camera with a big lens on occasion. Highly recommend!

I used this bag for about 2 months and I really wanted to like it but ultimately couldn't.Pros:+ great quality bag: the quality and material is top notch. Performs wonderfully in wet conditions. The look of the bag is wonderful, has a very urban tech look. Bold but stealthy and sleek looking enough to not command too much attention.+ front horizontal storage: neat little compartment that I found myself using a lot. Great for when you want to have quick access to something.Neutral:+/- Magnetic closure buckles: wonderful to use however feels insecure as I've encountered times where I've put down the bag and seen the bucket closures come undone.+/- bottle/umbrella holder - neat, but small. Tbh I feel highly uncomfortable in the puches secureness to hold a water bottle in its place. Still a nice addition to have I guess, but would rather place my bottle inside the bag.Cons:- Horrible strap design: very confusing buckle system. User will have to go through a bit of a learning curve trying to learn how to use it. End result is still rather disappointing as the process is still quite cumbersome to get the right fit.- 2 front pockets are rather useless: can hardly fit anything of use in the front pockets when the bag is even moderately packed. Good for storing stuff such as masks, pens, etc. I guess, but would've rather had these pockets designed to be on the inside of the bag.- uncomfortable: when moderately packed the weight distribution combined with the horrible strap system make for a uncomfortable experience. Due to the bag's design forces the user to have to carry the bag high and tight to the body. Full loose side shoulder/relaxed back bag positions feel highly awkward as the padded strap is non-adjustable.- disappointing storage space: on timbuk2's website it lists the bag as 17L for the medium. Compared to my other bag the Arc'teryx Granville 16 Courier, it pales in comparison as I can comfortably fit a lot more in that 16L rated bag than this.Overall in the end I really wanted to like this bag in the end. It does have some wonderful and unique features that I liked but ultimately using this bag in my everyday life felt somewhat annoying at times. The horrible strap design and the way the bag forces you to wear it one way, imo defeats the purpose of a messenger bag - you want these types of bags to be versatile, to have that pick-up-strap-up-and-go functionality to them, however this bag doesn't provide that. All in all I'd say the bag is a good example of design over function.

Overall the bag seems strong, but I'm returning before the deadline. In a nutshell, the strap is locked into a position that requires you use it solely in the messenger position. I assumed it could be used like normal shoulder strap bag too. But what pushed me to return was the communication with customer service. After reviewing many other bags on there website, I concluded I could remedy my problem by simply buying a separate strap. The first two emails just had attitude throughout and offered no help, not to mention I think the person was eitherwrong or simply didn'twant to bother to find out or help. I still think I'm right about shoulder strap replacement options, but I made up my mind to return after the first 2 emails. I think it's a strong bag after using it twice, but the strap won't work for me with a suit or traveling in airports. I might have kept it for occasion use, but that encounter just pushed me to return and go with another company.

Nice it is expensive. But when you compare it to the cloth one and do the side by side for a few days you'll know where your money went. It could be a touch bigger. The strap padding is a little bit close to the bag and you can't move it... That's my only complaint. Oh and did I tell you it was expensive.

Perfect bag!