TImbuk2 Command (Medium)

The Command messenger bag has great construction quality. The materials are top notch and the stitching feels sturdy. The plastic buckles, metal buckles, and nylon straps all seem heavy-duty and would fit the needs of a bike messenger battling through traffic and crowds on a daily basis.

However, I have always used backpacks for work, school, and traveling. I find backpacks to be more convenient and utilitarian. The messenger bags always seemed crowded and unwieldy to use, with minimal storage options.

I found myself not wanting to use the Command after a day at work. For one, there are very limited options for zippered pouches. They are generally sized so small and thin, that they'd only be suited for small pads, and other flat objects. I have no place to put my sunglasses, safety glasses, earplugs, calculator, first aid kit, USB charger adapter, lunch bag, and some books. I usually carry two Oakley cases with me, each holding a different pair of Oakleys (one for bright sunny days, the other for cloudier/overcast days). Once I stuffed everything into the Command, in a controlled chaotic manner, the bag seemed to bulge in unusual areas. It didn't feel right.

The top flap can be secured via Velcro and two metal buckles that slide onto the straps. I found myself accidentally unstrapping a metal buckle. It was flailing about and could easily scratch/damage the paint job on your car if you're not careful. Worse, if you're a bicycle rider, it could come undone easily and snag on something. Maybe the expert Bike messengers of NYC don't have this problem, but I could see this strap flailing about and snagging onto a vehicle or other object, and dragging the user onto the road.

The huge buckle makes no sense to me. There's a fastex connector, but it's function evades me at the moment. We use this sling design on rifles for easy disconnects in case the rifle gets snagged or jammed, and the user has to separate from the rifle in an expedient manner. Here, it doesn't seem to serve a legitimate purpose.

The only saving grace is the TSA-compliant laptop holder, which has a velvety pouch inside designed specifically for the iPad. I have not tested this with TSA at the local airport though, and depending on the threat condition/color of the day (or the mood of the agent at that specific time), they may or may not approve of this method. It is very convenient though, and the foam padding is very well made.

I was attracted to this bag after seeing the advertisement promo photo showing all kinds of daily use objects stuffed into the bag. After using it myself for a day, I went back to my backpack, which was able to store all the items neatly and securely. If the top flap on the Command was open and the bag somehow got inverted, objects could fall out of the unsecured pouches.

Overall: 3/5 stars, great construction quality, not enough secure storage options, don't understand the metal buckles, can scratch the paint on your car if you're not careful, I still don't like messenger bags and prefer backpacks - but I tried desperately to like the Command.

Some may feel this is an unfair review, but let me put it this way. If I were riding a bicycle and had a choice of storage options for simple and small items like a case for my Oakleys, keys, calculator, etc... and to hold a laptop - the Timbuk2 Command would be my last choice. I use a Swissgear backpack that isn't large, heavy, or bulky, and it carries all of the nick nacks and a laptop without weighing me down. I am not hauling around a camping-grade backpack chassis, it is rather lightweight and I'd use it when riding my bicycle at 20+ MPH. The Timbuk2 metal fasteners would get loose and flap around, with the potential to snag on something.

I'd improve the Timbuk2 Command by ditching the heavy metal fasteners, going to all Fastex/Velcro with more storage pockets and maybe making the extra zippered storage pockets slightly larger to hold non-flat objects. The Command messenger back as-is just doesn't work for me and I feel I am not being demanding with the storage options.