Timbuk2 Phoenix Laptop Backpack

Or close enough. This bag is fantastic though. I've had it for half a year and have taken it on many trips. It holds more stuff than I ever wanted to bring, doesn't rip, has zipper pulls that don't get caught, and has the niftiest laptop holder. Yeah, I just said that.

It's a good bag. To test it out I stuck a kid in it and hauled him around the house just to get the feel of things. The straps are probably one of the best features I've seen on a bag. Very easy to adjust for people of all sizes, attached with nylon webbing so they can move around farther, and they come with a removable sternum strap.

I'm planning on taking it traveling with me in a few months and know it will stand the use. The only thing some people seem to be asking is if it is waterproof. Water resistant, definitely. The inside is, I think, pvc liner, and when you velcro the inside of the bag, pull down the top flap, and buckle the main strap, yes, it's water resistant. Rain probably won't get into your bag. I just took it for a weekend trip to San Francisco, and all my things were fine. If you were planning on taking it white water rafting or on some type of water excursion, no, it's not water proof, bring dry sacks.

I was looking for a quality backpack that would comfortably accommodate my bulky HP ProBook. A lot of packs that claim to fit a 15" notebook might fit a 15" PowerBook but they're too tight for a large modern widescreen pc. I actually took my computer with me shopping and I found it would barely fit in most bags. I also had concerns such as the tight fit causing the corners of the notebook to stress the zipper and lead to failure or eventually causing the material to wear through, the difficulty of inserting and removing the pc from its compartment, and general protection from accidental damage as well as unnecessary wear-and-tear. On most so-called "15 inch" bags, the laptop compartment is too tight of fit to live with trying to remove/replace the computer several times a day. The Timbuk2 Phoenix is the bag that meets all my needs despite the fact that I'm not a cyclist. It's on the larger side for this type of bag. It has a nice quilted compartment with a large side zipper that gives you plenty of room to easily access your notebook without wear and tear on the bag or the pc. It also has better padding for your back and your computer than other bags I looked at, and the laptop compartment is raised up from the bottom of the pack for additional protection so your computer doesn't hit the ground every time you take the bag off. It has nice shoulder straps that comfortably conform to your shape, a water bottle/cryptolock pocket, hook-and-loop-closure straps for your helmet, headphones, or anything else you'd like to hang there, assorted zipper compartments, a small organizer for pens etc, and other little features (the permanently attached bottle opener is a nice touch) and is expandable for when you have a lot gear. I haven't had it long but the quality appears to be on par with Timbuk2s past products so I expect it to last. Initial quality seems better than other brands. If I experience issues I will update this review to reflect it, but with a lifetime warranty on defects I'm sure Timbuk2 would take care of me.

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Seriously this bag is huge! I am a slightly above average sized female (5"6 140lb) and this bag looks massive on me. In the pictures on the female it looked huge but I figured since I'm bigger than that it would look smaller, no it's still huge. Not a big deal to me but some people care about style and what not.

For me all I needed was a bag big enough for anything: school, work, play, travel and other. I was sick of having 5 different bags for different purposes. The only time I switch now is to move my phone and wallet to my purse when shopping. That's better than switching for school, for biking, for hiking, for travel and for the gym. If you want a "catch-all" bag this is certainly it. Timbuk2's new lineup doesn't mention this bag so who knows if they're still going to make it but if you need a giant bag right now, get it before it's gone.

The side pocket fits either a water bottle or a u lock, I tried both, one at a time and both fit. The top pocket that covers the whole top flap is interesting. Some of it is a waste since it gets smooshed down when you tighten the clip but I store my bike stuff (lights, quick release, key for my u-lock, gloves, and sunglasses all fit) up there with no problems. The side zipper pocket on the front is very useful, if you're flexible enough for can reach around with one hand and get stuff out without taking off a strap, this is helpful to store my bus pass or phone when I don't have pockets in my shorts. The bottom front pocket rarely gets used for me but it's a good place for gum and the like, not very big but enough for small stuff.

As far as waterproofing, the flap on top only uses velcro to cover it, not a zipper so it is open. Rain from the top won't get in but if somehow you're going down a steep hill and it's raining some weird way water might be able to get in. I traveled on my bike in some light rain with no problems but it hasn't rained heavily so I cannot comment on that.

[EDIT] I've finally hit some heavy rain with this backpack on and I can confirm that it is essentially waterproof inside. The waterproof lining even't even get a chance to get wet. So even though it is an open design it is still resistent to liquids.

It is only 4 stars because the organizer in the back inside cannot be easily accessed through the side zipper. I have all of my pencils, notecards, calculators, and other there for various classes and the loud velcro noise isn't always appropriate in a quiet setting. Trying to unzip the back to get a calculator out isn't easy from the side given how high up the organizer is. To me that's a big deal, to others it may not be so consider your own needs.

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I live in San Leandro and take BART to San Francisco for work. I used to haul two bags my work backpack and a duffel bag for the gym. Carrying two bags became tedious and I wanted to condense my load into one bag. While my Jansport backpack (17", and still a great backpack) fit everything that I needed (towel, toiletries bag, shoes, gym clothes), I still needed additional space to store my work stuff and possibly an additional change of clothes, lunch, etc.

During my research, it came down to the Timbuk2 Phoenix and the Chrome Brigader. I eventually chose the Timbuk2 Phoenix for various reasons, but the main reasons being the price and the initial weight of the bag (2.8 vs 4).

While both bags are great, I think the Phoenix was a better choice for me, personally. I'm 5'2", 150lbs, and every additional pound that I have to carry on my back makes a difference. I can put all of my belongings in the bag with additional room to spare, and it still feels light on my back. The straps can be pulled to cinch the bag when you don't have that much stuff in there it makes the bag appear smaller and more compact. The padding on the back molds to my frame, which helps with not adding additional stress to my lower back. The straps are comfortable and sit well on my shoulders. It will take some finessing to adjust the straps to fit you, but once you find your fit, it will be comfortable.

The pockets are awesome and I have no troubles with pulling the zippers. I really liked how the main pocket is one big "tube" where you can just stuff everything down, but what really made me feel like my purchase was justified was after showering at the gym, my towel was at the bottom of my bag. Instead of having to dig through the contents of my bag to grab my towel, I can just turn it to the side, open the main compartment zipper, and access the bottom contents of my bag with ease. For that aspect alone, I was completely content with my purchase.

My only gripe about the bag is that when I swing my bag around to access the contents on one shoulder, I normally do it on my left shoulder (left hand then stabilizes the bag, right hand does the majority of the work). I think most people use their right shoulder to swing their backpacks around, which is probably why they designed it that way. It's taking some getting used to, but that's the only minor grievance I can think of for me.

I am not a biker, so I cannot comment on how well this bag would fit during a bike ride. However, I walk and take the train to most places, and it's been holding up well. I'm sure this bag will be great when I go on weekend trips, etc.

Lastly, shipping was great. I ordered this bag on a Friday afternoon, and the estimated delivery date noted that it would come the following Thursday. This came on a Tuesday instead. What a pleasant surprise!

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I was so excited to get a new backpack. Especially because my old one was low quality and extra small. This backpack is perfect for me and the Seattle weather. Since it rains all the time here with this backpack I won't have to worry with my stuff getting wet. There's so much space in it that I can fit everything from my extra clothes for after work, my lunch bag, helmet, u-lock, gloves, glasses, laptop, etc.