Maybe I'm hypercritical, but this bag is flawed and I'm terribly disappointed. I had high hopes. The problem is that it's not a rolltop bag like they say and display. The pictures all show the top neatly tolled up and secure. What is hard to see is that there's nothing keeping it rolled. It's hard to exlain, but there are snap clips that hold the top down, but nothing keeps it rolled up. As soon as you jostle the bag, the top unrolls and becomes a flap that hangs down in front of the outer pockets. Then you can't get into front pocket without awkwardy displacing the "rolltop". Furthermore, the same straps/clips that hold down the top make it very difficult to unzip the highly-touted side access zipper. The video on Timbuk2's website (and youtube) show a guy effortlessly accessing all the compartments, but when you watch this video after holding the bag it starts to become apparent that he is skillfully hiding these problems.
Zippered pockets are easily accessible.
Slim profile preserves a good rear visual field.
When the bag is filled with the roll top fully unfolded the back of my helmet hits the bag.
When carrying a heavy load i feel unacceptable pain in my upper back
The reflective accents are too small and ineffective . A bike bag needs lots of reflective material!
Buy Timbuk2 Especial Tres Backpack (Medium) Now
I bought this pack after realizing that my trusty Seagull backpack was nearly melting to my back in the swampy DC summers. The molded back support on the Especial Tres allows for some badly needed air flow.The interior laptop sleeve is nicely waterproof, on top of the largely water-resistant bag itself. I have no worries about my delicate electronics when caught in a sudden squall. The Tres has many nooks and crannies, allowing you to carefully stow everything in its place if you so choose. Of course, you're likely to forget about a zippered compartment here and there, which could get awkward the next time you head to the airport.
Also at the airport, the tres can usually wedge under the seat in front of you in a pinch, unless you are in a deHavilland or Embraer. The molded back piece means that there is no way to easily reduce the height of the pack, which some flight attendants may have issues with. It's the luck of the draw to avoid a gate-check with this pack on the small planes.
The compression straps means that it's very easy to reduce the depth of the bag, however, and the zippered expansion area means that it's also easy to expand the pack into a gaping bag of holding. I have successfully shoved a 2U router in this pack and run through Union Station to catch a train, with no worries that the the router would somehow escape its confines. (NOT in a rainstorm; the pack cannot close over the top of the router, but the compression straps hold everything tight.)
Unfortunately, if the main compartment is moderately full, it can be hard to get items in and out of the front compartment. I've scraped up my hand on the velcro a couple of times, which can suck. Additionally, while shiny material on the front is fairly tough and repels water, it's more vulnerable to nicks and scrapes than the cordura.
All in all, I like this pack very much; I'm probably going to switch packs for winter, when air circulation is less of a draw, but it was a lovely summer/fall pack.
Read Best Reviews of Timbuk2 Especial Tres Backpack (Medium) Here
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