I have been eyeing this bag for an entire year and finally found a reason to pick one up. I found myself on crutches for a while and wanted a bag that would carry my iPad, lunch, watter bottle, wallet, and other odds and ends without interfering with my crutching. Not only was the Timbuk2 Freestyle Netbook Messenger perfect for my month on crutches, but it is super cute and functional for regular life as well. This bag will be great for bike commuting once I am all healed up.
This mini messenger style bag has a cozy, felt-lined sleeve designed to hold an iPad. The sleeve is also perfect for a Nook, Kindle, or 10-inch Netbook. The Freestyle will absolutely not fit any device greater than 10 inches so don’t even think your 11-inch Macbook Air will fit. A front organizer pocket holds your phone and keys and some internal pockets with slots for your credit cards and ID. Compartments on both sides of the iPad sleeve fits a notebook, bike lock, iPad charger, water bottle, and some snacks.
With a ballistic nylon exterior, the Timbuk2 Freestyle is super tough. The TPU waterproof liner protects your contents from the elements plus the inside cleaned up rather nicely after a soup spillage incident. The strap is a little stiff and continues to relax with use. My only complaint is the buckles are so darned durable they are tough to open. I often rely on the velcro to keep the bag closed and leave the bucks unbuckled.
Other reviewers of the bag have complained that the sleeve is too tight for an iPad, but I would totally disagree. I can get the iPad easily in and out of the sleeve even when it is in its case. Also, the strap might be too short for the likings of tall peeps. The bag fits my 5 foot 2 frame perfectly, but I can see how it might ride too high for taller peoples.
You can expect this bag to last. Timbuk2 guarantees their bags for a life and in the rare instance that your bag falls apart due to a defect in manufacturing, Timbuk2 will give you a new one. If you have simply had enough of your bag, you an turn it into Timbuk2’s Recycling Program and get 20% off your next bag. This is a great way to reduce your environmental impact by keeping your old bag out of the landfill and getting it into a new home.
I picked up my bag on Amazon and saved a few bucks. You can also find it at REI and on Timbuk2’s site.