When I ordered this bag I was looking for something that was classy but casual and intended to use it for all of my "fun"materials: ebook reader, sketch book, printed books and magazines. I wanted a bag that was easy to carry but durable enough to keep these materials safe. It is comfortable to carry and not as sporty as some of the other messenger bags featured on the website.
My only complaint was that I expected the dark brown of the canvas to be darker than what it looked like in person. This was only a slight disappointment and I've gotten used to it.
Overall a great bag for what I wanted. L.L. Bean has again met my expectations.
Just got my new bag in time for a 4-day trip and it was okay but not what I suspect most people desire today in a bag like this. Problems are: 1. Had the zipper on the top been an inch longer, you wouldn't have to empty the bag and force angle a common 15" laptop inside. Once inside, space becomes limited. 2. Shoulder strap is comfortable though there's no pad, but don't underestimate the loss of a handle on top of the bag. When you pick it up, you either need to do so by the shoulder strap or grasping the canvas side. I found that inconvenient. 3. It is essentially one big compartment, six inches wide so, if you have a couple books, they'll likely lie sideways on the bottom and I found I needed to regularly reconfigure contents. 4. No padding means very little protection for your computer if you drop the bag. What would make this bag better would be if they put a divider in the main compartment so that papers could sit upright. This is just a soft sided bag where everything conforms inside and needs regular reorganization. I think for most people today, it isn’t the right carry-on, though it looks really nice.
ProsDurable, Performing as Expected, casual, appropriate for men, not too heavy
My husband had been looking everywhere for simple, useable, comfortable messenger bag which didn't look "girlie" or teenage. This bag, which we ordered in Cocoa, fit the bill. He uses to take his main items to work, except for the laptop, which we knew ahead of time would not fit. However, it has its' own case. This bad appears well constructed, casual, and (being canvas, not leather) is fairly light. He recommends it highly.
ProsDurable, Great Value, Performing as Expected, light and easy to carry
I love this bag, and I carry it with me everyday. It's sturdy, yet "cool," has lots of room and lots of pockets to put things. I'm even going to get another one in a different color.
