(Timbuk2) RED Messenger Bag Review

Timbuk2 RED messenger bag

At Outdoor Retailer, Timbuk2 ran a promotion to either trade in your old bag or donate $40 in exchange for a special edition Timbuk2 RED bag. Timbuk2 has been donating 5% of the sales of these messenger bags to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. I donated my $40 and am now the proud owner of a Timbuk2 RED Optic Messenger bag.

The RED messengers are of the company's classic messenger style. I not only love that all Timbuk2 bags are hand made in San Francisco, but it's the functional design details that really endear me to these bags. 

The RED messenger bags feature the new True Fit cam buckle so you don't have to constantly be adjusting your shoulder strap. Simply pull up on the handle of the cam to adjust the fit the way you like it. When you want to take the bag off, un-click the cam and the strap is at full length to pull over your head. Put it back over your shoulder, click the cam back into place and voila- you have the same strap adjustment as before. 

The Napoleon Pocket is a zippable side entry pocket that lets you get at your keys and wallet without having to open up your entire bag. A slash pocket against the inside back wall gives you a padded, separate place to store your laptop or files.

A red key tether, uber organizational options and tons of room make this the perfect carry on, trade show, commute or work bag. The only beef I have with the messenger bag is that the ballistic nylon fabric on the outside back does no favors for cashmere sweaters. 

Timbuk2 CMO, Kevin McSpadden, walked me through some of the company's newer bags at the show. The Command Messenger is made of Oxford Nylon with a studded laptop Love Glove for extra protection. The TSA compliant external laptop compartment fully unzips and lays flat so you can send it through Xray without having to remove your laptop.  

The Command Messenger bag also comes with the True Fit cam, Napoleon Pocket and a luggage pass through strap on the back so you can throw it over your wheelie. A zipper pocket on the bottom of the bag lets you store your heavy power cords for easy access and better load carrying. 

With Mike Wallenfels, former CEO and founder of Mountain Hardware, now at the helm, expect to see a big retailer push and promotional campaigns for Timbuk2 in the near future. 

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