Everything was great except that there always a little problem with package tracking. Another small thing: I thought it came with a "standard" shoulder pad, and that ordering a color-matched... See more
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Review summary
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I ordered a custom bag. The creation process was easy and fun. Shipping was on time. The materials and construction are sturdy and well crafted. The bag was slightly larger than I had anticipated so I... See more
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I used this company's products for over 20 years. They recently fixed up my gym bag(no longer made) with new panels. Quality work. I usually use their online store for products but their Livermore loc... See more
Company replied
After six years of heavy use, my messenger bag main zipper became jammed, and an inner pocket seam had frayed apart. Timbuk2 repaired both damages and added fabric tape over the inner pocket seam, be... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Born and bred on the backs of San Francisco bike messengers, Timbuk2 builds tough-as-Hell backpacks, messengers, travel bags, and accessories designed to outlast you. Free Shipping and Lifetime Warranty.
Contact info
San Francisco, United States
- 1(800) 865-2513
- customerservice@timbuk2.com
- www.timbuk2.com
4.2
Great
161 reviews
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
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Reply from Timbuk2
Appreciate the kind words! We’re happy to hear everything was smooth and accurate—thanks for choosing Timbuk2.
Good Quality, Still Awkward
This is a dual perspective review! This is my second custom Timbuk2 messenger bag, the first having lasted through 15 years of daily use before the liner disintegrated. Even today, the canvas and hardware were still in good shape, such that husband harvested the straps and hardware to repair one of his bags. On to its next life! Having loved my previous bag, I purchased another one, obviously ;) After 15 years, the company has made a few changes, some great, others questionable. The ordering process is still excellent- color selection is fantastic and authentic to what is seen on screen, website is easy to navigate and understand, 360 photos great. I ordered a medium, which either by accident or design is bigger than my old bag. I like the “bucket” design - it is more than spacious for my laptop, various folders and notebooks, large headphones, hardback book, drink vessel, laptop cable, and a spare jacket. The drink pocket add-ons were a great idea-they work great as cable caddies. The double sided security pocket is an improvement over the previous single sided pocket. So why did I give this a 4, you ask? I’ve been using this bag daily for a month, as well as taken it on one flight already, and I still can’t quite get used to the oddities. I’m a short torso’d person (14 inch spine) and even though I’ve shortened the strap, the strap length to bag size feels disproportionate. Doesn’t carry well; feels big for me. The quick adjust buckle loosens if it touches anything at all and I don’t like having to tighten/loosen the strap EVERY time I put the bag on. The closure buckles are hidden under the lid of the bag (maybe for better security?) which makes them difficult to use. The lid itself seems a little too short, such that it doesn’t want to cover the bag when just folded over; the buckles have to be engaged to keep the lid from flapping open. And why, WHY is Velcro still standard on these bags?? For the most annoying feature, it’s great that Velcro silencers are now sold separately, but it’s a custom bag already- why not make Velcro an optional feature? I bought the recommended size of silencers and they’re still about 2 inches too short to cover the whole strip. I feel like after a whole month, the bag and I should have bonded by now. And finally, no longer “handmade in San Francisco.” So, all that being said, I’ll see you in another 15 years. Probably.
11 March 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Wow—thank you for such a thoughtful (and long-term!) review. 15 years of daily use is exactly the kind of story we love to hear, and we’re honored you came back for a second custom bag—and even gave the first one a second life.
We’re really glad to hear the build quality, customization options, and new features like the bucket design and added pockets are working well for you. That said, we appreciate you calling out the fit and usability details—especially around strap proportion, buckle access, and the Velcro. That kind of real-world feedback is incredibly helpful and something we share directly with our product team.
Fit and carry—especially for different body types—can make or break the experience, and it’s clear we didn’t quite nail that for you here. The note about the strap adjuster and lid coverage is also super valuable, and we hear you on wanting more customization options (like Velcro-free builds).
Thanks again for sticking with us after all these years and for taking the time to lay this all out so clearly. We’ll be here when you’re ready for round three—and hopefully we’ll have earned that 5th star by then.
Excellent Customer Support
I am pleased that Timbuk2 stands behind the products they sell and truly honors their lifetime warranty.
14 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our customer support and that our lifetime warranty met your expectations. Standing behind our products is something we take seriously, and it means a lot to know it made a difference for you. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve you in the future!
Recommended sizes for laptops are WAY OFF.
The laptop size recommendations on the Timbuk2 website were WAY off. I have a 17" laptop so I ordered a large classic messenger bag as recommended, and the bag is WAY oversized and too large. The laptop is swimming inside the bag. It would fit inside a medium or probably even a small size bag. Now I need to go to the trouble to return it (after it took ten days to get here). You all need to be more accurate with the bag dimensions on the website.
8 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you for your feedback—we’re really sorry to hear about your experience.
It sounds frustrating to wait for your order only to find the size recommendation didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how important a proper fit is, especially for something like a 17" laptop, and we appreciate you calling this out. Your note about the bag feeling oversized and the laptop not fitting securely is especially helpful.
We’re actively reviewing how we present sizing guidance on our site to make it more accurate and intuitive, and feedback like yours plays a big role in improving that.
In the meantime, we’d love to help make this right. Our team is reaching out to you directly to assist with a return or exchange and ensure you end up with a bag that fits your needs. If you have any immediate questions, feel free to reply here or contact us at customerservice@timbuk2.com.
Thanks again for bringing this to our attention—we appreciate the opportunity to improve.
Terrible quality and repair service
update- still waiting for someone to contact me as promised.
Terrible - went through the wash in gentle cycle and frayed all over. Paid to ship it and Timbuk2 didn’t repair. Won’t buy their stuff again.
7 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Hi there — we’re really sorry to hear about your experience. That’s definitely not the quality we aim to deliver.
We do want to note that putting the bag in a washing machine isn’t recommended, as it can damage the materials and construction. That said, we understand how frustrating it must have been to go through the repair process and not get the outcome you expected.
Our team would still like to help make this right. We’re reaching out to you directly to take another look at your situation and see what we can do.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I used this company's products for over…
I used this company's products for over 20 years. They recently fixed up my gym bag(no longer made) with new panels. Quality work. I usually use their online store for products but their Livermore location has plenty products to look at in person.
9 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your continued support over the past 20 years—it truly means a lot to us! We're glad we could give your gym bag a new life and that you're happy with the quality of the repair. It's also great to hear you've had positive experiences both online and at our Livermore location. We appreciate you taking the time to share this and look forward to helping you again in the future!
I like the quality of the bag so I…
I like the quality of the bag so I purchased another one it was really easy and convenient
9 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your continued support! We’re thrilled to hear you’re happy with the quality of your bag and that your experience was easy and convenient. It means a lot that you chose to come back for another one—we truly appreciate it!
Do yourself a favor and purchase your next bag from Timbuk2!!
Timbuk2 is a company that we can always rely on to deliver quality and attractive bags! Thank you!!
10 December 2025
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for the kind words and support! We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a great experience with our bags. Delivering quality and design our customers can rely on is what we strive for every day. We truly appreciate you choosing Timbuk2!
My new favorite messenger bag
My new favorite messenger bag. If I was to be asked to write a book about my bag that would be the title. I been using it since it arrived to my house, yes I did take two week break of using it "bad idea" and now it gets thrown around my shoulder every work day. And I would love to get a custom backpack.
Oh one more thing I love is it ambitious, right shoulder or left.
10 September 2025
Reply from Timbuk2
Thanks so much! We love hearing that your messenger bag has become your everyday go-to—even after that short break. Glad you’re enjoying the ability to switch shoulders, too—it really does make a difference. Appreciate the support!
The process of purchasing was great
The process of purchasing was great. The bag is a great size but the strap loosens constantly while I’m walking.
2 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Hi there—we’re reaching out to follow up on your review. We’re really glad to hear the purchasing process was smooth and that you’re happy with the size of the bag.
We’re sorry the strap loosened while you were walking—that’s definitely not the experience we want for you. We’d love to help resolve this. We are reaching out to you for more information and to help find you a positive solution.
Thanks again for your feedback—we appreciate you giving us the chance to make this right.
I love these bags
Everything was great except that there always a little problem with package tracking.
Another small thing: I thought it came with a "standard" shoulder pad, and that ordering a color-matched one was just for extra style.
...But actually it didn't include a shoulder pad.
This is my second Timbuk2 bag.
The first one was from the original line, so I had it for over 20 years. These are indestructible, The only reason I got a new one was because my friends kept complaining about how old my bag looked.
1 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your continued support—we love hearing from longtime customers like you!
It’s amazing to know your original bag lasted over 20 years—that’s exactly the kind of durability we aim for. And we’re glad you’re enjoying your new one overall.
We really appreciate your feedback on the tracking experience and the shoulder pad. We understand how both could be frustrating, and we’ll make sure to pass this along to our team so we can improve clarity and reliability moving forward.
Thanks again for choosing Timbuk2 (twice!)—and hopefully this one earns another couple of decades with you, even if your friends have opinions about it
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your husband loves the bag. It means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Enjoy!
Easy to work website and great bags.
25 November 2025
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you found our website easy to use and that you're enjoying the bags. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again!
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you for the great feedback! We're glad to hear your order arrived quickly and that you're happy with the quality. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again!
Easy and fun to make a custom bag for…
Easy and fun to make a custom bag for my boyfriend for Christmas. He loved it and it feels well made.
29 November 2025
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for sharing this! We’re thrilled to hear that creating your custom bag was such an easy and enjoyable experience—and even more special that it made a great Christmas gift. It means a lot to us that your boyfriend loved it and that the quality met your expectations. We truly appreciate your support!
Great product
Great product. Easy to order. This is my second bag...and for my daughter who is just getting into biking. My original is still tried and true...holding up to 3x per week commute ride. Timbuk2 is a great product...worth the price.
25 December 2025
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear your bag has held up so well through your regular commutes—and even more excited that you chose Timbuk2 again for your daughter as she gets into biking. That kind of trust means a lot to us. We hope both of you continue to enjoy many miles ahead!
I tried
This is the second back pack, bought it to replace a waterproof expandable version that I loved. This backpack however is made of material that attracts dirt, it has a lot of straps that fall off easily, the pull straps to adjust the shoulders are so slim and are indistinguishable from other lose straps and nothing fits in the water bottle holder. The design is frustrating, which defeats the purpose of the purchase.
1 April 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thanks for your feedback—we’re sorry to hear this backpack hasn’t met your expectations.
We’d like to learn more about what’s going on and help find a positive solution for you. We’re reaching out to you directly, but feel free to reply here with any additional details or photos.
Appreciate you sharing this with us.
I ordered a custom bag
I ordered a custom bag. The creation process was easy and fun. Shipping was on time. The materials and construction are sturdy and well crafted. The bag was slightly larger than I had anticipated so I recommend double checking the measurements. otherwise everything was fantastic!
15 January 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the custom bag creation process and that everything arrived on time. It’s great to know the materials and craftsmanship met your expectations.
We also appreciate your helpful note about sizing—double-checking measurements is definitely a great tip for future customers. Thanks again for your support, and we’re so glad you’re enjoying your bag!
One of the plastic buckles broke within…
One of the plastic buckles broke within less than a month. And the padded shoulder add-on was way too bulky and stiff to be usable so I just decided not to use it at all. I also miss the colored contrast stitching from the previous versions of this bag I’ve happily owned (was such a fun detail). This is maybe my fourth (third in this size). All in all getting this newest bag felt like a downgrade. I wish it were otherwise, because I have historically been happy with these bags. But it’s the general trajectory of things, so…
30 January 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thanks for your feedback — we’re really sorry to hear this bag didn’t meet your expectations, especially after your past positive experiences with us.
The broken buckle isn’t something we expect, and we’d like to take a closer look. We’re reaching out to you directly to gather a few more details and help make this right.
We also appreciate your thoughts on the shoulder pad and design changes — that feedback is important to us.
Love the bag I got
Love the bag I got. Multiple purpose use and lots of safe places to put your important things as well as convenient pouches for easy access like phone.
26 March 2026
Reply from Timbuk2
Thanks so much for your kind words! We’re glad to hear you’re loving your bag and finding it both versatile and practical. It’s great to know the pockets and compartments are making it easy to stay organized while keeping your essentials secure. Enjoy using it, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
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