Commute not "rain-safe"?

Thank you for the reply, but that just the thing: the commute bag can not be closed "properly". With all respect, the video is just stupid. It is not a credible replication of real weather condition where the wind really is the critical issue...

Sorry, but I am still unhappy with the purchase. I am an old customer (Outtawhack) but Commute was just a waste of my money even though it is a pretty-looking and well-organized bag. I am not willing to risk water-damage on my expensive MacBook Pro...

Hey August69,

I'm sorry to hear you are unhappy with the bag. I understand your concerns, and not to ping pong you all over the place but I followed up here as well: http://getsatisfaction.com/timbuk2/to...

If you are unhappy with the bag and you purchased it on Timbuk2.com you can return it, no problem. For more info on our Returns Policy head here: http://www.timbuk2.com/wordpress_cms/...

If you purchased the bag from another retailer, you will need to contact them direct for a return.

I completely agree, I have emailed customer service several times, and they basically tell me thanks but no thanks. I have one of the original messengers and the thing is really close to being water proof, the laptop compartment closes tight so you can barley see the laptop and the top flap full closes the bag. I bought another Commute for my wife and the specs seem to have changes, her MacBook Pro is barely under the edge mine sits almost a full inch under the edge. Since then I have bought a laptop messanger and I love the padding but it has the same problems. I scratched the top of my laptop just getting items out of the bag, so I went back to my old bag. I would love to see the messange and the commute get a full top flap on the laptop compartment. This would aid in protection and in rain protection. I bike to work 3-4 times a week and I often get stuck in the rain and my Old commute never gets wet on the inside. To my horror I switched to the laptop messenger because of its padding and the first time it rains the bottom of the bag was holding water. So I went back to my old bag. I love timbuk 2 dont get me wrong but there are several design flaws ( I know harsh but a laptop that is exposed near the top of the bag come on ) that could be handled better.

I have been in the bag business for over 25 years and the Commuter is one of the best ones I've come aross. However, its design could be improved very easily: Just put a zip over the computer compartment. There are many different ways to do this; Timbuk2 has already done this on Outtawhack and other bags. Another way would be to put short tongues on either side of the envelope, so that the side of the computer are protected from splashes. Of course, you can always get a thin neoprene sleeve and then all is taken care of.

What I personally do not like about this or most of the other TB2 bags is the velcro. It is nice when you really need to have the flap down, for example while riding a bike (in the rain!), but otherwise the constant flypaper ripping drives me crazy. Solution? Two strips of velcro that cover the flap so that you can open and close it while it sits on your desk or at home. There. I've designed another bag.

I have been in the bag business for over 25 years and the Commuter is one of the best ones I've come aross. However, its design could be improved very easily: Just put a zip over the computer compartment. There are many different ways to do this; Timbuk2 has already done this on Outtawhack and other bags. Another way would be to put short tongues on either side of the envelope, so that the side of the computer are protected from splashes. Of course, you can always get a thin neoprene sleeve and then all is taken care of.

What I personally do not like about this or most of the other TB2 bags is the velcro. It is nice when you really need to have the flap down, for example while riding a bike (in the rain!), but otherwise the constant flypaper ripping drives me crazy. Solution? Two strips of velcro that cover the flap so that you can open and close it while it sits on your desk or at home. There. I've designed another bag.

I think its time we revisit this Idea. Have the laptop compartments gotten bigger/longer (slightly) or are the users of these bags still ignorant. I understand as a design professional that we did not conceive of the Idea but we the users are trying to help. And where is the protected rubber bottom that was going to be added to the messenger (laptop). It might just be me but I want a bag that I don't have to worry about and my very first commute back when Timbuk2 was new is still better than the other 4 I own. I find my self going back to it more and more. Please give us some more protection the things we are asking for are minimal.

I'm not sure if the commuter is like the classic messengers, but if it is I understand your problem completely. Water gets in where the strap pulls the sides of the bag away from the flap. Not to have you all running to another bag-maker but chrome has sorta solved that problem. They have a triangle of fabric that extends from front edge, around the side and up the flap (think of turning your flap into a shovel shape). This effectively seals that hole that is created when the strap is worn and directs water down between the flap and the front of the compartment. It makes opening the bag more than 180 deg a drag, but who ever does that anyway?

You can pick up some black pond liner anywhere and some kevlar thread and add it yourself (I'm going to look for something snazzyer and sew in these flaps over Christmas)