Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe Eco Black Deluxe

These were expensive compared to others we looked at on line, but how can you really compare quality when looking at a picture. Fortunately these were recommended to us by a friend and we are very happy with the purchase. We bought two, one for my wife and one for myself for a 7 week European vacation to use for daily trips from our Airbnb; with one each we would spread out our daily travel load and not have everything in one backpack. We also used them as carry on bags on all our flights. We have since used them for local day trips and Airbnb trips in the USA. They hold a surprisingly large amount for a Laptop Backpack and we even used them for supermarket shopping supplies for food to cook at our Airbnb stays. They are very comfortable to use, a little awkward to adjust the straps and they do occasionally slip and need adjusting. I think the adjusting strap clips are the only weak point but it is fairly simple to tighten them as required. The quality of the material and manufacture is excellent, they have very good zippers and a very well balanced amount of storage space in each section, with each compartment falling into an intuitive use over time. The backpacks also look good, feel good and have been very well thought out by the manufacturer and I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone. We are both 70 years old and these were a perfect fit for us both. Read more

This Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe in Eco Black Deluxe checked every box. The build quality feels fantastic with sturdy fabric, smooth zippers, and a solid structure that does not collapse into a floppy mess the second it is empty. The color is a deep black that looks professional enough for work but still modern and the recycled material angle is a nice bonus.​ Functionally it checks all of the boxes for me. There are pockets and compartments everywhere but they are laid out in a way that actually makes sense so small items do not vanish into a black hole at the bottom of the bag (maybe a little). The dedicated laptop compartment in the back easily holds my 17 inch gaming laptop with room to spare and the main compartment still has space for a charger, mouse, books, headphones, and a few extras without feeling overstuffed.​ What really sold me is that this bag replaced a couple of big name packs that went straight back to Amazon after ordering. Those others claimed to fit larger laptops but barely did it. Quality was good on some others too, but the pocket design on this one was best for the price point. There was another that cost twice as much that I had my eye on, but I wanted to stay within my budget. This one feels durable, rides comfortably on my shoulders, and keeps everything organized the way a tech heavy everyday carry actually needs. Again, after trying and returning other brands this finally feels like the keeper! Read more

Fits my 14" MacBook Pro perfectly with room to spare for books, notebooks, and other daily essentials. The build quality is excellent — feels sturdy and well-made. Great size, not bulky, and should easily last throughout college. Highly recommended. Read more

UPDATE: 2 years later, lots of travel for work and personal and this thing still looks and feels new. Super sturdy and it holds everything I need. The side pocket for the water bottle hasn’t stretched out at all. This is a great backpack. ORIGINAL: I don't do 5 star ratings because really "... love it?" I love this backpack. It's light, strong, snug and thinner than I thought it would be loaded. I carry a Surface 3 laptop, a 12.9 iPad Pro, Bose headphones, a Plantronics headset, the laptop charger and all the other various cords in an Amazon Basics zip case and a tilt stand for my laptop. The bag doesn't have a suspension pocket for the laptop, but everything fits snugly and feels well-padded and secure. I've dropped it a couple of times with no issue. The straps are comfortable even with this load and it feels balanced. The extra pockets for phone, keys, meds whatever are thoughtfully designed and don't bulge out when loaded. I've got all my stuff in it right now and it's maybe 8 inches thick so it goes under an airline seat and I can shove my toes underneath it and stretch a little. The water bottle pocket fits your standard water bottle no issue, and holds it securely. The shell is water resistant to even a drenching rain storm. The shell fabric wears well - I've had it a year now and it looks basically new. The strap to go around your luggage handle is almost too snug - you have to stretch it to get it on, but it holds tight and doesn't make my carry on fall over, so props there. I have one quibble and it's a small one. The fabric is sufficiently flexible that you have to use two hands to close the top zippers. If you try to pull with one hand the zipper folds. Given everything else they got right I'm sticking with 5 stars. Read more