Especial Scope Expandable Backpack, Jet Black

Bought this for my husband. It was the perfect size and great quality. Hope it lasts for years to come.

A mixed bag of pros and more cons than expected . . . Pros: Great carrying capacity, good looks, generally good materials and build quality, weather-proof, plenty of pockets, weather-proof zippers (which are surprisingly smooth gliding). Cons: The pack is very heavy (even when unloaded), shoulder straps have minimal padding so carrying a heavy load is uncomfortable, oddly thick back padding (ventilation and sweat buildup is still a problem in hot weather), top handle is in an awkward off-center position, magnetic buckles are awkward to use and require two hands to unbuckle (would've much rather had traditional clip buckles for quick one-handed use), expansion material is a thin rip-stop material which is not weather-proof unlike the rest of the shell (which negates one of the main advantages of the backpack), laptop pocket is way too small and difficult to use (my 14” MacBook Pro does not fit in there inside a thin sleeve and the sticky rubberized interior makes it very difficult to slide a “naked” laptop in or out - huge disappointment there).

I liked the fact that its water proof

Replacing my several year old timbuk2. I love the especial line because it has taped zippers and higher water resistance

I returned the backpack. Nice backpack but not compatible with what I was looking for. 15.6 inch monitor laptops do not fit in laptop compartment. Shoulder straps are not padded and uncomfortable.

This is probably the perfect backpack for someone, but not me. It's very tall for the width, and the amount of padding at the back is extreme. I certainly don't need that much padding, even when carrying a load of books. Which this backpack isn't designed for, clearly. I've seen it called a motorcyclist's backpack, so maybe that's the market. It only gets a few inches wide, although the top can fan way out. Again, not great for books, but if you need to stuff a sweatshirt in there, it'll make room for it. If you need to carry some things that are particularly long, this could be great. Like maybe zoom lenses, or keyboards, or art portfolios, or something else extra long. But if you're mostly carrying a laptop and some books, or maybe laptop and lunch and gym clothes, the shape is just weird for that. Alternately, if you really want massive amounts of padding at your back, this could be the bag for you. For me, though, it misses the mark.

This is a fantastic backpack for people who commute on bicycle or foot and get caught in the rain on occasion. It's somewhat weather resistant while also being a great backpack to hold your computer (up to 15") and other essentials. There is a nice thick pack support and everything on this pack is high quality. Straps are nice and feel good even when wearing them for a long time and the front buckle keeps the pack on tight for bike rides. This backpack is fairly large, but not too big. It can expand to hold books, a jacket, or change of clothes and I've used it for an overnight trip. It's professional looking pack that work would just as well for a student as a professional. The material used on the outside of the pack is a shiny synthetic material that repels water and looked a bit cheap to me at first but it's really grown on me as I've used it. The normal smaller zippered pockets are on this pack, nothing too noteworthy here. You are mainly paying for the high quality of this bag, and I expect it to last a long time, certainly longer than most low cost laptop backpacks. I have another pack I've been using since last year that's falling apart already and it cost almost as much as this one. Timbuk2 is a quality brand and if anything wears out or breaks, they will take care of you.

I love well designed backpacks. I appreciate all the thought that goes into them. Overall, this is a very fine bag with a generously sized main compartment that provides good padding for a laptop. The padding level is not bulletproof, I’d put more on the medium level of padding. The form factor is perfect for a motorcycle or bicycle commute, very sleek. The internal organization is good, albeit a bit on the spartan, simple side, which is not a negative per se. The material is weather resistant, but by no means fully storm proof, but they did do the weather resistant part to a high level. Given the discount price on this bag, and particularly if you are a motorcyclist or cyclist, this is an excellent option.

TIMBUK2製の「パーカーパックライト バックパック リュックサック」からこちらに乗り換えました。 本体自体が細いデザインのため、収納に関しては少し容量的に劣りますが、その他デザイン、色合い、機能性などおおよそ気に入っています。本音はもう少し容量があってもいいですけどね（苦笑）。 ほぼ同じデザインである、同社製「クードスクリップポーチ Jet Black」も右肩ベルトに固定して、一緒に使用しています。さらに使いやすくなりました。