Customer Reviews Timbuk2 Forge Tote Carbon Coated

I've been using a backpack while commuting on my bike for the past several years. As I started to drift away from a purely two-wheeled commute, I also began changing how I carried my bag. I originally wanted something akin to a smaller duffel bag, but it would have been a one-trick pony. With the Forge, I feel like I have the best of both worlds. Carrying it like a standard backpack is much more comfortable than I expected; the short profile keeps the bag away from the small of my back and keeps my shirt from riding up while riding or walking. Carrying it as a tote is a dream. The different closures make everything I need totally accessible at a moment's notice, and the open pocket on the front is the perfect size for my small u-lock. The side pockets are too narrow to fit my 1L water bottle, but they fit my 12oz canteen perfectly. The other pockets have been really great. The front zipper houses my phone, the laptop pocket holds my 13" and a note book, whereas my bullet journal, mechanical pencil, and ruler fit perfectly in the smaller interior pockets. The large interior compartment is super spacious, especially if I don't completely roll down the roll-top. The straps for the snap enclosures are both easy to adjust and sturdy; I have no worries about securing my goods. I absolutely, 100% recommend this to any and everyone that asks me about it.

Superb is the six letter word that comes to mind after using the Forge Tote Twill handcrafted by Timbuk2. I am a person who enjoys flashing his accessories which would include a bag or tote that wears on you.This beauty is a compliment to any type of style.I am highly grateful to the Timbuk2 team to have shared this exquisite bag with me.A big recommendation to those who look for style and comfort.

I have used this tote multiple times and really enjoy it. It's a perfect lightweight bag for a day trip or daily commuting. I think it's best for personal use as opposed to a bag for business. I really like the color, the number of pockets and the comfort of the straps that you can wear as a backpack. I use this for my day or short weekend trips traveling in place of my backpack. I also have a 15" MacBook Pro that I can fit in the computer space easily (although it won't slide in from the side which I don't think is a big deal). Cons - it's a vey lightweight bag. If you're looking for a heavier duty bag this probably isn't the best fit. Additionally it's a little informal for daily businsss use (if you're comparing to using a briefcase) which is mostly industry or company dependent.

Amazing bag!!! The quality is amazing! Easy to wipe off fabric, so many pockets, love that you can fold it down to make it smaller or have it open for the tote bag effect. Love the handles but also has the back straps to put on your back! The material is awesome this bag will last a long time!!

It's hard to find diaper bags for men, as most of the tote styles are pretty feminine and guys tend to like to wear on their back rather than over their shoulder. This is nice as it has the versatility of a tote, but with the back straps to wear on the back, especially if the baby is strapped in front. Has a couple of front and side pockets that are easy to access for wipes and cell phone, etc, and plenty of space inside for diapers, a mat, etc. The material is very thick and durable. The only thing I don't love is the folding of the top, which seems like it is only necessary if it's an underwater bag, and would just add extra steps to get things in and out quickly.

I looked at this bag and compared it to all of the other bags I currently own. It's a better bag than I think I ever owned. Just enough pockets to carry my art, planner and a change of clothes and hygiene products. I love this bag. I may get my nephew one. He likes it too.

I love this bag because can wear both as a tote and as a backpack . I love this style and lots of pocket too. The best tote I have ever used and the straps are comfy,sturdy and lightweight .My new favorite bag for use everyday, love love love it!

This bag is amazing! The compartments were great size and you don't have to worry about just throwing your stuff in the bottom of a bag, the material is fantastic, easy to wipe your fingers any stains or dirt! I love the straps, theres shoulder strap and the back straps so you can wear it different ways! You can adjust the lengths of the bag by rolling it down if your not carrying bigger items! The best bag I've ever seen/ owned!!

This is a great bag! This looks cute as both a pack, or a tote bag. There are a bunch of little pockets on the front of the bag for snacks, water, or pens. And one zip pocket for your valuables. You can fit a ton inside - a change of clothes, laptop (with quick access on the side), and a great roll-top design for extra water resistance. It has a unique shape and the Mud colorway is awesome and looks feminine, but strong enough to stand up to taking it on your commute. Highly recommend if you have a larger daily haul, and want a feminine, casual pack or tote bag. My only desire is that you could detach the backpack straps and tuck them away for a cleaner look - but I'd wear it either way regardless! My

This pack is great for traveling and everyday use. I like the fact that it's convertible and I can use it as a pack and a tote. As a mommy, I carry a lot things with me and this tote/pack definitely fit a lot. The twill fabric feels very smooth. I like the side laptop pocket. I definitely recommends buying this.

The Timbuktu bag is practical and versatile. PROS: spacious enough to carry more than what it looks like at first glance; several pockets on the outside and inside to organize items; weather-resistant material; a roll top so that whatever you're carrying won't get wet and it can be made smaller and larger to accommodate what you're carrying; two options to carry it - backpack straps or like a small duffel bag. CONS: The only con for me is that the strap width is too wide for a smaller person's frame. I often share this type of item with my partner and it was difficult for her to find a comfortable position when wearing it as a backpack.

This is a well-made product, but I wouldn't buy it for my own personal use. I love that it has a lot of pockets, but it's style is too industrial for me and I don't like the top part you fold up to close it. It makes it too deep when you're trying to find something.

I like how many pockets there are, yet I wish there could be more dividers on the inside. Also the closure system is a little much. I don't like how you have to fold it over twice and then snap it. It is a bit overkill, I would have preferred the simple snap.

I evaluated this bag as a daily driver. I'm a technology professional working in a big city and was using this bag for commuting, work and as a gym bag. Yes, I have high ambitions. This is my first time owning a hybrid tote bag / backpack and I didn't know what to expect. At first, I was really stuck on the fact that the bag wasn't as organized as my usual daily driver work bag. It took me a few days to adapt to the tote style of top-loading everything, but it wasn't actually that hard to adjust. Pros: * Timbuk2 is known for high quality bags. This bag doesn't disappoint. * The top-loading tote is extremely versatile. On days where I needed to stop at the grocery store for odds & ends, I could easily expand the bag to accommodate that trip. * This bag would be great for day trips & the beach. The material is high quality and will resist dirt, scuffs and water. Cons: * Lack of organization - I really wanted a bit more organization, but I understand why that's hard with a hybrid bag. * Color - I ended up with an army green type color. It's not as versatile as some of the other colors. However, it's quite fashionable while a person is wearing it. * Lack of comfortable backpack straps - Since I use this as a daily driver, I really need to focus on comfort. The backpack straps are basic and the bag isn't vented at all. Is the primary use a tote bag or a backpack? It's not clear from using it. Finally, I think an easy improvement would be to include a simple short carry strap on the backpack side of the bag. When you're using it as a backpack, it's awkward to rely on the tote straps when you need to quickly move or adjust the bag. All in all, this bag really sold me on the value of this type of bag. I'm nit-picking above, but I really do enjoy using this bag.

The Forge Tote is a pretty cool bag. It's both a backpack and a tote, and it does things pretty well. The Twill version feels better to the hand, and has upgraded zippers for a more modern look. The water bottle pockets are roomy enough for most 19-25 oz water bottles. The backpack straps are padded and pretty comfortable and have a lot of adjustment. The bag is a good size, not too small for me, at 6'1", but I don't think it would overwhelm the frame of a 5'6" person either. There's a non-padded laptop slip pocket (with exterior side zipper access as well) for carrying a 13" Macbook or iPad. I love the rooftop design because it generally makes the bag smaller for most days, but gives room to expand when I need to carry more. On the inside, aside from the laptop slip pocket, there are slip pockets for your phone, 2 for pens/pencils, and one for business cards or the like. As with the Tuck Pack, which this is a cousin to, the downsides are less structure along with not having the breathable air mesh back compared to some of our other bags. That said, I think it does it's mission very well.

The bag can be worn as a back pack and tote. It has lots of organizations inside and out. Going shopping or to work; this bag can do it all. Not only the carbon coated does elevate the bag's look, but it also elevate the bags ability to withstand against rain. Lastly, the bag is bike friendly - vista loop for visibility is included.

I love this bag, but the backpack straps don't tick away and make the bag more bulky when you're using it as a tote. Seems like this would be an easy design fix so hoping the next version has this feature?!?

As is the product would be perfect if you just cut off the backpack straps. To be a GREAT product the backpack straps need to be attached better and the bag itself should either be wider or taller (square is not flattering). It would also be nice if the backpack straps could be tucked away or removed. the option for a messenger bag strap could also be useful with its small overall design.

I am disappointed in the quality of this bag. The color rubbed off which created color transfer onto my clothes and other things.