BBP Hamptons Hybrid Messenger/Backpack Laptop Bag Obsidian Black Small

I used this bag for 30 days before I ultimately returned it to Amazon.PRO:Great build and quality, as far as I could tell.Design does get some pressure off of your shoulders. I found that with the backpack straps and the waist strap tightened, I could carry a load without too much shoulder strain.Laptop sleeve accessible without opening the bag. Perfect for my 11-inch Macbook Air.Water bottle holder.Orange lining makes it easy to find things.Plenty of room.CON:Conversion from backpack to shoulder bag is not simple. Requires several steps that can be done, but I found that once I had it set up for my back, I never converted the bag back. It was easier to hold it on one shoulder using one strap if necessary.Pockets on the outside are small. I am not sure what they are designed for. The center pocket fits a smartphone *or* wallet *or* sunglasses. The others will fit keys or small objects. I'd prefer a larger pocket on the outside.Aside from the aesthetic qualities (this is a nice looking bag), I don't see any advantage over a decent backpack. I went back to my old Kensington Saddlebag, which holds just about as much stuff with more convenient pockets and a simpler way to switch from side to back carry.

So glad I bought this bag. I have a lot of medical appointments and I was searching for a bag that could carry everything I needed throughout my busy day (laptop, iPad, iPhone, medical supplies and other supplies). I lost a lot of my muscle mass and I have found that this bag is easy on my back and hips. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone that is looking for a durable, convenient and well made bag!!!!

I bought one of these bags in 2007, and have a lot of positive things to say about the design. I really like the lack of any velcro, the bright orange lining makes it easy to find things in the main pocket, the laptop compartment is great, and the design of the pockets and straps is very intelligent. I have been extremely happy with how much I'm able to fit and with how easy it is to organize everything. At the time I got it I thought the whole "switch between messenger bag and backpack" feature was a big gimmick, but it turned out to be pretty useful for me. I live in Chicago, and although during the summer I always wear it as a backpack, during the winter you've usually got so many layers on when you go outside that getting your arms through two backpack straps is kind of a pain, so I switch to the messenger-bag style.So, why not more stars? This bag did not last. After about two years, the zipper on the laptop compartment was beginning to separate from the seams. Shortly after this, the upper stitching on the interior began to separate, and after less than three years the laptop compartment zipper was no longer usable at all. I was surprised at this short lifetime; I used the bag regularly, but was hardly putting it under a lot of stress. The typical day was carrying my laptop and a book from home to the office and back. But even more surprisingly, although I contacted them about these issues twice BBP refused to replace or repair the bag, in spite of their guarantee. Bags may not last forever, but the $50 LL Bean backpack I got in high school has lasted over a decade under much heavier use than BBP's bag. So although its design is very appealing, I would not recommend buying this bag due to the lack of durability and my experience with the company.

I first bought the Large, returned it, then I bought the Medium and returned it, then I bought the small. The others were too big. The small one is the perfect size for me. The difference is the size of the pocket for the laptop, which I must confess, the pocket on the small one is too small for my Dell laptop, so, I put laptop in the inside pocket instead of in the laptop pocket. It works for me :-) I only give it 4 stars because it is a bit sloppy. If you don't clip the closures to the over flap, it makes noises. (clack, clack, clack, etc.) and it's just a bit too floppy, otherwise, it is perfect for me.

I have had the large size bag for 4 years and I like everything about it except the durability. One of the clips on the straps broke and I replaced it with a stronger clip that I bought at a home improvement store. What concerns me more is that the stitching on the points inside the bag adjacent to where the straps connect on the outside is torn. Now, I'm looking for a smaller bag and I see that the price is the same as for the large. I see that others have similar issues and the company has not covered them with the warranty. Taking all this into consideration, I'm going to look at other options.

This is my second one. My first lasted about 7 or 8 years before the main zipper failed. I love the bag. Even had a couple co-workers buy it because they liked it so much. This new one is a small which works better with my smaller (12.5") laptop. Also easier to manage in close quarters like an airplane aisle.The new straps are stiffer than the old design which makes it harder to put on though they might relax in time. The new clasps on the main compartment are more difficult to open and close than the previous design but overall still the best product on the market in my opinion.

I love this bag, it is comfortable and easy to use.The only critical comment is the space for the laptop on the small bag is VERY tight, my 13 Macbook pro barely fits into the space.Otherwise I love the design and comfort.