Thule Crossover TCBP-117 Backpack for 17-Inch Macbook/Pro/Air Review

 Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars====================Product price: Check new Price in amazon====================Buy with Secure Transaction Amazon now…====================  Product DescriptionThis 25 liter backpack is designed for gear-heads who need dedicated electronics protection plus pockets and compartments for whatever the day might bring during the week or weekend.

• SafeZoneTM compartment
• EVA shoulder straps
• Compression straps
• Organization compartment
• Laptop compartment for a 17 inch Macbook Pro

Thule Crossover TCBP-117 Backpack for 17-Inch Macbook/Pro/Air (Black)

 Customer Reviews:* I have used a Targus backpack for 10 years to carry my laptop and electronics for work. It has room for everything I've ever needed to take with me but I've gotten tired of how heavy it's gotten when I travel. I fly about once a month for 2-4 days at a time and it can get tiring to walk around the airport with a 30lbs. bag on.This Thule backpack has been fantastic so far. It is smaller than the Targus so it has forced me to think about what I really need to take with me when I travel (this is a good thing). What I've noticed, though, is that I really haven't had to leave anything behind when packing for a trip. It has enough room for a laptop, an iPad, a Nook, a Samsung Galaxy Tab, folding bluetooth keyboard, travel USB mouse, a music player and headphones, my glasses, and all the cables, connectors and chargers I need to keep everything running. I still have room to put in folders for papers and a book.The design is high quality. There is a handle on the bottom of the bag for pulling it out of a space that you've put it in. The crushproof pocket at the top of the bag is perfect for those items that you need to protect while you're stuffing the bag under a seat or into a compartment. The buckles, straps, and zippers are well made and the material of the bag is water resistant.If you're looking for a rugged, stylish, and smaller backpack to use for travel, this is the one to get. You might find a similar sized bag for less money out there but you won't beat the durability and functionality of this one.UPDATE 2013-02-01 - I have now used this backpack for two years of business travel. My original review still applies: the durability and functionality of this backpack are exceptional. It still looks like new and I have not had any loose strings or frayed ends or zipper problems. My only quibble is that I wish it had a waist strap; other than that it has been fantastic.* I'm a graduate student, so I bought this backpack to carry around a 15" MacBook Pro along with one or two textbooks and some general school supplies. This is my first time buying a backpack in this price range, but I've recently been traveling a lot and wanted something more solid that would provide better protection for my laptop.What I liked:1. The backpack is very well made. The fabric is high quality and all the stitching looked very secure. All the zippers are very nice and have sturdy zipper pulls in a contrasting color. This bag is definitely worth the price tag.2. There are two side pockets that open up to hold a water bottle, and they are HUGE. Since there's a zipper, you can adjust the size to fit whatever size bottle you have.3. There is a handle on the bottom that would make it very easy to pull out from under a desk or an overhead compartment from either end.Other interesting features:1. There's a hard compartment where you can store items you don't want to get crushed. It's big enough to hold a big pair of sunglasses and a large cell phone, and also has a loop so you can lock the zipper shut. The lock won't hold up to a good pair of scissors but at least the casual passerby won't be digging in there. The hard shell is also removable in case you don't want it. I thought this was a neat feature, but the location of the pocket (on the top front) makes the bag look a little lumpy when you don't have a lot of things in it.2. There is a strap that goes across the chest. It has an elastic band on the long side so when you're not using it, it holds it to one side. It can also slide up and down for your comfort. Being a female, I couldn't get this strap to sit in a position that I was happy with, but I didn't plan on using it anyway.3. There are straps on both sides that reinforce the bag. This prevents you from opening the main pocket fully, but they unhook. I have mixed feelings about this feature. I wish there was a way they could be unhooked but not just dangling to the sides. Since I don't overload my backpack with tons of heavy books, they aren't particularly useful to me.What I didn't like:1. There isn't really a lot of padding on the bottom of the laptop pocket. It's really just a small sliver of foam and isn't very thick.2. The pocket on the front of the bag is kind of awkward. The zipper opens vertically and inside there's a horizontal pocket. If your bag is stuffed it will probably be a little trick to wedge stuff out of there.3. The listing for this bag specifies 25L and the one I received had a tag that said 20L.4. This backpack is NOT made to fit a woman's frame. Actually, that might not even be true because my boyfriend also thought it was uncomfortable. The straps are really sturdy but also very STIFF. The spacing between the straps at the top is too narrow, and it makes the straps sit right on the base of your neck. Within minutes of wearing this bag with all my things in it I felt like I was giving a piggy-back ride to a cow, and one with very stiff legs. For this reason I decided to return the bag. No matter how nice it is, comfort is the most important thing on my list.As a note, my boyfriend ordered a different backpack by the same manufacturer: Thule Crossover TCBP-217 Backpack for 17-Inch Ultrabooks/Macbook/Pro/Air Laptop and iPad (Black). I thought this bag was a little too big for my purposes, which is why I didn't get it too, but it is WAY more comfortable than the TCBP-117. The straps seem a little more flexible (but not any less durable), so they form to your shoulders more. He is incredibly happy with his purchase and will keep it.