Timbuk2 parkside vs Targus Drifter II

So I think all of those parts of the backpack are pretty standard with any backpack, especially any commuter backpack. But what I think really makes t...

This backpack is huge. As a one-hour a day commuter, five days a week to my college campus, I needed something that could hold all my stuff, books, notebooks, calculator, laptop, papers, pencils, pens, erasers, headphones, sunglasses, stapler, flash drives, water bottle(s), gym clothes, mouse, power cables, etc..

My only major complaint is the laptop protection, which is pretty much nil. Moreover, the pouch isn't get elastic enough to hold a thinner device (e.g. a tablet) tightly

When i need to take my programmer somewhere, then it takes a ride. One thing that I have to agree with a couple other reviewers on is that the bottom could use a little more padding. If you are a complete moron and do not take care of your stuff or you do not mean to set it down so hard by slipping or falling, you may smack that laptop a bit. I do not worry so much for myself but to make sure, I cut out some extra foam for the bottom just to make sure this was not an issue, ever

So it's not too much of a struggle, as you can also see on the straps. You do have attachment points for a sternum strap. Unfortunately, we did not ge...

This one has the webbing, but the loop is just a loop of webbing. A bit more trouble to stick fingers in for a better grasp. - The straps themselves are a little stiff-feeling. They might be a bit irritating for some people especially those who will be loading the bag down with a lot of books, and hauling it through airports or while walking longer distances

I really wanted to keep this backpack. It's a nice size and the design has good features (plenty of pockets). However, the zippers are flimsy and open easily after closed. It may just be that I'm used to canvas, but the fabric also felt pretty cheap as well

On arrival, bag seemed great. Fit all my needs for laptop, work and personal items. Purchased in April 2022, use was 3-4x per week, by September, zipper was broken on pocket that had minimal use. After multiple emails and photos back and forth with Targus

The main compartment of this backpack is good enough for your gym clothes, and you can easily use this for your short term travels as it can house ple...

Rather than return it I'm thinking I'll take it to a luggage repair place and have them do what Targus should have done. Reinforce the carry handle or replace the steel cable with something that won't rip thru the nylon. Extend the straps a couple more inches and add heavy stitching in a boxed X pattern to secure the straps.

It's kind of hard to move about in my daily commute specially Light rail rides can get cramped. This bag is perfect! well almost.. Primary concern was my laptop, fits snugly, another plus is a compartment for tablets

The pockets are very well designed with plenty of locations to store different items. My 15" MacBook Pro Retina fits perfectly in the laptop pouch with room for a slightly larger computer (I have the 16" variant). The back panel is comfortable and rests at just the right spot on my lower back (I am 5'10"). The straps are springy and curved in a way that distributes the weight very well on my shoulders, and this pack has been much more comfortable carrying a lot of weight than with other backpacks I have used

The one main con I've found so far is that the "laptop compartment" is a bit of a joke - there's no padding whatsoever, just a nylon slip pocket with an elastic edge. I mention the elastic because unfortunately that results in the pocket stretching with the weight of the laptop against it, so when walking I can feel my laptop (13" MacBook Pro) bouncing around in it! I mitigated this by stuffing a neoprene laptop sleeve in there to minimize the jostling, but I do wish there was a more robust laptop pocket that was built into the bag - particularly since it was advertised as a laptop compartment. It works for light commuting but wouldn't recommend it if you need to walk long distances or intense travel.

um, it's at the top right here. Smoke compartment. Then the main storage compartment [Applause] has Um has a divider as well as a um, a mesh pocket. u...

However, if you have multiple (large) textbooks to carry around with your laptop I would go for a bigger bag. Also important to note: this bag functions wonderfully in the rain & will keep your things dry for the most part, but it is NOT waterproof so be sure to carry an umbrella with you.

The Good: This is an extremely roomy backpack with plenty of space, a great number of roomy pockets, well-constructed zippers, and well-thought out extras. It has enough interior space for a 2-3 days worth of clothes. Really, in terms of size and the ability to sequester stuff, this is an excellent design. The straps are comfortable; the hidden, zippered back pocket is a great touch; it's well-padded; and the top pouch is extremely accessible and roomy