Targus 15.6” Mobile Tech Traveler XL EcoSmart Backpack (TBB612GL)

This is the perfect "commuter pack". Perfect size/fit for all compact electronic accessories, as well as those few extra items - magazines, files, lunch, etc. - that you'll need over the course of a day. If you like a multitude of pockets in your backpack, the Legend delivers here too, with two lower, two upper, and two side pockets (as well as the main carrying space, of course). Larger lower pocket has a zippered sub-folder inside as well; great for stashing stuff you absolutely can't lose. Not sure if you can use this as an "overnight bag" as folders within main compartment take up a lot of space; maybe if you are going to be wearing the same shoes & jeans the next day...Pack is sturdy and can take a beating (as I am dropping it on buses, subways, and office floors constantly, while yanking it up from the straps); and it rides better on my shoulders/ back than backpacks costing twice the money, with fantastic weight distribution.So why does it lose a half a star? A few small quibbles:-two lower pockets only have one zipper; if your items shift while in transit, they can fall out upon opening the pocket...-side pockets can barely fit in the standard 16.9 inch water bottle. I mean, it does fit, but the compartment must be stretched/fitted around it. I think you could have made this 1/2 an inch bigger and still kept this a compact bag...-top pocket - the "sunglass" pocket as some people call it - also needs another 1/2 inch to hold today's glasses (and wallets). Again, as this pockets falls into the main compartment, an extra 1/2 inch would have made a big difference without compromising the compact design.Nevertheless - a great bag, and one I would recommend / buy again!

As others have said- the padding is a bit light, but this also means it is very lightweight, and small for what it can hold. There are backpacks with a lot more padding- but they are much bulkier and I wanted something lightweight and as small as practical. I'm using this to replace an old messenger-style bag for commuting and business travel.The notebook pocket easily holds a 15" MacBook Pro, even in a sleeve case. I have an older 17" HP laptop that "almost" fits, so I think their 16" description is a good one.The tablet/eReader pocket is very generously sized (huge). It is actually large enough that a 13" MacBook Pro or Air will fit in it, so it should fit any size of tablet or netbook. It also has a very soft lining on one side that I can see would be very gentle on a screen. I do have to acknowledge the warning of another reviewer- if your tablet or eReader doesn't have a cover- I would be very careful what else I pack in the main compartment. The pocket itself doesn't offer a lot of protection from its contents beyond the soft-fuzzy lining.I wouldn't drop this on the ground or throw it around- the laptop and tablet compartments have minimal padding, but it seems perfect as a lightweight travel bag. It has a lot of space inside for files, books, or clothes, besides the laptop and tablet pockets, and has many other pockets for organizing chargers, accessories, and travel needs.The built-in headphone jack is a nice touch, although I honestly don't see using it all that much. It is only a 3-conductor stereo cable/jack, so there is no way to control your device through it. I think they could improve this greatly by using a 4-conductor cable/plugs at minimal extra cost.Despite it's minor down-sides- I love this backpack.

I haven't had this backpack for long so I cannot attest to its durability, but it certainly feels like it would last awhile. It utilizes rugged high-denier polyester and the zippers are among the best I've seen (although extremely noisy). I really like the design of the backpack and, frankly, it has a lot of "cool factor" when it comes to storing things you didn't know you needed. Overall, it works great for me as I need to take my work with me.There definitely are some things that aren't so great, and that is why this review got 4 stars instead of 5. First off, the headphone jack that is built into the shoulder strap, while a very cool concept, is nearly useless. The type of cable used doesn't enable you to control the device with the headphones. That means no play/pause, no skip, no volume, and no phone calls are possible without opening the backpack and manually handling your device. Again, it's a really awesome concept but it was executed poorly. Secondly, the small zipper pocket on the top of the bag is not really even a full pocket, it has gaps in the stitching on both sides large enough for me to stick my finger through. Again not a huge deal (and neither are any of these for a backpack under $30), but a couple design changes could have made this an epic backpack. Lastly, the zippers are extremely jingly, which isn't a problem for me but if you're late to class you're gonna have a really hard time sneaking in silently with this backpack.Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying this backpack, and while there are a few things that could have been slightly fixed, it's still a great backpack at $29.99. If I had paid the full retail for this, I would most likely be sending it back, but it's well worth the money I spent on it.Pros:-Rugged and durable material, all-metal zippers-Lots, lots, lots and lots of pockets and pouches-Sleek and comfortableCons:-Headphone passthrough jack is nearly useless-Top zippered pocket isn't fully enclosed