Review on Enhanced Performance: TIMBUK2 Especial Stash Weatherproof Messenger Bag Unveiled by Robert Oner

I used this bag for about 2 months and I really wanted to like it but in the end I couldn't. Pros: + Excellent quality bag: quality and material at the level of the notch. Works great when wet. The look of the bag is wonderful, it has a very urban tech look. Bold but discreet and slim enough not to draw too much attention.+ Front horizontal compartment: A nice little compartment that I use a lot. Ideal when you want quick access to something. Neutral: +/- Magnetic Buckles: Great to use, but I feel insecure as I've had occasions where I've set down a bag and seen the bucket clasps come loose. /- Bottle/umbrella holder - fine but small. Tbh I am very uncomfortable with the security pockets to keep the water bottle in place. I think it's still a good addition, but I'd rather put the bottle in my bag. Cons: Terrible strap design: very complicated buckle system. The user has to go through a small learning curve to learn how to use it. The end result is still quite disappointing as the process is still quite cumbersome to find the right fit. The 2 front pockets are pretty useless: hardly anything useful fits in the front pockets, even if the bag is only moderately packed. Good for storing things like masks, pens etc I think but these pockets would be better designed to be in the pocket. - Uncomfortable: With moderate packing, the weight distribution combined with the terrible harness system makes for an uncomfortable experience. Due to the design of the bag, the user must carry it high and close to the body. The fully free side shoulder / relaxed position of the bag on the back feels very uncomfortable as the padded strap is not adjustable. - Disappointing storage capacity: timbuk2's website states that the bag has a volume of 17L for a medium size. It pales in comparison to my other bag, the Arc'teryx Granville 16 Courier, as I can comfortably fit a lot more into this 16 liter bag than this one. In the end I really wanted to like this bag. It has some great and unique features that I loved but ended up using this bag in my daily life sometimes was a bit annoying. The horrible strap design and the way the bag makes you want to wear it one way defeats the purpose of a shoulder bag imo - you want these types of bags to be versatile so they have that strap. Functionality for them, but this bag doesn't offer that. Overall I would say the bag is a good example of design over functionality.