Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Timbuk2 XL too big?

I'm looking into getting a mess bag for when I head off to college. I found a good deal on a Timbuk2 classic xl for $50. The price is right, but do you think it will be too big?

I've seen them and they are very big. For school I'd want a M or L depending on how much I intended to carry.

I found a medium for $50 and a large for $65. I feel like the large would be better, but only because the width of the medium is 18.5" and I have a 18" glass tube I think I will be traveling with. Other than that, I'm not really sure what im gonna be carrying.

I found a M for $50 and a L for $65. I feel like the L is better but only because the M is 18.5" wide and I have a feeling I will be carrying my 18" glass tube around. Aside from that, I really have no idea what I'll be carrying.

I'd go for the L. Still plenty of room; the XL honestly looks kind of goofy it's so big.

That bag is a whooping 50l. That's simply huge. There is a very good reason that they are blowing them out for $50, and that is that the bag is just too large to be practical, unless you are 6'6" or larger.

so what, go for the it and then you can always have extra room when you carry things later on you ain't think to. Besides it's on your back so why the fashion worry? I am 5'11" with a 3600cubic inch bag. It's totally practical if you intend on using all of your bag
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/517220187_eff3f12d61.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/474945993_02e1fa4683.jpg?v=0

Gyeswho, that's...a lot of water. All that fit in there? Or did the paper towels go on the front rack?

I found a M for $50 and a L for $65. I feel like the L is better but only because the M is 18.5" wide and I have a feeling I will be carrying my 18" glass tube around. Aside from that, I really have no idea what I'll be carrying.

Gyeswho, that's...a lot of water. All that fit in there? Or did the paper towels go on the front rack?

pics were before I got the rack. those are two separate occasions though. I like water and you get the best deal if you go for the 2.5 gallons compared to the gallons:thumb:

so what, go for the it and then you can always have extra room when you carry things later on you ain't think to. Besides it's on your back so why the fashion worry? I am 5'11" with a 3600cubic inch bag. It's totally practical if you intend on using all of your bag


Who said anything about fashion? The bag is just too large to be practical for daily use. Not everyone needs to carry around massive amounts of water and toilet paper like they are going to stock the bunker every day. Books and what not would shift all over the place in such a massive bag.

Who said anything about fashion? The bag is just too large to be practical for daily use. Not everyone needs to carry around massive amounts of water and toilet paper like they are going to stock the bunker every day. Books and what not would shift all over the place in such a massive bag.

I meant fashion in the way of the bag "looking stupid" big. It's nice having the option to be able to carry a lot even if you don't do it everyday. Since he'll be in college he can use it for grocery runs from time to time and that's where the extra space can be handy.

I meant fashion in the way of the bag "looking stupid" big. It's nice having the option to be able to carry a lot even if you don't do it everyday. Since he'll be in college he can use it for grocery runs from time to time and that's where the extra space can be handy.

You like massive bags, big enough to actually stick people in, that's clear. Not every one needs such a large bag for everyday use, and in fact they are a PITA to haul around. Just because it works for you doesn't mean that it is the solution for everyone.

BTW, what college kid has money to buy so many groceries?

You like massive bags, big enough to actually stick people in, that's clear. Not every one needs such a large bag for everyday use, and in fact they are a PITA to haul around. Just because it works for you doesn't mean that it is the solution for everyone.

BTW, what college kid has money to buy so many groceries?

you gotta point. i try and look at things from how versatile it can be.

I have a feeling I will be carrying my 18" glass tube around.


BTW, what college kid has money to buy so many groceries?

the same college kid who has enough money to do bong hits wherever he goes.

the same college kid who has enough money to do bong hits wherever he goes.

Priorities, priorities......something tells me that the bong toting college kid won't be doing much cooking......

you dont need to carry your bong around, bro. just toke up before you go out; that way, you wont have as high a chance of breaking yr bong, and if you get stopped by the fuzz, having paraphernalia on your person wont help your case.

I'm bringing it if I go to a buddy's apartment. So should I go with medium or large?

I've got a L, my friend carries an XL.. she def. can fit more in it.
all on preference
go to a bike shop or anywhere that sells tumbuk2s and try the different sizes on before you lock into a purchase.

Where can you get the xl's for 50? I realize that is a lot of space but i need to start carrying around 2-3 books, extra clothes for practice, and all of my daily school supplies so I think this might be a good bag.I read that this might be bad for my back carrying all of this weight on only one side but it would mostly be while riding on my bike to and from school that I would need to carry all of my stuff. I was originally gonna get a buzz lightyear backpack but I missed my chance. And carrying items on my bike is not an option unfortunately.

Where can you get the xl's for 50? I realize that is a lot of space but i need to start carrying around 2-3 books, extra clothes for practice, and all of my daily school supplies so I think this might be a good bag.I read that this might be bad for my back carrying all of this weight on only one side but it would mostly be while riding on my bike to and from school that I would need to carry all of my stuff. I was originally gonna get a buzz lightyear backpack but I missed my chance. And carrying items on my bike is not an option unfortunately.

You can fit all of that into a 25l or 30l bag. Go to a camping store and check out just how big 50l is; it's massive.

i was coming from this: http://www.altrec.com/the-north-face/hot-shot-laptop-backpack-25791
i can fit maybe 2 books if i force it. and no clothes. i had to carry a extra bag. i believe that backpack is 30l?

I'm bringing it if I go to a buddy's apartment. So should I go with medium or large?

Go with the Large. By my standards the Small is pretty much a lady-sized purse, the medium is about a good size for just taking notebooks and textbooks around, and the Large is big enough that you can carry about anything you really need to carry in it.

i was coming from this: http://www.altrec.com/the-north-face/hot-shot-laptop-backpack-25791
i can fit maybe 2 books if i force it. and no clothes. i had to carry a extra bag. i believe that backpack is 30l?

Odd. I've got a 25l bag and I can, and have, put four books, a small wedge back, and tool kit with full size hex keys, a wrench, patch kit and pump, jacket and rain pants, mobile, keys, a blinky and other assorted odds and ends in it.

they practically give the XLs away on steepandcheap.com every so often, they're abut 28 dollars or something stupid cause no one wants them

I just ordered a large and found a coupon code, so $60 shipped with free laptop sleeve

I found a M for $50 and a L for $65. I feel like the L is better but only because the M is 18.5" wide and I have a feeling I will be carrying my 18" glass tube around. Aside from that, I really have no idea what I'll be carrying.

Don't trust the measurements provided on the Timbuk2 site, I just looked at those they are inflated in a not too clever way.

The dimensions provided in "external" measurements, but also they mean "flat" dimensions. They must have got caught out for inflated capacity because below you have the actual width of each bag, although no doubt these too are external.

For instance, if you intend to carry your bong around everywhere (just buy a one hitter, ffs) then a medium would only fit by deforming the bag tightly around it as the actual base width is 14" not at all the flat width of 18.75 (external) that deformation will reduce your usable depth to 3.5" or less. Plus you would eventually pull the strap tight and break the bong against the arch of your back as it is compressed by the deformed bag.

the Timbuk XL isn't anywhere even near 50 liters, probably more around 35 liters.

I have got an XL that I use for my grocery runs. Believe it or not I can fit a whole weeks food in the bag + 1 shopping bag in hand, and i eat 3 meals a day home made, 7 days a week. The XL is BIG, maybe too big for day to day use. A medium or large would suit you better if you just need to carry around small things.

I also have a small that I use for going to work and I find that it is just big enough for my lunch, an umbrella, and a book or two, but it is a little undersized for running errands. Get a medium or large if you dont plan on using the bag for carrying massive loads on a regular basis.

You can never have a too large bag if it is comfortable. My Chrome bag is too small to strap a turntable to the outside.

You can never have a too large bag if it is comfortable. My Chrome bag is too small to strap a turntable to the outside.

I like your philosophy!:thumb: