With all the heated battles about messenger style bags, this seems like the best place to ask.

I'm buying a Timbuk2 online, and I was wondering if someone can suggest a size. Here's what it needs to haul dailY:

3 full-size textbooks
3 1" binders
6x10x2 tupperware
pair of jeans
t-shirt or sweatshirt
shoes
Kryptonite U-Lock
Nalgene

And when I get to school, I'm trading the jeans and t-shirt for a helmet stuffed in there.

I busted out my tape measure and it looks like large is the way to go, but I wish they had more pics of the bags filled with stuff.

Go with the large. I have a medium I use to commute to school with. I live really close so I don't need a change of clothes. If you're going to try and get books and clothes in there, you'll need the large. My mom got me a reallly nice Mountainsmith shoulderbag kinda thing for school, but its just too big. I went back to the trusy Timbuck2. Its perfect.

Um. Back when I got my TB2 (a little more than 3 years ago I think), the sizes had names. I think mine was the Dee-Dog or something. It's fairly big. I think it was the second to biggest size. However, there's no way that it could comfortably fit all the crap that you're talking about into it at once. It would fit, but wouldn't really be appropriate or practical. Maybe the biggest size would be fine. The ReLoads I've seen definitely could. You need a big bag, sir. Sweatshirt, shoes, and tupperware will take up tons of space. I recommend finding a TB2 dealer (not too hard these days) and bring that stuff with you and check it for real. OR. Find something with known dimensions and volume and test it to see if that stuff fits. Then you can know by comparing. g'luck.

Large will be pretty tight, I'd say go with an extra large so you have soem extra room incase you need to throw a little bit extra in. I also find mess bags are more comfy when not packed to the point of explosion... the feel best from about 20% full to about 75% full. Too much either way, especially full and its not going to be as comfy for everyday commuting.

How about that "Pro Series" with the huge reflective chunk? Is that just gawdy, or does it actually work well as a reflector?

go with a large or extra large, I have a large and I have filled it up basically to 100% and its not to comfortable to carry that way I was also carrying shoe box, a hard case about the 1.5 times larger than a shoe box, a couple of text books, a jacket, a ha,t a lock, a nalgen, a couple of 1" binders and some other assorted crap

I bought the large from eBags.com and received it today. When I first pulled it out of the box, I double-checked the tag to make sure they had sent me a Large and not a Medium. It looks deceivingly small! However, I am able to fit everything in my list into the bag without any trouble. It's a bit snug, but there's still room for a few odds and ends if I pack smart. I'm perfectly content - the storage is perfectly adequate, and it doesn't even look overwhelmingly big.

I loaded it up and took it for a spin tonight - I have had a Chrome Metropolis in the past, and while it was superbly comfortable and very rugged, it didn't allow for the minutiae of adjustment the Timbuk2 permits. I like being able to manage the under-shoulder strap position, and I like being able to carry the bag comfortably at my side.

I'm definitely happy with the bag, and if it lasts till Christmas I'll probably ask for a second one from the girlfriend (bigger or smaller, haven't decided yet).

Now if someone could explain how to tighten the main strap under load with that crazy clamp device, I'd be a happy camper...

Get that grab-handle on the top too, it's an extra $10 but you'll use it.

It's a little late to add a handle for this bag, but maybe the next one will be custom...