Timbuk2 Tuck Pack (review)

I have an unhealthy obsession with backpacks. While normal people spend their free time shopping for clothes or browsing Reddit, I frequently find myself looking at new backpacks to buy. I tried the whole duffel bag business for a while, but I always find myself going back to a backpack. I’ve come to terms that I’ll forever look like a student due to my baby face and backpack that I always lug around. As an editor for deTeched, I always carry my laptop around so I can write when I have free time. I recently upgraded my daily backpack to the Timbuk2 Tuck Pack.

Design

I won’t lie, I care too much about appearance. That is the first thing I look at when choosing a backpack. You won’t catch me dead with one of those dumb Ogio turtle backpacks that I see tech YouTubers recommend constantly. The Timbuk2 Tuck Pack is a roll-top style backpack that is great for light to moderate loads. Timbuk2 is known for its customizability and the Tuck Pack is no exception. You can customize colors, materials, and even different designs to fit your unique style.

The Tuck Pack I own is mostly black and olive green and constructed of a durable polyester. The design is simple with only a few pockets for organization. The main pocket is rolled and shut with a buckle. The top can be completely unrolled for an additional 6-8 inches of storage. This allows you to store bulkier items such as skateboards, but you will not be able to fully close the backpack.

There is only one main compartment that has a laptop pocket and a small organizational pouch to hole various stationary. The main compartment fits a volume of 20 liters and is basically a giant hole to stuff all your things into. The laptop pocket can hold up to a 15-inch laptop. There is side zippered access are to quickly grab your laptop without having to unroll the main compartment.

The outside of the backpack only has one small zippered pocket to hold small items such as cables and accessories. Two water bottle pockets are located on either side of the backpack. I was only able to fit a slimmer 21 oz Hydro Flask. If your water bottle is significantly bigger than a regular bottle of soda, it’s going to be too big to fit into the water bottle pocket.

Usage

I really love the Tuck Pack. For me, less is more. I don’t like backpacks that have a million specialized pockets for each specific thing. I’d rather have a couple of large pockets to hold all my essentials. I usually carry some shorts, flip flops, 13-inch Dell XPS, notebook, laptop charger, and my camera. This load keeps my backpack from being too bulky.

I don’t think I can ever go back to a regular zippered backpack. The buckle latch to access the main compartment is so much easier and more reliable than a zipper. I don’t know what my luck is with zippers but I commonly find myself getting it stuck in the fabric and yanking it until it comes loose. I have to cut out the frayed fabric, otherwise it will keep getting stuck in the zipper. I’ve never had an issue getting stuck on anything with a buckle latch.

The side access pocket for the laptop is a really great feature as well. You can easily access your laptop without having to take it completely off of your shoulders. This makes airport security really easy when you have to quickly pull out your laptop into a separate bin. I must’ve set a personal record in how fast I got my stuff through security.

The Tuck Pack is also very durable. I’ve had this backpack for about six months and it still looks brand new. The backpack is water-resistant so be careful when you are in a city where it rains a lot. The Tuck Pack is also backed by Timbuk2’s lifetime warranty, where Timbuk2 will replace your backpack due to defects in materials and workmanship. For more information about Timbuk2’s lifetime warranty, click here.

Overall

The Timbuk2 Tuck Pack is a great option for people who carry a moderate amount of stuff and like the unique roll-top look. You can customize colors, materials, and even designs to fit your style. Timbuk2 is known for its high quality products and the Tuck Pack is no different. The Timbuk2 in olive and green can be found on Timbuk2 and Amazon for $59.25. If you’re looking to get a custom Tuck Pack, it’ll run you $99 on Timbuk2. If you need a good looking bag, look no further.