Belkin 15-Inch Messenger Bag (Chocolate/Tourmaline) Reviews

• Picky owner's review

  
  By A2BMZRO0H7TFCS on 2008-01-08
  I purchased the Belkin 15" Messenger Bag because I thought it looked nice and because I prefer messenger style bags in general over briefcase or backpack designs. I find the Belkin bag to be a really good value, but I do have some nitpicks.
  
  First, I have a Dell 15.4" laptop with a 9-cell battery. The 9-cell protrudes out from the back of the laptop and adds about an inch to the depth. It does fit in the Belkin case okay. However, because the padded compartment for the laptop rests slightly under the main zipper, I'm paranoid that the zipper teeth will scratch the laptop. I live with it by putting the bottom of the laptop towards the back of the case. I'm able to throw my AC adapter in along with it and it's somewhat of a snug fit.
  
  Inside, there are 2 pen pockets, 2 card pockets, and 2 larger general pockets. There is also one smaller zippered pocket that runs along the top of the case, which looks large enough to put cables in. Oddly, the outside has one large zippered pocket that does not go through the inside of the case at all. The headphone passthrough can only be accessed from the zippered OUTSIDE pocket. This means you can only put your audio player in the outside pocket, which offers less protection for your god-knows-how-expensive music player.
  
  Though the zippers work well and have a nice plastic colored pulls that matches the case, I wish the material was less slippery. A rubber coated one may have made zipping and unzipping a bit easier. Also, I wish that the strap were attached to 360 degree moving hinges and that it were removable.
  
  All in all, it's a decent bag for the money. It's no Tumi bag, but of course the Belkin costs hundreds less.
  
  

• Comfortable option

  
  By AACK16961KXW1 on 2007-11-09
  This bag is the most comfortable that I've had. It fits my 15" HP laptop along with the cord and adaptor, over-ear headphones, portable Seagate external hard drive and case, and kensington laptop cord-lock. I especially like the velvet lined laptop compartment; there is no chance of the surface getting scratched. There is even a zippered compartment in the back to store the shoulder strap when you want to use the handles instead. Additionally, there is a slot in the front in which to access your headphones without removing your mp3 or ipod from the case. An important note: this bag isn't the dark expresso brown as shown in the picture. It's more of a chocolate brown, and the blue is a bit more grey as well.
  
  

• Great bag for Laptop and a few small items.

  
  By AE7JLVPKUU4ON on 2007-11-18
  This is a great bag if all you need to carry is your laptop and few other small items. I am using it for a 15.4" MacBook Pro, a second generation iPod Nano, WD Passport HD, a few cables, USB thumb drive. Also, a few pieces of paper. I'd never be able to add a text book or anything like that. It'd exactly what I was looking for. It's small, light and the strap that goes over your shoulder is very wide. I haven't had to carry this for a long period of time yet, but I am sure it will be nice. I used to have a laptop bag with a smaller strap and after a couple hours of travel (airport etc) my should would hurt. With this bag I don't think that'll be a problem.
  
  I feel it's well built, feels solid. There are a few different pockets, but they are all a little small, so I'm not sure what use they are. The area the laptop rests is lined with a very soft velvet like material. I wish the MP3 player slot was the same, but it's not, it's the same material as the rest of the bag. Also, the main zipper only unzips halfway, so that if you are wearing the bag and you unzip it, the laptop will not fall out. This is a great feature when you are at the airport and you need to remove it etc. It keeps your bag from flapping open and spilling your stuff everywhere. There is a quick access pocket in the back that is perfect for storing paperwork, tickets, confirmation info for your rental car etc. Finally, a nice handle on top, if you want to carry it without using the strap. The strap is not removable...for me, I like that, but for some that may be bothersome.
  
  
  Pros:
  Small, Lightweight
  Fits my MacBook Pro 15.4" Perfectly
  Good Build Quality
  Wide Strap to keep from hurting your shoulder.
  Nice lined laptop area
  Does not unzip 100%, so that your stuff does not fall out.
  
  Cons:
  MP3 player pocket not lined like the laptop pocket.
  (for some) non-removable strap
  
  

• Not for tall or busty people

  
  By AXSJP059WAXKA on 2007-12-08
  I love the look of this bag and it fits my Macbook Pro perfectly. The power cord pouch is extremely helpful, and I love the fact that there is a handle on top of the bag so I can carry around as a briefcase. The only problem I have with the bag is that the shoulder strap is too short for me with it extended all the way. I am 5"7 and I am a little busty and I have found that the strap is very short I tend to like my messenger bags to sit just below by hip. This bag sits at my waist just above my hip and feels a little confining. I had my mother try it on and she is 5"4 and overweight by about 75lbs and this bag was short on her as well but it did come down to to her hip. So, I have been carrying it around by the handle or I don't put it across my chest.
  
  

• Belkin Messenger Bag 15.4-Inch Laptop

  
  By A30XRXJBTY89IA on 2007-11-05
  Bag is very cute and the pink velvet inside computer compartment is very nice. My computer is 15.4" but I would have probably gotten the 17" size if I purchased again. The computer fit was okay. It took up most of the bag and left little to no room for extras like cooling pad, mouse, and electric cords. The bag can only really be carried as a true messenger bag as the strap will not shorten enough for straight over-the-shoulder use.
  
  
• detailed enough?
  By AGSKJ0MSZAXK on 2008-03-07
  My laptop stats: 15.4" HP widescreen Pavilion
  Bag stats: 15" messenger bag, choc/tourmaline
  What I think:
  I was a little unsure about the color scheme after receiving the bag. If you do not like the color brown, I recommend choosing a different color. Thankfully, I do like the color brown, and the brown/blue combination is growing on me.
  My laptop definitely fits nice and secure in the bag. There is a removable 2" wide padded strip on the bottom of the laptop compartment to allow your computer to sit lower in the bag which I have removed. The bag is very nicely padded - more than I expected so I'm pretty happy about that. I had already purchased Belkin's 15" neoprene sleeve, and chose the 15" laptop bag after a reviewer said it fits in the bag - it really doesn't. You can make it fit, but it's an extremely tight squeeze (the side threads look like they might split), and you can't just pull it out - you have to leave the sleeve in there and struggle to remove your laptop. So if you want the extra padding of the sleeve, I would recommend the 17" bag. However, I feel there is adequate padding that the sleeve is not needed.
  Inside is the padded laptop compartment and another side for books/pencils/pens/notecards. I can fit 2 spiral notebooks (120 pages each) and a thin textbook. That's all I was looking for, so it's perfect for me. It also keeps the bag from being bulky. There are 2 outside zippered compartments - 1 where you can hold your mp3 player (with a hole to feed headphones through) and a thin textbook (mine is 9.5" x 7"). The second pocket I find useful to hold my power cords (there is also a small bonus bag included with the bag to hold cords). There is a handle on the bag, and a pocket on the back to hide the strap if you'd like.
  You can carry the bag either across the chest or on one shoulder. I find it more comfortable on just my shoulder, if it had a little more padding I would carry it across my chest. I'm only 5'2", and the bag fits me nicely - if I wear it across my chest, the top hits me on my hip, and if I wear it on one shoulder, the bottom goes to my knees. It feels comfortable at either lenght.
  All in all, I'm very satisfied with Belkin's bag. I was debating on giving the bag 5 stars, but there's just a couple things I wish were detailed in the description. It's just my opinion anyway. I feel the quality is good, and it is comfortable and not bulky. My laptop feels safe and well protected. I would say it's more of a secure squeeze than a tight squeeze, but if you think you would like a little more room for you 15" laptop, or if you wish to use the neoprene sleeve in the bag, I would buy the 17" bag.
  
  
• awesome bag!!
  By APUXDP3THLSD3 on 2007-10-02
  A great bag for a good price! This bag is sturdy, comfortable, fabulous looking, and light weight. I have a Dell Inspiron 1420 and it fits great in the extra padded area. I think a 15in would fit well, too, but my computer doesn't slide around, either. I would definitely recommend this bag to anyone who wants a laptop bag that's both cute and functional, and actually has room for all the extras without being huge.
  
  
• Belkin Messenger Bag for laptop
  By ADUU8ZKDCXNVQ on 2007-10-10
  This is a very functional bag. It's attractive, sturdy, and makes transportation of my laptop very convenient. The colors are quite pleasing. I bought this color scheme because it was a few dollars less than the other colors, presumably because it's the less popular color combination. But it's actually very pretty.
  
  
• Love this Bag!
  By A271TP21CKTQG2 on 2007-11-29
  After much searching, I found this perfect bag for my Dell Inspiron 1420. Just the right size, it is well-padded yet lightweight and compact, with several pockets and a separate pouch for extras -- mouse, charger, headphones -- even has slots for business cards and pens. The exterior pocket for tucking away the shoulder strap is a plus when you want to carry it by the handle. Thank you Belkin for a great product!
  
  
• Love This Bag!
  By A15N9JP95B6UWO on 2007-09-04
  I am very pleased with this bag. Love the color choice, too. Much more "hip" than some other things I have seen out there! Plenty of room inside to hold everything and sling sits nice on shoulder or across chest. The Mouse Trap Pad goes wonderfully with it as well. Very pleased with both products!
  
  
• Absolutely no complaints
  By ALEC6ZXOQ01PT on 2008-03-09
  After I bought my new laptop I looked everywhere for the perfect case and finally came across this one. It is absolutely gorgeous. It is so much nicer than those plain black and grey cases. My 14 inch laptop fits nicely and there is plenty of padding to keep it protected. On the inside there is room for a power cord, extra battery, and a notebook. There are also two pen pockets, two misc. pockets that might fit a small notepad or reading book, two card pockes and a long shallow zippered pocket where I keep my battery when I use the power cord. On the back there is a large velcro compartment to store the shoulder strap when not in use. There are two zippered pockets on the front which are also useful. The top one is very large and has a separate pouch for an mp3 player. The side zippered pocket is great for accessories. The shoulder straps are sewn on very well and I don't expect to ever have a problem with them coming loose. This case has plenty of space to carry everything I need for my laptop with room left over. I love all the storage compartments and they are adequately sized without adding bulk to the bag. I am very impressed with this case and I would very highly reccommend it.
  
  
• Faulty Strap
  By A19VOY25A9X7D6 on 2008-08-22
  I purchased this bag after reading enough favorable reviews. After attending a conference, I discovered that the bag was splitting and fraying along the top edge, close to the top carrying handle. If one were to forego using the shoulder strap and use the top handle, the result could be a dropped and potentially damaged laptop!
  
  I feel that for the money I spent that the quality was definitely lacking. I didn't expect the sky to open up and angels to sing at the perfection of this product, but for over $40, I wanted something to last longer than a weekend.
  
  
• Nice, but not what I was hoping for.
  By A1PRHSCR8LBXU9 on 2008-09-10
  I actually returned this product because it felt and looked a little cheap to me. The colors where nice but I was hoping for something more "plush" and/or feminine.
  
  
• Great Bag!
  By A2KQPRSHKGQM45 on 2007-11-04
  I am very pleased with this product! My laptop fits perfectly snug into the well-padded pocket and it is plush as well so that it won't scratch my laptop. I have a HP Presario V4000 with the 15.4" widescreen and it fits great. I can also carry many other things in the bag as there are many compartments and pockets. The bag looks great as well, much better looking than most other laptop bags. Overall, I am very pleased with this bag and for the price you can't really go wrong with it!
  
  
• Nice bag but a tight fit
  By A326F2HO1FPAPB on 2008-05-04
  The bag is cute and comfortable to wear, but once you put in your laptop there isn't room for much else. I was able to cram in the power cord and a mouse, and maybe a few pens. For a business trip it isn't really suitable, but if you're just packing around your laptop on a daily basis and don't need to carry anything else, it does the job.
  
  
• Great for some, but not for me
  By A1Y9EWPRZ665UI on 2008-05-27
  This product is great, if you don't want to adjust the straps. I needed to adjust them.. and there was no possible way too, so i had to ship it back!
  
  
• Cute and Comfy
  By A2WL49TYT3D10H on 2007-10-10
  I absolutely love my laptop bag and I got ton's of compliments on it while I was traveling for work. I can load it with my laptop, charger, papers and lot's more and still have space for my wallet, keys and accessories.
  
  It is cute without being to girlie and easy to tote when running to catch a plane.
  
  
  
  
• Great Bag from Belkin
  By A18476QJOC0PMN on 2007-11-26
  Recently i purchased the Belkin 15" Laptop bag. It is a very comfortable bag for a laptop. It has a nice cushion padding section from inside and very easy accessable front and back compartment to store your documents while travelling. Only disadvantage i found was the belts are not on the sideways of the bag, they are on the backside of the bag. The broad belts make the bag more comfortable while carrying it. Overall a good bag for carrying a laptop. Looks smart too.
  
  
• Display picture looks "smoother", Good bag though!
  By A1WVSLACG9NCX on 2008-03-18
  I purchased this bag a few days ago. The shipping was very quick with the free super saver shipping. The product was packaged securely. When I opened the packaging, my original impression was "eh". The display picture gives it a smoother look, it almost reminds me of that smooth "velvet feeling" when I look at the display picture. I would have prefered if the texture and look of the outside of the bag was as displayed, but the inside of the bag made up for that. When I opened it, I was surprised with the thick cushion for the actual laptop spot which is on the back side of the case. The inside does have a slight smell, it was made in China, but its nothing bad. For a 15.4" Dell Insprion 1501 Notebook, it comfortably zippered shut but you may want to consider the 17" bag which is nearly the same price, because when you close it the zipper almost hits the computer. All the zippers are nice, with thickness on the metal part to secure your bag with a lock. The ends of the zippers are light blue with a smooth feeling and read BELKIN. Within the bag itself, was a smaller brown bag, with a blue inner lining for the power cord, which I was surprised because this wasn't stated on the description. It has a small "electric plug" symbol on the outside, but im sure that you could put other things such as your mouse in here. Also on the inside of the bag is: two pen slots, two pouches about 6" deep, 2 1" ID card slots, and a 2" deep compartment, which goes along the width of the top of the bag. On the outside, there are two zipper compartments, one containing another pouch. The one with the zipper going horizontally across the bag that can be seen in the display picture, has a slot for earphones to come through. The back fo the case has a Velcro pouch for the shoulder strap, which can be adjusted. The shoulder strap from someone else's view is brown.
  Overall, I think this bag is good for the money and I was happy to find something like this, because I am picky.
  
  
• Well made, but limited capacity
  By A2RFCIFLFYZRKO on 2008-04-07
  I purchased this bag in Dove/Tarragon and have been using it for about two months. I think the bag's construction is excellent and appears that it will stay intact for quite a long time. The stitching is really good and the material is thick enough to last. The shoulder strap is wider than most bags I have and can feel a little binding, though; on the other hand, it does distribute the weight nicely and give you a lot more stability when you're carrying a heavier laptop. My other messenger bags have a greater volume than this one. This bag is only going to hold your laptop, a couple of magazines, your smartphone and your wallet. Depending on the size of your laptop charger, you might be able to fit it in above your laptop, but it'd be a tight squeeze. I can fit my charger, but then it makes my bag bulge, something I personally dislike. As for the color, when I read "dove," I thought of an off-white. This is definitely darker than that--it's somewhere between a tan and a shade of gray. I was hoping for something lighter in color. Overall, this is a really good bag, well-constructed but is a tad small unless you're used to traveling light.
  
  
  
• Light as a feather, could use more shoulder padding.
  By A222KXW0CF2NU9 on 2008-05-16
  As a bigger girl, I was worried about buying a cross body messenger bag, but I'm glad I bought this one. It's light weight, and I loved having it compared to my old Targus bag when I traveled to Toronto in April. My only concern is that there isn't enough padding on the shoulder and it gets very sore on the shoulder after a while. But, I would recommend it to anyone that wants a fashionable laptop bag to carry around!
  
  (PS: I have a macbook, so it's not a really heavy laptop in the first place. I wish I could review it from the POV of someone with one of those horribly bulky PC laptops, but I've never had to carry one.)
  
  
• great messanger bag
  By A3H36FIOXIF956 on 2008-06-02
  I was looking for a case to fit my 15.4 laptop. I love this bag the strap is thick and fits comfortably across me shoulder. the front pocket is the full size and the zipper on teh top is an addtional pocket for my ipod. I dont't like to buy a case if I don't know what the inside looks like. I'm very pleased that they took a picture of the inside of the case. I like the extra pockets and the addtional pouch to hold my power cord. i would say this is a best buy. the only thing I wished that was differnt is that the main zipper opened all the way. since I have a 15.4 laptop it fits snug in the case so taking it out does become trying at times.
  
  
• Excellent Bag
  By A2DSU59YBKQXBZ on 2008-06-12
  Nice bag. Fits my 14 inch laptop quite comfortably. Plenty of space for other stuff as well.
  
  
• Very nice bag for the money
  By A3F8GHNMWC1EOS on 2008-07-12
  I purchased this bag for my daughter's new laptop after searching the net for comparable ones. Some of these messenger type laptop bags cost almost as much as the laptop itself (ok, that is a slight exaggeration) and are quite heavy.
  
  This one is very light, durable and the perfect item for a college senior since it would be appropriate for future. It fits her laptop perfectly.
  
  All in all, a very nice bag.
  
  
• Good Computer Only Bag
  By A2QLQZLDMWE81I on 2008-10-07
  I'm the type of person who tries to carry everything I could possibly need/want around with me. This bag does not really agree with that, but I'm ok with that because it is a good bag. It does relieve me of carrying a purse and a computer bag.
  I've been able to stuff in the following: 14" laptop, A/C adapter, one paper notebook (binders won't fit), one small folder (holds miscellaneous papers), a weekly planner, wallet, pens, touch-up makeup, hand sanitizer, keys, gum, pocket knife, and cell phone. I can't fit much more in with out busting a zipper.
  I've had it a couple of weeks and it has been holding up well. The fabric and strap are hardy and don't seem likely to rip. The chocolate color seems like it will hide dirt and aging well. One of the little things I really like compared to other messenger bags: the small loop that the adjustable part of the strap goes through stays put and doesn't let the material bunch. Just about every messenger bag I've had the material would bunch to the short side of the loop and cause some aggrevation. This one does not.
  Conclusion: I wish it had a little more space, but I would definitely buy it again
  
  
• Muy Buen Case
  By A3D4L78LF98VL1 on 2007-11-13
  Comodo, no muy grande apropiado, y aunque no soy el que lo usa, es muy practico.
  
  
• I LOVE my new laptop case!
  By A1QZD245KPYLK1 on 2007-11-21
  I love it! It's slick looking, cool, different and very functional!
  The only thing is that on the internet it looked off white and when I received the item it actually grayish.
  But I still love it!
  
  
• Decent product
  By A22L5A77939VI4 on 2007-11-24
  I give this bag solid four stars, for both the looks and the quality. Maybe it even deserves five stars, but since it's my first messenger bag, I've nothing to compare it with. For me, the selling point was the original design. But it also has a bunch of pockets (which is very handy for a college student like myself) and two big compartments. The laptop compartment provides enough protection, it has an additional padding on the bottom, as well as on the sides. But like I said, I mostly cared about the looks, and I really like, among other things, that the bag is green inside.
  
  
• Wonderful product!
  By A258J3XCZT3OJE on 2008-01-08
  I bought this for a 15.4 inch widescreen HP notebook and I must say it is a beauty! The comment about the color is correct, but that comes from differing monitor settings since the product clearly states its colors are chocolate/tourmaline (a color close to one I know as "french blue").
  
  It is an incredible bag, my notebook fits in the padded compartment nicely, even when my notebook is encased in the matching Belkin neoprene sleeve. It also holds all the documentation to my notebook, as well as all its cables and the cooling pad I bought for it. Sure, it is a tight fit, but it works perfectly!
  
  The only drawback I find with this product is the lack of padding on the carrying strap, but it is comfortable even without it.
  
  
• A smart rugged bag
  By A13S53F5DNTOPR on 2008-01-16
  I was looking for a bag for my Sony Vaio 14.1" laptop. A bag which gives a little stylish look and a smart sober look at the same time.
  Since my laptop is red so I was attracted to this bag and made the right choice of buying it. Though I didn't see it any of the regular CCity or BBuy (where I saw others) but I'm very satisfied with this one.
  The bag has a nice strap and a smart handle to carry it, which makes it handy for both a college goer and for business.
  The bag has enough space to carry my laptop, chords, mouse and thin folders. Its various model colors match with your laptop colors & style.
  The inner also is rugged enough to protect your laptop from light shocks.
  I would recommend buying a little bigger bag based on your laptop size.
  My Thumbs up for this one !!
  
  

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