Belkin 17-Inch Messenger Bag (Chocolate/Tourmaline) Reviews

• Beautiful bag with some issues

  
  By A27WLAGNZ7V8XT on 2007-11-21
  I recently bought my first MacBook Pro and went hunting for a good bag that could hold a 17 inch laptop. I was wary of the low price, but now that I have the bag, I am simply thrilled with it.
  
  The design is perfect; simple, elegant and oddly futuristic with its muted colors, soft rounded shapes and contrasting textures. It also comes with a small removable bag for power cords and such, which is a nice touch. The brown is slightly lighter chocolate then pictured, which is an excellent compliment to the pale aqua accents.
  
  The strap is a good four inches wide, thicker then I have seen on most bags and evenly distributes the weight of its contents without digging into my shoulder. And while there is adequate padding inside the bag, I would still suggest picking up the matching laptop sleeve for the added security and protection. The mouse bag, which unzips to form a perfect mouse pad, is also a great item and extremely useful.
  
  There are a few drawbacks. The separating fabric walls of the two inside compartments are thin and a tad flimsy. Also, even a relatively thin computer (a Macbook Pro 17" in my case, which is about as thin as it gets) is a tight fit. When used in conjunction with the matching Belkin sleeve for this bag, it won't fit in the laptop compartment at all. The extra fabric on the sleeve (and there is a good two inches of it with my Macbook) spills out over the top and makes it impossible to close the zipper. I end up having to place my laptop in the front, unpadded compartment, or not use the sleeve at all, both of which are not good options.
  
  Also, once you have the laptop in, there is little room for anything else. I find I can get my Macbook and case, along with the power adapter, a travel surge protector, a Bluetooth mouse, and an Airport Express packed in with some difficulty and more pressure on my laptop then I would like.
  
  

• I really like this bag, except for one thing

  
  By A313UBQJ565UBF on 2007-12-20
  This is a great bag - it is thin and not bulky, there are plenty of pockets, my 17" laptop fits perfectly, and it has room for a few files and the necessary cords and peripherals.
  
  My one frustration with the bag is that the adjustable strap only adjusts a little. I like to have the strap be pretty short so I can carry the bag near my low back while I ride my bike, and I cannot decrease the strap length enough to do that. This also means that when shorter people carry the bag over their shoulder, it hangs really low. This defect makes the bag uncomfortable to carry.
  
  
  
  

• worth every penny

  
  By A1V9O7BLACRHXZ on 2007-09-16
  I shopped around for a really nice notebook bag that would accommodate a 17-inch laptop and was inexpensive. Where I live, I don't have a lot of options for shopping around, so I looked for one online. Out of all the places I looked, every one gave this Belkin Laptop bag excellent reviews, so I ordered it and I was not disappointed.
  
  The area of the bag that houses the laptop is well padded. There is plenty of room in the front pockets to carry a book or two as well as other things you might need at work or school. It comes with a separate pouch for the power cords so they are not lose in the bag.
  
  The only thing that I found wrong with the bag is, I bought the chocolate/tourmaline colored bag. I thought the chocolate color would be a darker brown. It's more of a medium to dark brown. My husband actually like the color, so gave him the bag and ordered the jet/cabernet for myself.
  
  We are very impressed by this Belkin bag and would recommend this product to anyone.
  
  
  

• My 17" laptop fits perfectly in this bag!

  
  By AGWWKL438OIYQ on 2007-12-28
  I bought this bag to fit my new 17" laptop. The price was less at Amazon than where I bought the laptop from. It holds & coushions my laptop perfectly. In addition to the laptop, it can hold a power supply cord, travel surge protector (mini), mouse, extra battery, TV tuner, remote control, a couple game boxes, thin books, and papers. There are plenty of pockets and an included inside bag to protect those items from rubbing up against eachother. My only complaint is that the inside built-in pockets are not deep enough to hold anything. Since these pockets are protected by the backside of the laptop coushion, it would be nice to store Cd-Roms in them. The material of the bag is very strong, as is the strap. If you own a 17" laptop, you already know that it is very heavy. Carrying everything mentioned above in this case is extremely heavy. I find it's best to carry the bag by the handle at the top of the bag (a feature you can't see in the picture). It's a coushioned, but sturdy handle made out of the same material as the bag. When I used the strap (crossed over my chest), I found that it pulled on my neck-which is never a good thing. The case was too heavy for me to use the strap on one arm (maybe I'm a weakling-lol). Again, there's good balance just using the handle. Since the strap is attached, it can be positioned around the bottom of the case for travel. But, it's not perfect, and mostly just ends up dangling. It can be tucked into the outside pocket if you have room for it (I don't). All-in-all, it's a great case. Something worth mentioning: A laptop sleeve wouldn't fit inside this case. ;)
  
  

• Excellent product

  
  By A1CRQ1L4CDKYPC on 2007-11-22
  This fits my Dell 1720 beautifully, with room to spare for my papers and even a textbook. It's lightweight and easy to carry. The included bag keeps my cords neat and ensures nothing scratches the laptop. The inside pockets are great to hold my pens and jumpdrive. I really love this bag.
  
  
• Fits a large laptop
  By A126UM1SG738EM on 2008-02-08
  I bought this Belkin 17-inch messenger bag for my Toshiba Satellite with 17" screen. The laptop fits in this bag perfectly. It is snug enough to hold it still and I haven't had any problems inserting it or taking it out. The bag has a generous amount of foam to cushion my laptop and extra space for folders, papers and some extras. It has an extra little bag with it but if, like me, you want to carry a mouse with you, I suggest you buy the matching mouse trap bag. The strap is very wide and comfortable and I like the chocolate color with the light blue accents. I would definately recommend this bag for a large laptop.
  
  
• Very happy
  By A2BR1FNCLQRVN2 on 2007-09-07
  Belkin has the right idea. Nice, affordable bag with many pockets. Also includes a little zipper pouch for the AC cord or whatever. Get it!!
  
  
• Meh. Not as nice as it seems
  By A2NDBOX657F542 on 2007-10-30
  Pros: Many pockets, plenty of protection
  Cons: NOT AS PICTURED. The red color is much darker, more muted. Also the photos make it appear as if this is the same material as the pockettop cases, but it is just plain, boring canvas. Uber-lame.
  
  
• Perfect laptop bag!
  By A1E2EEHD7VH9MC on 2008-01-07
  I travel a lot, and being a woman means that I carry a lot of stuff with me when I do. This case has enough little pockets and storage space that I can use it as my carry-on. It fits my 17" laptop perfectly; it is snug enough to hold it securely without being difficult to get in and out. The strap is long enough to be worn as a messenger bag or you can shorten it and carry it on one shoulder. The small bag that holds the cord is a nice touch too. I am a fanatic about scratches and putting the cords in the bag keeps then from getting tangled or scratching my computer. The large flat back of the case is one velcro-closure pocket that is large enough to hold legal size paper and file folders to prevent them from getting bent and providing easy access. Overall it is stylish, easy to pack and carry, and multi-taksing. I love it!
  
  
• A Bag to Remember
  By A3K7ZW04H1Q4W3 on 2008-02-18
  I could not be more satisfied with this laptop bag.
  
  Size: Its so roomy... I have a 15 inch laptop, and the 17 inch version of the bag I got can fit not only the laptop, but two large textbooks
  
  Quality: Built to last! Very well put together, no weakspots
  
  Style: I love the colors and the shape and feel of the bag
  
  The one thing I would like to do is modify the strap to be a bit shorter, so it can ride higher up on my waist instead of my upper leg.
  
  
  
  
• Very nice laptop case for my HP DV9500t 17"
  By A1LBB6NJO9WZEZ on 2008-05-26
  The bag is black in color with a red base all around and on the shoulder patch.
  It two outer pouches apart from the main pouch for the laptop, one being zipped up and the other being velcro strip off.
  
  My HP laptop fits relatively snugly inside the inner pouch inside the bag, it has cushions on the base to protect the front of the laptop when place vertically facing down. The main pouch where the laptop actually goes has a nice velvet like texture to it to protect it from scratches or any unintentional transit damage.
  
  It has 4 inner pouches to keep items like adaptors, USB routers and other accessories like a mouse etc and also space to keep a book and some files etc. It also has a slot for keeping business cards, pens etc.
  
  unlike other laptop bags, the base of the shoulder strap is wide and made of strong material. It also has a handle on the outside for a briefcase effect. This is a very useful bag for a 17" laptop and i recommend the same with confidence.
  
  Good case, 5 stars.
  
  
• Exactly what I was looking for
  By A5068EKUKV416 on 2007-09-22
  I've been looking for a 17" laptop case since Jan 2007. I searched everywhere in Dubai for something that is unique and inexpensive but couldn't find anything. This case has all I want, it's very light, well padded, unique color, well organized (sleeves and pockets), and spacious. I don't need to go out with two bags anymore, the case will take my books and papers.
  
  
• Fantastic Bag!
  By APR7K58H6BA53 on 2007-11-29
  This bag is perfect for my 17" Dell Inspiron. It provides seperate compartments for the laptop cord, papers, pens, etc. Plus, the chocolate/blue colors get compliments everywhere I bring it!
  
  
• love this bag!
  By A2HSQCVY73MJU7 on 2008-02-18
  This bag exceeded my expectations. It is stylish, comfortable, light, and fits my Toshiba 17" snugly. There are a lot of compartments and the interior is very plush and soft. Mine is brown/blue. Cool bag at a great price!
  
  
• Not thrilled...
  By A19PWFE0WUFZJ7 on 2008-02-24
  I was not thrilled with this bag. There is only room for a laptop and nothing else. It's hard to close the bag with a charger or anything in the bag along with the computer.
  
  
• Not for Dell 17'
  By A24N3Y918NGZME on 2008-07-26
  I bought this for my Dell Insprion 1720 which is a 17" widescreen, but this case to just too tight.
  
  
• Pleasantly surprised
  By A1RTJAP4GBO34I on 2007-12-26
  Quality, light, slim bag.
  Exterior: I ordered the merlot which is burgundy, not red as shown in picture. The underside of the attached shoulder strap is burgundy and the top is black; the strap is invisible when tucked away in its own exterior pocket and the strong hand strap can be used. There are 2 zippered pockets - one of which is large enough for a letter sized folder.
  Interior: The inside of the bag has a well padded pocket which accommodates my HP9600 perfectly as well as another large pocket for papers and 2 side pockets for peripherals. There is also a small removable case that I use for my power pack.
  This is a well designed quality light weight bag!
  The delivery was speedy - a very easy transaction.
  
  
  
• Great Bag!
  By A2U6DYNIBI5VU7 on 2008-01-18
  I bought this bag for my daughter and she loves it. At first she thought it might be too big, but upon further usage she says it's perfect. She uses the handle and carries it like a briefcase.
  
  
• Perfectly fits a 17" MacBookPro! Highly recommended!
  By A3N4R1NYDIQTOL on 2008-02-13
  I have been searching for the perfect messenger bag for my 17" MBP, and finally, success!
  
  I have a neoprene case, which is great, but only for storage and/or if I am not carrying other items. As a graduate student, this is never the case!
  
  I purchased this with reluctance as I heard it was a snug fit for a 17" laptop, but it is actually quite roomy for my slender 17" MBP. Additionally, the case has a slim profile, which is great, because I have a tote bag that I generally shove binders, texts, pens, paper and my cellular phone in, so I am able to throw this over my shoulder and use my tote to carry my class materials.
  
  The great thing about this bag is that if I wanted to take just a couple things to a favored study locale, I could likely fit them in this bag with my laptop. There is an accessory pouch, which I suppose could fit a small mouse, or jump drive, but I'll probably stuff pens and maybe a screen wipe in it.
  
  There are several little pockets (business cards, pens, and a smaller etc. pouch, as well as the front area that zippers open for space (as you can see in the photo).
  
  Finally, it is aesthetically pleasing! It is quite cute. I have seen it in other colors, but I figure the black will get less dirty than the white/green, and I don't care for brown (personal preference).
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  
• I like it a lot
  By A2P41Y76YST4QC on 2008-02-18
  This bag's interior is very soft and it has a lot of compartments. My laptop is one of the longest - 17" or so with numeric keypad, and it fits great. It's nice and feminine without being frilly.
  
  
• ok
  By AR0J33LO07OFM on 2008-03-12
  The strap doesn't shorten enough. I sent it back. If you don't care about that, it was a very nice looking bag that I would have kept.
  
  
• Excellent bag at a great price!!
  By A1M5NV3TBY3B2C on 2008-05-23
  I absolutely love my new laptop bag!! I have an HP Pavilion Entertainment PC 17' and it fits perfectly. I love the chocolate color too! THANK YOU!! Oh! Also I did standard shipping and recieved my bag a day earlier then expected... again, THANK YOU!!
  
  
• Wonderful Bag
  By A2RWHAI96E6GJ8 on 2008-06-20
  I had a hard time finding a good fitting bag for my Inspiron 1720. This is PERFECT. The laptop fits snuggly yet there is room for my files and little odds and ends. Love the little bag that comes with...fits the charger and cords nicely. Lots of little pockets I didn't expect. Plenty of room for my wireless mouse. Like the place for my Ipod.
  
  I don't like the big messenger strap but you don't have to use it.
  
  
• A decent 17 inch notebook bag
  By AQFNV220XMOJX on 2008-07-04
  This Belkin 17 inch messenger notebook bag is well made and is capable of accomodating an extra large 17" notebook computer, like mine. I have a monster size 17" notebook computer, an ASUS G2K 17" notebook that measures 16.2" x 12.5" x 1.9", most 17" bags and sleeves will NOT fit these dimensions. I am very pleased that this Belkin bag does the trick, and it is capable of fitting my notebook, even with the removable interior bottom cushion kept in place. Also, there is enough room to shove a second smaller notebook, say a 15" or a tablet PC if one wants to in the other internal sleeve. The padding is fairly decent, although I would not want to drop test this on a hard floor. I would say the padding can protect the laptop fairly well from minor banging and bumps, but this bag will not protect your computer from anything excessively stupid. This bag has a good 3 inch shoulder strap, one draw back is that it can only be adjusted for length slightly, that issue does not bother me. Also, there is a nicely padded 1.5" handle, so this can be carried like a briefcase without gouging your hand. For the price, this is a very good value, with plenty of side pockets, pouches and hidden tuck aways. This is an excellent product and if you want anything that's even slightly better, be prepared to spend a lot more money.
  
  
• Great Bag, Awesome Style
  By A70PLSRYTPEOW on 2007-12-21
  Originally wasn't sold on the color scheme, but once it arrived i was sold. Very solid bag, nice low profile styling, but still good amount of space. Functional and Stylish. Recommend it for all 17 inch users. A must have.
  
  
• Great bag!
  By A37M7E7KUIW4S7 on 2007-12-29
  This bag fits my Dell Inspiron 1720 perfectly! It was hard to find a bag that was big enough and still stylish. The colors are great, and there are lots of handy pockets. Only complaint is that there's not a ton of room for other items if your computer is large.
  
  
• Not perfect, but nice
  By A1T9O1U0TC3EVD on 2008-02-08
  It is a very practical bag. Large laptop fits easily, plus there is enough room for charger, mouse, wires etc. End after that, there is more room left for a couple of folders and a book or two. Since I am dragging around a large laptop that is pretty heavy it was important for me to find a lightweight bag. This one is very light. I just wish it looked a little bit more elegant. I think it is perfect for a young man, but women at any age would find it a bit masculine. However, I couldn't find any bags that would look more feminine and fit 17" laptop. Plus, it is very inexpensive for a good quality bag.
  
  
• Pretty Good Laptop Bag, Maybe not for School
  By A1WWE4PM68FDFT on 2008-02-24
  After going through and returning three other recommended laptop bags, I bought this Belkin based both on its looks and its features. And after receiving it, I'm quite satisfied with it. The laptop section is more than big enough for my Macbook Pro, it provides enough pockets for my school supplies, and the extra pouch included is perfect for storing my mouse, power adapter, other cables, etc.
  
  The only two things that I have second guessed myself on are the colors of the bag and whether I should have ordered the sling-style bag. The blue is a little powdery for my tastes and might be slightly less feminine with a darker brown. The jet/cabernet variation is much more masculine. And while the messenger bag style is fine, I tried on my friend's sling bag (the exact same color and brand as this one) and it was more comfortable on my bad back. Maybe I can get them to trade...
  
  
• Awesome!
  By A2ZINQJNQPR8SC on 2008-05-30
  This laptop case is perfect! The strap is very wide so its so comfy on my shoulder. The part where you put the laptop is even fuzzy! It's great. It feels very durable too. I have a 15 1/2 inch laptop, but i ordered the 17 inch case because my laptop has a battery that sticks out about 3 inches from the bottom of the laptop. (It's a gateway) It fits perfectly! I also got the 17 inch bag because it was cheaper than the 15 inch one.. I have no idea why.. Overall I am extremely satisfied!
  
  
• Fine, rugged design, but flawed
  By A1WWZ06YEX7JCZ on 2008-06-18
  I'll point out first that I suffer no fear for my laptop's safety when it's inside this bag. It fits snugly in its thick cocoon of padding. The bag looks sharp, and I'm mostly pleased.
  
  My major gripe is that the strap is way too long. This thing hangs down almost to my knees at its shortest adjustment. Also, I was surprised that the color that appears to be a sky blue in the picture (what they're calling "tourmaline") edges more closely to aqua in reality. You've been warned.
  
  

• Belkin Neoprene Notebook Sleeve for 17-Inch Laptop (F8N049-BR)
• Belkin F5L008-BRN Mouse Trap Mouse Pad
• Belkin F8N044-BRN CushTop Notebook Stand - Chocolate w/ Blue
• Belkin 15-Inch Messenger Bag (Chocolate/Tourmaline)
• HP Pavilion DV9720US 17.0" Entertainment Laptop (AMD Athlon 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-60 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)