Timbuk2 Power Commute Review: Keep Your Gadgets Juiced On The Go

Timbuk2 Power Commute Review: Keep Your Gadgets Juiced On The Go


Your gadgets just beast through their battery life. That can be a real pain if you’re on a flight, or just generally out and about. But at least in the span of about a day, you don’t have to worry about it thanks to Timbuk2’s Power Commute messenger bag.

What Is It?

A TSA-compliant Timbuk2 over the shoulder bag with a waterproof Joey T1 power source.

Who’s It For?

People who travel a lot, or have a long commute, or have severe anxiety about being able to find a plug during the day.

Design

A black-and-grey bag with hunter green trim that has one big, lined compartment for all your stuff and a separate quilted section for your 15-inch laptop. On the back, it has a sleeve so you could stick it on the handle of a rolling bag, and the strap is removable, in case you want to carry it as a briefcase. Plus it has a bunch of internal and external pockets to organise all the things you tote along, though that makes it a little bulky.

Using It

When the Joey is all juiced up, it gives you about two full charges on an iPhone 5.

The Best Part

Not worrying about running out of power.

Tragic Flaw

Essentially it’s just a good bag that happens to have a charger. There’s no groundbreaking benefit here over another Timbuk2 bag with a different portable charger.

This Is Weird…

The style is a little boring — it only comes in one design, even though Timbuk2 traditionally has loads of customisation options. It really doesn’t look like anything special.

Test Notes

  • Commuted with the bag for a week.
  • Joey takes a few hours to charge from fully depleted to full.
  • It’s a little hard on the shoulders, but that’s more of a personal preference. Generally, I prefer using a backpack because it distributes weight more evenly.
  • The Joey works for about a day of use, if your plugging your phone on and off.

Should You Buy It?

Only if this specific bag looks exactly right for you. It’s basically a run-of-the-mill charger bag, but it’s TSA compliant, meaning you don’t have to remove the charging element when you go through security. If you’re willing to put up the money, it’s a good bag, and it has Timbuk2’s lifetime warranty. But you could just as easily buy any Timbuk2 bag you want, customise it and carry around a portable power pack.

Timbuk2 Power Commute Laptop Messenger Bag

Dimensions: 20 inches (50cm) x 12 inches (32.5cm) x 6 inches (15cm)
Volume: 18 cubic inches (295 cubic centimetres)
Pockets: 15-inch laptop, 1x iPad pocket, miscellaneous compartments
Price: $270 RRP in Australia





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Pictures: Michael Hession


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