Altego Coated Canvas 16-Inch Messenger Bag, Black (36600)

> decade ago I had this same gear, then also the backpack. Loved it for the color scheme, fabric, etc. and also it had more-or-less sensical pockets/layout. Was surprised to see somebody online still has a few of these on sale, so bought it for nostalgia's sake. Been using it every day since I got it. Now the faux leather (?) is flaking off and the pocket interior where the laptop goes is ripping. So 5 stars for cool factor; minus 2 stars for durability. Can't really be buying new bags so often in the era of "quantitative easing" -- dollars gotta stretch farther than cool. But still. If you're a light user, totally recommend.

I've had this bag for about 2 years and used it daily. It is just now starting to wear out. Considering the heavy use, I'm not really upset by this or anything but just consider this normal wear and tear since I've flung this thing around for a few years with lots of weight in it. As such, I'm going to buy another rather since the price is right, rather than researching another bag. I especially like the padding - high quality.

I am a full time student that works part time at a mechanic shop as well as a few other side jobs. I tote my 15" Macbook Pro everywhere and as such I have gone through about 4 other computer bags/cases since starting school 8 months ago. Nothing held up to the constant abuse. This bag does. It is very sturdy and well made. I have had it for a few months now and do not see ant wear and tear on it whatsoever. The padding in the computer compartment fits my Macbook like a glove and is thick enough that I don't have to worry about damage resulting from the rigorous travels and environments of my various jobs. The inside is roomy enough to carry charge cables, wallet, and a few text books/notebooks. I love the locking latches on the flap which adds stability and security. I also love the seatbelt style strap and the shoulder cushion. It is very comfortable to cary this bag fully loaded over a considerable distance. The look is also great, I love the bright blue accent against the black canvas. The coating also makes it fairly waterproof (enough to stand a 5 min walk in steady rain and not have your stuff be wet) which is an unexpected bonus. I have no complaints about this bag at all. Highly recommend. ****************UPDATE********************* The bag started ripping on one of the seams as noted in some of the other reviews about 2 months after I wrote the first review. I went onto Altego's website and contacted their customer service department via email. I was emailed back less than 10 minute later by a customer service rep who had me email a photo of the rip and the model # of the bag. I did as requested and he said they would ship out a new bag. I got the replacement bag only 2 days later and a follow up email making sure I received the bag. The replacement bag is holding up well and I have had no other problems. Even though the bag ripped, I am keeping the 5 star review because their customer service was outstanding.

The bag itself has a great design and the strap was especially soft and comfortable, but the strap has started to come apart where it connects to the bag itself. Biggest design flaw is that the strap is connected directly to the bag so you cant replace the strap.

It's abesuti bag. But after a regular Use of 4-5 months the beg is breaking apart. I think it beautiful and very easy to use, but it is not build properly, and it's now breaking apart. I would NOT recommened it.

It's a real shame that I have to give this review a 1-star. The bag is well designed, plenty of pockets and seems to protect the laptop. However the real problem with this bag is the construction quality. I've had it for 2 months (3 trips) and the sides where the strapped is attached have started coming apart. It's completely useless to me at this point as at any point the strap will separate from the bag. For this price point I would have expected this bag to last much longer.

Only lasted one semester. Not very durable.

I purchased this bag to go with my new macbook pro 15.4" retina so that I could have a safe way of carrying it around campus without having to buy a bunch of extra protection items (hard cases, sleeves, skins, etc). First off, the quality of the bag is fantastic! I've had this bag for a few weeks now and it's carried everything from computers, groceries, textbooks, alcohol, and more without the slightest wear from it. The laptop section on the back of the bag (the part that is against your body when you wear it) is super soft and the zipper goes across the top and down one side. This is particularly helpful so that you don't scratch your computer on the zipper when you put it in/take it out. On the inside of the laptop pocket there is also a small velcro padded piece across the bottom to provide more padding for when you set your bag down. This is a brilliant idea that I think a lot of manufacturers tend to overlook. It is nice to have padding on the side and all, but when you set your bag down, the bottom of the bag is the part that gets the most impact. My macbook pro hasn't come in yet though (extremely limited supply), so until it does, I've been using my 15.4" toshiba satellite computer. Now this laptop is thicker than the macbook I intend to use this product with, but still, the size is the same. The only thing I'm not a fan of is how snug my laptop fits into the case in back. I have to take out the padding on the bottom and then the zippers are slightly bulging when I zip it up. My laptop won't fit if the padding on the bottom is left in there. I hope this turns out to be different for my macbook when it comes in. As for the front pockets, there is one giant open space that is big enough for about 2 textbooks and 2 spirals with an umbrella and water bottle on the sides. The iPad pocket is awesome because it fits my galaxy tab 10.1. There is a zippered section as well in the main area where you can fit in some loose papers if you have them. The pocket on the outside flap though is what I find extremely handy. I put my wallet, keys, chapstick, usb drives, extra lead for my pencils, and more in there for quick access. Overall, this is a fantastic product. The only reason I'm giving it a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 is because I would like to be able to fit my laptop in it without having to take out the padding on the bottom. Edit: I have now received my macbook pro and the fit is unbelievable. I can put the padding on the bottom and everything fits perfectly. I even put a hard case on my computer and it's still not too tight to make me worry. I can't believe how good of a bag this is!