Timbuk2 Harriet Shoulder Bag

I'm always on the lookout for a good sturdy cross-body purse that's not too large. I prefer a canvas type material over a leather since they seem to hold up well and can be washed if my kids spill something on it. Until now, the only real brand I've found with bags that fit what I am looking for, is Sherpani, but I think I found a replacement.In my search I came across this fantastic purse by Timbuk2. I have admired their laptop bags in the past, so I wasn't surprised that I liked the purse options as well. I have the Harriet shoulder bag in the black canvas type fabric with the bright purple front flap. The bright orange accent stitching is beautiful and the purple with white polka dot interior is super cute.Pros: (Things I love)- Good medium size. There's a zipper to expand the main compartment that I don't think I've ever left zipped up. It doesn't really make the bag feel that much smaller and takes away the base and tips over easily. I typically have a wallet, a couple small pouches with cards in them, a small eyeglasses case and my sunglasses stashed in the main section. It all fits nicely with room to spare.- The fabric is high-quality and has held up well. I've had this purse for several months (using it every day) now with no tearing, fraying or other issues. Zipper also works great.- Over the shoulder strap is a great length to wear cross-body. It would probably still be a little long if I adjusted it to wear over only one shoulder.Cons: (Things I wish were a little different)- I wish there was a little more built in organization. The main pocket has a small zippered section in the back. Which is a good size to keep a small compact of makeup. But the main area is a bottomless hole! An open pouch or some pen holders would have made all the difference! There's an open pocket on the back, but it doesn't close, so I never put anything too important in there. The front pocket has a velcro flap (I really wanted it to be magnetic instead, but the velcro works well without sticking too much or getting snagged on other things) There's a key fob dangle in there too.- If there was a side pocket big enough to hold my phone or a small waterbottle, it would be perfection!Overall, this has been a great purse, and just today I was noticing how well it has held up. My other brands would have been long since stained and frayed by now. I plan to get another good year worth of use out of it!

I bought the Timbuk2 Harriet bag as a daily purse thinking that the material would last. I live in San Francisco so the wear and tear of public transportation and weather is expected. It's water resistant enough that I don't have to worry in rain or heavy fog, and it's nice enough that it doesn't dress down an outfit. I love the expansion zipper that allows me to carry more when I need to or travel light on the weekend.Another favourite? My e-reader (Kobo) fits easily and if I unzip the expansion zipper along the bottom I can fit an iPad mini too. I was at a tech conference this week and found that the extra pouch on the back, which I rarely use, will hold a full-sized iPad vertically if you suddenly need your hands free (not long term....) All in all my daily cargo fits perfectly.Growth areas: There aren't built in pockets for your phone in the front on the inside as most bags have. No biggie as I use the front velcro pouch instead. Also a divider in the main area might be nice to have as it would protect valuables from scratches (though I'm careful so nothing's been damaged.)By far the best daily, carry-all bag of its size and price range I saw.

I am very, very picky about my bags, and have a long list of must-haves. I have yet to find the perfect bag--heck, even the ones I've made for myself haven't been up to par. But my quest for the perfect bag, while not quite at an end, is certainly at a long rest stop. The Harriet meets all my basic requirements: single shoulder strap (adjustable, nice bonus), two outside pockets, one of which has a Velcro flap, a zippered main body (an open bag is an invitation to spillage and/or theft, and zippers are easier than buttons, more secure than magnets, and longer lasting than Velcro), not too big (the bigger the bag, the biggest temptation to carry more crap), subtle colors, and a key fob . Those criteria are surprisingly hard to find, so this was basically a must-buy on general principle. This bag looks better than it has a right to, really--I use it for work in a professional office setting and it doesn't look out of place at all. But it also dresses down for weekends nicely.Extra bonuses: It's made in the U.S. with good quality sturdy fabric (no cheap nylon here and the sewing quality look good, too). The interior is a nice bright pink, making it easier to find things. The price is quite reasonable--it's not the cheapest, but this is definitely a "get what you pay for" scenario. The main body expands to hold more stuff if necessary (I can't always resist the temptation to carry crap. . . ). It comes with straps for hooking the bag on your bike, which, if I were a biker, I'm sure I'd love. Timbuk2's company website has some very helpful features, including a function that lets you search by device so you can make sure what you're buying fits your iPad or tablet or laptop, and videos demonstrating each bag, so you get a better idea of the size.The very minor minuses: I wish there was a greater choice of colors, although the color I got (confetti/black) looks better in person than in pictures, and it is a weeeee bit smaller than I'd like. I will probably solve that little problem by buying another, slightly larger Timbuk2 bag.

I had an old version of this bag, ordered a new one because it started to look worn. The new one is missing organizing pockets from both front pocket and inside the zippered compartment, and doesn't hold as much as the old one. Bicycle straps maybe nice if you ride, but it's pretty useless because I don't.

Love this bag. Very cute. Easily goes on bike and removes for purse when you need it. Holds a ton of stuff!

I've bought my fair share of bags, but this one is by far favorite. It's the perfect size when not expanded for daily use, then you can expand it and it store more of the goodies we carry with us. Especially great when hooked to handle bars of my bike. All around fabulous purchase.

very good quality!my mom loves it!