Targus Drifter II Laptop Backpack, Black/Gray – Backpack for Men for Business and Travel, Durable Water-Resistant Material, Fits up to 17" Laptops (TSB239US)

If you are looking for a backpack that offers utility and ample storage, while also being sturdy and well-made, this is it. I was initially looking at a sleek all-black Swissgear backpack, but upon reading its reviews found that the craftmanship was lacking. This backpack definitely outranks most of the sleeker designs you are finding right now, I assure you. Perhaps it doesn't exactly fit the aesthetic you are going for, but if you are someone like me who values quality and longevity, this is the correct choice. Aesthetics be d*mned, I just want something that is going to LAST. So far, this is living up to that expectation.

Excellent pack that protects laptops and can carry a surprisingly large amount of stuff easily. I often carry two laptops in this bag - a smaller one in the padded pouch, and a larger one towards the back pad. I've yet to damage either device while using this bag. The number of pockets and features is really impressive, and makes organizing for day trips or outdoor events easy. The heavy-duty upper lift strap is super helpful too. I'm really happy for the quality for the price I paid.

After 17 years of daily use, mostly in a marine environment, it was time to replace my trusty Targus Drifter II laptop backpack. I couldn’t be happier to find an exact replacement here on Amazon. Sturdy would be an understatement in describing this backpack. It has so many pockets, you will probably forget a few of them. Thick padding on the back and shoulder straps make it extremely comfortable. The computer pocket is nicely padded and is a full pocket, not just a padded divider like in most packs. The padded hidden pocket at the small of the back is perfect for your most valued items. I doubt a thief could access it while worn. A plush lined pocket at the top of the back is great for delicate items. I keep a hard drive, flash drives, and card readers in mine. The reinforced carry handle is bullet proof. I’ve had handles tear off in days on other backpacks. This one is vinyl covered aircraft cable and never failed. I hope to retire in less than 17 years and not need another laptop bag or I would buy another one for backup. I highly recommend this pack and that you get one before they are gone. From their website, I don’t believe Targus makes the Drifter II anymore. This maybe the last backpack you need. I know it will be mine

Nice quality. Like the space. This is an upgrade from a 15' laptop bag from the brand it looks just like. The zippers work well and are big. Pleanty of space for books, food, an extra pair of underwear and socks or your jacket. Cool hidden pocket (I'll let you figure out were it is) allows for storage of money and the odd person defense item you may or may not wish to carry. I carry mace in mine. Would have given it a 5 star but the material is just a tad bit thinner than I would have preferred. My previous bag felt like it was built like a tank. This has the feel of more a nice armored vehicle. I'm sure it can take a beating and last a good long time. I got 7 years out of my other bag before I finally gave in and bought its replacement. I would think this can handle the same. The bottom protection panel is also adequate, but I would have like a beefier bottom material if at all possible. One thing that this could benefit from would be a stow away rain fly that could cover the whole pack. If your going to carry your life around you want it to be dry right? The only other modification I would have liked and will make eventually is a chest strap to buckle the two shoulder straps together. If anything changes I'll let you know. For the price point I am very happy thus far. Been using this for several months now and truly do like it. On a scale of 1-100 I'd give it a 90. Beefier material would have given it a 100. A rainfly would have earned it serious extra points. I'd buy this again and recommend it to others for sure!

This is a great backpack for its longevity, quality build, size, and design. -Build/Longevity: I have owned this backpack for three years. In those three years I have used this backpack everyday to go to and from school (five days a week with a laptop and books in it), for hiking, and for travel. I travel a lot and use budget airlines, which means carry-on and no checked luggage (to save money). This thing has survived the clothes, toiletries, books, electronics, and the rigors of air travel (being stuffed under seats, in the overhead, in trunks, out in the woods, etc.). -Size/Design: I own a 17.3 inch laptop (Vaio VPCF2290x) and it fits with room to spare. The pockets are great for storing many different types of things: books, clothes, groceries, tools, etc. -Quality: I have put this backpack through its paces and it has never let me down. Heavy loads, outdoors (hiking, beach, etc.), planes, and so on. This thing laughs at 5 liters of liquid (I had to carry groceries in this). -Comfort: the pads on the back are a nice touch and the straps don't dig into your shoulders even when fully loaded. -Self-Repair: After three years you would expect things to experience some wear and tear. There are only three parts of this backpack that have experienced significant wear and tear and it was negligible on it doing its job. I have included pictures: the plastic part of the handle broke in two; part of the seam came undone on one of the straps; It came apart where two parts are joined on one of the straps. It was an easy repair job: needle and thread. Overall this is a very durable backpack and I would highly recommend it.

This bag is huge and can hold a lot! The zippers are good, the pockets are large and there are a lot of them. I have another one just like it that I’ve had for several years and the only negative is that you can pack so much in it, it can get heavy. I’ve flown with it and packed my work computer in it. Works great everywhere.

Almost 3 years ago I bought this backpack for my everyday college use, demanding that it stow a 17" laptop, change of clothes, umbrella, textbooks, water bottle, and other everyday items, along with being able to convert into a spacious carry on for flights and be cheap (I was on a college freshman's work budget after all lol). I can tell you its well worth the money! Three years of abuse from several cross country flights, day hiking trips, countless road trips, numerous rain storms I've gotten caught in while in the middle of campus, and just overall wear and tear from someone who uses items and tends to demand they withstand quite a bit of abuse. Almost 3 years later and the abuse shows: 1) one of the shoulder straps has had a piece come loose but its purely cosmetic, the integrity of the strap is still there 2) somewhere along the way I lost the outermost pockets zipper pull, I remember it just pulling free one day admittedly though after over a year of wear and tear 3) I'm a college senior....I've carried up to four textbooks comfortably all day across campus with this backpack plus my 17" laptop....it was heavy but the padding on the straps kept it comfortable for me every time. I bring up textbooks and campus because I've been caught in plenty of rainstorms there, between slight drizzles to downpours...and I can tell you that my laptop and books survived each time without getting wet even when the bag itself was completely soaked and had water pooling on top of it. Those storms and hours spent exposed to the sun and heat, either on my back or in my car have caused the bag to fade significantly though, so if that matters to you know that it will happen. 4) The mesh side pockets have tears where they have gotten caught on snags under airplane seats and door jams of classrooms. This is a great product that is in my opinion very well made for its middle of the road price point (in a time where goods are either affordable and cheaply made or costly and well made). If you buy it, you wont have to worry about treating it with kid gloves like some other bags. I definitely have gotten my investment back and in 3 more years (or longer) when this bag eventually breaks, if they still sell them I'll be buying an exact copy to replace my ol' faithful one :)

I live out of my backpack, I ride a street bike so a good bag is a must. So where I go, it goes along with about 30lbs of gear from a 17" laptop to fingernail clippers. So, having a good quality bag is very important to me. The thing is, bags that can take a 17" machine are hard to find so I ended up ordering this one on line taking a risk that I would like it and the quality. When it showed I was extremely pleased in every regard. Where to start; Like the headline says this bag is made to last and designed by people who know what bag dwellers like myself never knew we needed. The handle is actually a metal cable imbedded in silicone, backed with a nylon strap with a large comfortable soft handle that is anchored to the bag with large rivets into a double layered section of the bag body. Impressed? You should be. I'm an engineer and that amount of design consideration just going into the handle was the first thing I noticed when I cracked open the box and it put a big grin on my face. The bottom is cushioned, reinforced, and made of a heavy rubber material providing ample shock protection, wear resistance, and protection from setting the bag on something wet or something getting spilled. Plus it will clean up easier that nylon mesh. There are two main compartments that are each divided in two, and the laptop sleeve is cushioned full around and has a second layer of cushion for the base, and there are mesh pockets in both. Then there is another large pouch, good for a large tablet or the like. The small pouch is loaded with compartments and pockets and slots for all manner of smalls. With a cushioned cell phone pocket on the outside. There is a large eyeglass pocket up top that is lined with soft material, no case needed. And there is another compartment built into the lumbar padding like a money belt. Finally, zippered large side pockets with mesh pockets outside of them. Zippers are stout with large... grabbers, what do you call those... and the ends of the zipper tracks are stitched in with double layered fabric to strengthen that weak spot. Straps are wide, padded well and comfortable with D-rings for carabineers. My sole complaint about the bag is that the thumb loops on the pull straps are sewn straight across the strap making it near impossible to get your thumbs in with gloves on. The padding on the back plain is ample and comfortable. So there you have it pack hounds, according to this guy, this bag is awesome, and Targus is my new brand.