The Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase is a sleek, well-constructed laptop bag that folds nicely for storage or portability. It’s made up of durable materials and will fit most laptops with size restrictions while also providing plenty of pockets to organize your things. The main feature I liked was the detachable strap which allows you to carry it by hand when needed without worrying about the weight on your shoulder straps. Still, other than this one thing, there are some drawbacks worth considering before pulling out your card at checkout.
Putting a modern spin on historical design may be an excellent way to express one’s vision of what it should be today. It may be as authentic as possible to the original, maintaining the historical appearance while adding contemporary conveniences, such as putting the internet in an old Victorian house. But, on the other hand, it may also be as outlandish as Timbuk2’s take on a stylish briefcase.
Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase | This briefcase isn’t made of leather, but it’s still a briefcase. The Closer Laptop Briefcase ditches the leather and beige style in favor of shades of gray and contemporary conveniences. Consequently, it appears less like something from a 1920s courtroom and more like something from a 2020s IT department. It also boasts a separate laptop area, an adjustable flap, versatile carrying choices, and a well-positioned Napoleon pocket—all of which are valuable features whether you’re working in the office or remotely. This review will discuss how the Closer performs like a laptop briefcase.
Aesthetics & Materials
The Closer provides a solid first impression with its crisp and professional appearance. There are two colors available at the time of writing: Jet Black Static and Typeset. You know the Closer will blend in with a professional environment without drawing unwanted notice with names like those. The Jet Black Static is the one we have, and we believe it’s the most eye-catching of the two. The buckle’s metal receptacles truly pop, giving even more quality to the design, and the contours are enhanced with black trim.
Closer Laptop Briefcase by Timbuk2 | The sharp-looking typography of the emblem contributes to the briefcase’s modern design. The Timbuk2 logo is prominently displayed in the middle, where a lock would generally be included on more standard briefcase designs. The satchel-style buckles surrounding the emblem are in charge of actually fastening the brief. This modern spin on the traditional briefcase appeals to us, and we believe it represents the current characteristics it offers.
Moving on to more practical details, the Closer is made of weather-resistant nylon, with Duraflex hardware for the buckles and YKK zippers throughout. So, in addition to appearing the part of a professional, it also has the qualifications to be one. But it’s not just about the components; it’s also about how they’re utilized.
Components from Outside
Although the Closer is a “Laptop Briefcase,” it isn’t confined to being carried about just by hand. If we ignore the moniker for a moment, the Closer seems like a standard messenger bag or a briefcase. The shoulder strap is attached to the bag with gatekeeper-style clips, which can be readily removed if necessary. We kept the belt on, though, since it was more comfortable and handy.
Except for the shoulder pad falling out of place, carrying the Closer is a rather pleasant experience. When the extra waist strap is worn, it becomes even more comfortable. The Closer doesn’t require this strap since it holds just 10 liters, but it’s still a valuable addition for individuals who move around or ride their bikes around town. It includes a simple quick-release buckle in the center, and when not in use, it may be tightened against the Closer to keep it out of the way.
Of course, because this is a briefcase, as Timbuk2 describes it, we can’t forget the top grab handle. We have a soft-to-the-touch, well-padded handle that doesn’t bend or droop the Closer’s construction. Even though it was not made of solid leather, plastics, or metal, the Closer kept it together and functioned as a traditional briefcase when carried about.
Closer Laptop Briefcase by Timbuk2 | For enhanced comfort, the top handle is cushioned. If you wish to place the Closer on your rolling baggage while passing through the airport, it has a luggage pass-through on the rear. It may also be an additional compartment when not in use as a pass-through. Zip up the bottom of the pass-through to create a floor, and there you have it! You have a quick-access section for your sketchbook or comic book, an essential but helpful feature that we like.
Finally, there’s a compartment on the right side for water bottles or folding umbrellas. The issue with this pocket is that it isn’t as large as we initially assumed. Our 16-oz EcoVessel The ASPEN fit in here, but it was a tight fit, so your mileage may vary depending on how slender your bottle is. Umbrellas that fold up might fit within, but the same restrictions apply.
The Briefcase’s Interior
We’ll start with Closer’s flap since Timbuk2 slipped in a useful function here. Undo the length-adjustable buckles on the flap, and below you’ll discover a broad loop-side velcro that covers almost the whole breadth of the flap. In addition, two grey stripes run the length of the bag, concealing hook-side velcros behind their respective coverings. Yes, the Closer’s flap can be adjusted in height, and unlike buckles, it remains where the velcro is attached.
Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase | The flap may be attached using velcro strips in other rooms. There’s a liner pocket between the hook-side velcro strips for passport-sized goods like a passport or a field notepad. A Napoleon pocket is at the right side edge for daily carry goods that need extra security. It has a long key leash built-in, and the bag is accessible owing to its location; however, it is buried behind the flap. For EDC goods like sunglasses and metro cards, it’s simple and secure.
A huge compartment for more extensive notes or notepads is hidden underneath the passport pocket. We use it for our iPad Pro to have its location apart from the rest of our electronics. If our Apple Pencil becomes detached from the tablet again, we’ll know where to check first.
Inside the sections of the Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase, there is a decent combination of room and order. Our 16-inch MacBook Pro fits comfortably among the rest of our laptops and reference materials in the main compartment, which provides a reasonable amount of depth. There’s space for a laptop cooling pad if you want to travel with one. The light grey inner fabric keeps everything visible, even at the bottom of the bag. However, this may alter if the Closer is securely packed. Two extra liner pockets are located at the rear of the bag for writing supplies and tiny stationery. It may find a zipped security pocket as broad as the main compartment farther back. This is an excellent location for storing sensitive papers, whether legal, medical, or personal.
You may have noticed that we used the main compartment instead of the specialized laptop compartment to store our 16-inch MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, the laptop compartment on the Closer is only certified for 15-inch computers. It’s just over an inch too thin for the 16-inch MacBook Pro in our tests. That’s exceptionally near, but the Closer is regrettably just out of reach. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be fair to deduct points for something the Closer was never promised to be capable of. If you have a 15-inch MacBook Pro, consider that ours gets snagged in the zippered entrance, although it still fits within. The container includes extensive cushioning on all sides, including the corners, to absorb minor bumps and bangs.
Our 16-inch MacBook Pro didn’t fit in the Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase, but the 15-inch model did with some shimmying. Overall, the Closer does a good job executing its functions in attractive packaging. There’s a decent combination of room and organization and thoughtful design decisions like a strategically placed Napoleon pocket and a velcro-adjustable closure. Unfortunately, while it comes so near to fitting our 16-inch MacBook Pro, we hope Timbuk2 will develop a larger version for 16-inch or even 17-inch computers. It’s debatable if this is an accurate depiction of what a briefcase looks like, but the utility is undeniably there.
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