1) The small pocket is hard to put your hand inside to retrieve anything you put in it. Plus there is no Velcro or anything to keep it inside.
2) The handle is so stiff that you cannot easily pull it out to grab it. I want to grab my bag and go... struggle with it.
3) The bag should mount the straps so the bag is vertical... but no.. it is on the horizontal side... making it flop on your back at an odd angle.
4) Since i carry the bag over my right shoulder... the zipper and pockets are all upside down.
The back IS solid and seems that it will protect it well. I like a minimalist bag and this fits the bill... but the short comings are just not worth it.
I ended up spending a little more for the : ThinkTank Artificial Intelligence 15 bag. It is vertical... a zipper that opens for the side compartment with slots to hold smaller items... all while being the same size relative ti this bag.
I've enjoyed using this bag so far. The Small size protects my MacBook Air 13" pretty well, and the shoulder bag hooks and bag handle are conveniently placed. Overall construction seems good the nylon feels strong, and the zipper isn't flimsy at all. The color isn't quite a match to what's pictured more of a dark charcoal gray than black, and more of a forest green then neon green.
The only half-complaint I have about the bag stems from its ultra-compact nature. I fit my MBA 13", the power adapter, a cleaning cloth, earbuds, iPhone charging cable, about a normal magazine's worth of paper, 2 or 3 pens/pencils, and not much else into this bag. It's space constrained enough that you have to actively plan on what you're bringing and in what order you're going to place items into the bag. It's a good minimalist exercise, but it can be stressful for some.
Overall, it's protective, good looking, lightweight, and well made. I would definitely recommend this to minimalist MBA 13" users.
Buy STM Bags Jacket Large Now
I bought the 13" bag in black/green for my 12.1" ASUS UL20A laptop. My intention was to use it as a compact bag for just my laptop if I was only going to the library or café for a few hours and didn't need to be plugged into an outlet, or to convert it into a sleeve to stash in my backpack for longer study sessions or for traveling.
I've been using a neoprene sleeve for the past few years, so this case represents an upgrade in both quality and padding. However, the removable straps are held onto the bag with plastic parts, which is a bit cheap-looking. I swung the bag with my laptop pretty hard several times, though, and didn't have a problem with the straps giving way, as another reviewer did. The inside lining is only okay, but I just finished looking at an Incase bag that had really soft faux fur, so I might be comparing the two subconsciously. I'm comfortable with the lining for my ASUS laptop, but might be a bit more paranoid with my MacBook.
There is a bit of extra space around the edges of my laptop. It doesn't bother me, as it allows me to keep my flash drives plugged in when I put my laptop away.
Depth-wise, it is a fairly tight fit. Still, I can also cram in an mp3 player, earbuds, SD card, flash drive, screen wipe, and a USB hub (or a set of mini USB cable adapters) all organized on a 7"x5" Grid-It (see uploaded photo), and the laptop adapter. Of course, it no longer looks sleek that way, but in a pinch, it will do. The Grid-It will fit in both the middle zippered pocket and the back pocket, but as it snags in the former and the latter is unsecured, I store it and the laptop adapter in the main compartment. I think the Monster MP OTG400 BK Outlets To Go 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip also fits into the main compartment, but I forget.
I currently use the smallest pocket to store Starbucks gift cards, as I don't like carrying them in my wallet, and tend to forget them when I head out to study. Although they haven't fallen out yet, I may put some Velcro at the opening for extra security. I haven't had any trouble retrieving the cards, even though the pocket is deep for them (it's meant to accommodate a smart phone).
The colors are darker in real life than on my computer screen. They don't look bad, just more muted.
Overall, I do like this sleeve / bag. However, it accommodates less than I thought it would comfortably do so, given the extra pockets. My laptop isn't the thinnest one out there, especially with the MacBook Air and Ultrabooks coming out, but I don't think it's the thickest, either, and my laptop adapter is pretty compact as well. Along with the plastic parts, I'd give this sleeve / bag 4 stars.
Read Best Reviews of STM Bags Jacket Large Here
I bought this after I carried my Ipad to the doctor's office and it started raining and I had no umbrella. I had to hold my Ipad close as I leaned over it to protect it from the rain. Anyone seeing me probably thought I was bent over with pain.
This is a nice bag and easily fits the Ipad 2 with the Apple magnetic cover in place. Looks well made. I bought the chocolate/orange one which does not look too girly. Perfect for me.
Want STM Bags Jacket Large Discount?
This bag is minimalist perfection, and I find it perfect for commuting to and from work. It even has a few exterior pockets, one can fit a small notebook and the other is sized for an iphone. The strap, hardware, and material are durable. I think this bag will stick around.
This is a great backpack! Perfect first backpack for my toddler, and will last a few more years. Durable, useful and fun. Also good for helping to learn to zip zippers.
