I was a bit disappointed by the space management of this rather large backpack (20" x 15" x 7"). The non-Laptop compartment does not accommodate more than a 1" binder which seems like a huge waste of space. I am also not sure if this rather bulky and rigid backpack actually fits under airplane seat in front of you but I doubt it.
On the positive side it does have several compartments that help keep smaller stuff organised. The nicely padded and S-shaped straps make carrying comfortable, though I felt they squeezed my neck a little. The backpack looks very durable and the general butterfly system helps you to go through airport security quickly without having to unpack your laptop.
I eventually bought the Case Logic 16-Inch Security-Friendly Laptop Backpack (CLBS-116) (see my review there) which I felt was superior in terms of space management, functionality and wearing comfort.
I have been happily carrying a Brenthaven backpack daily for 7 years, and it was time to replace it. I looked at what was available in the local Apple Store and a few other places, but nothing compared to what I had. So I went online to their website and then Amazon to see what Brenthaven had out now.
My choice was easy the BF-XF Prostyle is a newer model with a few more pockets, compartments and zippers. It has a separate zippered opening to access only the 17" laptop, which was ideal for my needs. As usual with Amazon, ordering was easy and it was here in a couple of days. When it arrived, I could see the upgrades over my older one and how studier materials made up the composition of the bag. It was almost as if the features I wished in the older one suddenly came to be.
The only knock I have about it is the appearance is different than the photos pictured on Amazon and on the Brenthaven website. This has bright, silver zipper-sliders that really pop out against the black. It changes it from looking like what a professional carries to a regular kid's backpack. My goal is to keep it as incognito as possible, and that is lost with this purchase. Since I had already given my other one away, I needed to keep this and begin using it upon delivery.
Other than that detail, which may mean nothing to most people, it is a great buy, with excellent features and a solid construction.
Buy Brenthaven 2095 ProStyle BP-XF for Notebooks up to 17.0 Inches (Black) Now
Although it's quite possible that you'll find the aesthetic considerations of the Brenthaven 2095 ProStyle backpack to be less than worthy for accessorizing on the runways of couture fashion shows in Paris or Milan next Spring, it's absolutely great for traversing the runways of an airport right now.
My new bag is a replacement for its Brenthaven predecessor, which had logged hundreds of thousands of miles and countless trips as a durable, trustworthy companion; keeping order in at least one aspect of my life while protecting my 17" MacBook Pro from the rigors of travel and the all-too-familiar "limited overhead space" that comes with it.
Solid construction, ergonomic considerations to make the "one shoulder only" technique very comfortable, and enough compartments to keep the power bars and the power cords each conveniently tucked away for easy access.
The Brenthaven folks have figured out how to make bags that can take a beating... and the 2095 has a subtly sporty stripe added to the exterior pocket what was an all-black ballistic nylon design. Not exactly high fashion, but unassuming and highly functional. Just the way I like it.
Read Best Reviews of Brenthaven 2095 ProStyle BP-XF for Notebooks up to 17.0 Inches (Black) Here
This bag is excellent, as expected from Brenthaven's ProStyle line. Easily the best laptop backpack with a more business-like style and appearance. The bag isn't as large as the old Pro 15-17, which is the bag I would have purchased if it was still available anywhere. (Trust me, I searched and searched!) This bag is "TSA-friendly" which means I won't have to remove my laptop to run it through the X-Ray machine at the airport. This really isn't a big deal to me personally....I'd give up that feature for more capacity in a heartbeat. Here's hoping that Brenthaven brings back the Pro 15-17, which has a cult-like following. I'd buy it tomorrow if it were available, even though I just bought this one last week!
--Update 2013-04-09
Still using this backpack daily, after almost 3 years, and it has held up extremely well. No tears, broken or snagged zippers, frays, rips, etc. Still love it.
Want Brenthaven 2095 ProStyle BP-XF for Notebooks up to 17.0 Inches (Black) Discount?
The first thing that caught my eye after pulling it out of the box is the overall quality of the materials and craftsmanship. This backpack is easily on par with high-end luggage like Tumi, but at a fraction of the cost! The most impressive aspect of the backpack is the laptop compartment, which has substantial padding/protection on every side. I am confident that my laptop can withstand just about any drop or impact, while snuggly protected in this bag.
While not a significant downside for me, I do agree with other reviewers that there is not an abundance of storage space in this bag. For the middle compartment, the one-inch binder rule of thumb that another review mentioned is about right. However, due to the extra height/length of the backpack, there would be sufficient room on top of that binder to easily fit a Kindle or iPad mini, along with a paperback book sized item.
There are three compartments on the front of the backpack. The top one is 9"x6", which is perfect for small items like keys, wallet, MP3 player, etc. The main outer compartment on the front is extremely well organized and laid-out, with a dedicated padded pocket for my BlackBerry. There are other slots for business cards, pens, etc. The bottom compartment on the front is advertised as a AC adapter pocket -which is just about all that will fit in there, other than a couple of USB cables I tucked away in there.
For me, the space is just perfect, as I am not one who is looking to carry around a lot of "stuff" or use my laptop bag as an overnighter case. However, if you fall into either category, you may want to consider another bag.
Finally, this backpack is extremely comfortable! The back is nicely padded, with adequate space between the pads to allow for ventilation. The straps are wide, which prevents them from digging into my shoulders. They also contain a firm foam core that is a cut above every other bag I've owned.
All in all, this is as close to the perfect laptop backpack as I have ever owned! Given the high quality and lifetime guarantee (almost forgot to mention that!), I expect to get many years of service from it!
It's a decent bag, and about the only space shuttle one we could find, but IT IS NOT A BACKPACK. AND YES I AM YELLING! We contacted the seller asking if we were missing straps or something and this was the response:
