Saxby Laptop Messenger is a solid bag if you don't overfill it

A staple of Knomo’s Mens line, the Saxby 15" Laptop Messenger protects your computer with 15mm of high density, shock-resistant foam. The slick, waxed-canvas exterior is water resistant, and the exterior zippers are sealed to help keep out damaging liquids.

The Saxby’s protective flap folds up to reveal the contents of your bag. Outside of the main compartment, there are two zippered pockets: one side-entry large pocket unzips to hold an iPad, a book, or a small notepad; the other has a horizontal zipper and includes pouches for pens, a wallet, and other small necessities. There’s also a zippered compartment on the outside of the flap.

Inside, the Saxby has a semi-rigid, padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15-inch MacBook Pro perfectly; a large, zippered pocket, and three small, elastic sleeves: two about the size of an iPhone and one large enough for your laptop’s AC adapter and power cable. The main compartment of the bag is big enough for a few magazines or a folded sweater.

With that total of five large, zippered pockets, it’s tempting to stuff the Saxby full of all your necessities. The problem is that once all those pockets are full, the bag is no longer closeable. The flap secures closed using two sets of Velcro strips, and those strips don’t line up unless the various pockets are only about half full.

Knomo includes with every bag a unique Tracker code stitched into the inner lining. You can register your name to your bag’s code, and if your bag falls into the hands of a person with a golden conscience and a telephone or Internet connection, they can contact you, through Knomo, to return your bag to you.

I reviewed the Shiny Navy Saxby, but the bag also comes in black, grey, or slate colors. The Shiny Navy’s color is similar to that of a freshly painted USPS mailbox, and its brown-leather trim and strap make it easy to coordinate with nearly any outfit.

The Saxby is stylish and a good fit for someone who doesn’t need to carry too much stuff, but if you’re a kitchen sink carrying dad or a long-distance commuter needing one bag for all your daily needs, I would look elsewhere.

Lauren Crabbe is a former Macworld intern