Targus Radius 13" Vertical Messenger review

Hello everyone. I purchased this bag because I wanted a vertical messenger style and so far this bag has the most features that I was looking for. I am happy with it, but I am also looking for another bag similar to this but with an additional pocket for an iPad

I was able to purchase this at my local Fry's for $39.99 plus tax.

Here's a quick and simple review...thought it'd be nice for people looking for this type of bag...

Also, apologize for the quality of the pictures. I took them with my iphone and didn't have my camera around.


Targus Radius 13" Vertical Messenger

Design




I wanted a bag that was simple. I didn't want flashy colors and I wanted it as minimal looking as possible. I feel that this bag meets those requirements. The external material is nylon and has done a great job so far. The first day I used the bag was during a mild rainy day. Everything inside remained nice and dry.

Features




Shoulder strap padding is nice. It is not removable, but this does not bother me. It does its job and is pretty comfortable. I'm still getting used to having the weight of my bag on one shoulder as opposed to being distributed with a backpack. Overall, it's comfortable and works.





I like how this bag has a rotating clip for the straps. This helps a lot when the strap gets twisted. Also, the laptop zippers has a nice security feature to add a small lock to it. It's a nice and small feature that's great to have. The coating is nice as well...kind of reminds me of black chrome.



I've seen a lot of messenger bags that have great features, but lack a handle and that's a nice feature I like to have...for those grab and go moments.

Compartments


There's a small zippered compartment on the flap. I usually put a small calculator in there and some gum or mints. It a nice sized pocket but I wish it was bigger. I've seen some vertical messenger bags where this pocket is almost the entire flap.



This is what you see when you unlock and fold over the flap. I put most of my small items in here (eraser, lead refills, thumb drive, earphones, eye drops, etc).



This compartment stores the majority of your stuff. They have tiny pictures above each pocket of what they recommend goes inside. I usually move my mouse to the other side when I place my keys in there.

The power brick for the m11x is rather big. I'm debating whether it is worth it to get dell's thin version and leave this one at home. The brick puts a bulge in the bag and it is annoying.



On the opposite side is this open compartment. I haven't found a use for it yet, but it's nice to have. I also do not want to add to the additional bulge created by the power brick.









The laptop compartment has quite a bit of space. I usually go to school with my m11x and ipad. This is great because I take all my notes on my ipad and I have most of my books stored on there as well.





This compartment is wide enough to hold a 1" binder. However, it takes up the entire space as you can see.



On the bag of the bag is a pocket big enough to slip in my ipad. However, I don't store it there because I don't like it exposed in the open. I just took a picture to show how big the pocket is.

Conclusion
Overall, I'm happy with the bag. It's affordable and meets my needs. This is not a bag for people that like to carry almost everything possible with them. This is a bag that you use to carry the essentials. It's great to minimize on all the junk that gets added over time with a bigger bag or backpack.

 

Great review, I've been thinking about this bag for my Asus U36jc slim laptop and I think it's just what I need. I was leaning toward the STM Alley Small but I think the organizational setup of the Targus is a little better for my needs.

Thanks again!