Venue XL Messenger

I have been using the Venue XL as my daily purse/bag since 2018. I am here today to order my third since I've worn out my second one (which I have had since 2020). Obviously, I like the bag--a lot!

Pros:
•The size is perfect for a small laptop or an iPad Pro. It will also carry any size of kindle or a Nintendo Switch with ease.
•The organization panel in front is well thought out with places for all sorts of things. I use the zippered pouch to carry rat tail cables, dongles for presentations, a flash drive, my lip balm, some safety pins and bandaids, my mini folding scissors, and a small tape measure. The tiny pockets work well for a small mirror, nail clippers, and the small size of post-it notes. I can fit a Sharpie, my nail file, and 3 pens into the slim vertical pockets. On the outside of the organizer (in the front of the purse), just under the flap when it it closed, is a thin pocket that I use to store my ID and official name tag.
•The RFID pocket seems to work well (ie. I've never had a problem with my cc when traveling). It is big enough to fit a large Coach wallet and still zip shut easily. It also holds passports, no problem.
•Inside there is a soft, felt lined, electronics pocket close to your body that is perfect for carrying the 13" MacBook Air or an iPad Pro. I have both and can fit both at the same time with a bit of finagling. I have a plastic cover on the MacBook and a leather cover on the iPad Pro--without those covers, they would fit easily together.
•The divider in the main compartment has two small pockets on top that work great for storing business cards, earbuds, regular size post-it notes, etc.
•I can store full size notebooks as well as file folders in the main compartment (both front and back).
•The outside Cordura fabric and leather last forever, while still looking sleek and professional.
•The seatbelt fabric crossbody strap is *very* comfortable as well as durable. I frequently adjust this from long (I am nearly 6 foot tall), to short (when I strap it close on my back for bike commuting). It adjusts easily based on use and need, but does not budge until you ask it to. In nearly 6 years of constant use, I have never had it slip on me.
•The orange fabric inside is a good contrast making it easier to find things.
•There is a handy deep pocket and smaller phone pocket along the outside back of the back. The former works perfectly for plane or train tickets, your passport, etc. Perhaps the new versions have a larger phone pocket, but my iPhone 14 does not fit. My old phone DID fit though.
•The key clip holds up well. Again, I have been using my present Venue XL daily since 2020--but the clip still works well and has not stretched out or failed.

Negatives:
•One of the things I love about this bag is the fact that it orients vertically. I think this makes it far more comfortable and useful for day to day wear. However, that depth is also a hindrance. It makes it hard to find things in the bottom of the bag when you have stuff in the main compartment. I'm always fishing around down there for some oddball thing, and I waste too much time in the process.
•The divider inside the main compartment should be reinforced with a stiffener. It wears out, becoming floppy, causing one to end up shoving things willy-nilly into either side. This is confusing for organization. Additionally, considering how awesome this bag is in other ways, it's just disappointing. When my new bag arrives (#3), I am going to unpick the top seam, insert some Soft and Stable foam stabilizer, then restitch it. Yes, I will lose a smidge of space inside the bag, but the improvement in daily use should more than make up for that in my opinion.
•The inside is going to get grungy. Despite spraying the insides with Scotchgard on my second purse, the fabric still became stained and dirty looking over time. I have spot washed and machine washed both of my bags. This helps, but did not remove all of the dirt and wear. I wish there was an easier way to keep it nice looking. Note; the *outside* of the bag will still look perfect.
•Has the size of the phone pocket been increased to accommodate my iPhone 12 Pro Max? Apple is on the iPhone 14 Pro these days...

What a great bag. Just the right size. I can even fit my ipad 12.9 with protective cover in it. Love the inner pockets also. G

Awesome….. Took it on a weekend trip. All my friends are getting one now!!!!!!

This is beautifully made, practical and sublime bag. It is for the wearer, not the viewer. It won’t attract compliments but it will hold and organize what you need to have with you. Don’t hesitate - get it!

Great quality and just what I wanted! A back pocket for easily accessing my phone, zippers to keep small items from slipping out at the airport and a fuzzy pocket for protecting my MacBook Air 13”. Perfect for toting around my laptop, notebooks, business cards, cords, wallet and pens.

Expensive, but well designed and made.

One of the best minimalistic bags I have used. On normal workdays, I dont need to carry a lot of equipment. Laptop, tablet, headphones, pen and badge. This covers all that with room left over. The orange inside the bag is great for seeing down to the bottom, even in lower lighting situations. Along with that, the weight of the bag is as minimal as you can get with the quality of the materials used. This thing has held up to over 2 years of commuting on public transportation and still looks brand new, save for some scratches on the metal logo on the lid. This is one of my favorites ever.

It took me ages to make my mind up on this bag after my previous TimBuk2 bag failed (after 5+ years). I wanted something that fit minimal gear, and this one was up against Waterford Designs. I love this bag, and would buy again if it ever failed.

My only want would be some wrap around padding for the strap. I am using one I bought from a different company.

I was looking for a quality crossbody messenger type bag and thought I had found one that cost almost $218.00. with shipping. I kept looking, and luckily found the EVERKI VENUE XL , a superior bag for around $73.00 less. My 13" MacAir fits perfectly, and the other compartments hold everything else I need-wallet, passport (RFD PROTECTED), pens, phone, writing pads, etc. As a writer, this bag makes everything I need accessible, and the quality is superb. I normally would not write a review about a bag I bought, but few things I buy rarely exceed my expectations, but this EVERKI bag did.

Everyday for work, I have been using an everki backpack which has served me well over the past two years. However, I got tired of stuffing it with things I really didn't need to carry periodically, plus the backpack itself seems heavy though well built.

I saw this online and decided to give it a try. It's a great lightweight carry with top notch quality. I managed to trim-down my everyday essentials to fit this bag perfectly. Overall I am pleased with the value. The shoulder strap is wide and does to tangle when grabbing, the magnetic tab on the flap hold shut, even if the bag is full.

I have a small HP business laptop that fits just right. I did measure before making the purchase. My only negative is the bag does not free-stand, although I knew this from the pictures before my purchase. Not a big deal..

Overall I recommend for any business professional looking for something simpler for everyday jaunts to the office.

Hope this helps :)

David

Had this bag for five days.

Pros:

1. Great design, really convenient to access items in pockets. No hunting around.

2. Strap is comfortable, doesn't get twisted, goes anyplace, small form factor, adjusts nicely around body even in cramped environments.

3. Stylish, could only possibly topped by a full leather bag (a possible sacrifice in utility)

Cons:

Minor item

1. Zips could be designed slightly more ergonomic. (though alot of zipping is inefficient)

About my use:

Ideal for for daily personal & business, international travel.

For a road warrior, traveling light is a super benefit.

My IPad, notepads & other itmes slide in/out easily & smoothly. Best light-duty messenger bag I've ever had. Highly recommended.