Home >> Laptop Bags & Cases >> Laptop Messenger Bags >> Tenba 638-222 Small Messenger (Olive)
Tenba 638-222 Small Messenger (Olive)
Average Customer Review:
Review Users:20
Product Price:$94.95
Product Description:
The Tenba Messenger is an urban-inspired laptop bag that is designed to hold everything you need for a day; on vacation or at work; at school or at the gym. A removable photo insert holds camera gear as well.
Toerings will be shipped in FREE Gift Toe ring box.
Comments:
Great Quality, Great Size, Good Features...
Posted by: Jennifer Jackson August 19,2010
But I bought the wrong size. I chose the small because my laptop was 15.4in. Which fits great, but when I got home from my trip to Hawaii and bought a battery grip, my Canon 300d started to be a tight fit when packaged with the laptop. That being said it does still all fit even with the battery grip, but the depth could be increased by an inch, and I would be happy.
So moral of the story, I guess one size doesn't fit all, and subsequently why they have more than one size. I love the bag regardless, everything does fit, but its abit to cozy for some of my most delicate electronics. This is not there fault so my star rating is independent of that.
Josh
Gets the job done (mostly)
Posted by: Martin Sands August 18,2010
Great bag, great colors, okay pockets
Posted by: Stuart Anderson August 18,2010
I received my Tenba small bag a week ago and fell in love with it instantly. After my uncle showed his large bag off when I visited family, I knew it would be just right. You can fit quite a bit of camera equipment in it and store a laptop as well, along with all sorts of knickknacks.
My only beef with the small bag is that it doesn't really have many organizing features in the pockets for, example, keeping memory cards or chords organized or separated. My last bag had this feature and it's kind of hard to have a lot of the little important things floating around in a pocket or two.
Otherwise, an awesome choice!
Excellent daily carry bag
Posted by: Joseph Poliakon August 17,2010
Good fit for D70S and Tamron 17-50mm lens. NOT large enough for a D300, mounted battery grip, and 70-200 VR lens.
Room for carrying files to and from the office, or a 15" laptop.
Easy access to the camera w/o having to open the velcro straps and overall buckles.
Recommended.
When only the best will do - Large Pro Messenger
Posted by: Alma Villegas August 17,2010
I have the large Messenger - but I am sure the small is the same high quality.
Woooooooooow saw this in a retail shop and ordered onleine - less expensive, ya know.
This bag is sssssssoooooo well made - Will replace my roll on carry on bag from Samsonite. The Samsonite bag weighed 13 lbs before I put anything in it and this one holds more than the Samsonite! Well padded compartments. There must be 20 compartments big and small. Holds laptop quite well. This is it. Look no more!
When only the best will do - Large Pro Messenger
Posted by: Roberta Murphy August 16,2010
I have the large Messenger - but I am sure the small is the same high quality.
Woooooooooow saw this in a retail shop and ordered onleine - less expensive, ya know.
This bag is sssssssoooooo well made - Will replace my roll on carry on bag from Samsonite. The Samsonite bag weighed 13 lbs before I put anything in it and this one holds more than the Samsonite! Well padded compartments. There must be 20 compartments big and small. Holds laptop quite well. This is it. Look no more!
A "PERFECT TEN"BA Messenger Bag
Posted by: Roberta Murphy August 16,2010
This Tenba small messenger bag is not really "small" at all. You need to check the measurements. As for my needs - it is just perfect! I could fit in my new long anticipated Canon T2I w/ EF-S 18-135; B+W 67mm lens filter(attached) and EW 73B(reversed) fit in the center space. I can also fit in a 50mm f1.4 prime lens; a 430 ex ii speedlite; 2 B+W lens filters w/ cases; a spare battery pack ; charger and all the wires and cords that came with the T2I plus the manuals for both the camera and flash. And still have space left. And oh.. lest I forget, the shoulder sling pad is wiiide. Really helps make your bag light and of course not to mention the fact that this bag doesn't shout "I am a camera bag". Very discreet.
A "PERFECT TEN"BA Messenger Bag
Posted by: Gold Coast Web Design And Development Company Australia August 16,2010
This Tenba small messenger bag is not really "small" at all. You need to check the measurements. As for my needs - it is just perfect! I could fit in my new long anticipated Canon T2I w/ EF-S 18-135; B+W 67mm lens filter(attached) and EW 73B(reversed) fit in the center space. I can also fit in a 50mm f1.4 prime lens; a 430 ex ii speedlite; 2 B+W lens filters w/ cases; a spare battery pack ; charger and all the wires and cords that came with the T2I plus the manuals for both the camera and flash. And still have space left. And oh.. lest I forget, the shoulder sling pad is wiiide. Really helps make your bag light and of course not to mention the fact that this bag doesn't shout "I am a camera bag". Very discreet.
Very Disapponted in Workmanship and Tenba Customer Service
Posted by: Jack City August 15,2010
I am extremely disappointed with Tenba, and with this bag in particular.
Let me explain. I have owned several Tenba bags over the past 30 or so years and have always found them to my liking. The P211 that I was carrying back and forth to work for 8 years was a gem. Unfortunately, the zipper pull snapped and, since the bag was starting to show its age, I decided to replace it.
After looking at several brands and models, the small Tenba Messenger seemed to best meet my current needs. For the most part, I have to admit that I'm satisfied with it. However, it doesn't come close to the quality that I always felt that Tenba provided.
The first thing that I noticed is that there are spaces between the edges of the main flap and the body of the bag. These spaces provide an entry point for dust and rain. The P211 had small flaps to shield these openings and I never had any issues with either dust or rain.
Secondly, one of the straps securing the main flap is sewn crooked. Not a big deal as far as I'm concerned, but I expected better from Tenba. All the bragging on their website about craftsmanship is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Lastly, and this is my biggest disappointment, the zipper pull on the main compartment fell apart after less than 6 months. Mind you, one of the reasons for replacing my P211 was a broken zipper pull.....but that was after 8 YEARS!.
Even though the bag is still under warranty, I decided not to send it to Tenba for repair. All that they would probably do is replace the pull with the same part that broke and I'd be stuck with the shipping charge.
I did email Tenba just to voice my displeasure. That was two months ago. I have not received so much as the courtesy of a reply or apology. I didn't ask them to replace the bag or even fix it. I simply told them the facts.
I'll continue to use this bag but I seriously doubt that I'm going to get 8 years of use out of it. When it comes time to replace it, it certainly will NOT be with another Tenba product.
Hands down, the best camera bag I've ever owned.
Posted by: Ck Chung August 14,2010
There really isn't much to say here because there isn't much to complain about. As with any bag, there are places I might want a pocket and places I wouldn't, but Tenba is so phenomenal at providing an excellent number of different kinds of pockets that I might only move some of them. But then I might not. This bag can hold everything I need to bring, plus all the extra nonsense I don't need but think I do to be prepared, while still staying compact and comfortable.
The bag comes in a number of colors. I chose the olive green. Had Amazon sold the gray I'd probably have gone that route, but you do have options. I would assume Tenba is not exactly weighing aesthetic high on their list of priorities, so I'm not exactly sure why they offer so many color options, but they do exist. This is not to say the bag is ugly, but it's not shockingly good looking either. When comparing it to other camera bags, however, it's often preferable in the looks department.
More importantly, the functionality of the bag is absolutely phenomenal. Amazon has a nice little video from Tenba on the page, and though their videos try to do the Apple product presentation kind of thing and are pretty much missing the mark, the video is very informative and gets all the high points of the bag across that you will want to know about. Two of my favorites are the waterproof bottom of the bag--I shouldn't have to explain why that is such a wonderful thing--and the extremely tough hooks that hold the strap to the bag.
Speaking of the strap, let's talk about comfort. I'd always been under the impression that every strap was uncomfortable when the bag was made heavy from being overpacked by a neurotic individual (me). I was nervous about Tenba's messenger because there is no padding on the strap. For whatever reason, even when this bag is packed heavier than a chiropractor would approve, the strap is still comfortable. In fact, even if the bag is weighing me down it is still comfortable. The padding on the inside is wonderful. It is another great feature of the bag, as it isn't just soft to make you feel good but uses very breathable fabric to avoid overheating its point of contact.
Everywhere on the bag there are pockets galore. You won't believe how much you can fit into this bag. I have a Lowe Pro bag for my video camera, which also is designed to hold a 15" (or smaller) laptop plus everything the Tenba is designed to hold yet it is twice the size. It is an enormous bag. If I were to use the Lowe Pro bag for my still camera, like I do with the Tenba, I could fit the same amount of stuff in both but the Tenba would be half the size and far more organized. I'm still wowed by it.
Another wonderful feature is the removable photo insert. If you're buying this bag you're buying it to take a laptop and a camera with you, most likely. However, you may not always want to take the camera. That's fine. You can just remove the entire camera section, without disturbing the organization of the bag, and put it elsewhere. Alternatively, if you want to only take the camera equipment and leave the bag (which I just did recently), you can pack just the photo insert in your suitcase and have your equipment well-protected. The bag is designed for the camera, a couple of lenses and a flash. Though I only have one zoom lens (the rest are primes), I'm able to fit six lenses, the camera and a microphone. That's only in the camera insert (which, by the way, can be easily accessed from a top zipper so you don't have to completely open the bag to access your camera). That doesn't account for the laptop sleeve and the amazing number of pockets you have available for hard drives, card readers, cables, etc. With every other bag I needed to make sacrifices in what I brought with me. I do not ever have to do that with the Tenba Messenger.
There are many more things I could say in its praise and probably a few minor things I could complain about, but hopefully my point is well taken: this is an amazing bag--buy it. It's probably also worth mentioning that a bag with these capabilities generally is about twice the cost. If you were to buy an equivalent from Crumpler or Lowe Pro you'd be paying more. I am just floored by what his bag can do at any cost, but for it to be pretty much the cheapest in its class is just incredible.
Suprises abound
Posted by: Joseph Donchez August 14,2010
I ordered this bag because my first camera/laptop bag was cumbersome on a plane. Great bag, very large. When I was searching for bags, I wanted something that didn't scream "CAMERA BAG" and could also be used for everyday business travel. After receiving the Tenba and actually looking through the bag, I was shocked! The description doesn't do this bag justice. There are hidden pockets all over this thing. The zipper on the back is brilliant. Unzip to gain access to pockets and additional storage (think magazines, newspaper, etc). Also, there is an additional flap inside the camera bag area that contains more pockets (for gadgets, filters, pens, cords, etc.).
In the past, I have struggled to find 'THE BAG'. I think this may be it!!!
Hands down, the best camera bag I've ever owned.
Posted by: Debt Stoppers August 12,2010
There really isn't much to say here because there isn't much to complain about. As with any bag, there are places I might want a pocket and places I wouldn't, but Tenba is so phenomenal at providing an excellent number of different kinds of pockets that I might only move some of them. But then I might not. This bag can hold everything I need to bring, plus all the extra nonsense I don't need but think I do to be prepared, while still staying compact and comfortable.
The bag comes in a number of colors. I chose the olive green. Had Amazon sold the gray I'd probably have gone that route, but you do have options. I would assume Tenba is not exactly weighing aesthetic high on their list of priorities, so I'm not exactly sure why they offer so many color options, but they do exist. This is not to say the bag is ugly, but it's not shockingly good looking either. When comparing it to other camera bags, however, it's often preferable in the looks department.
More importantly, the functionality of the bag is absolutely phenomenal. Amazon has a nice little video from Tenba on the page, and though their videos try to do the Apple product presentation kind of thing and are pretty much missing the mark, the video is very informative and gets all the high points of the bag across that you will want to know about. Two of my favorites are the waterproof bottom of the bag--I shouldn't have to explain why that is such a wonderful thing--and the extremely tough hooks that hold the strap to the bag.
Speaking of the strap, let's talk about comfort. I'd always been under the impression that every strap was uncomfortable when the bag was made heavy from being overpacked by a neurotic individual (me). I was nervous about Tenba's messenger because there is no padding on the strap. For whatever reason, even when this bag is packed heavier than a chiropractor would approve, the strap is still comfortable. In fact, even if the bag is weighing me down it is still comfortable. The padding on the inside is wonderful. It is another great feature of the bag, as it isn't just soft to make you feel good but uses very breathable fabric to avoid overheating its point of contact.
Everywhere on the bag there are pockets galore. You won't believe how much you can fit into this bag. I have a Lowe Pro bag for my video camera, which also is designed to hold a 15" (or smaller) laptop plus everything the Tenba is designed to hold yet it is twice the size. It is an enormous bag. If I were to use the Lowe Pro bag for my still camera, like I do with the Tenba, I could fit the same amount of stuff in both but the Tenba would be half the size and far more organized. I'm still wowed by it.
Another wonderful feature is the removable photo insert. If you're buying this bag you're buying it to take a laptop and a camera with you, most likely. However, you may not always want to take the camera. That's fine. You can just remove the entire camera section, without disturbing the organization of the bag, and put it elsewhere. Alternatively, if you want to only take the camera equipment and leave the bag (which I just did recently), you can pack just the photo insert in your suitcase and have your equipment well-protected. The bag is designed for the camera, a couple of lenses and a flash. Though I only have one zoom lens (the rest are primes), I'm able to fit six lenses, the camera and a microphone. That's only in the camera insert (which, by the way, can be easily accessed from a top zipper so you don't have to completely open the bag to access your camera). That doesn't account for the laptop sleeve and the amazing number of pockets you have available for hard drives, card readers, cables, etc. With every other bag I needed to make sacrifices in what I brought with me. I do not ever have to do that with the Tenba Messenger.
There are many more things I could say in its praise and probably a few minor things I could complain about, but hopefully my point is well taken: this is an amazing bag--buy it. It's probably also worth mentioning that a bag with these capabilities generally is about twice the cost. If you were to buy an equivalent from Crumpler or Lowe Pro you'd be paying more. I am just floored by what his bag can do at any cost, but for it to be pretty much the cheapest in its class is just incredible.
Gets the job done (mostly)
Posted by: Mypzi Del Rosario Keane August 12,2010
The best bag out there
Posted by: Clay Lowe August 12,2010
I have been through TONS of bags for photography equipment, and this is bar none the best one out there. I can carry around my 5D Mark II, a laptop, and even paperwork, and it never draws attention to itself. It doesn't matter if you are on a busy subway, traveling abroad, or just throwing the bag in your car- it is well designed, and super convenient.
The construction is very rugged, and the adjustable compartments are just what a photographer needs. There have even been times that I needed to carry non-photography equipment, and the inserts still really came in handy. I also love the top zipper that gives you access to the large compartment without having to unbuckle the straps- perfect for grabbing your camera out on the fly. My DSLR even fits in there nicely with a 105mm zoom lens.
For convenience, value, style, and quality, this is the best bag you can invest in!
Great Quality, Great Size, Good Features...
Posted by: Judy Kratochvil August 11,2010
But I bought the wrong size. I chose the small because my laptop was 15.4in. Which fits great, but when I got home from my trip to Hawaii and bought a battery grip, my Canon 300d started to be a tight fit when packaged with the laptop. That being said it does still all fit even with the battery grip, but the depth could be increased by an inch, and I would be happy.
So moral of the story, I guess one size doesn't fit all, and subsequently why they have more than one size. I love the bag regardless, everything does fit, but its abit to cozy for some of my most delicate electronics. This is not there fault so my star rating is independent of that.
Josh
Suprises abound
Posted by: Jason Sfc August 10,2010
I ordered this bag because my first camera/laptop bag was cumbersome on a plane. Great bag, very large. When I was searching for bags, I wanted something that didn't scream "CAMERA BAG" and could also be used for everyday business travel. After receiving the Tenba and actually looking through the bag, I was shocked! The description doesn't do this bag justice. There are hidden pockets all over this thing. The zipper on the back is brilliant. Unzip to gain access to pockets and additional storage (think magazines, newspaper, etc). Also, there is an additional flap inside the camera bag area that contains more pockets (for gadgets, filters, pens, cords, etc.).
In the past, I have struggled to find 'THE BAG'. I think this may be it!!!
Great bag, great colors, okay pockets
Posted by: Giacinto Gpdimonderose August 10,2010
I received my Tenba small bag a week ago and fell in love with it instantly. After my uncle showed his large bag off when I visited family, I knew it would be just right. You can fit quite a bit of camera equipment in it and store a laptop as well, along with all sorts of knickknacks.
My only beef with the small bag is that it doesn't really have many organizing features in the pockets for, example, keeping memory cards or chords organized or separated. My last bag had this feature and it's kind of hard to have a lot of the little important things floating around in a pocket or two.
Otherwise, an awesome choice!
The best bag out there
Posted by: Dave Cook August 6,2010
I have been through TONS of bags for photography equipment, and this is bar none the best one out there. I can carry around my 5D Mark II, a laptop, and even paperwork, and it never draws attention to itself. It doesn't matter if you are on a busy subway, traveling abroad, or just throwing the bag in your car- it is well designed, and super convenient.
The construction is very rugged, and the adjustable compartments are just what a photographer needs. There have even been times that I needed to carry non-photography equipment, and the inserts still really came in handy. I also love the top zipper that gives you access to the large compartment without having to unbuckle the straps- perfect for grabbing your camera out on the fly. My DSLR even fits in there nicely with a 105mm zoom lens.
For convenience, value, style, and quality, this is the best bag you can invest in!
Excellent daily carry bag
Posted by: Sir Cesar Chris Silupu Cruz August 5,2010
Good fit for D70S and Tamron 17-50mm lens. NOT large enough for a D300, mounted battery grip, and 70-200 VR lens.
Room for carrying files to and from the office, or a 15" laptop.
Easy access to the camera w/o having to open the velcro straps and overall buckles.
Recommended.
Very Disapponted in Workmanship and Tenba Customer Service
Posted by: Pete Burke August 3,2010
I am extremely disappointed with Tenba, and with this bag in particular.
Let me explain. I have owned several Tenba bags over the past 30 or so years and have always found them to my liking. The P211 that I was carrying back and forth to work for 8 years was a gem. Unfortunately, the zipper pull snapped and, since the bag was starting to show its age, I decided to replace it.
After looking at several brands and models, the small Tenba Messenger seemed to best meet my current needs. For the most part, I have to admit that I'm satisfied with it. However, it doesn't come close to the quality that I always felt that Tenba provided.
The first thing that I noticed is that there are spaces between the edges of the main flap and the body of the bag. These spaces provide an entry point for dust and rain. The P211 had small flaps to shield these openings and I never had any issues with either dust or rain.
Secondly, one of the straps securing the main flap is sewn crooked. Not a big deal as far as I'm concerned, but I expected better from Tenba. All the bragging on their website about craftsmanship is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Lastly, and this is my biggest disappointment, the zipper pull on the main compartment fell apart after less than 6 months. Mind you, one of the reasons for replacing my P211 was a broken zipper pull.....but that was after 8 YEARS!.
Even though the bag is still under warranty, I decided not to send it to Tenba for repair. All that they would probably do is replace the pull with the same part that broke and I'd be stuck with the shipping charge.
I did email Tenba just to voice my displeasure. That was two months ago. I have not received so much as the courtesy of a reply or apology. I didn't ask them to replace the bag or even fix it. I simply told them the facts.
I'll continue to use this bag but I seriously doubt that I'm going to get 8 years of use out of it. When it comes time to replace it, it certainly will NOT be with another Tenba product.
Post a comment: