KEEN Taylor messenger bag

When KEEN’s buyers visited their manufacturing facility in Southern China a while back, they noticed a lot of leftover scraps left behind from shoe production. This led KEEN back to the product development team with an idea for reuse: Bags!

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

KEEN provided me with a Taylor Messenger Bag to test drive and review. From first glance, it looks like a roomy, well-constructed bag for on the go. The KEEN Taylor’s a great all-around messenger bag that will accommodate either a 13″ laptop or an iPad.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

The adjustable shoulder strap has a padded lining that’s made of breathable material (with tiny holes in the pattern to guard against odor). I like the stylish, sturdy buckle, made of recycled brushed aluminum.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

The bag also has a nicely designed closure, a type of hook that slips into various points along the webbing that allows it to expand height-wise when carrying taller items.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

The Taylor opens with two velcro patches. The bag’s shape accommodates keeping the front flap folded back with all contents easily visible, while the bag’s propped on a chair or on the floor. I had no trouble fitting my everyday essentials into it.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

Once open, the colourful yellow KEEN interior comes to life in the form of a large zippered pocket across its width, a padded laptop area, storage for small items, pens, and a fun key clip.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag KEEN Taylor messenger bag

My 13″ Macbook Pro easily fit inside the laptop compartment, with or without its hard plastic case. I was told that KEEN’s new line will also include 10″ computer cases, perfect for a Kindle or iPad, but the Taylor will accommodate anything up to a 13″ laptop.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

The bag’s interior is also made from recycled materials, the shell is water-resistant with environmentally friendly TPU coating, and it measures 23 x 26 x 2 cm (9″ x 10.25″ x 0.75″).

KEEN Taylor messenger bag KEEN Taylor messenger bag

I’ve carried the bag around for a week now, with (and without) my laptop, fully loaded, and it’s all comfortable and easy to manage. The bag can be worn either over the shoulder or messenger style – the strap is long enough and tucks neatly into one of the two side pockets.

KEEN Taylor messenger bag

I couldn’t find any negatives with the bag. KEEN have obviously given a lot of consideration to urban needs, and if you’re not a backpack person, this is a wonderful alternative. The bag is available in Forest Night and Black and retails for CDN $85.

Disclosure: I was sent the KEEN Taylor Messenger Bag for the purpose of writing this review.

7 Comments

  • Comment by Peter — September 4, 2013 @ 9:20 am

    Nice photos…pretty sweet looking bag. Glad it’s part of the Canadian collection. Sometimes it’s just too easy to head over the border for shopping.

  • Comment by Trish L. — September 4, 2013 @ 9:21 am

    I love it!! Been looking for a bag that will do both an iPad or a small laptop as I need it. Glad KEEN is doing their part with recyclable material too.

  • Comment by Jessica W. — September 4, 2013 @ 9:22 am

    What a cool bag! I live in Seattle and am going to keep my eyes open for this one 😉

  • Comment by Mark L. — September 4, 2013 @ 10:03 am

    Snazzy features! Love the recycling effort put into this bag and all the cool spots for stashing away gadgets. Nice pictures too.

  • Comment by Angela — September 4, 2013 @ 10:53 am

    Brilliant use of material and functionality :-))

  • Comment by Sherry Stewart — December 18, 2013 @ 7:24 am

    That keen bag looks really great. I have a MacBook Air and like to take it to coffe shops with me. That bag looks like the perfect solution. Not to heavy and cumbersome and yet big enough for all your essentials.

  • Comment by Ariane Colenbrander — December 18, 2013 @ 8:57 am

    Hi Sherry,

    It’s a very-well designed bag, perfect fit of the MB Air. I’ve been taking my 13″ MBP out, and recently my iPad. I’d recommend it to anyone with a small laptop or tablet!

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