29.4.2019

Nice to see a backpack manufacturer that doesn’t insist on emblazoning its logo across your product for a change so aesthetically I quite like this in its ‘dark coral’ colour way. The colour is actually a little less orange than shown in the advert but nice nonetheless. It backpack stands about knee high and when empty is pretty light at a little over half a kilo. First is a zipped pouch that’s around 30cm deep by 20cm wide and padded on the outside and so will take something the size of an iPad. Moving on to the main compartment there’s a zipped mesh pocket measuring around 15cm deep by 20cm wide, handy for keeping smallish items such as notepads, keys, or a spectacle case.Then you have the main part which is 45cm deep and could take all manner of stuff like A4 notepads, books, etc. Moving on there is a ‘suspended’ 22cmx19cm pocket where you’d ideally store your tablet, the idea being that because it’s suspended (doesn’t extend to the bottom of the man compartment) then it offers some protection win the even the backpack is dropped. Then there’s the laptop pouch which easily swallows up my 13” MacBook and which would fit a 15” laptop if that’s your option. Note that this laptop pouch isn’t suspended and only has limited padding at the sides so if you dropped the backpack there’s no padding at the bottom of the main compartment to protect it. You could remedy this yourself by rolling up a small amount of bubble wrap, but it’s important to note that the “Tech friendly laptop cradle offers Targus’ Sling Protection” is a bit misleading as it’s the tablet pouch that is suspended and not the 15” laptop part. Finally at the bottom side of the main compartment there’s a mobile phone/MP3 player sized pouch and this has a opening to the outside through a rubber grommet to allow the use of corded headphones should you require it. The laptop and tablet pouches can be secured with a stout velcro strap. On the outside there’s a single 15cmx10cm pocket into which I could fit a 500ml bottle of water. The adjustable straps are around 7cm wide at the top, tapering down slightly towards the bottom and have a small amount of padding inside them, although not as much as I’ve seen on more expensive makes. The back of the backpack is covered in a black webbing material and contains a reasonable amount of padding. The zips used seem to be standard quality although on the one I received the zip has been kinked on the right-hand side of the main compartment and so catches slightly when doing the bag up. Hopefully this won’t be a problem but it’ll make me a wee bit more wary of how I treat the zips. To round it all off there’s a black carry strap across the top of the backpack that feels pretty tough.Overall finish looks good with well made seams that are even and look like they’ll stand up to wear and tear well. The label attached to the rucksack indicates the backpack has some degree of water resistance. I haven’t tested it in the rain yet but I’d say it looks shower proof and so should keep your stuff dry for a short walk in the wet, but I probably wouldn't take this out if I was expecting long periods out in the rain. The inside of the backpack is finished in a medium grey coloured polyester material. On an ecological note, the backpack is not made from any recycled materials according to one of the label inserts, however it does come with a (limited) lifetime guarantee.To conclude I’d say this looks and feels like a nice well made backpack for its price and apart from the slightly misleading “suspended laptop cradle” description, should give years of good service. Targus is a company who’s laptop bags I’ve used before and I’ve never had any quality issues.

3.12.2020

I'm using the 13" Groove X2 Slim in Dark Coral, with a MacBook Air 2020. It's a really nice combination.The laptop fits well. It doesn't slide around much as the bag is very slim, but there's actually some spare height/width that makes me think a svelte 14" machine could fit in here too. It looks great, and the colour of the images is fairly true to life. It's a good unisex darkish red.I'm comfortable with the level of protection, which should shield from casual accidents but won't allow it to be flung around without any care. There's enough padding at the bottom to protect from putting the bag down too heavily on occasion. The rear padding is great,

25.4.2019

15-Inch Compact Laptop Backpack, CharcoalManufacturer: TargusModel: “Groove X2 Compact” (TSB952GL)Amazon price: $64.99I REALLY like this backpack/daypack. It is comfortably compact for daily commutation, attending conferences, and it fits easily under the seat on a plane. It will accommodate laptops up to 15 inches but I usually prefer to carry-on minimally with a tablet, headphones, reference material and the necessary electronics.This is not a backpack for hiking or camping. Its subdued, urban styling is tidy and efficient with sufficient padding for most occasions. The gray polyester is soft to the touch and while not waterproof, it resists splashes. The zippers are kinkless and slide smoothly.

20.4.2019

This slim backpack is well-padded and will provide some good protection for your technology. The navy colour is more like a denim blue with a touch of Airforce blue than a true navy, very much like the image - at least as it appears on my computer. There are two external zips - one which is slightly recessed which provides access to the front pocket, ideal for smaller items. The other zip opens the main compartment. Both zips run smoothly and seem like good quality. Inside the main compartment, there is a further zipped pocket which provides access to an inner mesh compartment. There are also padded sections for your laptop.

20.8.2019

The Targus Groove X2 Compact a great lower profile option for 15" Macbook users. It feels like a messenger bag that's been redesigned as a backpack, and I mean that in a good way.The main compartment has a large, cushioned slot against the back for your laptop. Our Macbook Pro 15" fits perfectly in that spot without feeling too snug or tight. There's also a smaller, slim pocket for a notebook or an iPad. On the opposite wall, there's a zippered, mesh pouch for smaller accessories like USB drives, a small mouse, pens, etc. The rest of the main compartment is big enough to hold maybe one large textbook or a bunch of notepads.There's also a really tiny pouch in the bottom corner of the main compartment,

5.11.2019

I’ve had a lot of backpacks and laptop cases over the last 20 or so years. Back in the 90s, laptop bags and backpacks looked like they were made for laptops. I never much like that, and Targus was one of the worst offenders.They were pure function over design, and that just didn’t really work for me personally.Wow. Things have changed.While Targus has once again delivered on an extremely functional backpack, they have finally put some effort into delivering a good looking pack as well. This thing is sweet.Construction is very good. Seems are tight and straight, zippers are quality. There’s plenty of room inside for up to a 15 inch laptop, and I find the padding in the laptop compartment to be adequate.

18.7.2019

I've previously had a Targus bag for my camera, so I felt confident ordering this that it would be high quality, and it did not disappoint. My laptop is a 13-inch Lenovo, so though it's a small screen, the machine itself is quite hefty and a little on the fat side (vs. a slim macbook, for example). It fit snugly into the sleeve, with just the right amount of give - enough for manoeuvreing, but not so much that it would slip around and not be as protected.The sleeve is thickly padded for shock and accident protection, but it's not bulky or heavyweight. It comes with an integrated carry handle at the top, and an additional shoulder strap that is separate and can be attached.

2.5.2019

A review for Targus Groove X2 Slim Case designed for MacBook 15-Inch & Laptops up to 15-Inch, Navy (TSS97801GL)A well made fabric laptop case which has a slim profile but offers more than adequate padding and protection for your valuable laptop. The main compartment has zips for easy and quick opening and is split into two sections. Features a easily attachable shoulder strap (which can be stored internally) to wear messenger bag style as well as a grab handle. The front pocket has a large zipped accessory pocket for such things as charger / mouse etc. The rear has a strap for looping over luggage, as well as a secure hidden pocket for storing small documents such as passports.

26.4.2019

This is a stylish and well-made backpack, charcoal gray in color and a durable and water-resistant denim-type outer material. The shoulder straps are wide, comfortably padded, and adjustable. There is a hand strap on the top as well. The backing of the pack is mesh to help with airflow when you are carrying it on your back for a long time. A wide zipper gives you interior access, with a padded compartment for a 15-inch laptop, a padded compartment for a tablet, and a mesh zippered pouch. The rest of the interior is roomy enough for an agenda book, notebooks, folders, etc. The outside front of the backpack has a large padded zippered pouch. This backpack has eliminated my need to carry a tote as well as a laptop bag to work every day!

22.10.2019

I have bought dozens and dozens of Targus traditional laptop bags at work to house laptops but this time I wanted a pretty one, a backpack type, and I wanted it compact.Went for the Compact 15-inch Coral Red and everything surpassed my expectations. It will take a 15.6 inch laptop without struggling whilst remaining tight and compact. The padding is excellent, the multiple internal pockets are a joy to discover and to have, and so is the external discreet (almost hidden) front pocket. The Coral Red is beautiful, colourful whilst still elegant and classy for going to a business meeting. The compactness means this is not a bag that will bulge out of your back but it will still hold lots, and,

27.4.2019

The denim blue fabric of this Targus Compact backpack is particularly attractive. It is showerproof, so take a small brolly on board for downpours. It is extremely comfortable to wear, with sumptuous padding on the shoulders and around the back. The pockets are perfectly simple to access and adequate in number. I like the mesh section inside and the well-padded protection for a laptop. A velcro fastening keeps all in place neatly. This is most thoughtfully designed. The outside pockets can take stuff you need to access quickly without fuss. The drinks bottle pocket is elasticated for a snug fit. There is a similar small pocket inside. This is for drinks access or recharging a phone from a bank I think.This looks set to last a while,

29.5.2019

This laptop case is really rather stylish. It's in a shade that goes with pretty much anything, and looks good both carried in-hand or slung over a shoulder. It's actually become an alternative to my ageing leather messenger bag, too.It says it'll fit a 15.0-inch laptop inside, which is absolutely true. It just about fits my 15.6-inch laptop, snug but without getting it stuck once inside. It's a little tight for space once you start adding cables and a mouse, but, again, everything just about fits.It's got a handful of useful mini compartments inside it, and larger pockets on the outside, so you could get away with using it as an everyday messenger bag, with or without a laptop. It feels built to last too.

25.4.2019

I got the 15 inch/compact size backpack since I only carry around smaller laptops. This bag is pricey, but nicely designed. The backpack is compact and lightweight, but the fabric seems sturdy enough for the load that I carry. There is a laptop sleeve in the back of the main compartment that is not well padded, but I usually put my laptop in a padded pouch and just drop the whole thing into the backpack's sleeve. Lots of other pockets inside the backpack (both in the main compartment and in the smaller outside compartment) keep all my gear organized. The water bottle pocket on the right side holds a half-liter water bottle easily and reasonably securely.

7.6.2019

First of all, be aware this is for Apple MacBooks. The Amazon description header doesn't say this, but if you look up the Groove x2 on Targus' website, the description is 'Groove X2 Compact Backpack designed for MacBook 15” & Laptops up to 15”'Will it work for other 15" laptops? Yes, but only if their dimensions are close to the Apple model's dimensions. The laptop compartment is very snug.With that out of the way, it's a nice little backpack. Comfortable, nice looking, and well-made. It even holds a decent amount of stuff. Actually, my wife used this on a trip as her personal item *without* the laptop, because it was convenient and comfortable. The thought it was fantastic.

23.4.2019

I wouldn’t choose “dark coral” but that’s what I was sent for review. Ignoring colour, this is a great case. It’s well-made, with quality fabrics and zips, and offers first-rate protection. The padded pocket on the front is big enough to accept a charger, mouse and more. There’s also a slim zipped pocket on the back and a divider for the main compartment. The detachable shoulder strap is very welcome although I’ll mainly tuck the case under my arm or use the hand strap.They say it holds a laptop “up to 13-inch” but my Yoga 920 13.9” fits, so a slightly smaller laptop such as a 13.3” Dell XPS 13 or HP Envy 13 will fit with room to spare. The Yoga is 323 x 223.5 x 13.95 mm.The price seems reasonable for a case of this standard,

Targus Groove X2 Max - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail