Review it -Things go wrong. With so many advantages of machines as many of us waste our lives, this is especially true for Gadgeteers. Other companies have made a business of helping us meet our needs – we’ve reviewed a variety of tools and services here over the years. Targus recently released the Cyprus™ Hero™, a versatile wallet with a tracker that connects to Find My®, and they sent me one to try. I’ve been playing with it for a few weeks now and I can safely say that I still have it. Let’s find out more.
What is it?
The Targus Cyprus Hero is a multi-pocket backpack with a tracking device.
What’s in the box?
Bus Targus Cyprus Hero
Hardware specifications
From the manufacturer’s website.
- Made from sustainable materials (26 recycled PET water bottles)
- Integration of Apple® Find My® functionality
- Dedicated, laptop-sized compartment for laptops up to 15.6”
- A great big room for files and tools
- Work space for small additions
- In front, a quick-stash bag
- The design of the bag makes the bag stand out
- Ergonomic shoulder straps and back panel for comfortable carrying
- Goods passing through the trolley belt
- A comfortable and sturdy backpack handle
Design and appearance
The Cyprus Hero is part of Targus’ EcoSmart™, which uses fabrics made from PET, the same material that clear soda bottles are made of. The main bag is gray in the middle, with black accents on the sides and bottom. As expected these days, there are pockets with drinks on each side – tightly sealed but with an elasticated extension at the back. Also, a quick-access front pocket, with a covered and fixed zipper.
corner water bottle bags in different colors
All zippers are covered for weather protection
There are three pockets with two zippers that rotate from the black area on each side. The front-most contains what is now called the “workspace” – it holds things like pens and things like business cards in clear pockets. Two silos for writing, one for cards. Also a few other bags that are gamey enough to hold something. At the back of this area is a 7.5” deep pocket with a 1.5” mesh top and a single zipper across the entire 9” x 2” x 15” section of the bag. My little Kindle fits in here easily. There is also a nice plastic key hook attached to the top of the compartment. There is a two-inch gusset at each end of the zipper to prevent small items from falling out (shown in the photo below).
The next piece on the back has a 1” handle sewn on top of it on the outside. This hides the black plastic tracking module. There is a button here, which allows you to test the battery by holding it for a few seconds.
Internal view of the tracker. You need to pull the clear insulator of the battery to start it to connect
Button with built-in speaker for battery test and FindMy voice
A tool to remove the tracker and install it to fill the hole
The speaker is part of the button and has very, very different features no Apple Find My™ sound. Access to the tracking device is through zip between the top of the section. If you choose to remove the tracker, there is a plug you can use to fill the hole, as well as a SIM removal tool that is required to remove the tracker.
This section of the Targus Cyprus Hero bag is 11″ x 3.5″ x 18″. There is a mesh pocket 5″ down from the top of the zipper on the side facing the control area on the previous pocket which is 6″ deep. On the other side, the pocket with folds extends about an inch from the bottom to 9″. This is where I carry my second device. My 12.9″ iPad Pro is almost flush with the sides, and only displays 3″ or so on the top. It’s a good size. You can have modern 13” laptops here.
The rear end pocket has only one slot, which starts an inch or so from the bottom 11.5”. The section itself is 12″ x 1″ x 18″. It is very beautiful on your big screen. I can put it carry mushroom project I have only checked here with one string but I can put more. If you have a large gaming laptop, you will use the space, but you won’t stretch it.
The back of the Targus Cyprus Hero bag has a foam-filled mesh that allows you to breathe. There is a 1.5” stroller strap sewn about 6.5” from the bottom. It has a 2″ hook-and-loop line attached to it to keep it out of the way when not needed.
The straps are a very good 1.5” seat belt buckle, but they are covered with stitched pieces for almost the entire length. They attach to the corners of the 1″ mesh, and are adjusted through the school bag’s metal handles. An interesting note about the cables – they end in a small block that prevents easy feeding through the wires and allows you to hold your finger to pull and adjust.
Sit down
The Find My device setup is compatible with install any Apple® AirTag® or MagSafe® Wallet – power on the device inside the device that has enabled FindMy, “name it and name it” when the conversation comes up.
By default, FindMy takes your first name and the device shows it as a wallet, but you can change it.
Not a lot of wallet options, but you can get the full iOS Emoji library
Your AppleID email address and phone number are now visible in the Apple FindMy app
You can name anything you want and choose any image to represent your bag, but there is only one real bag, and that’s it. red. Please note.
When you select the item in FindMy, you get options to create a tracker or get directions for the device
This is where you can add a wallet in a safe place
Targus device support information
Procedure
The Targus Cyprus Hero bag is a great bag, but it feels bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. Many bags that can carry gaming laptops look like you’re tackling Everest. The amount of carrying capacity, it is very smooth and does not give attention to itself. It also feels good on your shoulders. There is no yoke, but the straps are neatly wrapped around the top. The handle is wide and curved so that parking and getting out of the car or locker (or bin) is easy.
The FindMy integration works as expected. It shows up in the app, plays a sound when it’s started, and gives an appropriate warning when it’s left. You can add some “safe” places that won’t trigger the “left” warning. (This is a feature of Apple’s OS-level FindMy service.)
Which I like
- The hands do not reach the ground – there is “breath of air”
- Plenty of room in the arms and pockets for stuff
- Covered zipper
What I would change
- Nothing! This is a big, but almost perfect package!
Final thoughts
I don’t have to travel all the time anymore, but I still carry stuff to work a few days a week. The Targus Cyprus Hero bag makes it easy to carry all the things I “need” for work, in addition to the things I “might” want to carry. Easy control straps and both hands mean I can carry a variety of things with ease. I’m looking forward to spending this next vacation with more gear, like my camera and glasses.
While I was trying on the bag, we had a thunderstorm as I was leaving work. I’m not talking about cloudbursts, I’m talking about biblical-level rain – ankle-deep water wading through the parking lot, wind, lightning – the works! My car’s wipers couldn’t get the rain off the windshield enough for me to see the drive for a few minutes after I got into it. I had to walk about a quarter of a mile from the store to where I parked and I only had a small umbrella. Needless to say, I was soaked from the shoulders down. But Hero kept everything in the bag safe and dry. I expected to lose several cups of water, but there was not even a drop of moisture inside! I was very impressed (especially since I had two iPads, a Kindle, and my AirPods Pro in there, plus battery packs and a keyboard!) So, this bag has been tested and is monsoon-weather approved, at least once again!
PricePrice: $149.99
Where to buy: Targus and Amazon
Source: An example of this drug was given by Targus.