Kenneth Cole Reaction Risky Business Review
Cons: Very expensive, low capacity, not versatile
Manufacturer: Kenneth Cole
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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Kenneth Cole Reaction Risky Business | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | |||
Price | $83.99 at Amazon | $179.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $53.40 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $140.00 at REI | $127.20 at Backcountry |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Classy, stylish look | Waterproof laptop sleeve, weather resistant, easy to use, great features, ambidextrous, brightly colored interior | Durable, comfortable, simple but thoughtful storage, customizable | Waterproof, comfortable, lightweight, highly durable, ambidextrous shoulder strap | Incredibly durable and weather resistant, ambidextrous strap, spacious |
Cons | Very expensive, low capacity, not versatile | Exterior water bottle pocket is small, shoulder padding can get bunched up, tips over easily when set down | Minimal features for electronics | Tips over easily when set down, doesn't have very many pockets, expensive | Stiff when new, boxy shape, buckle on shoulder strap is bulky, very loud to open |
Bottom Line | This expensive model didn't live up to its price tag in our tests | This well-featured bag is feature-rich, fully ambidextrous, and highly weatherproof | This tried and true design continues to be one of the best simple messenger bags on the market | With thoughtful features and burly weatherproofing, it's comfortable, lightweight, and ready to be your go-to bag | Checks all the right boxes of what makes a great messenger bag, including looking super stylish |
Rating Categories | Reaction Risky Business | Timbuk2 Especial Stash | Timbuk2 Classic | Arc'teryx Granville 10 | Topo Designs Messenger |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Packing & Organization (25%) | |||||
Electronics (15%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (15%) | |||||
Wear & Tear (10%) | |||||
Volume To Weight Ratio (10%) | |||||
Specs | Reaction Risky... | Timbuk2 Especial... | Timbuk2 Classic | Arc'teryx... | Topo Designs... |
Measured Weight | 1.84 lbs | 2.18 lbs | 2 lbs | 1.15 lbs | 2.66 lbs |
Measured Volume | 8 L | 20 L | 21 L | 10 L | 13 L |
OGL Volume/Weight Ratio | 4.35 | 9.17 | 10.50 | 8.70 | 4.89 |
Dimensions | 16 x 10.5 x 3 in | 17.5 x 12.2 x 4.72 in | 14.6 x 12.2 x 7.1 in | 16 x 10.5 x 5 in | 17 x 12 x 6 in |
Shoulder preference | Either | Either | Either but optimized for left | Either | Either |
Number of Compartments | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Number of Large Pockets | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Number of Small Pockets (i.e. sleeves for pens, thin items) | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Number of Zipper Pockets | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Key Clip? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Reflective Material? | No | Yes | Yes, on bottom straps | No | Yes |
External Side Pocket | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Sleeve For Laptop? | No | Yes - 15" | Yes - 15" | Yes - 12" | Yes - 15" |
Stabilizing Cross Strap | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Available Sizes | One Size | One Size | XS, S, M, L | 10L and 16L | One Size |
Size Tested | One Size | One Size | Medium | 10L | One Size |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Risky Business is risky indeed, and unfortunately, this pricey bag couldn't withstand our rigorous tests.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The Risky Business gets its few comfort points from the soft and supple leather it's made from. This makes it nice to handle and have hanging around on long days. Although the shoulder padding is small and thin, its stiffness maximizes support for carrying comfort.
Packing & Organization
The Risky Business is small and has few organizational options. We went to pack this for a simple weekend workshop — textbook, notebook, pen/pencil, business cards, iPad with cords, chapstick, wallet, phone — and couldn't find room for all of that. We were forced to ditch it for another model that could properly hold our essentials. You can't overstuff this bag because the front flap has to reach a set of magnetic buttons for it to close, and they're not strong enough to pull everything closed like a bag with adjustable buckles or straps. We didn't dislike everything, though. The flat pocket on the back is great for stashing the mail or a handout from a class, and the internal zipper sleeve holds loose papers nicely and keeps them from becoming dog-eared.
Electronics
The Risky Business is also risky when it comes to your business essentials. There is no extra padding for a laptop, so be sure to handle this bag with care when your computer is inside. There are no obvious or easy organizational features to keep cords neatly stowed and out of the way. And while the internal zipper compartment is suitable for an iPad or eReader, you can't stash a standard laptop inside —- instead, it must sit loosely in the main compartment. While the bag is compact enough overall that your laptop won't flop around excessively, (especially with another folder, book, or binder inside), it is not optimized for electronics like many of its competitors.
Ease of Use
This bag is also not designed for biking. There is no cross-body stabilizer strap, although, for a short ride, it does better than expected. The leather is stickier than the synthetic fabrics of other bags, which helps minimize slippage while riding. Its geometry is also such that it can stretch between your lower back and shoulder, using a little tension to help stay put. The magnetic closure buttons on the front make opening and closing a breeze, and the sleeve on the back is also quite useful. However, without swivels where the shoulder strap attaches to the bag, the strap can easily get twisted. We did not find this to be an issue in our testing, but we hear reports that it can be irritating for some.
Wear & Tear
The Risky Business bag faired surprisingly well in our weather tests. It has excellent folding corner flaps that overlap when you close the main compartment; this will keep items inside dry for a time, even if you find yourself in a sudden downpour. However, no surprise, the leather does absorb water and readily shows damage. The magnetic closure buttons also show wear with just moderate use, especially if you are opening and closing the bag frequently.

Volume to Weight Ratio
At 1.84 pounds, this bag is reasonably lightweight; however, at eight liters, it's also quite small. As such, it did not score well in this metric.
Value
It's one of the most expensive in our review and comes up short in a few ways. Some users online reported receiving damaged, scratched, or otherwise irregular products (due, usually, to the irregular nature of leather). While you might be lucky and find it discounted online, there are better bags for far less money.
Conclusion
The Risky Business has a low profile, small size, and easy-to-use magnetic buttons, making it a fine office bag for workday essentials. It will get you through your commute to meetings, and you'll be looking stylish and professional the entire time. If the price is a non-issue and you love the look of the soft, full-grain leather, this bag may suit you. In our tests and across our metrics, however, it did not stand out as one to run out and buy at full price.
— Penney Garrett & Lyra Pierotti