****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I was looking for a small bag to carry all my GoPro equipment and this one was perfect. Just large enough to hold my stuff and not be bulky.Very niceLove the storage, quality and style. It exceeded my expectations.Well bag looks great but had some issues with the lock on the top breaking, along with the front snaps being hard to open. Otherwise for the price I got what I paid for but would really have liked the lock on top to work, cause I keep my books in it while at work. The other features it has are useless for me.Don’t buy!!Before mentioning any flaws, I will point out first that the overall design is just awesome: the style, the color, the features. It all works cohesively to give you a stylish solution to carry your essentials without feeling like you have a "childish" backpack, or a "girly" purse. The carry style is quite modern, yet the bag looks old-fashioned and rustic (historically, a very manly look). So yes, I really wanted to love this bag but it did have some flaws:- more of my own fault, but the bag just barely fits a 14" laptop, leaving the top corners with no padding. I did get the XL bag, expecting a much larger bag, but in reality its just slightly larger. The corners of the laptop protrude on the top, and defeat the purpose of the padding.- the lock feature is more of a deterrent because it wont keep anyone with a pair of strong scissors away from the contents, which is to be expected I suppose. Also, from playing with it a bit, I found it has some design flaws that could have someone either change your code in a few seconds, or open it in under 5 minutes. Its just not great, but I guess its nice to have that bit extra security-the USB port access is either incomplete on mine, or I simply have no idea how to use it. Similar items ive seen with ports just come pre-wired. This one has the spot for the ports and if I try setting one in, it'll easily be pushed in when you try wiring something; forcing you to open the bag and utterly destroying the sole purpose of the outise port. The access IS closed by zipper, which is nice for keeping things tidy, although I dont think theres much space for an external battery to fit in there, thus again defeating the purpose.All in all, ignoring the flaws in the features (and having a smaller laptop), this bag just looks great and is quite functional as a casual day bag. I got the black color by the way, which looks a bit like a brownish charcoal, but quite nice nonetheless. I assume all the other colors are also a bit washed down to give that lovely antique look.Handsome little bag about the size of a child's backpack but looking all grown up.The most arresting feature is the electronic passthrough with USB and audio jacks, which comes standard with the extra large bag. In 2022 headphones are more frequently wireless but it's cool nonetheless! A passthrough with its USB A connectors on either end challenges user inventiveness to make use of, but given the multiplication of USB port types perhaps the best that could be done. The 3-dial zipper lock could be a more useful feature, stoping somebody from pick-bagging you on a crowded train, but clearly not from snatching the whole thing.The bag is well put together, with an assortment of pockets and compartments, and compartments within compartments, sure to satisfy the most demanding zipper fan--yes, the main zippers are stout and smooth and unlikely to jam anytime soon. My only kvetch is with the fake buckle closures, useless ornaments on pleather straps hiding magnetic clasps. If magnets are the best option, then go with magnets: don't add non-functional buckles! Functional leather straps and buckles would have been better, or even just snaps, the mechanical ones.I don't see bike messengers anymore, perhaps put out of business by acceptable means of electronic signing, but they would surely be using purely functional and not fashion-forward gear. It was a tough business and their bags were made to be rugged: what other rugged looking parts have been faked here?Snaps for the passthrough and overall design and construction, snips for the fake hardware. But I'll only deduct one star, because, yeah, it looks good.This slim bag is a stylish alternative to a backpack. I like it, but it won't hold as much as I'd hoped.The design is very attractive, and I like the way it's divided, so you can have a specific place for each item you'd carry to the coffee shop, if that's where you like to work.For an artist like me, it'll hold a sketch pad or watercolor paper, plus a set of watercolors, my pencils and brushes, and a flask for water.If a backpack is too bulky and you just want the convenience of carrying a tablet or laptop (or both) plus a few other items, this is perfect.It's nicely made and has a quality look. It's also comfortable to carry over one shoulder, and well-balanced.
