Wanted: Cafe Bag Organizer Inserts

[Bag Lady]

Hi TB Posters,

I came across this nifty insert product and thought this type of item is what I need to solve my love/hate relationship with my Cafe Bags.

http://www.purseperfector.com/index.php

While I love the appearance of the vertical orientation against my body (I think it's sleek and slimming), I hate having to stack/unstack whenever I need certain items from the Cafe Bag.

As a woman who carries her Cafe Bag as her personal carry, I tend to pack lots of little, loose items. If I place them in a small zippered pouch, I either have to place it on the bottom of the bag, or on top of my other things. When I saw this particular purse organizer, (and I know there are quite a few options out there) I thought this might be something Tom Bihn should consider Bihn-ifying and adding to his product line.

I love its two different heights, multiple slots, and the fact that they are zipped together making it easy to use in different configurations. However, I am hesitant to splurge on this $60 item (!) for my $55 bag, plus who knows about the quality factor? Love the concept, though! Would love to hear what you think about this product.

[maverick]

hi bag lady,

this is an interesting idea. i would like to see something like this also, but perhaps a little slimmer, like a mini freudian slip.

[AVService]

I agree completely.
The only thing I always wish for in a Bihn bag is more organization for exactly the reasons offered here.

I realize this may mean more labor,thickness and thus higher prices but I too go crazy trying to stay organized in a bag.

I understand and use assorted small pouches and pockets but the more detailed,built-in organization the better.....to me.

I am always torn between using more readily available bags of possibly lesser quality for just this reason.

I have and like both a Roadwired bag with a lot of pockets and a Port bag like it.

Maybe it calls for some new way to do this but I would buy it.

Ed

[Frank II]

I'm contemplating a large cafe bag. What I would do to add more organization is to put my Side Effect in the cafe bag.

[timarelay]

I like the simplicity of the cafe bags as they are currently designed. However, a more organized insert would be nice. I go between several different bags (Synapse, medium cafe, shop bag, random canvas totes) and one small organizer that fit in all of these would be amazing.

The problem with the side effect for this function is that it has extra functionality that I have no desire for but would be paying for if I bought it.

[Bag Lady]

hi bag lady,

this is an interesting idea. i would like to see something like this also, but perhaps a little slimmer, like a mini freudian slip.

Thanks for your support, maverick, but I'm afraid that certain people will read "mini freudian slip" as a paper holder with pen slots. I want an insert with cavities for bulkier things, like a small digital camera. I'd like it to be fitted to fill the width and depth of the Cafe Bag. It doesn't have to be as high as the Cafe Bag, so that there would be space on top to tuck in a knit hat and gloves, light sweater or maybe a sack lunch.

[Bag Lady]

I like the simplicity of the cafe bags as they are currently designed.

Me too, timarelay! I fell in love with the Cafe Bags because they are simple and quiet on the outside, and I wouldn't change a thing about them! If I used the Cafe Bag for carrying a netbook, notepad, cell phone, wallet, sunglasses, I wouldn't be complaining. But I chose it as a Personal Carry and I just need more organization on the inside.

As a woman, I carry lots o' flotsam and jetsam that come in little tubes, bottles, and compacts, and unless they are corraled, they all sink to the bottom. I can't put them in the zippered pocket because then they disrupt the clean line of the bag. I confess that I still pull out my ol' Timbuk2 Metro once in a while because it's horizontal with lots of organizer pockets in addition to the main open area. But the Cafe Bag is soooo much more attractive and comfortable to carry!

I just figured that a nice compromise is an optional organizer insert for those who need it. And I want the Tom Bihn version, please!!!

[Frank II]

What's good about the Side Effect, for some, would be the flexibility. Let's say you're out and about and need to do some grocery shopping. Rather than lug the entire cafe bag with you, you leave it in the car, take out the Side Effect with just the basics--credit cards, checkbook, phone, whatever, and can wear it as a shoulder bag or around your waist. No need to lug everything. (Be honest, how many of you run into the market with just your wallet, then at times leave it unguarded in the cart where anyone could grab it? I've seen this many times.)

If you're traveling and go somewhere where larger bags must be checked....out comes the Side Effect with your valuables. It's small enough that no one will make you check it.

The Side Effect could also be connected via long key strap to one of the "o" rings making theft more difficult.

[Bag Lady]

I'm contemplating a large cafe bag. What I would do to add more organization is to put my Side Effect in the cafe bag.

Hi fbrown627, are you planning to clip the Side Effect onto an o-ring so that it hangs vertically in your LCB?

[gmanedit]

Hi, Bag Lady.

"lots o' flotsam and jetsam that come in little tubes, bottles, and compacts": Have you looked at the Kit?

[Frank II]

Hi fbrown627, are you planning to clip the Side Effect onto an o-ring so that it hangs vertically in your LCB?

No....the long key ring (16") will allow the Side Effect to sit horizontally on the bottom of the cafe bag. No tilting needed so nothing will fall out.

[backpack]

Hi, Bag Lady.

"lots o' flotsam and jetsam that come in little tubes, bottles, and compacts": Have you looked at the Kit?

I second the Kit, the Side Effect, The 3D Clear Organizer Cube and the accessory I have used personally since 2006 in my Large Cafe Bags, the Clear Quarter Packing Cube.

Used Horizontally, it fits the bottom of the bag, used vertically it goes high enough to retrieve things and low enough that you can stuff hats and gloves (winter) or hat and sunglasses (summer) on top.
There is also room, on the sides, for a Medium Pouch (or smaller ones), a thin paperback. I usually slip a Large Pouch with paperwork behind the Clear Quarter Cube.


Below is a link to a thread called pictures of a Clear Quarter Cube inside a Large Cafe Bag

http://forums.tombihn.com/showthread.php?t=1105&highlight=clear+quarter+cube+pictures

[Bag Lady]

Hi all, firstly, I am so thankful for my forum friends. You are all so kind and helpful with your suggestions! Tom Bihn collectors are a special breed!

With that being said however, I'm not sure that pouches/bags are the way to go this time. At this point in my life, I have accumulated more than my share of little zippered bags that come as gift with purchase. I have a plethora of shapes and sizes to try in my MCB as organizers. Been there. Done with that.

I am going to take a deep breath and order that expensive and hopefully well-made in the USA "Purse Perfector" to try in my MCB as the organizer that it deserves. The saga continues...

[backpack]

Hi all, firstly, I am so thankful for my forum friends. You are all so kind and helpful with your suggestions! Tom Bihn collectors are a special breed!

With that being said however, I'm not sure that pouches/bags are the way to go this time. At this point in my life, I have accumulated more than my share of little zippered bags that come as gift with purchase. I have a plethora of shapes and sizes to try in my MCB as organizers. Been there. Done with that.

I am going to take a deep breath and order that expensive and hopefully well-made in the USA "Purse Perfector" to try in my MCB as the organizer that it deserves. The saga continues...

Let us know how it turns out for you.

I took a look at the website, personally, I don't like this type of organizers because I have the feeling that they are telling me what to do with my things. (I know things can really do that but...)

I feel don't feel that way about the clear sides and open space of the Clear Quarter Organizer Pouch, which interior I can customize, the way I see fit, with cheap pouches I already have (to house items that can make a mess, like makeup), or TB Cordura Pouches for organizing all kind of things.

[ex machina]

I am going to take a deep breath and order that expensive and hopefully well-made in the USA "Purse Perfector" to try in my MCB as the organizer that it deserves. The saga continues...

My trouble with this design is the same problem I have with the Purseket or the Purse Organizer at the Container Store: no real utilization of the vertical scheme. I like those 3 pockets on the front, that are one above the other, but why not have it so the organizer goes the whole route and have stacked padded pouches which I can access from the front? My prototype design allows me easy access to my camera by keeping it at the top of my bag in a padded pouch. If any of them had multiple tiers (I like the idea of three) it would be a huge selling point to me. The organizers I see available all seem to be one tier oriented, with transferability/flexibility in mind.

That said, I see that the one you are ordering is the best available that I have seen. The video shows its versatility and implies quality. I am very interested in your experience with it. Please comment on the quality of the stitching, fabric, and sizing of the pockets. The configurability is very intriguing. I like the idea of a separating organizer with a place in the middle for larger stuff (books, etc.)

Freezing pouches or a flyer on bag organizing, you do it with panache! I like your style, Bag Lady.