Introducing the Little Swift

[backpack]

I thought I had all the bags I could ever want since I bought the Side Effect and Synapse for daily use. What else could anyone need? Two Swifts for knitting; an Aeronaut for travel, a couple of shop bags that live in the bottom pouch of the Synapse.

And now the little swift! I have no idea which material to get. I'm tempted to buy an organizer pouch in each material to help with the decision.

I think buying an Organizer Pouch in each material is -the- way to go.

I have an Organizer Pouch in Cork and it so nice and soft, well... I love the fabric.

[mrae]

I thought I had all the bags I could ever want since I bought the Side Effect and Synapse for daily use. What else could anyone need? Two Swifts for knitting; an Aeronaut for travel, a couple of shop bags that live in the bottom pouch of the Synapse.

And now the little swift! I have no idea which material to get. I'm tempted to buy an organizer pouch in each material to help with the decision.

[maverick]

The Ultrasuede looks yummy. Maybe someday there'll be an Ultrasuede Large Cafe Bag (in black)?

there was talk of an ultrasuede cafe bag some time back.

the little swift in ultrasuede looks beautiful! i think an ultrasuede cafe bag would be just lovely!

[gmanedit]

The Ultrasuede looks yummy. Maybe someday there'll be an Ultrasuede Large Cafe Bag (in black)?

[Darcy]

Maybe Darcy can enlighten us as to the stiffness/slouch factor for each fabric. 'Slouchy' bags are easier to carry and jam into places, but sometimes it's nice to have a 'stiff' bag that will stand up on it's own.

backpack is right: the "rand" that Tom added to the bottom of all Swift bags help them stand up on their own much better, no matter the material you choose.

That said, the Vulcana Hemp/Recycled Rubber is definitely the stiffest of all the materials, closely followed by the Cork.

[backpack]

Maybe Darcy can enlighten us as to the stiffness/slouch factor for each fabric. 'Slouchy' bags are easier to carry and jam into places, but sometimes it's nice to have a 'stiff' bag that will stand up on it's own.

Many thanks!

Tom has designed the Little Swifts to make them stand on their own. In the blog picture you can see that the Little Swifts have a dark band of fabric at the base but the Swifts do not.


My Swifts are ballistic nylon, they have the ease of carry of soft bags because ballistic is strong and light.
Cork is even smoother, I only have a Pouch in this fabric but I can feel the smoothness.

The addition of dyneema and Urethane pockets stiffens the sides of the all Swifts, it is enough to keep the sides upright, even if the pockets are stuffed to the gill (trust me I have done that in more than one occasion).

But Dyneema, Urethane and Ballistic Nylon are not heavy so it doesn't feel like you are carrying a ton, even if the bag is full.


The only times I really felt the weight of my Swifts was when there were full of hardback books from the library.


I imagined that the Litte Swift Ultrasuede bag is slightly heavier but I was wrong.
I have checked the weight on the website.

Weights:
Recycled Rubber/Hemp: 1lb (450 grams)
Waterproof Ultrasuede: 12.4 oz (350 grams)
Cork: 13.4 oz (380 grams)
1050d U.S. ballistic nylon: 13.2oz / 375gr


Predictably the Recycled Rubber/Hemp is heavier but the most eco-friendly and has a very classical look.

Utrasuede is really rich looking especially in that gorgeous Cacao.


In my opinion, the Littlle Swift is dressy enough to make a cute evening bag, Ultrasuede is the dressiest.


The only time it might be too big is a very formal, tuxedo and long dresses affair. At those time, only those tiny evening bags and envelopes will do.

[maverick]

the little swift looks so cute! i'm no knitter, but i'm trying to find an excuse for getting the little swift!

the clear organizer wallet in ultrasuede, vulcana hemp/recycled rubber and kiwi ballistic nylon also sound awesome!!

wow, just came across the Little Swift and I'm in love with the hemp version. I really cannot afford a bag right now but, wow... beautiful!

[TeresTala]

Stiffness/Slouch

Maybe Darcy can enlighten us as to the stiffness/slouch factor for each fabric. 'Slouchy' bags are easier to carry and jam into places, but sometimes it's nice to have a 'stiff' bag that will stand up on it's own.

Many thanks!

[backpack]

Just placed my order for the Little Swift in Cork (although, I'll be secretly referring to MY bag as the "Swiftette") :-P I also picked up a Large Cafe Bag in Punch/Wasabi along with some accessories. I was really torn on the LS between the hemp and the cork but I like the more organic look to the cork. As for the Cafe Bag, I'm going to put it to work immediately. I'm very excited about the whole thing.

I hope you got the Absolute Strap for the Large Cafe Bag.

I have 3 Large Cafe Bags and I love them dearly.

I have used the Plum/Steel with my pink/purple outfits and the Sapphire/Steel with my blue/teal outfits if I have a lot to carry the Swift of the same color makes the trip with me. (trip to the library or the doctor/dentist)

I bring back books from the library and you know how time wasting doc trips are. So I need paperwork, the small needlework project which fits on a Regular Stuff Sack, 1 or 2 Contigo cups (insulated spill proof cups) and a healthy snack.

[Mea]

ORDER!!!! Bwah ha ha ha

Just placed my order for the Little Swift in Cork (although, I'll be secretly referring to MY bag as the "Swiftette") :-P I also picked up a Large Cafe Bag in Punch/Wasabi along with some accessories. I was really torn on the LS between the hemp and the cork but I like the more organic look to the cork. As for the Cafe Bag, I'm going to put it to work immediately. I'm very excited about the whole thing.

[backpack]

Bag Diet tougher than real diet.

Let me rephrase that, Tom Bihn bags diet is tougher than food diet.

A couple of years ago, I would never think that but...

I have been able to limit my purchase and thus access to empty calories food and I feel way better for it!

I am always exited to see new product and plot my next order with this and that item.

As a result, I am never on a Tom Bihn Bags & Accessories diet, especially since there is the Blog and the Forum to keep us informed.

[Abita]

I think I'm going with the hemp, which feels oddly like a betrayal, considering how much I was hoping for cork when the Little Swift was first announced. But it looks just a bit dressier...and I do love that it is made of recycled tires.

(I know--I'll learn to knit so I can justify the big Swift, too!)

[cancoi]

yum.

I'm on a bag-buying diet, so I will just have to oogle everyone else's Lil' Swifts but those are delightfully lovely...

[timarelay]

So excited about the Little Swift! A little sad about the color choices, because I can barely afford the Kiwi/Kiwi let alone one of the others, so it'll probably be a while till I buy one. Still, I'm excited that it exists! I always wanted a Swift but they're just too big for me (and I did finally get to see them in person last summer and confirmed this).

The Hemp is definitely my favorite of the current bunch. It's so pretty!