I need to find a Tom Bihn bag to use as my main purse.
I've been a student until graduating recently, and no longer use my Ristretto on a daily basis. It is by far my favorite bag I've ever owned in my entire life and I'm sad that I don't have cause to use it on a daily basis anymore. I love the way it is set up though and fully loaded with the Absolute Shoulder Strap, it's the most comfortable and ergonomic bag ever. The back pocket to quickly retrieve my phone, or keys, or whatever I decided to shove in there- just amazing, and the front curved zippered pocket to access my pens, hand sanitizer, chapstick- you name it- that pocket is designed so well I miss using it everyday. How nerdy is that?
I thought that a Side Effect would make a nice daily purse, with the Clear Organizer Wallet and my keys on a strap safely inside, but it didn't work for me. The cube shape worn cross body style was awkward and it would bounce around and I was always consciously aware of it hanging from my body. Aesthetically it lacks the streamlined look I want, and I don't like bags that don't lay against my body like my Ristretto does so nicely. *I do use my Side Effect and love it, but I use it clipped into my Swift when I am going on knitting outings.
And that leads me to my last Tom Bihn bag in my collection- my Swift. The natural choice for a purse one might assume, but it simply doesn't work for me. The rolled handles won't stay on my shoulder. It constantly gets bumped as I'm reaching, leaning, bending, and slips down my arm while I'm shopping, and it's shape is rather bloated looking for an everyday purse. (Because of course it's meant to be stuffed with yarn balls.) It's great for knitting, or grabbing to throw things in to spend the day at the lake, but not very practical for shopping, it shifts around too much and my money and keys even when strapped just end up diving down into the giant hole that is the interior of the Swift. I love my Nordic/Solar Swift and would never part with it, or my Stuff Sacks. Pure love and nothing equals them for what they are designed for- my knitting stuff and other stuff.
So of my three current bags, after trying to use them for a purse have all failed. I am now thinking a small or medium Cafe Bag would serve me the best. The shape is similar to my Ristretto which of all my Tom Bihn bags is the most comfortable and sleek when moving about crowds or trying to shop. I tend to carry a keyring with two keys and a fob, a large cell phone, a book, a hairbrush, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, kleenex, pen, small notepad, and a wallet- sometimes my small Tom Bihn Clear Organizer wallet, and sometimes a regular bulky type one that holds a checkbook.
If anyone else has faced this dilemma and seems to be as picky about ergonomics as me please weigh in. I would love to hear your feedback and how you solved the "purse problem" with a Tom Bihn bag.
I've been a student until graduating recently, and no longer use my Ristretto on a daily basis. It is by far my favorite bag I've ever owned in my entire life and I'm sad that I don't have cause to use it on a daily basis anymore. I love the way it is set up though and fully loaded with the Absolute Shoulder Strap, it's the most comfortable and ergonomic bag ever. The back pocket to quickly retrieve my phone, or keys, or whatever I decided to shove in there- just amazing, and the front curved zippered pocket to access my pens, hand sanitizer, chapstick- you name it- that pocket is designed so well I miss using it everyday. How nerdy is that?
I thought that a Side Effect would make a nice daily purse, with the Clear Organizer Wallet and my keys on a strap safely inside, but it didn't work for me. The cube shape worn cross body style was awkward and it would bounce around and I was always consciously aware of it hanging from my body. Aesthetically it lacks the streamlined look I want, and I don't like bags that don't lay against my body like my Ristretto does so nicely. *I do use my Side Effect and love it, but I use it clipped into my Swift when I am going on knitting outings.
And that leads me to my last Tom Bihn bag in my collection- my Swift. The natural choice for a purse one might assume, but it simply doesn't work for me. The rolled handles won't stay on my shoulder. It constantly gets bumped as I'm reaching, leaning, bending, and slips down my arm while I'm shopping, and it's shape is rather bloated looking for an everyday purse. (Because of course it's meant to be stuffed with yarn balls.) It's great for knitting, or grabbing to throw things in to spend the day at the lake, but not very practical for shopping, it shifts around too much and my money and keys even when strapped just end up diving down into the giant hole that is the interior of the Swift. I love my Nordic/Solar Swift and would never part with it, or my Stuff Sacks. Pure love and nothing equals them for what they are designed for- my knitting stuff and other stuff.

So of my three current bags, after trying to use them for a purse have all failed. I am now thinking a small or medium Cafe Bag would serve me the best. The shape is similar to my Ristretto which of all my Tom Bihn bags is the most comfortable and sleek when moving about crowds or trying to shop. I tend to carry a keyring with two keys and a fob, a large cell phone, a book, a hairbrush, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, kleenex, pen, small notepad, and a wallet- sometimes my small Tom Bihn Clear Organizer wallet, and sometimes a regular bulky type one that holds a checkbook.
If anyone else has faced this dilemma and seems to be as picky about ergonomics as me please weigh in. I would love to hear your feedback and how you solved the "purse problem" with a Tom Bihn bag.
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