I've had my small cafe bag for about a month, so I feel comfortable giving an enthusiastic review now.
Since I'm a guy who was buying my first everyday bag (ok, man purse) to hold all my stuff that usually burdens my pockets (cell phone, keys, pen, compact digicam, etc.), I definitely wanted a bag that wouldn't be mistaken for a purse. :-) I spent quite a long time looking at different bags from various sources online, but the Tom Bihn cafe bag seemed like the best combination of style and utility. A short while later, I finally decided on the small cafe bag in Olive/Wasabi and clicked the order button. Next week when the box arrived, I enjoyed the cookie that fell out of the box along with my bag... a nice, quirky touch like that is always appreciated. (mmm...cookie)
As for the bag itself, I was impressed right out of the box at the quality of the stitching and overall workmanship. A small but nice surprise is my small cafe bag's strap. It's constructed a little bit differently than the photos currently available on the product page... The photos depict a adjustment buckle that slides on the length of the strap itself and a small plastic shoulder pad... just like a typical shoulder strap. On my small cafe bag, the shoulder pad is much nicer... it's larger and contoured, with fabric on one side and a grippy, rubbery material on the other. Strap length on mine is adjusted using buckles attached on both sides of the bag, so the "extra" strap ends hang from both sides. I think this makes the bag look quite good. I'm not sure whether it's a recent revision, but I definitely prefer the strap that is on mine. When you're wearing it across your body, you also don't have an adjustment buckle digging into your body and this shoulder pad is quite a bit more pliable and comfortable. I'm perfectly content with this bag, but it you had to press me for any quibbles I would only have one: the zipper jingles a bit when I'm walking. Not necessarily annoying, but you notice it when it's quiet around you.
After a month, the small cafe fits my needs perfectly and it still looks brand new. I can see this bag lasting a long time while still looking smart years from now, so I'm glad that I spent the extra money for a Tom Bihn bag. The best thing is that no one has made fun of my "man purse" at all. Thanks for the great bag and friendly discussion forum...
Since I'm a guy who was buying my first everyday bag (ok, man purse) to hold all my stuff that usually burdens my pockets (cell phone, keys, pen, compact digicam, etc.), I definitely wanted a bag that wouldn't be mistaken for a purse. :-) I spent quite a long time looking at different bags from various sources online, but the Tom Bihn cafe bag seemed like the best combination of style and utility. A short while later, I finally decided on the small cafe bag in Olive/Wasabi and clicked the order button. Next week when the box arrived, I enjoyed the cookie that fell out of the box along with my bag... a nice, quirky touch like that is always appreciated. (mmm...cookie)
As for the bag itself, I was impressed right out of the box at the quality of the stitching and overall workmanship. A small but nice surprise is my small cafe bag's strap. It's constructed a little bit differently than the photos currently available on the product page... The photos depict a adjustment buckle that slides on the length of the strap itself and a small plastic shoulder pad... just like a typical shoulder strap. On my small cafe bag, the shoulder pad is much nicer... it's larger and contoured, with fabric on one side and a grippy, rubbery material on the other. Strap length on mine is adjusted using buckles attached on both sides of the bag, so the "extra" strap ends hang from both sides. I think this makes the bag look quite good. I'm not sure whether it's a recent revision, but I definitely prefer the strap that is on mine. When you're wearing it across your body, you also don't have an adjustment buckle digging into your body and this shoulder pad is quite a bit more pliable and comfortable. I'm perfectly content with this bag, but it you had to press me for any quibbles I would only have one: the zipper jingles a bit when I'm walking. Not necessarily annoying, but you notice it when it's quiet around you.
After a month, the small cafe fits my needs perfectly and it still looks brand new. I can see this bag lasting a long time while still looking smart years from now, so I'm glad that I spent the extra money for a Tom Bihn bag. The best thing is that no one has made fun of my "man purse" at all. Thanks for the great bag and friendly discussion forum...
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