Cambiata - First Look

[nsh]

I almost went with the coyote/sangria, I have no clue why but it was calling to me. I ended up going with Aubergine/mountain grey because #predictable but I hope I don’t regret not taking the odd color plunge later.

I loved the Aubergine too (runner up to burnt orange). Looking forward to seeing posts of different bag color combos in September. My ultimate plan is to whittle my bag collection down to these 3 TB bags that could work in most of my life situations: Cambiata for bigger trips and heavy carry days with books/materials, the Paradigm as my purse and go-to bag (and potentially?hmm to pack inside the Cambiata- is that possible G42 ?), and the LPD for times when I need to be hands free/easy access/very few items. I like that the LPD can pack into the Cambiata too. It’s a nice trio of bags and probably as minimal as I can realistically go these days.
This means that I have a pristine PU and a very very old Synapse that I may sell soon. It’s very hard to let go of the PU (admitting that my daughter is 8yo is part of it) but it has seen little use since the Paradigm came into my life. #bagladyproblems

[dirkhaun]

How is cerylon, as a material and as a liner? I haven't seen too many impressions of it, and of those few I have read, some have mentioned it feels "cheap" compared to the 200 halcyon (whatever that means).

I don't like the very visible white grid of most Halcyon fabrics, so try to go with Cerylon whenever possible. Going by haptics, Cerylon feels a little rougher and stiffer but also has a bit of a "plastic bag" vibe going, which I assume people refer to when they call it "cheap". In comparison, Halcyon feels smoother.

I don't expect any problems with Mountain Grey Cerylon as a liner, visibility or otherwise.

[melminimalist]

I loved the Aubergine too (runner up to burnt orange). Looking forward to seeing posts of different bag color combos in September. My ultimate plan is to whittle my bag collection down to these 3 TB bags that could work in most of my life situations: Cambiata for bigger trips and heavy carry days with books/materials, the Paradigm as my purse and go-to bag (and potentially?hmm to pack inside the Cambiata- is that possible G42 ?), and the LPD for times when I need to be hands free/easy access/very few items. I like that the LPD can pack into the Cambiata too. It’s a nice trio of bags and probably as minimal as I can realistically go these days.
This means that I have a pristine PU and a very very old Synapse that I may sell soon. It’s very hard to let go of the PU (admitting that my daughter is 8yo is part of it) but it has seen little use since the Paradigm came into my life. #bagladyproblems

This is where I’m at as well, just getting down to a few curated pieces; Aubergine pop tote for running errands and the beach, alpha violet daylight backpack as an edc, uv A30 packing cube backpack as travel day bag and day hikes. I have an Osprey daylight 26+6!for travel. I’ll replace all sans the A30 pcbp with the Cambiata if it works out. This is quite a change from a few years ago when I was buying all the bags, lol! I do have accessories as well, ghost whales mostly.

[Mausermama]

I really appreciate the review. I do wish the bag had handles. I have been considering it for two primary uses: my teaching bag (currently the Synik 22) and knitting (typically either my Swift or Imago). I haven't bought it yet. I will keep thinking and looking for more reviewer's comments on it.

[G42]

Insulated lunch bag In main compartment, plenty of room for files and cubes or pouches.

This would be a fun picnic bag, beach bag, outdoor concert bag.






A standard bottle of wine fits in the exterior tall side pocket!

MikeV this should've been in the main grocery photos ?



It will forevermore be the Wine Bottle Pocket to me

[Tonya]

A standard bottle of wine fits in the exterior tall side pocket!

MikeV this should've been in the main grocery photos ?

It will forevermore be the Wine Bottle Pocket to me

Okay well then, this observation just made me want to order one! How useful is that?!

How is cerylon, as a material and as a liner?

I had a Mountain Grey Cerylon shop bag and didn't care for Cerylon as an exterior or finish fabric. It showed scuffs and abrasions very easily, with only a few uses, and I also didn't care for the feel of it. As dirkhaun mentioned, it does feel rather plastic-ish. However as a liner, I think this fabric would do well. I'd definitely consider ordering something in Cerylon again as an interior fabric or as a main fabric on small items like pouches etc.

Mountain Grey is very pretty, changes in the light so it can look darker sometimes, but it's not a dark gray/grey. I personally don't think it would be too dark as an interior fabric, and I also hate dark bags for the very reason that stuff gets lost.

[G42]

Cerylon is a bit different in feel, but it doesn't make me think of plastic.
The first Cerylon item I got was a PCSB in Cobalt and I use it all the time, as a cross body bag.

Agree with Tonya about the Mountain Grey colour... Darker than NWSky, but would be fine for me at least (these things are so subjective, it's hard to know until you see any given bag yourself)

[Tonya]

Cerylon is a bit different in feel, but it doesn't make me think of plastic... Agree with Tonya about the Mountain Grey colour... Darker than NWSky, but would be fine for me at least (these things are so subjective, it's hard to know until you see any given bag yourself)

Plastic probably isn't the right word, but I went with what dirkhaun said because he was as close as I could probably get in describing it. I've since given the bag away, but if I remember correctly, it did have a slight rubbery feel to it which is probably the coating. The texture made me think that it would do well when water (or any liquid like spills) hits it. Again, if memory serves me correctly and you're familiar with percentage tints, Mountain Grey probably was around the 40% grey category, depending upon the light. If you're into grays, and I am, gorgeous neutral color! I don't think I've seen this combo, but I think it would look really sleek paired with Ursa. :)

[ittoujuu]

Thank you for the cerylon input, everyone. I actually just put in a much-belated swatch request and added Mountain Grey Cerylon to it, because as G42 said, the only way to really know is to see it for yourself. I've found that several colors look different to my eyes than the website's pictures make them appear - Ursa ended up being a richer, much deeper brown than the "chocolate soft serve ice cream" color it looks like in some of the TB website pics (bright lighting, particularly fluorescent, makes Ursa look almost grey - it's uniquely weird that way), and a recent Q-Kit I ordered in Verde 1050 revealed it to be a rather nice olive color, rather than the 1970s avocado green it often looks like in pictures. With those experiences, I figure it's worth swatching before I order anything with a fabric I'm very ??? about.

[G42]

I figure it's worth swatching before I order anything with a fabric I'm very ??? about.

Totally agree!
Only caveat is that, to me at least, some fabrics do end up looking differently in a full size bag... Some of it is shape and some is the black (or Coyote for GE) seams and piping.

I was very skeptical of the 400d Taiga with the dark grid, when I saw it in swatch form... But I love it in the two backpacks I have and it's one of the chameleon colours depending on light and what is near... But oddly, I don't want it in the DLBC ? (which I usually use as a larger cross body bag vs work briefcase)

[G42]

I stuffed some random accessories to show what you could pack if one bagging for a trip.

UV TSS1, NWSky TSS2, Cloud SK, Canary GB, Zest PCSB





PCSB on the bottom (shown upright, still extra room on sides)






SK on long edge + GB




Both TSS on top, and there's still room left ... First photo the PCSB was upright on that first layer





This photo, the PCSB was flat in the first layer (it fits reasonably well, but depends on how squished you want things, I had the cube pretty football shaped) so there's more room left on top




ETA: The two small exterior pockets I had still EDC stuff: wipes & sanitizer in bottom pocket; granola bars in top pocket. There was a Zoji bottle in the tall exterior (wine) pocket

[G42]

Just to show you can do it, here's a Nightwalk DLBP with the Contour straps, folded in thirds, in the large front exterior open pocket.
Cambiata is packed as in my post just above.
It's not super elegant, but it works



And here's a MCB FS instead

[nsh]

? Thank you! These pics are awesome G42.

[G42]

Here's that same stuffed Zest PCSB inside a Nightwalk Paradigm, inside the main compartment.
Nothing is in the front Paradigm pockets.
Note that the padding in the two sides of the laptop compartment, front panel, and base (no padding in sides or top flap) work with the piping to help the bag stand up and maintain shape... but the bag will bulge front and back if you keep stuffing it. A laptop in the laptop compartment minimizes it in that direction though.

ETA: saw that Cristina already posted the Paradigm, oops



Also, when I took the bag to work, I unclipped one side of the strap and tucked it into the top of the tall exterior (wine) pocket and zipped up most of the way. I'd probably do this if I thought I'd be switching carry style frequently and didn't have anything small or super valuable in the pocket.

[G42]

Ultrasuede wrap works nicely. I'll see if this obviates the desire for a strap hack to use the mini Op-Tech



MikeV The wrap has been 'in production' status for some time... Is there an ETA or does it have supply chain constraints? I know snaps were an issue for a while....
Of course, y'all could just be busy with All The New Bags