Last year for a big trip, I decided to treat myself to a new bag for personal item carry-on -- the Cafe medium. I liked the style, color, and quality of the bag, but honestly I thought it was just an OK bag...
Fast forward to this year, I believe I have unlocked the true potential of this bag, and I now use it as my everyday carry.
I am sure most of you already know this, and I'm preaching to the choir, but it is the organizer pouches and the ability to clip them to this bag that truly make this bag unbelievably useful.
I just got back from a trip out of town with my son. Normally the wife handles everything with our son (his travel documents, snacks, entertainment items, etc). It was all me this weekend (which made me appreciate her even more -- subject for another forum) with this bag and a combination of medium and small organizer pouches I purchased for other purposes.
The ability to know exactly where my wallet is at all times (in the small clip org pouch) is a lifesaver! At least a few times, the clips saved me. Items that would have fallen down unnoticed right before subway turnstiles never to be seen again, followed with me, holding on for dear life. Knowing what is in each organizer (by color), and everything having its own place gave me peace of mind. Periodically I would do a bag check to make sure everything was away and in its proper place.
Having the clips and organizer pouches allowed me to take certain things out without disturbing anything else. Having the org pouches provide a level of protection for other items in the bag.
I remember at least a few times that I was jostled as I was bringing things in and out of the org pouches. On a normal basis, straight to the ground. I would not have relished having to bend over and pick something up off a subway platform!
I was splashed by a car hitting a puddle of indeterminable origin on a New York City street. On that day, nothing inside the bag was wet. I didn't have a chance to clean it -- as I look at it today, I can't even tell where the bag was ever wet.
I do have a slight regret. I probably should have purchased the Large Bag, it isn't much larger, isn't that much more expensive, for as much as I had to carry on this trip, the fit in the medium bag was snug.
All in all, I was very appreciative of how this bag helped me enjoy this trip. I don't think it would have been as stress free as it was, without it.
Fast forward to this year, I believe I have unlocked the true potential of this bag, and I now use it as my everyday carry.
I am sure most of you already know this, and I'm preaching to the choir, but it is the organizer pouches and the ability to clip them to this bag that truly make this bag unbelievably useful.
I just got back from a trip out of town with my son. Normally the wife handles everything with our son (his travel documents, snacks, entertainment items, etc). It was all me this weekend (which made me appreciate her even more -- subject for another forum) with this bag and a combination of medium and small organizer pouches I purchased for other purposes.
The ability to know exactly where my wallet is at all times (in the small clip org pouch) is a lifesaver! At least a few times, the clips saved me. Items that would have fallen down unnoticed right before subway turnstiles never to be seen again, followed with me, holding on for dear life. Knowing what is in each organizer (by color), and everything having its own place gave me peace of mind. Periodically I would do a bag check to make sure everything was away and in its proper place.
Having the clips and organizer pouches allowed me to take certain things out without disturbing anything else. Having the org pouches provide a level of protection for other items in the bag.
I remember at least a few times that I was jostled as I was bringing things in and out of the org pouches. On a normal basis, straight to the ground. I would not have relished having to bend over and pick something up off a subway platform!
I was splashed by a car hitting a puddle of indeterminable origin on a New York City street. On that day, nothing inside the bag was wet. I didn't have a chance to clean it -- as I look at it today, I can't even tell where the bag was ever wet.
I do have a slight regret. I probably should have purchased the Large Bag, it isn't much larger, isn't that much more expensive, for as much as I had to carry on this trip, the fit in the medium bag was snug.
All in all, I was very appreciative of how this bag helped me enjoy this trip. I don't think it would have been as stress free as it was, without it.
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