Compare Small Cafe, Medium Cafe, and Icon

[Go Navy]

Would anyone care to compare the Small (SCB), Medium Cafe (MCB) bags and the Icon? I'm currently using the MCB as my EDC bag. At times it seems a bit large and I think about a SCB.

I like the looks of the zipper arrangement on the "new" Icon and the absence of a flap.

I don't own either a SCB or an Icon at present.

Bihn's stated cubic inch capacities: SCB is either 350 or 375 (both are shown); MCB is either 475 or 500 (both are shown); Icon is 440, placing it in between the SCB and MCB on that one metric.

[b1gsky]

I sold the Icon I got a while ago. The zippers bothered me more than the flap and I realized I change the strap length on the go more often than I thought, which doesn't work with the Icon. And the water bottle I usually carry in my MCB didn't fit.

I can do some pictures with a typical load in a MCB and SCB tomorrow evening if you want. What do you usually carry?

[G42]

I have an Icon but no Cafe Bags as I don't like the open flap/no zipper. I can take photos tomorrow when it's light out, if no one else posts... with whatever you tell us is your normal carry.

[moriond]

Would anyone care to compare the Small (SCB), Medium Cafe (MCB) bags and the Icon? I'm currently using the MCB as my EDC bag. At times it seems a bit large and I think about a SCB.

I like the looks of the zipper arrangement on the "new" Icon and the absence of a flap.

I don't own either a SCB or an Icon at present.

Bihn's stated cubic inch capacities: SCB is either 350 or 375 (both are shown); MCB is either 475 or 500 (both are shown); Icon is 440, placing it in between the SCB and MCB on that one metric.

I have some pictures of the Icon and Small Cafe Bag in the Makers Bag vs Icon thread. The most illustrative picture in that sequence is probably of Small Western Flyer Packing Cube filled with clothes, stuffed into a Small Cafe Bag (so you can see how much of that cube sticks up out of the top of the Small Cafe Bag). By contrast, I can take that filled Small Western Flyer Cube, insert it into the main compartment of the Icon, and then insert my 11” iPad Pro in front of it. Those pictures don’t show the Medium Cafe Bag, although I do show relative sizes of the Small and Medium Cafe Bag Freudian Slips in comparison to the Icon. You could look at pictures in the Icon v medium cafe bag thread for that comparison.

HTH

moriond

[Go Navy]

Here's a short recap of what I generally carry daily in my Medium Cafe Bag: Regular size iPad Air with its own protective cover, two little pouches with stuff like insurance cards and hearing aid bits, two checkbooks, keys, 5x7 notebook (is that A4?), two pens, stamps and calling cards, first aid kit, flashlight, and sometimes a folding knife, glasses in a case.

[Go Navy]

Very helpful, Moriond!

[b1gsky]

Here's a short recap of what I generally carry daily in my Medium Cafe Bag: Regular size iPad Air with its own protective cover, two little pouches with stuff like insurance cards and hearing aid bits, two checkbooks, keys, 5x7 notebook (is that A4?), two pens, stamps and calling cards, first aid kit, flashlight, and sometimes a folding knife, glasses in a case.

A4 is much bigger. How big is your first aid kit? I’m taking some pictures now.

[b1gsky]

Alright, I picked a book which is roughly the same size as your notebook. Not sure if the size of those pouches is right and I used my phone and pocket calendar instead of the check books. But I think you can see the scale pretty well. It all fit comfortably into the MCB and was a very tight squeeze in the SCB. I’m surprised I got everything inside tbh. It’s not comfortable to use, you can’t reach things very well and it feels very brick like. I personally prefer my Café bags underpacked, no matter which size, so the MCB wins hands down.

[G42]

Here's a short recap of what I generally carry daily in my Medium Cafe Bag: Regular size iPad Air with its own protective cover, two little pouches with stuff like insurance cards and hearing aid bits, two checkbooks, keys, 5x7 notebook (is that A4?), two pens, stamps and calling cards, first aid kit, flashlight, and sometimes a folding knife, glasses in a case.

I had to substitute similar sized items since I don't have an iPad or know the exact size of some of your stuff...
The red Moleskin notebook with the TB sticker is the size of the iPad; the blue Moleskin is a bit larger than a 5x7 - also not sure how thick your notebook was... my Dawn Nik's wallet stands in for stamps & calling cards; Small and Mini Ghost Whales stuffed... and I used a stuffed Eagle Creek cube to show a large FAK or whatever - it's pretty big at 8 x 4.5 x 3" thick




iPad standin shown in the back pocket - would potentially fit if you maneuvered, but probably not ideal... smaller moleskin on top to show relative size




iPad standin shown in main front pocket before being tucked in...




Fully loaded - checkbooks in back pocket (they could go anywhere)
iPad standin, blue Moleskin, two Ghost Whales, EC FAK standin all in front main pocket
Everything else tossed into front smaller lower pocket




Fully loaded side view - it's only the 3" thick EC FAK standin that's making it bulge out




HTH


ETA: it's been mentioned other places, but I could have rotated the iPad standin in the main pocket

ETA2: I also threw it all into a Daylight Briefcase which is 8L vs the Icon 7.2 and it fits easily obviously... especially the iPad standin, etc because of the shape and easy access zippers... I feel like the DBC doesn't get enough love for being such a good walking around bag...maybe because 'briefcase' is in the name...it's very similar to a Medium Cafe Bag, just Landscape vs Portrait, with zippers

[b1gsky]

G42 Great pics! Go Navy I think the Icon should work for you, if you like the features of the bag. I liked the size when I had it, besides my water bottle problem (which you don’t carry). If you are good with the zippers and the strap it’s worth a try. I think it might work better than the SCB, unless you plan to leave some things at home in the future. I personally use the SCB mostly as an alternative to the EC, for days when I want to throw an umbrella or some gloves into the bag in addition to phone, keys, wallet and the few little essentials. As soon as I carry my iPad I always pick the MCB.

[Go Navy]

A4 is much bigger. How big is your first aid kit? I’m taking some pictures now.

It's a 5x7 Bihn Clear Organizer Pouch.

[Go Navy]

It's a 5x7 Bihn Clear Organizer Pouch.

And my notebook is a half inch thick. I use a small Whale Pouch (3.5x6.7") for the hearing aid bits.

Those are great pictures and so helpful. Based on that, I've scratched the small Cafe Bag off the mental wish list. I already have a Daylight Briefcase; haven't put it to regular use since I got it, so I need to load it up and start using it daily as a test. I like the size of it. In fact it'll hold both an iPad and a MacBook Air although that would be rare for me.

Big Sky and G42: I, also like a little more room in an EDC in case I take long something else for the day. I'm feeling like my medium Cafe Bag is about right for me vs. the Icon. Still don't like fussing with its flap, but nothing to be done about that.

The Icon, though, would work for me based on your pictures, although seemingly a bit tighter than the MCB, so it stays on the mental wish list. Right now they have only one color in stock, with up to 8 more in production or will be. And, they updated its design on 5/20/20 so I need to read through that carefully to understand what changed.

[backpack]

If you own a 3D OC or Everyday Cubelet, one takes most of the space in a Small Cafe Bag main compartment.

I don't know about the Medium Cafe Bag, because I don't have one.

[threeteez]

I just started using the latest version of the Icon for a work carry since I no longer carry a binder to and fro. I previously carried an Imago.
Front bottom pocket: small OP with phone charger/cord and iPhone
Middle pocket: HLT1 as a wallet (I also use it as a grab & go, stand alone bag for curbside pick ups), Contigo bottle, mini ghost whale and Q-kit pouches, couple pens and a spray sanitizer in pen slots
Back pocket: small notebook, ghost whale to place my mask in (I wear a V4 to get through screening, then I'm given a disposable mask), often a small round tub for half a sandwich as a snack and my ID badge

The Icon is pretty full, but I can still zip each zipper without difficulty. I love my Imagos but the Icon is easier to clean (I'm in a hospital and access screening through the ED waiting area) and not as precious as my Imagos if cleaning the bag ends up affecting the fabric.

[KatrinkaWinkle]

Oooh, what color is your Icon? I love that shade of blue! I have one in SeaPine with ultraviolet zippers but have been considering a second one.