O Rings in Large Cafe Bag

[Frank II]

I know this has been discussed but I can't seem to find it.

Regarding the Large Cafe Bag:

1) How many o-rings in the main compartment?

2) How many o-rings in the zippered compartment?

3) How many o-rings does it take to change a lightbulb? (Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)

The large cafe bag's webpage says it only has one o-ring but I thought others have mentioned it has more than that. Thanks.

[KarlJ]

Regarding the Large Cafe Bag:

There are four o-rings in all.

Two are in the main compartment at either end, and two in the zipper compartment.

How many o-rings to change a light bulb... hmm, I'd just guess just one: seems like we always want just one more o-ring.

[dbradford]

On mine

there's two O-rings in the main, ONE (1) in the zippered compartment of my Navy/Cayenne, purchased about 6 months ago I think.

[Frank II]

Thanks....those "o" rings can really spoil you. I find if I look at any bag, I wonder if it has any "o" rings or anything similar.

Now convince me, a middle aged guy, still living in the dark ages, that's it's perfectly okay to carry a large cafe bag. (I'm thinking of black/steel to make it look more "manly" but i just got an organizer pouch in cocoa...and I really like that color as well--cocoa/olive is a great combination.)

In Europe, the bag is fine as lots of men wear messenger bags. But in the U.S., you don't see many my age with vertical bags. Horizontal, yes, because they can pass for an attache type case.) I'm looking for something to take with me on leisure trips that will fit inside a Tri-Star.)

(Like I said, I'm a neanderthal living in the dark ages...but....I've encountered negative remarks with a similar style laptop bag and I live in the South.)

[gmanedit]

This is fun! My bag, bought within the past half year, has three rings in the main compartment and one in the zippered pocket.

We need someone on staff to tell us what the current configuration is.

fbrown, I would just tell them it's a computer bag given to you by a friend who works in IT. Or put a football-team-supporting decal on it. Or a skull-and-crossbones. Or a Confederate flag. Or get it in cocoa or olive and paint it to look like camo. (My SO just suggested, "Put a gun in it. The next time somebody says something, reach in, take out the gun, and say, 'It's really handy for carrying my weapon.'" Maybe an NRA sew-on patch would do.) (More from my SO: Get it in pink. When somebody says something, take out the gun and say, "So you don't like my bag? What do you think of my barrel?")

Or say it's what the young people are doing these days.

Mine is black, and it looks no-nonsense. Goes fine with my kick-ass harness boots.

Update: Looks like you're right that the vertical orientation codes female. A quick tour of the Internet turned up only a few "manly" vertical bags: a leather satchel with shoulder strap for $575 (http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=0H95) and a waterproof medical-instruments bag that has backpack mode (http://store.colemans.com/cart/bag-w...oof-p-284.html).

Does this mean we're all metrosexuals?

Off to do a search for "man bags."

[Frank II]

I recently saw a Progressive Auto Insurance commercial where they make fun of "European Man Bags."

Perhaps I'll go with black/steel to be safe.

[gmanedit]

Oh, fbrown, it's worse than I thought. You're right: Europeans can carry vertical bags without a second thought; to Americans, they're "sissy." I must say, the Large Cafe Bag looks quite restrained and unfussy compared to a lot of what I saw searching for "man bags." (I didn't look for "murses.")

If you're really worried about the locals, this might suit your needs: http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/...&idproduct=384. The site seems to cater to gun owners, and a customer video on this page shows someone pulling out a gun. (I swear, this is after the comment I left above.) Third-party reviews and customer comments include: ""For me specifically it is an awesome DSLR camera pouch, but others will find it great for many other uses. The fact that it can hold 6+ guns with 2 being fairly easy to draw is quite an uncommon feature." "One of the best bags I have ordered, incredibly comfortable. Holds a full size .45 and extra mags along with anything else you may want." "Really like it. Take it everywhere with me. Great construction. Very durable. Hides my best friend very well." Looks like NOBODY would make fun of you with this baby.

You may buy the black LCB to be "safe," but it's handsome, too. I bought it after being wowed by a customer picture (the one at the Wright Brothers museum). It's not second-best.

[Frank II]

Or....since I do spend time in Europe.....save the LCB strictly for overseas travel and my current backpack for domestic. (And since the backpack folds up into practically nothing, I could bring both on domestic trips to test the waters. I have a larger briefcase/messenger bag for local stuff.)

When I do need to travel with a computer, it's a netbook and will fit into the LCB....but then....should I look at a Ristretto or Ristretto for Netbooks?

Too many decisions....I'm going back to watching my alma mater win tonight's football game.

[ex machina]

I'm over 6 foot, well over 300 pounds, with a full beard. I carry a medium navy/cayenne cafe bag as my everyday carry bag and often a steel/cayenne Imago, or large cafe bag with it. No one has given me a hard time. Oh, my little nephews tried teasing me but they get a free pass.

I have no discomfort with my bags. I enjoy them thoroughly. I am on the fence if I should get another LCB now, wait for the Ultrasuede LCBs before deciding, or get an Empire Builder which is very tempting but I'm having a hard time trying to justify it to my inner accountant. That guy says wait till March so Mr. Budget won't nag.

Of course, if a steel/cayenne LCB shows up all bets are off and Mr. Budget can go scratch.

[ex machina]

In my Cocoa/Wasabi Large Cafe Bag I have 1 O-Ring in the front zippered compartment and 3 in the main compartment. I think I have had it for around a year or better now.

[dbradford]

Okay, I'm an idiot...Darcy will agree with me on this one!

Try three (3) in the main, one (1) O-ring in my Large Cafe. Sorry guys

As for carrying it, well, let's see. I've got the ID in Plum/Wasabi. I like the color, plus it makes it stand out, AND it's viewable in a crowd, so my wife could find me again if we were separated.

I now wear a Large Cafe in Navy/Cayenne as my EDC (I always wanted to write that!).
I'm here in the Philippines, and basically you see whatever works as far as carrying gear/totes. A lot of guys use backpacks, some use messenger style bags. I fit right in with my Tom Bihn. When I lived in Hong Kong, I used the ID, and fit in. The HK Chinese are more 'hip' and style conscious than Filipinos, probably a LOT more wealthy. There you see a lot of guys, especially young HS students, wear a figurine, or stuffed animal keychain on there bags. You definitely see more of an attempt to be 'mod', or 'cool' than here.

If I went back to the US, I'd always wear my TB, that's why I chose it, and wear it now, because I LIKED IT! As for the masculine look, remember "INDIANA JONES"? I rest my case....

Being in the South is difficult..Do you mean like Texas South, or the DEEP SOUTH (LA,GA, MI, AL etc)? Well, I'd still wear it! I'm not about to have some red-neck hillbilly decide what I should wear or not. I went through the South in the '80's, hitchhiking. I was in the company of a friend from Connecticut, who happened to be black! Ahhh, fun times. I still think they're living in Civil War times (some of them).

Where was I? Oh yeah, well, I think you can wear the Large Cafe anywhere. Good luck, and enjoy it!

P.S You can always choose Black or Navy body colors, neutral anyway. Just a thought. Cheers!