Does 12A Cache fit in back pocket of Maker's Bag? (11" iPad Pro with MK)

[QuizzicalChris]

Hi All,

The subject pretty much covers the question: I have an 11" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard attachment. Based on the sizing chart for the cache, it looks like (for the moment) the best cache for it is the 12A. Does anyone else with an 11" iPPw/MK know if that will fit in the back pocket of the Maker's Bag? (Either in general or by squishing in some of the extra width in the bag?) Measuring the opening with my tape measure, it looks like it might be possible in theory, but I have no idea in practice ?

Similarly, any rumors or rumblings about a potential cache for iPad Pros with Magic Keyboard?

Thanks so much!

Chris
Seattle, WA

[moriond]

Hi All,

The subject pretty much covers the question: I have an 11" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard attachment. Based on the sizing chart for the cache, it looks like (for the moment) the best cache for it is the 12A. Does anyone else with an 11" iPPw/MK know if that will fit in the back pocket of the Maker's Bag? (Either in general or by squishing in some of the extra width in the bag?) Measuring the opening with my tape measure, it looks like it might be possible in theory, but I have no idea in practice ?

Similarly, any rumors or rumblings about a potential cache for iPad Pros with Magic Keyboard?

Thanks so much!

Chris
Seattle, WA

Welcome to the forums, @QuizzicalChris,

You could probably try asking customer support to check for you, but it looks to me as though the 12 A cache might be a tight fit into the back zippered pocket of the Maker’s Bag. (I don’t have this model cache, so I’m extrapolating a guess from an older model 11” MacBook Air). I do have an 11” iPad Pro, and I’m using an oversized cache that was designed for the original iPad to hold it — that would easily drop into the back zippered pocket of the Maker’s Bag.

However, my inclination would not be to carry a magic keyboard in the same cache as an 11” iPad Pro. I’d probably get a separate simple slip case for the keyboard so you don’t either press on the keys or abrade the iPad surface as the two items of different size rub against each other. (For example, I used something like the Dash Sleeve for Magic Keyboard from Waterfield Designs when I previously carried an Apple keyboard). Another possibility might be to stash the keyboard in the front mesh pocket of a Freudian Slip for Maker’s Bag/Swift and slide the iPad Pro into the pocket behind it, with the whole assembly sitting in the Maker’s Bag. This is an option that offers more support for your iPad and keyboard than the back wall of the zippered pocket — you don’t need it, but it’s another option(and I’ve fit up to 13” MacBook Pro laptop into that Freudian Slip).

Hopefully, some other users will chime in with their experience of carrying both 11” iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard.

moriond

[QuizzicalChris]

Thanks for the quick response and warm welcome Moriond!

Apple's naming conventions seemed to have caused some confusion, I'm talking about the magnetic Magic Keyboard attachment, not the Magic Keyboard discrete accessory ? (Though that dash sleeve looks like a really rad accessory for carting around the discrete keyboard!) It's designed to fold over the iPad and basically turns it into a rad, modular laptop:


If the 11A was just a quarter inch taller, it would be a perfect fit for the iPad+MK and for slipping into the back of Maker's bag. ?

I'll also drop a line to customer service, that's a good idea!

Cheers,
Chris

[moriond]

@QuizzicalChris,

Thanks for clarifying. Strangely enough, I think that the oversized iPad cache from 2010 that I’m using for my 11” iPad Pro would match what you’re looking for. I had to run down an old forum thread Frank II started in 02-26-2014 titled Size Specs for Cache. Here’s the link to post #5 that I’ll quote:

You bet!

As far as I can tell, the dimensions I dug up for the Netbook Cache are accurate. But you are on to something, moriond, as the measurements I found for the original iPad Cache are pretty close to those of the Netbook Cache (interior: 7.8" x 9.8" x 0.7", exterior: 8.4" x 10.5" x 1.9").

When the first generation iPad debuted, they offered a cache that was labeled as an iPad/Netbook Cache on the product page. They didn’t record the dimensions in a place that I can currently access (not even the old product pages), but I measure it as exterior dimensions of 8.6” x 10.6” — consistent with dimensions that the Tom BIHN customer support person summarized.
Let me put it this way: this cache was slightly oversized for the original iPad, which was 0.5” taller than the 11” iPad Pro; you have the quarter inch. In fact, since the older design cache has a flap closure, there is additional flexibility in accommodating the height direction even without the default design being sized for it.

Here are some pictures to illustrate this sizing. Back in December 2020 I answered a question posed by Go Navy about whether he could carry his iPad (Air) along with checkbooks, glasses, wallet, notebook and a few other items in an Icon with a sample packup, where I used the redesigned Icon to show the fit. The thread was Compare Small Cafe, Medium Cafe, and Icon, and my posted answer was given in post #19

I’ll show two of the photos:

The 11” iPad Pro is lying on top of its oversized cache to the right of the Icon in Constellation.I’ve got over 1.5” more than I need in the (here horizontal) direction from the cache. The other direction in the cache is also slightly oversized. I like using the caches and padded pouches from this period because they have a very dense foam design that I prefer. The charcoal grey color option is one of the characteristics of this period; later caches were only made in black, while padded pouches were available in charcoal grey, black, and platinum (a light grey). This is a horizontal cache with the flap closure along the left.


View of the 11” iPad Pro in cache inserted in Portrait mode orientation into Icon. (it can be rotated 90° after insertion, but particularly because the cache is oversized, it’s more convenient not to rotate it after insertion.

I still don’t know whether there’s a current size cache better suited to your needs. My experience of the zippered version caches is that the fits are tighter.

HTH, and thanks for the details about the keyboard

moriond

[mschuermann]

I have an old-style 13” laptop cache (not sure of TB size code) that I use with my 12.9” iPad Pro (3rd gen) with Magic Keyboard Folio and it all fits *perfectly* in the Maker’s Bag back pocket. Now, I don’t zip it closed regularly, though it can actually zip closed if need be.

So I would think you should have no problem at all with a cache and 11” iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard Folio.

[QuizzicalChris]

moriond, the dimensions of that 2010 iPad/Netbook cache are spot-on! I'll have to see if I can track one down.

Thanks for sharing your experience mschuermann! Based on that, I wasn't surprised with what customer support got back to me with:

The 12A can fit into the back pocket of the Maker's Bag, though it is a bit tight to get past the zipper. In this case, it may be easier to put the Cache in empty and then being able to slide your iPad into the Cache while it's in the zippered pocket.

We don't have any upcoming new Cache sizes, though I think it would be likely that we have a Cache sized for the iPad with the Magic Keyboard in the future.

Looks like I should be on the right track now, thanks all!

Cheers,
Chris

[moriond]

moriond, the dimensions of that 2010 iPad/Netbook cache are spot-on! I'll have to see if I can track one down.

Cheers,
Chris

Hi Chris,

Just a quick note to say that both 11” iPad Pro and that Magnetic Magic keyboard do fit into my oversized iPad/Netbook Cache that was released for the first iPad. I saw this on display in a store, and was able to check that this fit into my cache. This actually included the Apple Pencil, too (the salesperson just folded everything up and let me insert it since the end was all connected to security locking cables.)

[QuizzicalChris]

Hi Chris,

Just a quick note to say that both 11” iPad Pro and that Magnetic Magic keyboard do fit into my oversized iPad/Netbook Cache that was released for the first iPad. I saw this on display in a store, and was able to check that this fit into my cache. This actually included the Apple Pencil, too (the salesperson just folded everything up and let me insert it since the end was all connected to security locking cables.)

That's awesome! Thanks so much for the above and beyond followup! ?

Haven't been able to track one down yet, but I haven't given up!