Swift or Little Swift?

[Birdfeeder]

I am thinking about getting a new book bag to carry to work. I thought either the Swift or Little Swift might work. I usually carry a book (or 2), my lunch, maybe a file folder with a few papers in it, and maybe a couple of small items (extra checkbook, flash drive, etc.). Any recommendations for me?
Thanks for your thoughts.

[dorayme]

How big are the books? How big is your lunch? At first I would say regular swift, especially if you may want to throw in a jacket/sweater/shawl ever. The little Swift would handle your list, but you wouldn't have very much room to spare. But seeing as how books are relative and so are lunches you may be just fine with a LS. Give us just a bit more info, we would be happy to enable, um, help you :-}

[moriond]

I am thinking about getting a new book bag to carry to work. I thought either the Swift or Little Swift might work. I usually carry a book (or 2), my lunch, maybe a file folder with a few papers in it, and maybe a couple of small items (extra checkbook, flash drive, etc.). Any recommendations for me?
Thanks for your thoughts.

Hi Birdfeeder,

I should probably let Dorayme weigh in here, since she is a self-avowed Swift enthusiast. My opinion is that the Little Swift will do just fine. Take a look at Peregrina's post and images of the bag and what it holds, and I think you'll be convinced. I really like the Vulcana Hemp combination. For a different view of what the Little Swift will hold, try ncb4's post and pictures for the Little Swift in Kiwi Ballistic Nylon. I have both the regular sized Swift and the Little Swift, but usually carry the Little Swift for the situation you describe.

moriond

[Walker]

I am a recent owner of the ultrasuede Little Swift. Love, love, love it! In it, I have been carrying my regular "go-to-work" load:
Side pocket 1: 2 organizer wallets ( 1 for my wallet stuff, 1 for business cards, business credit card, work receipts) + 1 mini pouch (as a coin purse).

Side pocket 2: 12" square non-static cloth for cleaning eyeglasses, gadget screen + my phone (samsung vibrant in a rubber case)

Main compartment: 1 pair large sunglasses + 1 pair eyeglasses inside the stuff sack, 1 external hard drive 5" x 3" x 3/4" + pen + small notebook in a non-TB pouch, 1 small organizer pouch as 3-1-1 (lip balm, sunscreen, insect repellant), 22-oz aluminum water bottle, my Panasonic LX5 camera in a non-TB pouch. One day, I put my lunch (in a rectangular 20-oz ziploc rectangular plastic container at the bottom of the bag. All of the above still fit, but the top of the bag is as "fat" as the bottom. So not as comfortable to wear over the shoulder. I am short and I do not like carrying my tote over my arm.

Now that I experienced the Little Swift, I am saving for the Swift. I am not a fan of the 2-color theme (3 if I count the black base) of the Swift. The only single color is the cork and the black/black. Does the Swift ever come in single colors other than black/black?

Thanks.

[dorayme]

Does the Swift ever come in single colors other than black/black?

It used to be offered in Steel/Steel 1050d ballistic. But that option is no longer available as a choice on the website. Cork is also a "solid" with the black accents. The new ballistic offerings may eventually be offered with a solid choice.
I am not a fan of the two sides being different colors either. I like how the Little Swifts have the same color on both sides and the sharp black accents.

[DQBunny]

I know you're not a fan of the two colors, but the indigo/black is a very classy combo that goes with anything. Since that's discontinued now, plum/black wouldn't be bad either.

[lagolden]

How many skeins of yarn can fit in a Little Swift if nothing else was in it? Trying to judge whether to get the regular or small size.

Thanks!

[bunchgrass]

The number of skeins of yarn that fit in a Little Swift depends on the weight of the yarn. You can fit more skeins of sock yarn in a LS than chunky yarn. For some perspective, I can fit two hats-in-progress in my LS. I am also working on a baby afghan. It's in a tall stuff sack with two extra skeins of yarn in the bottom of the stuff sack. It fits in the regular Swift, but is too large for the LS. I can fit two medium stuff sacks containing yarn and works in progress in my LS. In my regular Swift, I can stack those same projects and find room for two more. In other words, I can fit 3-4 medium stuff sacks containing yarn and works-in-progress in my regular Swift

I hope this helps.

[marbenais]

The only concerns I have with your bag contents and the Little Swift would be the file folders -- they might get warped or creased depending on the other objects in the bag.

If you want to give us dimensions of the items, I'm sure among all of us Swift enthusiasts we can do size comparisons for you :-)

[lagolden]

The number of skeins of yarn that fit in a Little Swift depends on the weight of the yarn. You can fit more skeins of sock yarn in a LS than chunky yarn. For some perspective, I can fit two hats-in-progress in my LS. I am also working on a baby afghan. It's in a tall stuff sack with two extra skeins of yarn in the bottom of the stuff sack. It fits in the regular Swift, but is too large for the LS. I can fit two medium stuff sacks containing yarn and works in progress in my LS. In my regular Swift, I can stack those same projects and find room for two more. In other words, I can fit 3-4 medium stuff sacks containing yarn and works-in-progress in my regular Swift

I hope this helps.

Thanks, that helps a lot. I'm working on a small-mediumish blanket at the moment using bulky yarn. So the medium stuff sack can fit comfortably in the LS? Leaning toward the LS for everyday use.

Question about the cork fabric- does it hold up well to everday use? Is it worth spending $50 more for it? It looks really unique and pretty.

[dorayme]

It does hold up, and I think it's worth it! It transitions well in different settings to. I thin it's easy to dress up or down and for me it goes with everything. Like the Ballistic, it's good with shedding pet hair too, it that is a consideration for you.

[marbenais]

The cork is GORGEOUS. It's definitely sturdy and does not attract yarn, thread, or pet hair.

[lagolden]

Well, I just got my LS in cork and love it! I'm a little concerned that it'll be too small for the blanket I'm working on at the moment though (once I add in a scarf or two in progress), so I just ordered a regular Swift in cork too and will decide which to keep when I can see them side by side. The smarter thing to do would have been to order both at the same time so I wouldn't have to wait again but hindsight is 20/20, right?

[dorayme]

Maybe you need them both, the LS as a purse and as a smaller project bag. You won't be working on a blanket forever right? The larger for times when you have a larger project or two

[lagolden]

Ahh, I e-mailed to change my shipping option and it turns out Swift in cork is backordered until the end of February! Didn't see that when I placed the order last night. So now what to do- order the Swift in a different color or wait 2 months for the cork to be back in stock?