Medium or Large Cafe bag?

[RoboLobo]

Hi folks, first posting here! And of course a newbie-style question. Let's say I am a guy who walks to work every day (20 minutes each way, Santa Barbara, kinda warm now) and wants to take his murse with him. I am actually trying to go minimalist these days, taking as little with me these days: a paper planner (roughly 8 1/2" by 11"), a couple of PB and J sandwiches, a pen set to write in my planner, a couple of file folders with some documents in them (but not jam packed), a tin of Altoids, a checkbook, and a few other tidbits. Assuming my planner would fit in either (?), I am trying to decide between the medium or large cafe bag. I know the medium would be lighter, but the large would provide more expandability when I take it touristing. So your opinions are graciously welcome. Thanks!

[Just]

Welcome!

The difference in weight is almost negligible - 14.25 oz vs 15.95 oz so although your planner would fit in either, I'd personally go Large for the versatility.

[gmanedit]

I'd go for the large. It can hold the unexpected, you can order it with the Absolute Strap, and the proportions are pleasing.

[backpack]

I'd go for the large. It can hold the unexpected, you can order it with the Absolute Strap, and the proportions are pleasing.

I second that. My Large Cafe Bags are my number 1 everyday and touristing bags.

I only use one at a time but have them in different colors

[gonty]

I had both medium and large and ended up selling the large. I was after a compact bag and the large is, well, too large for my needs. I found it to be a considerably larger item to have hanging around. Most days I carry an iPad, a book, sunglasses, wallet, phone, small odds and ends. When I put a sandwich and apple in there, it starts getting tight and my lunch can get a little bit squished if I'm not careful, so the large may be better for you.

But for a nice compact bag that fits what I need without being any more bulky than I need, the medium is perfect. Of course, having said that, I have a Synapse for days when I carry more.

Jonathan

[RoboLobo]

Thanks for all your input, everyone! Of course I am no closer to making a decision

[backpack]

I think the best help would be

The customer pictures thread Customer Pictures & Video

and the packing list thread Packing Lists

as well as Tom Bihn Flicker site Flickr: tombihninc's Photostream

All those contain either pictures or list of various items packed in either bags by a multitude of Tom Bihn users.

I should have given you those links earlier.

[BPritchard]

Thanks for all your input, everyone! Of course I am no closer to making a decision

Mock up both medium and large using newspaper. This will give you a good perspective of what can fit in the bags and how it looks hanging by your side.

[katylin1]

Finally... bit the bullet!

Well, after some extreme serious debating I bit the bullet and put my first order through just now. Thanks for all the wonderful input y'all put regarding bag size, capacity, usage, colors, and so forth -- it help me to finally narrow down the the size and color I want.

I choose the MCB after some serious research (I even read their blog all the way back to the beginning). Lol... I also think the clerks at the Fossil store must have thought I was nuts! I even had them measure out the size of the bag (and brought my own ruler) so I can get a feel for TB's size/shape. I guess what swing me to TB was the fact that I am going to attempt to organize my purse. Everything seem to just settle to the bottom, and all that rummaging drives me nuts sometimes. The thought of that I can reach in and find what I want quickly is very appealing.

As a side note, the order went through easily, but I was soooo disappointed that I couldn't order all that I wanted to at once. I am confuse as to why their most common colors are always out of stock (black). I couldn't get the Sde Effect bag like I wanted to because it was backorder, and it just didn't seem cost effective to to me to spend more money on shipping simply because they can't seem to keep higher use items in inventory. So that was the only thing I was not happy about .

I'll post again once I receive my order. I just wanted to say that Tom Bihn should be very appreciated of y'all (that's the forum people)... if it were not for your fanatics (oops... fans) in his product, I don't think I would ever spend that much money on-line for a product that I have never "touched". It is because of those who constantly discuss all the minutia of TB's product that I took the plunge.

Hopefully, the product will be everything y'all say it is. I'm excited and peeved... LOL... can't wait to get it = didn't get everything

[gmanedit]

katylin1: "I guess what swing me to TB was the fact that I am going to attempt to organize my purse. Everything seem to just settle to the bottom, and all that rummaging drives me nuts sometimes. The thought of that I can reach in and find what I want quickly is very appealing."

Pouches and key straps. Things tend to sink to the bottom—gravity at work, plus the vertical orientation means putting things on top of other things—but pull on a key strap and the pouch comes right up. The bag comes with a key strap and, since you just ordered, a Fourth of July pouch.