Question on Vertical Bags - Cafe & Ristretto

[Scattered]

I'm considering a TB bag as a Christmas gift for a friend, who already has a Checkpoint Flyer, which is well-liked. The only complaints about the CF are there's not enough separated organization zones/pockets and it's a too large for "in the office days". Right now, the CF is used only for travel days- the reason I thought second TB bag might be appreciated. My friend adores bags with a vertical orientation, so I thought a Cafe or Ristretto bag might be a good option. Two items my friend must have on hand every day - an iPad2 and a leather portfolio with a letter-sized (8.5"x11") writing pad. I'm guessing the portfolio is 10"x13"; I can't confirm exact size without raising suspicions. Sometimes the portfolio is replaced with a Levenger Circa notebook; that's also letter-sized and a bit larger than 8.5"x11". Other contents would be the usual - phone, pens and pencils, wallet, lip balm, earphones, and maybe a charger and sync cable. I'd be willing to get larger Ristretto - it would still hold iPad2 and allow for future upgrade to MacBook Air or Pro - if it would hold a portfolio.

My question is...Are any of the Cafe or Ristretto bags large enough to hold a letter-sized portfolio or Circa? Without making the flap look like it's lifting? I tried searching the forum, but didn't have much luck. My search skills need work.

[ncb4]

I'm considering a TB bag as a Christmas gift for a friend...

My question is...Are any of the Cafe or Ristretto bags large enough to hold a letter-sized portfolio or Circa? Without making the flap look like it's lifting? I tried searching the forum, but didn't have much luck. My search skills need work.

What a wonderful friend you are! I got out my ziparound nylon-and-mesh letter portfolio that Levenger used to make several years ago, but no longer does. It's designed for 8.5x11-inch papers, though I'm able to put manila folders in it if I bend the tabs a little bit. The portfolio fit comfortably in my Large Cafe Bag. It seems perhaps a quarter of an inch taller than the top edge of the bag, but the flap closed easily over it without a telltale bulge at all. I was also able to slip the portfolio in my Medium Cafe Bag, and the flap would close; but in this case, the portfolio did rise perhaps an inch above the top of the MCB, and the flap did have to strain somewhat to close over it. So from my little experiment, I think the Large Cafe Bag would be a perfect fit.

Hope this helps you make your choice.

Hope this helps!

[Scattered]

ncb4 - I try to value the family and friends I have, and giving them gifts with long-term value seems to be a good way to let them know they're appreciated. Thanks for sharing you're experience with a Levenger portfolio and cafe bags. It does help.

[Sera]

In the Medium Cafe Bag, my letter-sized Levenger circa notebook with 1.5" rings fits with enough space for an iPad (not a lot of excess, but I think enough). It does stand up just a bit (less than half an inch) above the top of the 'walls'. My Ristretto, though I adore it, doesn't have quite enough room for the notebook, and certainly not with the netbook.

I can fit both the notebook and my netbook (Toshiba 305) in a Large Cafe Bag. The notebook doesn't stand above the walls of the LCB.

I hope that helps!

[nukediver]

The Ristretto for the 13" MacBook should do the trick. It would easily hold everything you mentioned, yet still be a totally manageable size. I was able to get my MacBook, a textbook, pad of paper, and tons of other stuff into mine. Or maybe you could do what my family does and create a custom gift certificate and let them choose the bag they think would be best?

[Scattered]

Thanks nukediver. The Ristretto for 13" might work, especially since my friend travels a bit for work and a 13" MacBook or Air could be a future possibility. Then it could be used for the 13" MacBook when the laptop is needed or the iPad2 when a laptop isn't needed. I think the Ristretto looks like a really nice bag family for daily use and/or traveling. I going to give the gift certificate option some thought as well, although it won't be as exciting to open as a TB box!

[nukediver]

You're welcome! I'm sure whichever option you choose will be fine. Who doesn't love a TB bag?