Hello, everyone!
A few weeks ago, I posted about ordering my Side Kick as a man bag in the TB Anticipation Syndrome forum. After a few holidays and about two weeks, I have now spent enough time with my SK to determine its strengths! Prior to beginning the review, I ordered an Absolute Strap that I thought would have worked with the SK, but it did not. However, I will use the Absolute Strap for a future purchase (a Pilot or Western Flyer), so all hope is not lost! Now, onto my review:
Strengths of SK
1) Functionality:
The SK is perfect for my EDC needs. It is large enough to hold the following items with room to spare!
Front Pocket/Front Pocket Picture:
1) 8" Kindle Fire (in a blue case).
2) 5" x 7" grey/black notepad (the black item in the Front Pocket picture).
3) A portable dog hair/lint remover (very useful for when my Pekingese sheds hair).
4) Sunglasses! A second pair of glasses (laptop ones or normal, reader glasses can also fit).
5) Two USB cables (a type B and a type C).
5) A spare pocket, which went unused in the Front Pocket picture, but it can hold either a 4,000 mAh or a 20,000 mAh solar battery charger.
Back Pocket/Back Pocket Picture:
1) Keys (via the O-ring).
2) 6.4" phone, either horizontally or vertically
3) Wallet
Again, if I needed additional, smaller items, such as headphones or even the Tom Bihn sticker to fit within the pockets of the Front Pocket those items could fit there easily (that was redundant, sorry)!
2) Maneuverability:
Given how the SK is almost the same length horizontally and vertically, I find it easy to walk around and not have it feel burdensome, flimsy, or heavy. The Kindle provides internal structure so that the rest of the SK's shape doesn't fold into itself. Additionally, with my phone in the Back Pocket, structure is also provided to ensure that the bag does not sink inward. I am certain that the Ballistic Nylon version of the bag is inherently more rigid than the Halcyon, so that may inadvertently be useful in its ease in maneuverability as well.
The SK Shoulder Strap was not the one that I had originally hoped or intended to use, but after about two weeks of ownership, I have had a change of heart. Given that it isn't as large as the Absolute Strap, placing it on and off for carrying the SK is far more convenient. Plus, a bag of this size (and weight more importantly) may not be the ideal one for the Absolute Strap, so I understand how and why the redesign was implemented.
3) Durability:
I cannot complete an overview or review of a bag and not mention the durability. As of now, I've not had a single dent or scratch, but I had a minor stain. It occurred when I went to a nearby laundromat and some soap spilled onto the SK. At first, I panicked, but then I applied some dishwashing liquid and water and a few minutes later the imperfection was removed. While I know that every bag cannot remain imperfection-free forever, I will be a bit more cautious as I use the SK in the months and years to come.
4) (Unexpected) Practicality:
Thus far, there have been three occasions in which, without the SK, I would have been wholly unable to do what I had attempted to do (due to not having enough hands, patience, or pockets). When and where they occurred and how the SK lived up to its name, follows below:
i) Appointment - Earlier this week, I went out with my mom prior to the sun rising for a short appointment. Luckily, everything went well, but the problem (and the SK's solution) occurred when my mom's phone's battery began to discharge. Luckily, I bought my solar charger, which had been fully charged the day before, and it served its purpose. A similar situation happened later in the week.
ii) Coffee Shop - I ordered more than enough coffee and food for one person to carry at a coffee shop. So much so, that a cupholder and a box were involved, with just myself carrying everything out to my mom, who was waiting in her car. While I panicked because of potentially needing assistance (not only for carrying two coffees and accompanying items but also for exiting the coffee shop), I simply placed my card and receipt in my SK's Back Pocket, moved the SK around so that it was on my right side, stacked the cupholder containing the coffees on top of the box that was part of my order, and used my left foot to force the door open to exit. Yes, it was a multi-step process, but it was facilitated by the SK's usefulness.
iii) Laundromat - I cashed out a $20 into all quarters. Eighty. Quarters. So, I moved my phone which had been in the front pocket at the time to the middle portion of the Front Pocket, and placed the 80 quarters into an empty side pocket (the empty one in the Front Pocket Picture).
5) Summary:
As you all can potentially deduce, I am an extremely happy Tom Bihn customer. I was first interested in the Tom Biihn products years ago (thanks to the A30, A45, TS, and WF) and the company's values, of course. However, my strategy to start small and purchase larger bags (the TS/WF) seems to be the ideal choice for me, especially because of the interoperability. I will post more updates, in the "Where did your TB bag go lately?" forum, and here if there's enough interest!
Thank you all for your information, politeness, and warm welcome,
Christopher
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Originally Posted by bltkmt
