Impressions after fair amount of Usage.
I know what you all must be thinking enough with the bike bag already. I did actually take it into the woods yesterday after having using it as my suburban go to work, library, store type deal. I will say as an urban bag it kicks butt for most part. I work as a chef and don't own a car so I'm generally on some form of two wheeled transport, or using the limited bus system in my area. My chefs knives alone are a pain to haul along with a change of clothes and so forth. I already own a Timbuk messenger bag that is huge and does a good job for the most part aside from being a shoulder bag and particularly on public transit that is crowded I'm always swinging it into people. (had a guy cuss me on Atlanta subway on a recent trip). This thing devours all my tools for my job, change of clothes my work shoes/clogs with no issue, big honking cookbooks, no problem, case of beer(cans) no problem.
So anyway yesterday I overloaded it to hunt for fatwood with pretty much a substantial overnite load out just to see. Being a pack made for urban hipsters I guess we could say, I know it'll have it's limitations and this is what I found and liked and didn't. The large external pocket with it's velcro closure is pretty limited, it needs a second closure option to be truly effective and not worry about loosing items. This is an easy enough fix with some webbing and a fastex buckle and I will do it shortly(need to get some web). I've not had it open and lost anything but I don't tempt fate either, it's good for some gloves and small items, you can cram alot in it, I put my FR1 sized FAK in it no issue fit wise with room to spare but don't totally trust the velcro. On a plus and I wish it had two of them is this lock pocket on the side(or water bottle) which is tight for Bottle use but I found my alcohol fuel bottle and the bottom of my BK7 ride here nicely. The side load compression straps also nice, my bdu organizer(PSK) rides well on the bottom of the other side, been nice if had same pocket though. Sides are nice long easy to access and I will definately be adding lash tabs for say Machete or hatchet carry as well as some lash points on the bottom for bedroll. It's remarkably water resistant, but being designed as a comuter/courier bag I'd expect it to be but isn't perfect but serves my purposes. The pleasant surprise is this huge exterior compartment designed for laptops, which it handles mine fine. I stuck a small cutting board and casualty blanket in here along with a spare base layer shirt that pretty much rides in it all the time and there's still room for a hydration bladder. Back padding is ok not great but nothing pokes me and I had saw, hatchet and other stuff riding a bicycle at a pretty good clip, both road and trail. Shoulder straps are thin and not super padded, really hasn't bothered me even with heavy load, it's designed for easy on off so there is no sternum strap, I'm kinda on the fence if it needs one or not I plan to try one when I get my webbing material. It handle load riding or pedaling and is pretty manageable not having a lot of depth, just a big ol simple bag that I gotta admit for the 30ish i paid I'm more than happy with. I' was jokingly calling it a 'stealth urban bushcrafter pack' with my roommate where I could easily ride my bike to a location lock it up and hit the trail with anything needed, and come out on the trail on another side of town have lunch and a beer and go right back into the woods again, and no one would really bat an eye. Sure it's ugly but doesn't bother me and with some lash tabs added I'll be using it much more. Is it for everyone? Nope.
Few more pics.
The lap top compartment...I want to get a sheet stiffner to fit the entire compartment at some point. Pretty handy compartment though for my casualty blanket, think might nest a MEST in there as well, handles any of my 2l water bladders pretty sure a 3l would fit.
one side got my BDU organizer on the bottom cinch should be easy enough to add lash tabs.
other side with my BK7 riding and Alcohol fuel in the pocket, knife rides fine but would like a lash tab or two on this side as well, and wish other side had this pocket
the shoulder straps are kinda unusual compared to other packs I own, least how seem to me, rater wide spread when I wear it, prett big guy too, it's not uncomfortable, least on short trips, it'll really take a longer trip to see.
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