Imago, Large and Medium Cafe Bag, Shop Bag and Brain Bag on 5'3" girl

Took the pictures last weekend but then had a busy week. But here they are! Could have picked a better background but we were in a bit of a hurry when we took them.

As an aside, my 6'0" boyfriend tried on the Brain Bag and didn't like it either. =/ He also found the straps uncomfortable. I assume they soften with time though. We love our cafe bags though, and I love my Shop Bag. =)


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Thanks so much for these pictures! I just put in an order, and now I'm starting my list for next time!

Thanks, timarelay! I've been waiting for your pictures =) These are very helpful for envisioning.

I love the shape of that Shop Bag on you. It's bigger than I thought it would, but it doesn't look cumbersome at all. Does it hold its shape well when things are placed in it? (As if I needed another bag to consider...)

The Shop Bag holds its shape really well. I almost wish it was deeper or the straps were longer though. I've only used it to capacity twice though, so I need to use it a few more times before I call for modifications, but it allows me to stuff it such that I have trouble getting it over my shoulder. Last time I went grocery shopping I just carried it by the handle.

This of course isn't an issue at all if you drive to the store, but I walk. The obvious solution is to buy fewer things. :) When it has just the right amount of stuff in it, it's perfect. You can't carry it on your shoulder empty though. It's 'too' light!

If the Shop Bag cost $10, I'd have tons of them. As is, it'll be a while before I buy another, but I really like it.

i would like to see a larger shop bag, actually.

we are a family of three and make at least two runs to the grocery store each week. for a regular trip, i can easily fill up 2+ shop bags at their current size. when i stop in the cookie isle, or when we're replenishing stock, it's a different story.

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Originally Posted by timarelay

The Shop Bag holds its shape really well. I almost wish it was deeper or the straps were longer though. I've only used it to capacity twice though, so I need to use it a few more times before I call for modifications, but it allows me to stuff it such that I have trouble getting it over my shoulder. Last time I went grocery shopping I just carried it by the handle.

This of course isn't an issue at all if you drive to the store, but I walk. The obvious solution is to buy fewer things. :) When it has just the right amount of stuff in it, it's perfect. You can't carry it on your shoulder empty though. It's 'too' light!

If the Shop Bag cost $10, I'd have tons of them. As is, it'll be a while before I buy another, but I really like it.

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What do you think of the trade-off between size of the bag and portability? It seems like one of the nice features of the Shop Bag is that it folds into such a compact package, so you can keep it in a Cafe Bag, for instance, to unfurl when needed. Would you intend to leave a larger Shop Bag permanently unfurled rather than folded into into its pouch for transport?

you could have the large shop bag wrap up in the same way that the small one does. i don't know whether it would fit into a small cafe bag - i guess it depends on how large the shop bag is :).

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Originally Posted by yeti

What do you think of the trade-off between size of the bag and portability? It seems like one of the nice features of the Shop Bag is that it folds into such a compact package, so you can keep it in a Cafe Bag, for instance, to unfurl when needed. Would you intend to leave a larger Shop Bag permanently unfurled rather than folded into into its pouch for transport?

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The handles of the Shop Bag aren't quite as long as the handles on the Swift. The next batch of Shop Bags will have handles the same length as the Swift. We also plan to introduce a larger Shop Bag this summer.

Personally, the handle length of the Shop Bag works for me - I've been using the Shop Bag as my everyday bag (when I'm not carrying my laptop) since it came out. :)

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Originally Posted by timarelay

As an aside, my 6'0" boyfriend tried on the Brain Bag and didn't like it either. =/ He also found the straps uncomfortable. I assume they soften with time though. We love our cafe bags though, and I love my Shop Bag. =)

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Most people find the Brain Bag straps very comfortable. However, due to the infinite variety of human form, it is unlikely that *everyone* would - I'm sorry that the bag isn't working for you! If you would like to return it, email me and we can arrange for that.

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Originally Posted by Darcy

The handles of the Shop Bag aren't quite as long as the handles on the Swift. The next batch of Shop Bags will have handles the same length as the Swift.

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Will the length of the handles in the new batch be an option for the product (i.e. one can select long vs. short), or will they come standard in the "long" length that is the same as the Swift?

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Originally Posted by Darcy

Most people find the Brain Bag straps very comfortable. However, due to the infinite variety of human form, it is unlikely that *everyone* would - I'm sorry that the bag isn't working for you! If you would like to return it, email me and we can arrange for that.

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It's already in the mail. =) Should be there Monday. Along with the navy cafe bag since I got a plum instead. I'm hoping the Synapse will be the tom bihn backpack that's just right for me. And if all goes according to plan, I'll be in seattle in July so I can try on the swift and other bags I've been curious about.

I'm happy to hear about the shop bag updates!

It is interesting to see the Brain Bag on timarelay (thanks for the great pictures)
and the same Brain Bag in the picture below on Toby Harnden.

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/CTGY/CP

On him the Brain Bag looks like the Synapse on Darcy, I think he is really tall
around 6 feet or more.

I am 5 feet 7 inches and the Brain Bag bottom stops right at my waist.

There is also a difference between wearing the bag empty and wearing it full or half full. The sensation is not the same if the bag is full with soft and light object vs full with computers and related stuff or half full with heavy class books.

When the Brain Bag has things in it, the straps put themselves in the right place.

Great pictures!

I have been looking at the medium cafe bag. My wife ordered a small one, but she did not care for it... I think I'd like something a little bit larger, and the Medium looks like it's the perfect "step down" from the ID for running about.

Now I just have to convince my wife that a "Murse" is OK. :)

To help you decide on your future Cafe Bag size, a look at Tom Bihn's pictures of flicker might be helpful.

A couple of people who own the 3 sizes have posted comparison pictures.

I have the Small and Large size.

The Small can fit in the Large with room to spare on the side for a Kit and in the front or back for a couple of pouches and a paperback book or a document sleeve.

My suggestion would be to fill up your wife's Small Cafe Bag and see how much more room you need and how it fits on you.

On me, 5 feet 7 inches, the Small looks really diminutive and the Large just right.

The Large is smaller than the ID and you can't go wrong with a black or steel one. I just looked at the Large and Medium Cafe Bag colors and all of them are unisex.

Because it is cordura and sleek, it is a small messenger bag or a musette not a murse, I have seen murse and this is not it. :)

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Originally Posted by yeti

Will the length of the handles in the new batch be an option for the product (i.e. one can select long vs. short), or will they come standard in the "long" length that is the same as the Swift?

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Not an option - they'll be the same length as the Swift.