Recommended Accessories for iPad Ristretto

[BagMonkey]

Hi, I am new here. Just got back from my first trip with my ID, which I now love. Shortly, I'll be ordering a Ristretto. The iPad version seems like it could be a bit small, but given the size of the ID, I think it's probably a good complement.

For those of you who are already using the Ristretto, esp. the iPad version, what accessories would you recommend with it?

Also, to the TB folks, is there a chance that that open pocket will get a zippered closure some day?

Thanks!

[BPritchard]

Why the Ristretto?

I have a Large and Medium Cafe Bag I use along with a vertical cache to carry my Netbook when I don't need my EGO. The medium Cafe Bag with vertical cache is carried in my EGO to transport my Netbook at work for lunch time, etc.

I also use the Large Cafe Bag as a camera bag when appropriate.

I bought my EGO with a 6T brain cell for my Netbook. This is removed for now for the medium Cafe Bag. I use the brain cell when I'm using the EGO on trips.

[BagMonkey]

The Cafe Bag is pretty cool. I will look at it a bit more.

[backpack]

I also second the Cafe Bags as alternative to Ristrettos.

I have 3 Large Cafe Bags and 2 Small Cafe Bags in different colors.


The Large Cafe Bag holds everything needed when a briefcase or backpack would be too big.

It holds letter size document holders, I use Tom Bihn Large Organizer Pouch for that purpose and used letter size plastic folders/envelopes before.

In addition to paperwork it can hold a number of things.
I usually use various Pouch sizes but in order to give you a better idea of the size, I will say that a thick textbook, a notebook, a wallet, a smart phone, a pen/pencil case and a Mini Organizer Pouch to hold a public transportation card would fit nicely.

When school is out, the thick textbook can be replaced by a Cache for a netbook or iPad and an e-reader or a Medium Padded Organizer Pouch which can hold a mini camcorder or a Small Padded Organizer Pouch which can hold a small point and shoot camera.

The Large Cafe Bag is my personal item on trips and it can hold tons, I usually stuff many things in it right before security.


The Small Cafe Bag is ideal for the minimalists.
It is very lightweight and is "the" choice bag for shopping, city strolling or nice nature walking or biking.
It holds a Junior/A5 notebook/notepad, a smart phone, an ipod, a paperback book or e-reader with ease.

[BagMonkey]

Thanks for the replies thus far. I am really rethinking this now. I already have the vertical cache for my iPad, so I wonder if the Ristretto is necessary. At the same time, the Ristretto seems to have a bit more internal organization than the cafe bags. Ugh, decisions.

[BPritchard]

You could also use the organizer pouches. You'd be able to move them from the ID to the Cafe Bag.

Really depends on what you will be carrying.

[backpack]

Here are videos of the Bags and Accessories to help you decide.

Tom Bihn Small Cafe Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skr_xHi1Vm0&NR=1

Tom Bihn Medium Cafe Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlAqlhgrYMY&NR=1

Organizer Pouches by Tom Bihn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBCnCgz_UW4

Maverick's detailed video reviews of Tom Bihn's bags and accessories are the best ressource for prospective owners. He shows how common objects fit in the bags and accessories in real life.
In other words, if his stuff fit in one bag, chance are your stuff will fit in the same bag if you have similar needs.



[iPad-Zubehör] Tom Bihn / Ristretto - Messenger Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmyWyRYrKto
A very cute review of the Ristretto for iPad in German, the video quality is excellent and very informative even for people who do not speak Goethe's language.


Hands on with the Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48eA1...eature=related
This is a review of the old style Ristretto which, without the piping, looked like a modified Cafe Bag.

[BagMonkey]

Those are very helpful. Thanks!

How much room remains in the medium cafe bag when the vertical cache is in there?

[BPritchard]

Top of the cache hits the top of the bag. The flag closes completely. The cache doesn't stick out.
Room for a 1/2 inch book under the cache. About an inch and 1/2 room from the edge of the cache to the edge of the bag.

This is without anything in the zippered pocket or the interior pockets.

[aiethabell]

My Medium Cafe is next to me as I type. Today it holds: Acer 10.1 netbook in a horizontal netbook Cache, phone in one interior pocket, mouse in another; a pen in one pen pocket and a lip stain pen in the other pen pocket; a medium organizer pouch in Dyneema with assorted girly need-to-carry stuff (and it's full today) in the main compartment.

In the front zipper pocket is a mini organizer wallet, stuffed full w'a dozen cards (credit, Costco, appointment cards, business cards, driver's license, etc.), a mini Cordura as a change purse, and a Moleskine Cahier.

The back pocket has a Larabar and another mini organizer wallet with my Orca bus pass in it. My iPod/earbuds are dangling outside the bag in a clipped-on Cordura small pouch.

It's not full to bursting, but I couldn't get a Sigg bottle into it. I might be able to cram a half liter Platypus bottle in the back pocket if I really needed to.

To be honest, I nearly bought a netbook-size Ristretto but decided not to. If I don't need my computer for the day, I can pull it out and leave the Cache at home. In the Ristretto it's part of the bag. Yes, the Ristretto is bigger, but I've found the Medium Cafe fills my needs. Just my 2 cents' worth.

I don't know how the size of the iPad Cache compares to my netbook size Cache, since the iPad dimensions aren't listed on the order page, but I thought it was smaller than a netbook?

Oh - one last thing: since the Absolute option is no longer available for the medium Cafe, GET A STRAP WRAP. This really isn't optional; your shoulder will thank you. If you must stuff your bag full-full-full of books and netbook/iPad, and require an Absolute to be comfy, that might be a deciding factor between the medium-large Cafes and a Ristretto. The large Cafe has the Absolute option. But I have an older Cafe with the old-style clips which allow an Absolute to be threaded on it (like the current Large Cafe), and I removed it from my Cafe because it was overkill. The Strap Wrap keeps my shoulder comfy even with all the cr@p I listed in it on a daily basis.

[BPritchard]

...snip ...Oh - one last thing: since the Absolute option is no longer available for the medium Cafe, GET A STRAP WRAP. This really isn't optional; your shoulder will thank you. If you must stuff your bag full-full-full of books and netbook/iPad, and require an Absolute to be comfy, that might be a deciding factor between the medium-large Cafes and a Ristretto. The large Cafe has the Absolute option. But I have an older Cafe with the old-style clips which allow an Absolute to be threaded on it (like the current Large Cafe), and I removed it from my Cafe because it was overkill. The Strap Wrap keeps my shoulder comfy even with all the cr@p I listed in it on a daily basis.

I have a strap wrap on my medium cafe bag. Worth it for the comfort. My large cafe bag has the absolute strap to accomodate more stuff and the additional weight.