The Monster Truck is a great tote for when the universe tasks you with carrying a lot of stuff: it’ll swallow it all whole, like a boa constrictor swallowing an elephant.
The Monster Truck is, as you might expect by the name, a bigger version of the original Truck. Comparing it to the original, we can tell you that the Monster is wider and deeper, though not taller. Fully loaded, a person of average height can still carry it by hand or on their shoulder. However, depending on the contents, one might want to consult their chiropractor first: at 38 liters of volume, one could easily fill it (say with river rocks or beach sand) so that it’d be impossible to pick up. We’re not sure why you’d want to do this, but if you did, rest assured the fabric, handles and stitching would take it in stride. A more prosaic and hopefully more plausible load might be a large motorcycle helmet and two gallon jugs of milk, or a week’s laundry.
The front and back pockets of the Monster are wide enough to carry a large cookbook or tablet; you could slip an average 13” laptop or the big iPad Pro in either pocket as well, though whether that’s a good idea or not (there’s no padding or secure closure) is up to you.
Like the original Truck, the Monster is divided into three capacious compartments: these divisions can help keep, for example, wine bottles upright, but also can help you to control the center of gravity by loading the middle compartment with the dense, heavy stuff. Or keeping the dog toys separate from the people food separate from the baby’s stuff . . . whatever makes sense as you load and use your Monster.
Otherwise, it’s the same as the other two Trucks (original and tiny Pick-Up): it’s a multipurpose carryall bag, and that means it'll haul groceries of course, but it might also become your go-to beach tote, laundry bag, work/tool bag, or gym bag. You’re likely to find more uses for a Truck than you ever thought possible, and it's a joy to load as it stands up on its own.
The design and layout of all the Trucks will look familiar to those who know our bags: they’re all based upon the Moveable Feast grocery tote. We saw that folks were using the Moveable Feast for more than just groceries, and how they appreciated its organization and utility. What if we made a simplified version of the Moveable Feast, removing some the grocery-specific features? How about making it a bit bigger? A bit shorter and shallower, to allow for longer handles so we could carry it over the shoulder? We made some prototypes, tweaked them a bit, and then made some more prototypes; we tested them ourselves and gave some to friends to use. The feedback was all good—and not just from the users, but from the baggers at the local co-op as well: the Truck was easy and intuitive to load up, and seemed to swallow far more than anyone expected. Like our other carryall tote bags, all the Trucks have über-comfortable Poron® padded handles. A plastic stiffener in the center compartment adds stability to the load; you can fold the bag loosely around the hard bottom when necessary.
I love this bag so much I bought 2 more as gifts. It’s perfect for the beach, the CSA, or even grocery shopping. It fits so much more than you would think. And it folds flat when not in use.
I own a few Trucks and Pick Ups already but am so happy I purchased the Monster. It's the perfect size to make a one bag grocery run as it fits everything and is completely manageable on the walk back to the apartment. The Sea Pine is such a beautiful color too - I received so many compliments on this Monster's first day out and about. Great work Team TB, thank you for this high quality, beautiful product!
I have purchased 2 of these. One for me for grocery store trips and the other for my dad for his work on fish tanks. They have the right amount of organization and comfortable handles. I have carried 9 2 liter bottles in one and didn’t fear the handle breaking. I could have probably carried a couple more.
I bought this for myself as a “car bag” to corral all of the items that seem to clutter my car with two busy kids in tow. My husband ended up stealing it from me! He uses it as a work bag/EDC. I never imaged my husband would have his own Tom Bihn bag that he uses and loves! He carries his coffee carafe, 40oz Hydro Flask with water, lunch, running clothes and shoes (he often runs right after work), paperwork that he’s bringing home from the office, and a coffee cup. There’s always room to spare, somehow this bag just never really fills all the way up. The best part about the Monster Truck is that it stands up and stays flat. The coffee carafe can sit upright and never tip over. It’s like an organized, pocket-filled crate, in a way. Husband used to just carry all of his things separately, meaning a few trips to the car. I’m so thrilled that my husband now has his own TB bag!!
Just got this, so haven't used it, but it looks and feels very well made. The burnt orange color really works for me.
Question: how well would it do with a shoulder strap and couple gallon milk jugs and 2-liter soda bottles? What strap would you recommend? Thanks!
