****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Yep, you read that right. I was looking for a sleek, professional laptop carrying solution for work. I wanted something more messenger bag-like than a briefcase, yet something not *too* messenger bag-like. I opened the package and as one review said, it looked more like a re-useable shopping bag at first glance... and felt weird, too... this rumpled fabric that looked off to me. I laid it back on the shipping material it came in... I was for sure going to return it. But later that night I played around with it... I found the pockets to be deeper and hold WAY more than some reviews suggested. I found the zippers to be amazingly smooth and yet the tabs soft to the touch and discreet. The next day it called to me again, and I played with the opening... my gosh I was falling for this weird bag. I loved the way it opened with one hand... no zipper like a briefcase would have, and no unwieldy flap like a messenger bag. The magnetic touch in closing the bag was nice, too (at first I wished it had stronger magnets. but in use I've found them to be just right). The two zippered pockets inside hold a lot, the laptop area carries my 14" travel Mac OR my 16" monster of a Mac... with ease. PLUS my iPad. The water bottle pockets are great and it’s nice not to have bottles visible in outside pockets on the side like most bags. After a few days of playing with it, I decided to try it for a day trip (heck, I could return it if I didn't like it, right?). I loved the shoulder strap... it's not all "pivoty," (made up word but you know what I mean), but rather it's a “there’s-one-way-to-do-this style that makes the bag fit SO well against my back. The handles are like butter when I want to carry it by hand, too. I came back from that day-trip ready to write a review about "looking for a professional bag, but found a casual bag I like so I kept it" kind of situation. But recently I've taken it on two very professional trips and it was perfect. And that weird fabric? It's grown on me and I now think it looks and feels great... makes my other bags look kinda boring. Even the damn key clip (I NEVER use those) is perfect... a soft ribbon with a plastic loop, cut in the middle so your keys slide right in. The lack of an Everest-ready locking mechanism is so welcomed as this allows me to hook my keys/remove my keys in a blink. Same for opening and closing the bag while wearing it... a simple one-handed affair. This at first glance, weird, casual bag... turned out to be the best bag I own (and I have a bag fetish with a STUPID amount of bags sitting waiting to be used). This has become my favorite bag... casual day, work trip, you name it. Holds my business gear plus a Patagonia puffer, full-size headphones, a Fuji x100F, a zippered case of "things," water bottle(s), journals, pens, battery packs.... et al. I am hooked. Don't know why I doubted it since I love Bellroy stuff... but I did. And now I don't. Try this bag out... I bet you'll fall in love. I did.
