Tom Bihn's Ristretto Messenger Bag

By Guest Contributor, Kristine LeFevre

 

Tom Bihn www.tombihn.com   $70 USD, $70 CND, £35 GBP, 45Û Euro   Requirements: Desire for perfection and quality.
Strengths: Great protection for your laptop, the benefits of the CafeÕ bag, heavy duty construction, easy to carry.   Weaknesses: Really made for the MacBook Air and your thinner laptops.   Previous Reviews: Large CafŽ bag, Swift bag.

 

 

 

Introduction (Hi!)

 

This bag has been specifically designed for the MacBook Air, 13" MacBook or IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad X300. Unfortunately, I do not have a MacBook Air so I have been using my 13Ó MacBook, and my iBook.  I cannot say enough about Tom Bihn bags.  Their computer and travel bags are the best around.  I am a bag-a-holic, I am always on the lookout for new and interesting bags.  I have yet to find any that match the quality of Tom Bihn.

 

What attracted me to this bag is that it has the look of the CafeÕ bag, only vertical, and the protection of a computer bag, with a padded pocket for your laptop to sit in.  I love the CafeÕ bag, it is my favorite with the Swift coming in second, so I knew I would love this one too.  This is the bag that has made the final cut for carrying around my iBook (I note here that I only carry this iBook around because it is what they gave me at work, I would much prefer the MacBook Air or to even use my personal MacBook).  I travel from school to school and I need a bag that will protect my laptop from the daily wear and tear of being an itinerate teacher.

 

 

Description (all the technical stuff)

 

* Exterior of 1000 denier Cordura¨. Lined with 500 denier Cordura¨.  

* Built-in padded compartment for the MacBook Air/13" MacBook/Thinkpad X300*    

* Choose from three shoulder straps

* Overall measurements: 10.5 x 12.5 x 3"

* Made in the TOM BIHN Factory

* Padded Organizer Pouches for Superdrive, etc.

 

Using the Bag (The best part!)

 

What I like best about this bag is that I can carry around my laptop, cords, ipod, cell phone, files, keys, basically everything.  I do notice though when I put the iBook in, since it is thicker I have a little less room in the main compartment.  (Which in a way is better because I fill my bags to the brim usually with stuff I really donÕt need and could stand to carry a little less with me.)

 

My computer is always protected due to the built in padding.  I really like this feature. It is like having a built in Soft Cell in your bag.  Since I work in a high school and have to traverse the hallways (yÕall have seen the movies of high school hallways, pretty realistic) with the students, I like have the protection for my computer. 

 

Once again the shoulder strap is great.  I have the standard shoulder strap that came with the bag.  I love the foam pad on the strap.  It sits on your shoulder and doesnÕt need fiddling with. Once you adjust the strap to the length you want your all set.  I also continue to use the key strap, as my work keys would be lost in the bottom of the bag.  The main compartment has built in pockets to hold pens/pencils, a cell phone and ipod, which again keeps them from floating at the bottom.  The front of the bag has a zippered pocket and non-zippered pocket.  These pockets are situated under the flap and are great for holding your misc. items.  A magazine or file, fits nicely in the back pocket for easy access.

 

 

Conclusion (just wrapping it up)

 

I like this bag.  It keeps my computer safe and all my ÒstuffÓ organized and clutter free.

I love the CafeÕ bag look to it and the ease in which I can insert and remove my computer.  It comes in great colors and is sturdy.  This bag is great for someone on the move whether by car, train, bus or bicycle.  It can support the waist strap if you need to have your bag held closer to your body, if on a bike or motorcycle, or walking down a busy city street.  This bag combines the look of the messenger bag with the protection of the Soft Cell.  You just canÕt go wrong.

 

A Small Aside (by Wayne LeFevre)

 

Me, I think this is about the most perfect (man) bag of itÕs type. It is my absolute favorite Tom Bihn bag. It will hold a MacBook, a magazine or two, and a few gadgets, maybe a book, but not much else.

 

It is a very slim, somewhat smaller bag. Think about the size of a MacBook, but about twice as thick. If anything, the only reason not to love it is that you cannot remove the padded protection for the computer. But then, thatÕs the point of the bag, no?

 

It is not designed to be a Òcarry-all.Ó It carries what you need if you want to, say, take your computer to a cafŽ, class or to work. With all the different color options that are available, and the quality of Tom Bihn, I heartily endorse this one! I give this one a 4.5 star rating.