Tenba DNA 13 Bag (Features Score: 22.5; Access. Score: 9.3/10)

Overall:

Pros =  26.0 points; Cons =  -3.5 points; The Tenba DNA 13 Bag Features Score = 22.5 points. (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 9.3 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

The Tenba DNA 13 Bag Has Great Genes

As many of you know, I had essentially written off messenger bags as a Crossover Commuter Bag.  The flap made it too difficult to access the main compartment on the fly (you have to hold it out of the way when you are wearing the bag), the design was too casual looking for business, and the bags usually lacked structure that would allow them to stand upright on their own.  Then I discovered a few, rare messenger bags that eliminated all of these issues.    The Tenba DNA 13 bag is one such bag.

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STM Nomad (extra small) (Features Score: 7.0; Access. Score: 8.3/10)

Overall:

Pros =  20.0 points; Cons =  -13.0 points; The STM Nomad Features Score = 7.0 points. (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 8.3 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

The STM Nomad Wanders Just Outside of Excellence

It is important to note one thing that is entirely unclear about STM Nomad.  If you look online you will find that this bag comes in three different sizes: x-small (11 inch laptops), small (13 inch laptops), and medium (15 inch laptops).  What's odd is that when you look at the specs online, all three bags have the same dimensions.  I just figured that it must be a typo.  In fact, it's NOT a typo (as you can see on the tag below).  The only thing that differentiates the bags is the size of the laptop sleeve!

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Gura Gear Chobe Video Review (Features Score: 20; Access. Score: 9/10)

Overall:

Pros =  25.5 points; Cons =  -5.5 points; The Gura Gear Chobe's Features Score = 20 points. (Score sheet posted below.)  Accessibility Score: 9.0 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

Gura Gear Chobe - Is it a good value?

The Question

If you are a regular reader of this blog (all three of you), then you know that I recently asked: Why is the Gura Gear Chobe so similar to the Mountainsmith Endeavor while their prices are so different? The Chobe has an MSRP of $299.00 USD (without the camera insert, it drops to $249.00 USD) while the Endeavor has an MSRP of $124.95 USD (comes with the camera insert and can be found for $112.49 online).  The Chobe and the Endeavor are SO similar (see image below and this link) that I would think that one of the two companies would sue the other for patent infringement.  I am sure that Gura Gear would argue that their bag has $174 worth of differences over the Mountainsmith.  Would they be right?  I hope to settle that question in this article.

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Billingham Hadley Pro Video Review (Features Score: 8; Access. Score: 7.7/10)

Overall:

Pros =  18.5 points; Cons =  -10.5 points; The Billingham Hadley Pro's Features Score = 8 points. (Score sheet posted below.)  Accessibility Score: 7.7 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

The Billingham Hadley Pro - Siren or Savior?

The story goes that Billingham started making bags for sport fishermen and then noticed that photographers were using their bags for camera equipment.  The company quickly shifted to the more lucrative market and hit pay dirt.  Since then, they have garnered a passionate following.  Like Apple products, people are willing to pay a premium for Billingham bags.  Similar to Apple, you often get what you pay for.  I picture the Hadley Pro being crafted by a wispy-haired old man, wearing a beat-up leather apron, in the back of his musty-smelling Hogsmeade shoppe. Serious old world detail!

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Mountainsmith Endeavor Video Review (Features Score: 17.5; Access. Score: 6.3/10)

Overall:  Pros = 24.5 points; Cons = -7.0 points; The Mountainsmith Endeavor Features Score = 17.5 points. (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 6.3 out of 10.

Video:
There are two thing that I really love about this bag: 1) It is more compact than most of the bags I have reviewed - comparable to the STM Quantum, and 2) the large water bottle pocket that stows when not in use (similar to the ecbc Lance crossover day pack that I own and love).  Overall, it is clear that some thought went into this bag.  However, there are some details that would have made this bag even better.

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Carharrt Legacy Deluxe Work Brief Video Review (Features Score: 6.0; Access. Score: 8/10)

Overall: Pros = 17.5 points, cons = -11.5;  The Carhartt Deluxe Work Brief earns a Features Score of  6.0.  (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 8 out of 10.

Video:

To be fair, this bag falls distinctly outside of the type of bag that I have been reviewing thus far.  It caught my eye, however, with its ruggedness so I couldn't help grunting, scratching, and ordering it. Just looking at it makes me want to start moving lumber.

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Top Ten Features for a Crossover Commuter Bag

If you are reading this, you likely know that I have been searching for a type of day pack that I like to call a crossover day pack or CDP (read about it here).  A CDP as a versatile pack that can serve as a commuter pack during the week, but can work well as a pack for your weekend adventures (a.k.a., the kids' soccer games).  As many of you who have followed this site know, that includes the ability for the bag to carry my photography gear. I am a committed photographer who never goes anywhere without a real camera. This is why it is essential that all of my bags (packs or otherwise) have the ability to carry the small, padded, camera insert show below:

Timbuk2 Camera Insert - holding my "iPhone"

More recently, having happily settled on my CDP of choice (read about that here), I started a new mission to find a bag that could fill a need for me.  As I have explained elsewhere, sometimes you need the compactness, ease of access, and formality of an across the body bag (also known elsewhere in this site as a messenger bag or soft-sided briefcase).  Because I am fond of the idea of "crossover" I have decided to coin yet another term to help define what I need in such a bag: the Crossover Commuter Bag (CCB).  A CCB has a slightly different function for me than the CDP. The crossover aspect is that it needs to be able to carry my camera insert and some business essentials.  In other words, the "crossover" aspect is that it should be a combination camera bag and briefcase in its functionality.

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STM Quantum (S) Video Review (Features Score: 30.5; Access. Score: 7/10)

STM Quantum (S) Review

Overall: Pros = 33 points, cons = -2.5;  The STM Quantum (S) earns a Features Score of 30.5.  (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 7 out of 10.

This is a great little bag.  In fact, the big plus of this bag is that it is just that - little.  What is most attractive, however, is that despite being described by the manufacturer as being a bag for a 13 inch laptop, it fits my 15 inch MacBook Pro perfectly!  As I state in the following video, there are only a couple of flaws:

1.  The zippers don't allow the main openings to open wide enough.  This is particularly troublesome for the front organizer panel where it is difficult to pry open the pocket to access items (especially those kept in the mesh zippered pocket).  A wider zipper opening and a more gusseted pocket would have solved this problem.

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Mountainsmith Network Video Review (Features Score: 15; Access. Score: 8.7/10)

Mountainsmith Network

Overall:  Pros = 25.5 points; Cons = -10.5 points; The Mountainsmith Network Features Score = 15 points. (Score sheet posted below.)

I was disappointed by this soft sided briefcase.  The issues that were most striking were that the deep zipper covers that greatly impeded opening the bag and the interior was bright yellow in some places, but black in others. Another terrible design flaw was the decision to put a small patch of Velcro at the bottom of the luggage handle pass through sleeve.  Having a bit of Velcro at the bottom of this sleeve ostensibly allows you to use the sleeve as an open top document pocket (say for a magazine or file folder).  Unfortunately, a single piece of Velcro in this spot means two things: 1) you cannot place small items here (like your hotel room key card) as they will inevitably slip past either side of this Velcro "closure." and 2) anything with a bit of mass will eventually push its way through this Velcro and end up on the concourse floor as you rush to make your connection.  I just don't know why Mountainsmith did not simply add a full length zipper here instead.  What is more puzzling is that there is a narrow boarding pass pocket within this pass through sleeve.  That leads me to believe that they knew that people might want to use this area for small document.  So why did they create a complicated ineffective solution (adding a small pocket and bit of Velcro) when a simple effective solution (full length zipper) would have sufficed?  My guess is that it was an expense issue.

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STM Velo 2 (Medium) Video Review (Features Score: 21; Access: 7/10)

STM Velo 2 (Medium) Review

Overall:  

With pros = 30.5 points, cons = -9.5;  The STM Velo 2 (M) earns a Features Score of 21.0 and an Accessibility Score of 7 out of 10.

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ecbc Trident Messenger Video Review (Features Score: 19.0; Access. Score: 8/10)

ecbc Trident Messenger Video Review

Overall:  

With pros = 27.5 points, cons = -8.5;  The ecbc Trident earns a Features Score of 19.0  and an Accessibility Score of 8  (see details below).

Pros:

Well built, with a durable  Cordura-like outer material and ripstop nylon liner and pockets. +3

Superb hardware that exude quality (waterproof zippers, nicely designed zipper pulls) +1

The bottom of the bag has a reinforced heavier nylon to combat abrasion. +1

A handsome, professional (as opposed to sporty) look. +1

External access to laptop compartment. +3

Front flap large zip pocket contains a small fleece-lined slot for iPhone 5S. +2

A side mounted, velcro secured pocket that could contain your iPhone 5S - though it is a bit tight and fussy.  +1

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STM Trust (M) Review (Features Score: 27.0; Access. Score: 9/10)

STM - Trust (M)

Overall: With pros = 29.5 points, cons = -2.5;  The STM Trust earns a Features Score of 27.0. Accessibility: 9 out of 10. (Read about the accessibility ratings below)

Recently, I compiled a table that placed the bags I have reviewed so far in order based on the Overall Score and then on the Accessibility Score.  To my surprise, I noticed that the STM Trust (M) bag came up as the second ranking bag in both rankings.  Given this, I wondered why I had not given the bag more thought as a keeper.  While it is a bit bogus to justify something after the fact, I do think explaining to you why this bag did not measure up and become my keeper (so far, the Patagonia has been the bag that is the keeper) despite having such high scores in both metrics.

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Patagonia Transport 26L Review (Features Score: 24.5; Access. Score: 9.7/10)

Patagonia Transport 26L 

Overall:  With pros = 32.0 points, cons = -7.5;  The Patagonia Transport 26L earns a Features Score of 24.5 and Accessibility Score of 9.7 (see details below)

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ful Out-N-About Video Review (Features Score: 0.5; Access. Score: 7)

ful Out-N-About Review

Pros:

Well made with stout materials and hardware +3

Ultra cushy back with ventilation channel +1

Lash point in convenient place for keys +0.5

The bottom of the bag is flat and perpendicular to the sides so that it stands solidly without tipping over. +2

Bottom made of an ultra durable material +1

Great deal (right now). +2

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Mountainsmith Hoist Messenger Bag Video Review (Features Score: 11.0; Access. Score: 8/10)

Mountainsmith Hoist Messenger bag

Pros:

Well made with stout materials +3

Two side mesh pockets big enough for a 750mL bottle +2

External access to laptop compartment. +3

Top zip pocket on the flap for glasses. +2

The bottom of the bag is flat and perpendicular to the sides so that it stands solidly without tipping over. +2

Great deal (right now). +2

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Timbuk2 Dashboard (M) Video Review (Features Score: 6.5; Access. Score: 7/10)

Timbuk2 Dashboard - Medium

Pros:

Well made with stout materials +3

Love the mix of materials - ballistic nylon with a polyester felt.  Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. +1

Both a laptop and a tablet pocket. +3

Side zip pocket on the flap is fleece lined for protecting glasses. +3

The bottom of the bag is flat and perpendicular to the sides so that it stands solidly without tipping over. +2

Great deal (right now). +2

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Patagonia Half Mass Messenger Bag Video Review (Features Score: 5.5; Access. Score: 7.3/10)

Patagonia Half Mass Messenger

Pros:

Well made, with good fabric and hardware choices. +3

Large front pocket on the outside flap (cover) is useful. +2

The gusseted outside pocket for a water bottle is a nice touch - it's big enough for a 16 oz. water bottle!  +2

Great shoulder pad design.  Comfortable, grippy, functional.  +2

Lot of pockets in the organizer and all over the bag that allow you to really...umm...organize your stuff. +3 

No Velcro to hold down the flap.  I wish more bag companies would realize that Velcro is unnecessary as long as you have a Fastex buckle.  How much time does it take to secure a flap anyway?  +1

Substantial handle that would be comfortable if you needed to carry the bag in this way for an extended period.  +1

Handy open top file pocket on the back.  +2

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