Ristretto, next to my camera bag for scale, note it's not much larger than the camera bagmy long boring computer bag rantAfter buying my new MBA 11" I realized that I continuing to use a 15" computer bag was ridiculous. So my search began for a suitable small messenger style bag. Being that I hadn't found any manufacturer that specifically makes a bag for the Macbook Air 11" computer I was choosing my bag based on a compromise. Either I would find a bag that was designed for one of those $hitty netbooks that wouldn't quite fit everything I needed it to (11" MBA, iPad, wireless keyboard, mouse, power cords, usb superdrive and about a million other accessories) or I'd have to get a gigantic bag designed for a 13-15" computer and hope my precious computer and iPad wouldn't go flying out because of the poor fit. Hmmm I suppose I'll compromise and go with the netbook bag design.
compromiseWell I discovered very quickly compromise can mean many different things. 1st compromise is obvious- smaller bag, won't work for every situation and for me that's tough given that I actually use both my iPad and MBA for work and play. Second compromise- Netbook bags are, almost by definition, cheap and crappy. Think about it, netbooks are cheap and crappy, why would you buy a nice bag for it? The answer is you wouldn't.
Quite literally every bag I tried was awful. The only one that sort of worked was by Case logic. It would fit my MBA, iPad and most of my stuff, but I couldn't carry my wireless keyboard, and I had to put the MBA and iPad in the same slot... Fine. Not happy about it, but my options suck so whatever. Well the case logic ripped after a weeks worth of non-abuse use. Went back and got a similar one, 2 days later the zipper seized. Like I said... Netbook bags are about as good as computers they carry.
enter Tom BihnFrustrated I decided to follow up on a tip from a fellow ACer. I got a great recommendation from Jim (if he wishes to he can let himself be known amongst all the Jims here) to try Tom Bihn computer bags after my bout with Case-illogic left me... Pissed off.
1st thing I thought when I visited the Tom Bihn website was "OMG! these bags are freakin' 'spensive!" then after reading a bit more my second thought was "OMG! these bags are handmade in Seattle!" 3rd OMG was "THEY MAKE A BAG DESIGNED FOR THE 11" MBA!!!!!" Gleaning as much as I could from the very well laid out website still didn't answer all my question so I gave em a call. Will my iPad fit? Yes. Will my cables all fit? Yes. Will My wireless Keyboard fit? Yes. Kitchen sink? Wrong bag. Fine. So I ordered a Cocoa/Cayenne colored Ristretto with the Absolute Shoulder strap.
Christmas in JanuaryAbout a week ago my bag arrived, Christmas all over again! Overall look is pretty standard. Nothing flashy. At first glance nothing honestly stands out as "superior" looking. Then when you look at the details you realize that is where the attention is. Thick strap hooks, higher quality zippers, unobtrusive accessory connectors all over the place for various
Bihn accessories., and expert stitching (unlike the case logics). And of course picking from a plethora of color options is always a plus.
My 15" computer bag and the Ristretto, half the size, one third the weight and 10% of the hassleKitchen sink? Wrong bagThis is not the bag you buy if you are taking everything. Think about that though, it's completely logical. You bought a computer designed to be less than an inch thick and weighs just over 2 lbs. You already realize excess weight in your bag ain't your bag. If you need to though this bag will likely allow you to carry much much more. As I said previously you can get a lot in the Ristretto, but a picture is worth a thousand lines of code.
everything I keep in my bag, I actually have space for a bit more if I wanted to without the bag bulging. With all this it's about 70% fullSo yes, this bag does everything I need it to do and then some. Nice waist strap if I want to combine with the shoulder strap to keep it from bouncing around. One complaint I have is the mouse/phone slots on the interior of the bag could use a velcro strap to hold them shut. If the bag is flat my mouse has actually come out of the bag with the flap closed and I don't dare put my phone in it's designated spot. Not a big deal for me, I prefer my phone to be on me at all times anyway. The pluses far outweigh this minor tiff. Included key strap, color options and most important among them the Absolute Shoulder Strap. It deserves special consideration.
Absolute StrapSo there is a standard strap, and there is the absolute strap for $20 more. The absolute strap is interesting in that it's the first strap I have ever owned that logically has dynamic flexibility to it. Where every other strap is nothing more than nylon strap with a padded area for your shoulder the Absolute strap is a soft rubbery material that sticks to your shoulder and softens the load it carries through it's dynamic flex. Translation: less shoulder slippage, more comfortable over extended periods of time and you can get away with carrying more if you wanted to.
uhhh this is an audiophool website, WTH are you posting this long winded review here?Well a few reasons. I bought the 11" MBA based off of AC recommendations, I bought this bag based off a fellow ACers recommendation and AC has a very healthy Apple community. Bihn pretty much caters to Mac-addicts despite their Seattle roots. And before this devolves into a Mac vs PC battle yes Bihn makes equally superior products for all.
The Ristretto definitely has my highest recommendation. Very little compromise here and a lot of great features.
Check em out.
www.tombihn.com
