You’re probably familiar with SOLO New York bags, manufacturers of wallet-friendly carry gear typically found in the “bags ‘n accessories”  section of your local big-box electronics or office supply retailer. For this review, I’m testing the Crosby Backpack, targeted at the professional business user. 

Yes, the Crosby is a budget bag. But you know what? I still like it. Let’s get into the review to find out why!

First Impressions, Materials & Construction

First impressions of the SOLO Crosby Backpack are quite good. The rectangular form-factor, streamlined profile, and refined style identify this instantly as a professional bag. The primary material looks and feels like a black denim which, when combined with extensive black “leather” accents through the bag, makes for an upscale presentation (they also make a brown colorway in this bag, if your prefer). SOLO has clearly taken many style queues the TUMI Alpha Bravo collection in this design, and it works. It’s a good looking backpack.

Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll start to see where the Crosby diverges from its higher-end competition. The materials are a combination of cotton and polyester, including synthetic leather (Is it pleather? Faux leather? Whatever it is, it’s clearly not the real deal).  Zippers and hardware are budget-grade stuff. Basic, squishy foam is used for all the padded bits as opposed to the closed-cell foam you’ll see in upscale bags. It’s pretty much what you would expect in a bag at this price point, with nothing exceptional to be had in material choices. 

Once you get past the materials, the build quality is quite good. Stitching is tight and even throughout. Every seam on the bag is finished, with no stray threads or flaps of fabric to be found. All the stress points are reinforced with additional material to prevent splitting during normal use. Quality assembly carries through to the interior of the bag as well, with nice liners and finishing in all the compartments. I don’t believe that the threading is high-grade stuff, which may lead to durability issues down the road… but it’s a well-assembled bag inside and out, with nothing to fault in the construction.

I’ll also give SOLO credit for paying attention to texture combinations in the construction of this bag. The cotton/polyester primary fabric may not be water resistant, but it feels soft & thick in your hand. That fake leather has some substance to it as well, and it feels substantial in all the accent points, the top handle, and the base (I’m not so sure about its use in the zipper pulls). The combination of fabrics on both the interior and exterior add to the feel of an upscale presentation. It all works together nicely and serves to make the bag feel nicer than its budget price point.

Layout and Design

The SOLO Crosby Backpack is designed for business. At an overall size of 17” by 12” by 5”, it’s a good size for hauling your office necessities. It’s a two-zone layout: your big stuff rides in the main body of the bag, while an external storage area manages all of your smaller stuff plus two side pockets. You won’t find anything particularly innovative in the design, but it’s a solid layout that does the job well.

The main body of the bag is divided into three storage areas. Resting against your back is a 2” deep fully-padded laptop compartment that will easily take a 15.6” laptop, accessed by a top zipper. A second 2” deep compartment, also accessed by a top zipper, includes both a document divider and a padded tablet pocket. There’s also a 10” by 12” stash pocket, accessed by a horizontal zipper on the front face of the bag. All of these areas feature wide openings for easy, and there’s plenty of room for notebooks, papers, tablets, and extras like a lunch or a light jacket.

Your external storage area measures 10” by 9” by 1”, and is nicely contoured to keep the bag’s streamlined profile. This space includes a standard-issue admin panel for pens & business cards, and a quick-grab pocket on the front for keys, earbuds, and small bits. An open pocket on the right side of the bag sits tightly against the bag, and includes a reinforced lip to keep your smartphone snugly in place. On the opposite side you’ll find a water bottle pocket that, when unzipped, expands with elastic mesh sides for larger beverage containers or travel mugs. I found that this slot could accommodate a Tervis 24-ounce travel mug easily if required. The combination of external organization options keeps your little accessories nicely separated from the big stuff.

The Solo Crosby Backpack also boasts two carry options. The shoulder straps are pretty basic but do have generous length adjustments and nice padding. A pair of nicely padded foam back panels provide extra comfort. The top-carry handles are nice and thick, made from faux-leather backed with nylon webbing for extra durability. A faux-leather wrap connects the handles together using snap-buttons to secure everything in place. With nice padding and a shoulder-friendly 2.1 pound overall weight, this all makes for very comfortable and lightweight daily use.

All in all, the layout of the SOLO Crosby Backpack is simple and functional. You have plenty of generous, easily-accessible space to organize your stuff. It’s also easy to carry, with the added convenience of a nice top-grab handle for getting around when it’s not on your back.

In Use

When I first unboxed the SOLO Crosby Backpack, I had mixed feelings about it. While it looks good, materials are so-so. The design is straightforward, but there’s just nothing exceptional or innovative to get excited about. I loaded up my work gear for testing with relatively low expectations.

A few weeks later, and I’ve come to appreciate this bag.

The SOLO Crosby Backpack performs like a champ on the business commute. It’s sized just right for your work gear with a bit of room for extras, but not so big that it becomes awkward to manage when you’re navigating between meetings. The compartment design is also very good, with both generous sizing and easy access to your gear. I also appreciate some of the additions like the document folder, top grab handle, and expandable water bottle pocket. The lightweight nature of the bag and generous padding make it easy on your shoulders. It’s an easy bag to live with on day-in, day-out basis as you go to and from the office.

With all that said, I would be hesitant to recommend this bag for the regular business traveler. Road warriors put a lot of punishment on their gear, and the best travel bags (Tom Bihn, Waterfield, and Red Oxx come to mind) utilize materials and hardware designed to take heavy abuse like YKK zippers, Cordura fabrics, and marine-grade nylon thread. I think this bag is well assembled, but I would be concerned that the budget-grade materials used here have a higher potential for failure under duress. SOLO does provide a 5 year warranty on the bag, but that won’t help you if a zipper bursts while you’re running to catch your connecting flight. There’s no water resistance in the bag, so being caught in the rain could spell trouble. For the occasional business trip, you’ll do just fine with this bag. If you live on the road, however, there are better choices that provide the long-term durability to match your needs.

Other than the materials, I have a couple of specific concerns with the bag that you should be aware of. The top-grab handle wrap requires two hands to snap in place, which can be awkward. I suspect that this will loosen up with regular use, but it kind of gets in the way of normal operation. The mesh fabric used to seal in the foam on the shoulder straps and back panel has a lot of play in it, and I suspect it may pull or fray over time. The shoulder straps themselves are really basic, so there’s not a lot of adaptability (other than strap length) to adjust to different body types; they are also not reinforced at the shoulder points and could be a trouble spot if you overload the bag regularly. I’m also afraid that the pull-tabs on the zips could fail, and the dual-zipper handle on the water bottle pocket doesn’t feel particularly substantial. Given the price of the bag, these are pretty easy faults to live with, but they are issues to consider.

Conclusions and Pricing

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the performance of the SOLO Crosby Backpack. It professional good looks will work well in business environments. It’s generous pocket sizing, simple layout, lightweight, and comfortable padding make it an easy bag to live with as a daily office driver. I do have some concerns about its durability (and lack of water resistance) when facing heavy abuse. If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly backpack for the day-to-day office commute, however, you could do far worse at this price point. And the price is the big X-factor here. The SOLO Crosby Backpack retails for $79.99 but is currently available on Amazon for $51.99 in the black colorway that I tested. It’s even cheaper in the brown colorway at $39.99! Not bad for a solid daily office performer. You can find it at most online retailers, but Check out Amazon for the current best available price.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by SOLO New York. For more info visit their site and Amazon to buy one.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Backpack, Bags

SOLO New York Crosby Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 30, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Tom Bihn is a legend in the carry community with a reputation for creating well-designed, impeccably constructed bags and accessories. The Stowaway is the latest creation in the Tom Bihn lineup. It’s designed as a feature-rich, compact personal carry-on that will fit under an airline seat while giving you plenty of room for your stuff. In my testing, I found that the overall design and flexibility of this bag enables it to do much, much more.

Oh, and did I mention that it also converts to a backpack? To the review!

Design and Construction

When you first size up the Tom Bihn Stowaway, you might feel underwhelmed. It’s a compact bag, measuring 14” by 9.4” by 8”. The profile is simple and streamlined, with a pair of top-carry handles and attachment points for the shoulder strap as the only external features (besides a bunch of zippers). How is this little guy going to handle all of your stuff?

The magic, my friend, is all on the inside.

Six different storage compartments are found in the bag. For smaller items, you’ll find a full-width quick grab pocket on the front face, accessed by a horizontal zipper, subdivided into three sections including a padded phone/sunglasses pocket. Two additional quick-access padded pockets are found on the rear face of the bag, accessed by vertical zippers, that run 2/3 and 1/3 the width of the bag respectively. The three main storage areas in the body of the bag each run the width and height of the bag and are each 1.8” deep. The middle of these compartments is accessible by a side zipper, while the other two compartments load from the top of the bag. Every square inch of the layout is maximized, allowing the Stowaway to hold an impressive amount of stuff despite the measured 12 liter carrying capacity.

On top of excellent pocket design, the layout sports numerous additional features that enhance the usability of the bag. Curved zippers on the quick-access pockets allow for easier access and keep things from accidentally slipping out. Dual zippers on the front quick-grab pocket and top-loading compartments enable left- or right-hand operation, and the zips on the top-loading compartments extend halfway down the sides of the bag to facilitate access to your gear. A centered mesh water bottle pocket subdivides the front top-loading compartment into three sections, but you can unzip it to open up the space if needed. You’ll also find 8 of Tom Bihn’s “O” rings positioned throughout the bag, providing attachment points for additional accessories (which we’ll discuss below). An 8” key strap is included in the purchase, and attaches to the “O” rings. Taken as a whole, these additions are a testament to the thought that has been put into making the Stowaway as functional as possible in day-to-day use.

The Stowaway also boasts a three-way carry system. There’s a pair of grab handles on the top of the bag for briefcase-style carry, and an excellent shoulder strap that provides both good padding and a grippy undersurface to keep it from sliding around on your shoulder. Backpack mode is achieved by unzipping the bag along the center line. The bag now opens to reveal a pair of adjustable nylon-webbed shoulder straps. The two front compartments now form the top of your backpack, while the rear compartments rest on your lower back. There are also attachment points for an optional waist strap. The whole process of converting to backpack mode (or back again) takes seconds to operate, which is really handy when you’re on the run.

Travelers and road warriors swear by the quality and durability of Tom Bihn bags, and the Stowaway is no exception. Denier HT ballistic nylon is the fabric of choice here, bringing excellent durability and water resistance in a total bag weight that’s under 2 pounds. Burly YKK zippers are used throughout the bag, and include Aquaguard water-resistant seams on all storage areas. Every bag is handmade in Seattle, and you won’t find an unfinished seam or bad stitch anywhere. It’s an astounding build, and it’s made to last.

In Use

The Tom Bihn Stowaway is a serious multitasker. The compact size, flexible layout and three-way carry system make for a bag that easily adapts to the needs of the traveler, the commuter, and the adventurer.

The Stowaway is a joy to use as your mobile office. Its compact size makes it easy to carry for extended periods of time. There’s plenty of room to stash all your chargers, notebooks, laptop, water bottle, and assorted work accessories (including some snacks). Everything is easy to get to, even if you’re on the move. You also have multiple options to organize your stuff based on your needs. And backpack mode is seconds away if you find yourself hauling armfuls of binders to that board room presentation. Personally, I like to bring doughnuts to loosen up the crowd… but that’s me.

Got a flight to catch? Meet your new personal carry on. It’s designed to fit under the stingiest airline seats, and the streamlined profile has no buckles or straps to get caught on things as you board. All of your quick-grab items (books, a kindle, travel documents, etc.) have a well-organized place in the outside pockets for easy access. The main storage areas will handle your laptop or tablet as well as a fresh shirt, socks and underwear for an overnight trip. You could ditch the laptop and pack a light change of clothes for a long weekend. The convertible backpack mode allows you to quickly get hands free if you’re grabbing a coffee and sandwich at the terminal before boarding, or navigating your carry-on bag down the aisle. Again, options galore.

Just for fun, I decided to test out the Stowaway as my one bag for a recent two-day camping trip as my go-bag. I swapped out the office gear for two days worth of light clothes, toiletries, medicines, and some camping tools. The Stowaway was happy to be stuffed in a small space in my (overpacked) trunk for the drive, and served as a well-organized station for all my stuff in the tent when we hit the campsite. No fumbling around for my glasses and flashlight in the middle of the night when that “mysterious noise” is heard. Bliss.

I hope you’re getting the idea here. As a flexible multitasker, the Stowaway is a little beast. And it’s durability ensures that it will happily take out any punishment that your wandering throws your way.

Adding Accessories

While all Tom Bihn products stand on their own as carry solutions, the bags really start to shine when you start to add their accessories to customize your kit to your specific needs. Let’s look at some specific examples.

Over the years I have a collected a variety of different sized Tom Bihn organizer pouches, and I can’t live without them. Stash your small bits into the pouches, clip them to the “O” rings, and your organization reaches a zen-like state of bliss. Padded pouches, mesh pouches, clear pouches, pouches for business cards, pouches for first-aid gear… Tom even makes one designed for knitting tools. The combinations and possibilities are endless.

I’d also recommend the Tom Bihn zipper pulls. I was provided a set of these for this review. Not only do they provide easier zipper operation, but they add some noise dampening to clanky zipper dongles. Check out the instructions for customizing your installation to match your style preference… it’s a magical little detail that will make you smile.

I was provided a pair of Stowaway Packing Cubes for this review. Travel blogs have been singing the praises of packing cubes for years, and these are custom designed so that two of them will fit perfectly side-by-side in any of the three main compartments. For my camping trip I was able to stash three t-shirts in one cube and two days worth of socks & underwear in the other, keeping my clothes separated from the rest of my stuff. I’m a fan.

I was also provided another new accessory to test for the review: the Tom Bihn Cubelet. Measuring in at 5.1” by 5.1” by 2.1”, it’s intended to wrangle all of chargers and cables. This little guy goes everywhere with me, keeping my Apple charging accessories and headphones from creating a rat’s nest in my bag.

These examples only scratch the surface of the list of accessories Tom Bihn provides on their web site. If you need something to make your work/travel life a little easier, they probably have it. Just go check their site out for more information.

Caveats and Considerations

The Stowaway is a great bag, but it’s not going to be for everyone. There are some specific issues related to its compact sizing that you’ll need to consider, and a few nitpicks about the three-way carry system that are worth your consideration.

First and foremost, the Stowaway is designed for a 13” laptop or an iPad Pro. I can *just* get my work-issued 14” ThinkPad in the center compartment (the one with the side zip), but larger laptops just won’t fit.

The backpack straps have no padding, and are not intended for extended carry. I don’t find them to be uncomfortable given their intended use, but it is something to consider. The option for a waist strap is nice, but I don’t know that it’s necessary in a bag this size.

I also feel that the nylon-webbed grab handles could be a little longer. I don’t think they need extra padding, but they do ride tight against the bag which may be an issue if you have bigger hands. An extra inch of length in the handles would solve for this.

Finally, it is important to note that the 3 main storage areas are relatively narrow. This isn’t a duffle bag, and you won’t fit wider items (like a pair of sneakers) in these compartments. You’ll want to check the dimensions of your usual gear loadout to make sure that you won’t have any issues.

If you think these issues may be a concern for you, I would highly recommend that you take a wander over to Tom Bihn’s amazing user-driven community forums. You’ll find a bunch of great folks that are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always willing to help answer your questions based on their own experiences. It’s worth a visit.

Conclusions and Pricing

The Tom Bihn Stowaway is a superbly designed and well-constructed bag. Despite being compact, every square inch is optimized in such a way that it carries much more than you would expect. Given the compact size of the bag, however, you’ll need to consider the sizes of your regular gear. Overall usability is excellent, providing outstanding day-to-day functionality and adaptability to both travel and business use. The three-way carry system is well-implemented, providing additional flexibility to handle whatever your journeys throw at you.

The Tom Bihn Stowaway retails for $180.00, and is available in 6 different color schemes. The Stowaway Packing Cubes and Cubelet retail for $20 each, and the Cord Zipper Pulls retail for $5 for a pack of eight (I used two packs for all the zippers on this bag). Other accessories vary in price. Check out the Stowaway and all the accessories at the Tom Bihn web site.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tom Bihn. For more info visit their site.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Backpack, Bags

Tom Bihn Stowaway and accessories review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 28, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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