I've used this bag exclusively for about a week now. And here are my thoughts.
What I like:
The build quality is well done as expected.
I like the straps in the front for you to attach your own charms and pins and other stuff.
The front outside pocket is pretty convenient. I have a MiniDisc player with BT transmitter there for quick access.
The gold lining helps you find stuff inside the bag.
The interior pockets fit a A5 sized tablet.
It's very comfortable to use
What I don't like:
The interior quick access pocket is too shallow (4in). I've had instances where my wireless headphone and pens fall out into the main pocket. I think the when I was accessing the front pocket, I pushed the interior pocket out.
I have trouble with most of my water bottles inside the bag. Most of my water bottles are too tall to fit in the bag standing and I don't like laying them down flat inside a bag with my electronics.
Stuff I'm okay with:
The front flap for the quick access pocket can be a little longer. When I have more things in the bag, the front pocket can become "open". A slightly longer flap can prevent that.
The minimal organization inside the bag is okay for me since I use other organizer bags for most of my items.
The interior of the bag is not secured to the outside as that causes the inside to feel "loose"
The bag does not open up completely, meaning you'd have to rotate a longer item to fit inside. I could not fit my 13" ThinkPad with a case in, so I carry it separately.
There is no additional padding for a iPad or small computer inside.
My Steam Deck (with case) fits in the main compartment with no issues.
Overall, this is a nice medium/small bag that works nicely for a daily routine or trip.
Quality and workmanship (workpersonship?) is excellent. Plenty of small zippered compartments to hold all the little things you have to carry around.
Unfortunately, bag was just a bit too big (thick) for me. I was really just looking for something to hold laptop and a few papers.
I’m a huge fan of cross body bags and an even bigger fan of WaterField Designs - so I grabbed this bag even though I don’t own a motorcycle anymore. I love quick release buckle, and how easy it is to get at all my EDC stuff.
All my Waterfield products have been well made and as described and arrived promptly. As a customer in Australia buying online a degree of trust is required. Waterfield delivers. This sleeve is very nice. Will look good in a business meeting. Better than its owner no doubt.
The Compact Executive Leather Messenger is a great briefcase, I originally purchased the full size for my business trips, however after comparing the height of the full size Executive Leather Messenger to my AIR PORTER CARRY-ON BAG, I realized that the full size Executive Leather Messenger would not fit under the airplane seat. So I promptly purchased the Compact Executive Leather Messenger and returned the full size Messenger. The return was seamless and easy. I’ve really enjoyed using the Compact Messenger as it is a great briefcase.
I have tried many variations of cases since the purchase of AVP. This is the one I feel the most confident in protection. I’m hoping this kind of protection might be built into a future backpack!!
Bought this briefcase for my husband in dark brown and it checked everything off on my list. Large enough to hold other items, single easy open clasp, many pockets inside, luggage pass through, etc! Such high quality leather. I’ve spent months researching for the best briefcase and so glad a stumbled upon this.
Beautiful feel and love the overtime distressing effect!
Watched and waited for a year while considering what I wanted in my next moto sling. This checked all of the boxes. I suspect it will fit anyone; there is a lot of adjustability. Unlike my other front sling it stays off my tank. The magnetic buckle is trick - I really like it.
I've been taking the bag to work every day since I got it and it's fantastic! Quality is beyond fabulous and it's able to fit everything I need for day to day work. Highly recommend!
I think this design has a lot of potential. I have minor issues with some parts of it, but it more than meets the requirements for my casual EDC use case.
Of course, the real star of the show here is the VX11 fabric. I love having the face texture of cotton canvas, but with sturdy ripstop and a stiffer, crinkly laminate hand underneath. I'm almost tempted to wax the canvas just for the patinated look and feel, but of course that's not actually necessary for weatherproofing thanks to the laminate backing. I can't wait to see how this fabric will break in over time. I hope DP will eventually offer it in more colors, as receptiveness to dyes is one major advantage that cotton has over your typical synthetic sailcloth face materials.
I hope you'll do more with this fabric in the future - this marriage of heritage and technical fabrics feels like a great fit for Waterfield in particular.
I also like the lining material, which feels much sturdier than the glossy, low denier ripstop nylon liners that some other brands use. The color is good for visibility without being obnoxious retina-searing fluorescent orange.
That said, the construction of the liner is the first of my nitpicks about this bag's design. The liner is only anchored to the shell around the mouth of the bag. This will be good for cleaning, since the liner can easily be turned inside out. But when the bag is only lightly filled, I feel like I'm digging through a sea of loose fabric to access the interior pockets. Anchoring the bottom corners of the liner would make the bag feel neater and nicer to use, IMO.
I'd also love to see a zippered slash pocket in the main interior compartment for flatter items like a wallet.
Next, I find that the shallow quick access pocket that's housed inside the top flap is both the coolest and most awkward feature of this bag. I haven't personally had issues with small items falling out of it, but it does sometimes get in the way when I'm trying to get to the main compartment while wearing the bag on my side (this is also partially due to the aforementioned loose liner fabric). I imagine a simple snap button or magnetic closure could help alleviate this while still affording quick access.
Housing this pocket in the top flap is a really cool use of space, but it does make accessing the front exterior pocket take some getting used to. When I grab the flap to reach into the exterior pocket, I'm gripping whatever is inside the flap - earbuds case, chapstick, pill case, etc. Maybe a small webbing loop or flat handle on the underside of the flap could make it easier to manipulate without disrupting the outer profile of the bag.
I'm happy with the front exterior pocket as-is. I'm not worried about things falling out during normal EDC use, and I mostly use it for things that are attached to the daisy chain under the flap anyway (great feature, btw). If this were a travel bag, I'd want some kind of closure. But for EDC, I prefer the quicker access that an open pocket provides.
Finally, I've often found myself wishing that this bag had a top handle for easier on/off and quickly moving the bag around without fully putting it on. A simple flat webbing handle on the upper back area would be a welcome addition, and wouldn't clutter up the clean profile of the bag when worn.
With those adjustments, I think you'd have a real winner on your hands. Maybe a small-medium crossbody bag like this is kind of niche, but I find it's just the right size and form factor for days when I'm not carrying my laptop.
I have quite a few Waterfield bags and have been a longtime customer. I am usually impressed and happy with my purchases.This one not so much. The design just doesn’t work. It’s awkward to use, the size is not useful and the storage areas are not well thought out. The top pocket is way too shallow and items will likely fall out easily, Under the top is difficult to access and the main compartment is unremarkable. All in all I just didn’t find the bag to be up to the usual standards. I returned it.
I’m quite happy with this bag so far, as it seems to be made with quality materials. Aside from a slightly crooked front pouch line (the one without a zipper) that would probably not bother anyone else on the planet, it feels well constructed, and is just the right size for me (smallest version). I expect it will serve me well for a long time. My suggestions are as follows:
1. I would prefer that the front pouch also have a zipper, as I can imagine rain finding its way into it - there’s no way to seal it. This is somewhat counter to the waterproof zipper design used for the other compartments.
2. I wish there were a couple of pen pockets inside the main pouch, preferably in the rearmost one, as there is no way to put pens in any of the pouches that would make it easy to quickly grab one - they tend to sink to the bottom of any of the pockets I’ve put them in.
Aside from these minor quibbles, I’m very happy with the bag and am glad I bought it - a good value for the price paid.
I was hoping that this would be a slightly lighter and more compact replacement for my essential laptop messenger, but the zipper opening is like a half-inch too short to fit a 13" laptop in a sleeve through (even though the interior of the bag is probably big enough). Will be a good lightweight carry on the days (and the trips) I don't take my laptop with me, and I'm getting used to the somewhat weird sewn-down flap (why not snaps or latches to make it easier to get things into/out of the underneath pockets when the flap pocket is being used?), but in my opinion there are a couple missed opportunities with the design (which is not something I'd say about many Waterfield designs).
I purchased my first Waterfield product, the Muzetto bag, 12 years ago. I initially bought the small canvas version, followed by a larger leather Muzetto. I have always loved these bags for their craftsmanship, quality and appearance. Even after several years of use, they remain in excellent condition. I have used several Samsonite bags for commuting, but they do not compare to Waterfield's products. I recently fell in love with the Tech Folio Backpack and purchased the canvas and leather version. The build quality is superb, and it looks great. The storage space for cables, chargers and gadgets is very convenient. Although it is slightly heavier than my previous backpacks, it is not an issue for me. Due to the weak Norwegian currency and VAT, it is quite pricey, but I am confident that I will be able to use it for the rest of my working career.
Strap too short. I’m disappointed that I have to pay another $30 to get a strap that fits properly.
I was looking for something easy to throw my Analogue Pocket in after each use. Didn’t need to be a “travel” worthy case, but just something for casual storage. The CitySlicker ended up checking all the boxes. You can throw your Analogue Pocket (or similar size device) in with ease, also a cartridge or two. The looks are great as well - guests that see it on the table never assume it’s housing a gaming device.
Definitely recommend if you’re like me and looking for a quick, in-and-out case.
I throw my laptop, documents, couple groceries in there. Great lightweight but durable bag.
This is a replacement strap for one that broke. The metal part that permits rotation of the strap failed on the one that came with my briefcase. It’s certainly one of the most comfortable straps, and it stays put on my shoulder during use. I’m unsure if the failure I experienced was a one off or not. We shall see how this one holds up.
So I bought this wallet in 2018. It's still pretty much in a similar condition to when I first got it. The color has faded a bit and the edges are worn but it's still a lovely, simple, well-made wallet.
Was cleaning up my inbox and saw this review request so I thought I'll leave my experience here. Sorry Gary and team. I should have written this waaaay earlier. You guys rock!
I used it on a recent trip. It keeps pace with other nice pieces from SFbags I’ve collected, but for me, it’s a little small for my carry. I’ll play around with it.
