I'm looking for a small vertical satchel for everyday carry, sized to hold an iPad Mini- about 9" tall by 7" wide. Yes, I know– that's small! Must have: • front- pocket organisation for pens, etc. • some interior organisation • external side pocket for a water bottle (e.g. 12 oz. or 16 oz. Klean Kanteen) • shoulder strap. I don't carry a firearm. I'm not really interested in the tactical look, or MOLLE… …but I do like basic black. Thanks in advance, folks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Some nice choices that I have read good reviews for are the Tom Bihn Cafe bags (Supporter of the forums), and Waterfield Designs Muzetto. They don't have the water bottle holders, nor the front pen slots (as far as I know) but they usually sized for the Ipads and have a few pockets inside the main compartment and one outside under the flap. Don't know if you will find much with a water bottle holder that size.
I've seen almost this exact question on 1-or-2 Mac forums -- they were for full iPads and not minis, but the water bottle was key. No one found anything. What I'd probably do is look for something along the lines of a surplus map case and then hurt 'Biner a standard nalgene to the strap or strap hardware. If you do find something that specifically matches your design set please remember to post back here, I'd certainly be interested. Best of luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know you said vertical for the style of bag but the Tom Bihn CoPilot has all the features you want. If it has to be vertical then check out, Victorinox Vertical Travel Companion (iPad mini) or Victorinox Flex Pack (iPad)
Ironically enough, I do have a bag that fits that description— I just wanted an alternative. To line up the next one, as it were. The bag that I currently use is a Victorinox Vertical Travel Companion. The shoulder strap isn't the best, but it's otherwise decent functionally, for about US$50. It's been discontinued, but is still widely available… for now. Most customers apparently felt that it was too small. I'd still like to have an alternative. Apparently this is a niche that isn't well addressed.
I'm only now seeing this response. The Victorinox Vertical Travel Companion is my current bag, and I do believe that the CoPilot will be my next! Thank you!
Hah! Should I run across those threads again I'll be sure to update them (except Amazon has that at 10x6.25, too small for a the full size iPad the thread was looking for ;-). Also good to know, as I turned in (sold) my full size for a mini a long time ago and use it exponentially more than I did the old one.
You're welcome, you'll love it. When you order Tom Bihn, one of the drop downs on their website allows you to select edcforums as who referred you so this forum gets the credit. It helps the owner keep the lights on.
I loved my kato.. Great little bag, not tactical looking but not sissy sissy fru fru either. You can fit water bottle in main area but I added their water bottle pouch for the extra space
Had a Kato - didn't like it at all. Looks good on paper, but I found the space to be relatively un-usable. Too big for most of the time, and too small when I did want to carry a bag. Bounced around a lot while carrying it if I did put a tablet in the back pocket . The flap was a pain, more so if you put anything into the pocket on the flap. The fold down map case thingy was just useless. Here's what I found to be 'just right' for 90% of my needs. http://edcforums.com/threads/pics-of-your-edc-bag-part-3.126611/page-2 The other small sling bag I have that I like is a Red Rock rover (I think??) Basically a knock off of a Maxp Lunada. Nice organization, plenty if useful room (versus the not so useful layout of the Kato). I attached the Hazard 4 bottle holder to it.
I did a video review of the H4 Kato, if you want the link msg me and I'll pass it over to you. I found it to be too small for my purposes but it might work for you. Also if you want more pictures/questions just ask.
I had the Kato's smaller brother, the Tonto. It was a good bag, but some of the design emphases didn't fit my needs. I found the oversized clip closure to be clunky and unattractive; the map-holding fold-down flap got in the way; and the side pocket was *just* too small to hold my smallest water bottle. Others found the clip to be hardy and attractive, the flap to be brilliant, and the side pocket to be perfectly sized. To each their own. The grab handle was absolutely perfect, though.
This is the summary of my findings. The Copilot is the front-runner by far, though I'm tempted to snag another Vertical Travel Companion while stocks last. Key requirement: must hold an iPad Mini and a Kindle. Bonus: external water bottle holder. Non-tactical, non-MOLLE design preferred. CCW features not needed. iPad Mini Size: 5.3”w x 7.87”h • Bolstr Bag “Safety Black”— Black w/ Orange trim US$80 9”w x 8.5”h x 3”d (handedness, no water bottle holder) • Drago Hiker Shoulder Pack Black US$56 11" x 11" x 6.5 (tactical design, heavy) • Hazard4 Tonto Black US$52 9.5" x 7" x 4.5" (perfect size, tactical design, iffy foldout map-holder, no water bottle holder) • Maxpedition Fatboy GTG Versipack Black US$62 Main compartment: 8" x 6.5" x 3" (Tactical design, heavy) • Mountainsmith Rift Messenger Grey US$50 12" x 10" x 4" (slightly large) • Timbuk2 Classic Messenger XS Black US$60 12" x 10" x 5" (slightly large, internal water bottle holder) • Tom Bihn Copilot Black & Grey US$130 12”x10”x5" (slightly large, excellent internal water bottle compartment, a little expensive) • Tom Bihn Small Cafe Bag Black US$60 10" x 8" x 3" (no water bottle holder) • Victorinox Vertical Travel Companion Black US$30 6.25"w x 9.25"h x 4.25”d, 0.7 lb (perfect size; discontinued though still widely available) • Waterfield Mini Indy (Black w/ Flame Trim, black hardware) US$180 8.25”w x 10”h x 1”d, 0.9 lb (The Indy is nice; the Muzetto is nicer; really expensive, no water bottle holder, little organisation) • Waterfield Personal Muzetto (Black w/ Flame Trim, black hardware) US$210 8.5w x 10.5h x 1.5d,1.3 lb (gorgeous, really expensive, no water bottle holder, little organisation) • Waterfield Personal Muzetto Outback Canvas (Pine) US$150 8.5”w x 10.5”h x 1.5”d 1.2 lb (gorgeous, a little expensive, no water bottle holder, little organisation)
Zulu Nylon Indy Satchel: because it's awesome Lacks needed organization tho... The Bolstr bag and CoPilot both look great for your purposes
I just got a Maxpedition Narrow Look Bag. It doesn't have an external water bottle pocket, but there is an elastic loop in the main compartment that holds my 18oz Klean Kanteen. I have my iPad mini in the middle, Velcro closure pocket. I like that the main flap has a magnetic closure.
