Medium Cafe Bag

Possible?

Evidently. I’ve had many urban sketching bags over the years, and I doubted the perfect bag was possible. If the perfect bag is not this one, it’s very close. I hesitated right out of the gate, because it has a flap, a characteristic that I dislike in any bag. It keeps water and prying eyes/fingers out, whatever—to me, flaps are in the way and not worth the extra bulk. But the one on the Medium Cafe Bag is cut at an angle, and… well, I’m okay with it and may even come to appreciate it. Past that, I’m all the way in. The bag is a great size with a Goldilocks number and variety of pockets, and I love the little D-rings. My Seawhite of Brighton Jumbo Square and Chunky Sketchbook fits easily along with a case of pens/pencils and my pouch of two watercolor palettes and assorted travel brushes. For the photos, I added a large landscape watercolor album, which took the main pocket pretty much to capacity and is more than my usual carry, but there’s still the front zipper pocket and the exterior rear pocket! Love this bag. Something that surprises me is that the bag stays on my shoulder. Because the strap is rather soft? Not sure, but due to a wonky neck and back, I need to be able to shift from shoulder to cross-body and back from time to time, so a good-fitting strap was surprising and welcome.

Nearly perfect bag

I gave this bag to my niece after owning it for several years. It is nearly perfect for its size. As advertised, will hold books, iPad, headphones (large over ear) at one time. Use it for music gigs for all my music and iPad. A main go to. My only request would be that the shoulder strap be padded out a bit. Not heavily, like a main bag, because it kind of cuts in when worn diagonally. Would make this perfect.

I wanted something more

With all the great reviews I was sold, expected something way cool. Got it and thought meh, then I got to hating it because of the clasp that pinches m fingers — ok I never learned to operate those pinch clasps. I was just not impressed. I’m always on the lookout for things with great pockets and efficiency. I must own a dozen ScoteVest products; this didn’t do anything for me. I could have returned it but I’m old and don’t have the energy; I suspect the return policy is very good. They also ship very fast.