Well, apparently at least one person
is interested in the factors that led to the purchase of the Baileyworks Citizen bike backpack! Thus being the consummate people-pleaser that I am, I will elaborate on the process that led me to the bag I chose. That, and I'm so delighted that anyone actually reads this blog that I'm eager to respond.
If I could draw, I'd sketch out a decision tree. But then again, there's not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to my decision, and brand loyalty and emotion played a role, as well. So, it's almost embarrassing to admit that it was part research, part trial and, in the end, I went with my gut.
Yah, so when I decided to try out a bike backpack, the first place I looked was
Mission Workshop. Their bags just seem to be really well-made, they get great reviews and they are made in the USA. The price tag made me gulp ($249 for the Rambler, the model I was interested in), but it wasn't that hard to make the leap when I started comparing bags. I also like to rationalize purchases like this by telling myself that it's worth it to pay for a quality item that you will use and love for years. And, when you think about it, over the life of the bag, it's mere pennies per day. I use this strategy often, mostly when it comes to bike purchases, but it's useful in other areas, as well. Feel free to use it yourself.
So, within looking at the Mission Workshop bag line, I started thinking about bag size and doing some comparing there. The Vandal just seemed really huge. I'm not a small woman (5'9") but also did not want a bag that was going to dwarf me. Plus, I don't have a need to carry enormous loads as I have a trailer for grocery store runs. Just because you CAN carry 106 cans of beer in a bag does not mean you SHOULD. With that, I narrowed it to the Rambler. Oh, and I also referenced a few
bag reviews on
the Fixed Gear Gallery. They are a few years old by now but still relevant. The pictures in
those reviews made me certain I wanted the Rambler because the size was more in line with my needs.
Then I saw a Rambler in person at
Salvagetti. I was able to try it on, check out the pockets, and, you know, kick the tires. And I discovered that I did not love it. On the one hand, I was kind of relieved that I didn't fall in love with a $250 bag, but on the other I was disappointed because I was ready to pull the trigger. And as for why I didn't like it, there weren't any glaring deficiencies--it just didn't grab me like I thought it would. And, the rolltop rode high up on my back, causing visibility issues when checking for traffic behind me. It drives me nuts when my helmet hits the top of a backpack. Strike one.
Then I started looking at the usual suspects, Chrome and Timbuk2. I own a Chrome Citizen messenger bag (which I do not love as a messenger bag, BTW--I just use it for off-bike work trips most of the time), and anyone who is even a little bit into bikes knows about Chrome bags, so of course they were in contention. I have also owned more than one Timbuk2 bag. I had an early version of the Dee Dog, I think it was called. Great bag, indestructible, but I wanted something new and different. I also have a smaller messenger bag of unknown model name that I will never give up because it's the perfect size for trips where a lot of capacity isn't needed.
I tried on a
Chrome bag (pretty sure it was an
Ivan) and liked the way it felt. It was bigger than what I wanted or needed, but it was enough for me to know that the next size down would be a good choice. Made in the USA. So, it met my "on paper" criteria, but I didn't want to be yet another person with a Chrome backpack. That there are so many out there is a testament to the quality of the bag, but it really is as simple as me not wanting to be a joiner.
On to
Timbuk2. You can probably tell where this is going to go. Anyway, thought about the
Swig backpack and had my colors all picked out. Read the reviews and I'm sure the bag would have served my purposes. And, they are made in the USA--or at least the custom bags are. So, I could be nitpicky on that criteria and immediately rule out the bag or just be content that MY bag was made in the USA. Because it is all about me. I also considered the
Especial Tres backpack, but it's new and there aren't many reviews on it. Plus it seems bigger than I need and there's that whole sweatshop labor thing again. If I talk about the preponderance of Chrome bags out there, then Timbuk2 is at least 5x Chrome in that department. I went to a bikey event about a week ago and you couldn't walk 5 feet without seeing a Timbuk2 slung over someone's shoulder. Again, a testament that they are doing something right, but I wanted something off the beaten path.
I also briefly thought about
Banjo Brothers. Good reviews and well-regarded for the most part. Made in China.
Oh, let me elaborate that "made in the USA" is not always a deciding factor in my purchases. If I can source something made here and the price is comparable, then definitely. But I figure I'm springing for a high-quality item and there are plentiful options available in my price range--so why not make the effort to support craftspeople trying to make a living? But I digress.
Another factor at work here is that I live in Denver. It's pretty dry around here. We get moisture, for sure, but waterproofness is not as much of a determining factor as it might be in Seattle or Boston. In fact, in my years of bike commuting, I don't believe that the contents of my bag have ever gotten wet. Sure, I've ridden through my share of rainstorms, but those are relatively rare events around here. Even during monsoon season, the rain moves through quickly and the sun comes out again. If I was commuting in the rain a lot, you can bet my choices would have been different.
I also took a brief look at
Truce Bags and
Philosophy Bags. I was really impressed with both but didn't have a whole lot of information--or the ability to see one in person before making the purchase. The Truce looked like it was lacking in pockets, and we girls need more pockets than boys in my estimation. I'm still thinking the Truce merited a closer look, definitely my 2nd choice. The Philosophy bags were gorgeous but sort of not my style. A little too luggage-y for me.
In the end, I went with my gut. I took a look at the
Baileyworks site and thought the
Citizen would be a good choice for me. There aren't a lot of reviews out there, but what I did see was good. As I said in my
previous post, my BW Superpro has been everything I'd want in a messenger bag. I figured if the same amount of thought went into designing the backpack as it did with the messenger bag, I couldn't go wrong. I will admit to being a brand loyal kind of person--when I find something I like, I am a customer for life unless you do something radical to piss me off--and that loyalty ended up being the emotional part of the decision for me. I rolled the dice, ordered the Citizen and hoped for the best.
The bag was familiar right out of the box (or giant shipping bag, I should say). Same look and features. It feels good on my back, too. It doesn't sit too high and I should thus avoid the dreaded helmet strike. My only quibble is that I wish the interior of the bag was yellow, like my messenger bag. The interior on the Citizen is black, which I think will make it difficult to see the contents. But that is yet to be determined. Not too many pockets, not too few. Just right. Which is what I'm hoping this bag turns out to be. I will update with an opinion after I've had a chance to test it thoroughly. And, hey, as I've found with other items, if I decide I absolutely hate the bag (fat chance), no doubt I will have no problems selling it for a decent price.
