Michael McDaniel
Verified Buyer
First off, everyone I spoke with at Rickshaw was great - I think it was three, maybe four different people. I added to my order two (maybe three?) separate times and everything was delivered as requested.
I have been using my bag regularly and I am sooo glad it is the size it is. Nature abhors a vacuum and it serves one of my desired purposes of being unable to carry even more stuff. It works fine for me as is. In case it doesn't show by default, my bag is a customized messenger for iPad 2 with a simple internal (Velcro) bag and a cross strap. The cross strap length adjuster could use more friction - well, I mean for the loose longer end. The actual length I set holds fine.
I carry my iPad with charger, large Moleskine, a book, pen/pencil, and a variety of other stuff.
I've had the bag etc since the end of 2011 so have had time to run everything through its paces. Flap has not curled significantly. This was a worry for me pre-purchase due to the single Velcro flap strip.
I do suggest sewing the iPad slot bottom slightly higher than the bag bottom. Maybe a bit of padding at the bottom of the slot as sewing it higher may create more difficult manufacture. This would add a bit more protection for the iPad when the inevitable bag-drop occurs off a hook or the back of a chair or via butter fingers. Just sayin', and I have not experienced damage.
Would I buy it again, knowing what I know? Absolutely yes. Would I buy more RickshawBags product? Yes, based on my current experience and as long as they continue to be made in the United States.
Georganna Reis
Verified Buyer
My RICKSHAW messenger bag for my iPad is fantastic. It's sleek! sharp and spacious. In addition
to my IPad, it holds my H2O Bobble, notebook, scarf, and sunglasses. My writing supplies, iPhone iPod and other small items fit in my deluxe pocket. One really cool thing is that I could choose
my materials from a multitude of colors and types of material. My gorgeous bag is black H2O proof
X-PAC with a red X-Pac interior and marine blue trim. Needless to say I get compliments on it all the time. RICKSHAW bags rock!! Thanks for making a great bag!!
MWebb
Another hit, in their "messenger" line, from Rickshaw (I love their messengers but haven't "bonded" with any of their backpack/laptop bags).
My favorite feature of this bag is its minimal 1 lb weight. Too many other bags are too heavy even when empty. 1 lb to carry your e-device of choice is just right.
Mind you this isn't a voluminous messenger bag. A lot of us are spoiled by the seemingly endless capacity of messenger bags. This isn't one of those. This is slim, and doesn't "fatten out" towards the bottom. It is perfect for carrying a netbook or iPad plus print outs/magazines/a book or two. If you don't add an accessory pouch (a cheap option) there is no place to store small junk, unless you don't mind it rattling around in the bottom of the bag. This bag is nothing more than an iPad/netbook sized slot in the front, unpadded, plus a 3 ring binder sized main compartment behind that. There are no extra slots or pouches built in, unless you count the pen sized slots on each end of the iPad slot which will hold a single stick pen each.
Here are the pluses and minuses:
+ iPad in new or 2nd gen editions will fit inside the front slot, nice fit, not too snug or loose.
+ You can even put your iPad in a Rickshaw slip case and it will still fit. I recommend the version that loads from the side, so you don't have to pull out the Rickshaw slip case to access your iPad. The Rickshaw slip case converts the unpadded slot into a padded slot.
+ With an accessory pouch added, I have all the "small stuff" storage space I need.
+ The main slot is narrow and won't hold a conventional round water bottle well (maybe a very narrow one; I know a small Trader Joe's water bottle will fit). But it will hold a Platypus plastic film one pint water bottle fine. NOT is you are stowing magazines or other full length, fat items in the slot - which you will probably want to do soon.
+ No external end pouches means the bag has some of the cleanest lines out there. Lack of buckles, straps, reflectors adds to the "clean" look. I like this a lot.
+ The iPad slot is wide enough to accept a slim 10.1" netbook, provided you don't have a case on the netbook. This is pretty cool because sometimes I need a key board or access to programs (like Flash) that don't work on an iPad. Putting the netbook in the front slot keeps it from flopping around in the main compartment, and protects the ports and case from scratches/junk.
+ The main compartment is slightly wider than the iPad slot and as a result you can fit a 10.1" netbook with the typical snug neoprene cover in there with ease, or an uncovered 11.6" netbook. I don't have an 11.6" MacBook Air to try, but I suspect it will fit as well since if anything it is slimmer than a Windows netbook.
+ If you aren't using full sized materials in the main compartment (like a lot of magazines) there is plenty of room for sunglasses, power supplies, reading glasses, snack bars, etc.
+ The "profile" of the bag is NOT messenger style - it's rectangular, not trapezoidal, in shape, and a uniform thickness from top to bottom. Imagine, if you will, an updated small attache, minimalist, that fits snugly on your back and carries easily due to the thin cross body strap and modest external dimensions of the sack itself.
Negatives:
1. You won't be bringing home any grocery shopping in this bag. It can hold a Subway sized sandwich for lunch, a bananan, reasonable amounts of personal items, and a SMALL water bottle, but that's it.
2. NOT a gym bag.
3. It could be mistaken for a purse (due to the lack of fat buckles and thick shoulder strap and heavy chrome seat belt buckle on the front to scream "guys messenger bag" to the world). In appropriate colors and materials, it can substitute for a purse, which is a positive for approximately 50% of the population. If you are a guy and go all black on your material choices, you won't have any problems though (assuming this bothers you at all).
In summary, if you like an iPad because it is a hell of a lot lighter than lugging around a 17" or 15.6" laptop, this is your solution.
Most glaring omission: where to stow your cellphone. I would like to see a slot on one end - not a water bottle pouch, just a Google Galaxy Nexus sized (future iPhone 5 sized) slim slot that can fit a cellphone. I have not problem stowing my phone in the main compartment, because I don't use the phone to communicate much, but if you are constantly on and off the phone, you won't like having to fish in the main compartment for it.
