I bought the backpack and added the 14" folio. I'm on my second week of a daily train commute from far-east-bay to SF civic center area. Absolute A+.
Realistically, this should've been my first purchase. I really wanted to downsize from a Tumi backpack and I bit off more than I could chew. I'm finally Goldilocks - this one is just right. Materials are of terrific quality, the bag is very comfortable to wear, and it does indeed stand proudly regardless of how much is inside. For fellow BART commuters, it nicely fits on the floor in front of you if you're lucky enough to land a seat. And it is compact enough to sit between your feet so you can stand comfortably while consuming minimal space. (And silently judging the selfish folks who continue to wear their backpacks while complaining about the lack of space. But I digress.)
My daily stuff includes lunch, fruit, coffee thermos, big-ol' water bottle, a few meds, wallet & keys, two cell phones, laptop/folio, and charging accessories. Everything fits nicely. Nothing is squeezed and the bag isn't stressed at the seams.
I also think it looks great. I'm fairly conservative in terms of aesthetic, and this bag never looks out of place regardless of location.
Finally, I like the 14" Folio. My HP 14" laptop doesn't quite fit, but I'm okay with that. I knew I didn't want the 16" folio, as the 14" already feels a wee bit large for conference tables. My onsite meetings mostly occur within one building, and I'm good with carrying the folio (analog) or the laptop (digital). For meetings in other buildings I'd carry the laptop in the backpack anyway. The folio is amply sized for my use case.
Second purchase on this style. Have the compact size already and this full size is just as awesome!
It's the best carry-on I’ve ever purchased. Kudos to your designer and quality control. I don’t know why anyone would purchase anything other than Waterfield unless the size didn’t quite work for them. Thank you!
The Essential Crossbody is my daily go-to bag: I have 2 Essential iPhone Pouches (one of which is in waxed canvas): one Essential Crossbody (Compact), which I use all day every day (it holds my iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Mini, and Kindle); and now I own an Essential Crossbody (Medium), which I use as a closed charging pouch (to protect charging cables from my cat). The Medium holds a 6-port USB charger, 2 portable battery packs, and the iPhone and Kindle (while charging). As you can see, the Essential Crossbody is a multipurpose bag. Very well made.
Looks great, perfect size, impeccable build quality, very comfortable. It’s become my go-to since I purchased it and have already taken it on a few flights. Works great as an everyday bag and as a travel companion bag. Some of my favorite details I only discovered after purchasing it: there’s a dedicated interior pocket for the keys in the top front pocket. This makes it so you can store your keys in that pocket without them scratching other things you put in there, like a phone. As someone who doesn’t want his keys coming into contact with anything else, I appreciate this small but thoughtful detail. Another detail is that there are two exterior pockets that can fit a normal sized Swell water bottle. They are on the smaller side so they won’t fit a water bottle any bigger than that.
Highly recommended!
This tote is fantastic. Perfect size, perfect handles, perfect pockets. Everything you would expect from you guys. Perfect.
I just love this new backpack I got it to replace my Tumi that I spent just way too much money for. Yes it had the name the the dang thing wouldn’t even sit up on it’s own.
The build quality of this slim Tech Folio Backpack is second to none, easily holds my 14” MBP, a 13” iPad, and all the cables and gadgets I could image and this is the slim version! I opted for the optional carry handle on top and it in my opinion is a must have for the quick grab and go from the car, etc. Truly an instant classic from SFBags and you won’t be disappointed. Highly Recommended.
This fits my Odin 2 Portal perfectly and in a snug, secure, and low profile manner. I saw this on Retro Games and they were spot on. The magnetic enclosure is secure but easy to open
Love this bag. It's perfect for when I am going around town and want to be carrying just my phone, wallet, and keys. Couldn't be happier.
Purchased a compact size Exec Leather Messenger to replace a canvas Staad Attache that is a little frayed after 8 years of daily use. Everyday carry includes 13” MacBook Air and 11” iPad Pro + accessories. I loved the Staad, and its unusual-but-professional design drew a lot of compliments. This bag is a little larger than the Staad - taller and a little thicker. This is both good and bad. Good - more room for more stuff. Also, the dedicated iPad compartment is welcome. Bad - I was used to the smaller size of the Staad, which I thought was perfect for my needs, even though I sometimes over-stuffed it (and it showed). Another big difference from the Staad is that it had a front zip pocket, and a sleeve on the back, that could be accessed without opening the bag. This was convenient. On this new bag, you need to open the flap to get at anything. If I could, I would trade the key holder, zippered inner pocket, and inner laptop strap for a sleeve on the back. That said, opening and closing this bag is super-satisfying - the buckle is awesome. I also liked the rotating, detachable metal buckles on the Staad shoulder strap, but they were a point of failure. The strap on this bag is connected much more solidly, even if it is sometimes a minor annoyance to have to straighten it out. The bag looks great - a little less distinctive than the Staad but sometimes that is a good thing. It has all the great Waterfield features and quality that make their products worth the price. I plan to get the Staad repaired and might end up going back and forth between the two bags. It’s always good to have options. ;-)
Quality materials. Craftsmanship is nice but I expect a little more attention to detail for the price point. This is my first bag like this so my frame of reference may be off, but that’s my opinion anyway. Still, I’m happy with the purchase and the bag meets all my expectation functionally. I might have gotten the larger one in retrospect so I would recommend trying them out in person if you’re not sure which one to get.
Fabulous backpack for organizing and carrying my gear. I already had an Air Porter, which I love for air travel. However, the Tech Folio is perfect when I have more gear because it is designed for organizing and carrying gear. On the other hand, the Air Porter is designed and works great as a briefcase. Also the backpack is better for my back when carrying much weight or have to carry it far, and the Tech Folio is a comfortable backpack. Two packs seemed extragent to me at first, but they fill different needs. I wouldn’t give up either. They are so well made, I expect them to last a lifetime, so the amortized cost is low.
The tittle more or less tells to story. The materials and construction are beyond reproach, and it’s thick enough that I feel my laptop will be better protected than most competitors. My slight disappoint is that the side pocket could and should be more useful. For one it could be deeper- by reducing slightly the size of the grip on the bottom and/or making the flap go a little closer to the top, both of which there’s room to do. It would also be nice to be able to close it, whether with a zipper, a snap or two, or more magnets. As it is, things fall out of the shallow pocket pretty easily. If you’re not bothered about that, I’m sure you’ll be happy with the sleeve.
My last Dopp kit broke while security was looking through my bag, toiletries strewn across the table. While mourning the loss of what I had believed was a quality piece of travel gear, I stared at my WaterField carry-on and knew where I was getting a replacement. The zippers on this are much more robust and I can’t see myself needing a replacement ever. All of WaterField’s products are thoughtfully designed and made to last as long as you can. Highly recommend.
I’m sure it will become an heirloom as my kids are eyeing it. But what is the lanyard for??
Purchased a large red, medium red dopp bag for my wife and a medium green for myself. They arrived very quickly and the quality is as expected from Waterfield.
I was surprised by the size of a large bag, think piece of binder paper big. My wife was very happy, no more gallon Ziploc bags for travel. All her travel size liquids that used to go in the ziploc (hair spray, shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, etc) fit in the large bag. The medium size is makeup, skin care and personal items.
My medium is more than large enough to eliminate the two molle utility pouch bags I've been splitting my stuff into. No more having to wonder where I put what, everything fits. The best part is that the bag is only as big as you need it, collapsing down to just big enough.
No loose threads, zipper glides like butta' and we're looking forward to our next trip
I've been on the hunt for the perfect bag for years. This met every one of my requirements and far exceeded expectations. Stunning quality, great aesthetic, and amazing functionality.
Bought this for my partner who travels a bit, with shipping to australia etc it wasn’t cheap but so worth it. It’s so well made, I can see it will last him a lifetime. Unlike the ones he had before.
This is an exceptionally well made bag, as are all of the Waterfield products I have previously purchased. The fit and finish are not only pleasing to the eye, but suggest this bag will last a very long time. Although I have yet to travel with it, I’m sure this bag will live up to Waterfield’s advertising, allowing me to travel more comfortably. I highly recommend the Air Porter Carry-On.
In addition, Waterfield’s customer service is outstanding. It’s obvious they take great pride in customer satisfaction. When I ordered this bag, I received an email the very next day saying that the bag was temporary out of stock, but I was given a tentative ship date. I was assured that Waterfield’s craftsmen would be hard at work to create the bag I ordered. This communication gave me peace of mind, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before my bag shipped. More importantly, the bag shipped earlier than expected and actually arrived the day I was originally told it would ship. Kudos to Gary, Maria, the craftsmen who made the bag, and those in the shipping department.
Will be used as a daily carry-along in the car.
Clamshell opening like I wanted. Right size. Construction looks solid. Magnetic flap a great idea. Water bottle pockets are neat.
Plenty of pockets, but could use pen slots and one or two velcro-flap pockets inside (like my old bag). Would also have liked a papers compartment in the clamshell space.
I really wanted to love this bag, but I wish I could return it. On paper it seemed great. I liked the size and the capacity, the bag looks professional and sleek, and the form factor seemed perfect. There are just a few things that don't make this bag a good fit for me.
First off, the material is a magnet for pet hair. I love their bags that use ballistic nylon, and I thought I'd give the black waxed canvas a try. I will never buy another bag with this material again. It just looks terrible when I leave the house and it's covered in pet hair or dust or lint. It's not reasonable to me to have to lint roll a backpack every time I leave the house. It doesn't come off by just using your hand to brush it off, you really have to be intentional about cleaning it off. Things just seem to cling onto the material. Since the bag is black/deep grey, it's extremely noticeable. I will stick with black ballistic nylon from now on. Pet hair does not stick to it, and it's much easier to clean off.
The storage in the front is extremely limited since the front is entirely flat. That may seem obvious given the design, but the bag does not have any give in the material for the zipped pocket. If the front was able to expand outward a bit more, the front would not feel so crowded when you put things in. While I appreciate the storage areas for specific things like pen/pencils, wallet, chargers, etc. if I have items that don't exactly fit into one of those storage areas, they end up roaming free in the bag in the front. The front compartments feel very crowded and difficult to find things. If I have less miscellaneous things of different sizes, it's not a problem to find anything. However, what I have to carry on a day to day basis changes, and the storage compartment doesn't really work for my needs.
One other thing that I find odd about the bag is that the side pockets are actually pockets, but they have no give for expansion whatsoever. I thought I might be able to put a water bottle on the outside, but since the pocket is sewn directly across to the other side, it doesn't really open. You can put flat things like your phone in the side pockets just fine, but if you have bulkier items you're not going to be able to fit them. I thought a small umbrella would fit, but even that is difficult to get into the side of the bag. There's a water bottle pocket on the inside, but I don't like to carry my drinks inside of my bag where all of my tech equipment is. The water bottle pocket is a soft material that can be put to the side, but it's still able to open up and things shift around into it which is a tad annoying.
The bag is well made, and it's obvious that these issues I have were made by design. I just have found that in the few weeks I've been using the bag, I cannot get around these issues. I like that it stands up on its own, and the weight distribution makes it great when I have a lot of stuff to carry on a long commute. The front pocket's space limitations and lack of give make it difficult for me to use. Pet hair makes the bag look worse, and the side pockets being unusually tight make it so that I cannot utilize anything fully. For now, I will stick with my Compact Executive bag, which I absolutely adore. I was hoping that this bag would be a good alternative when I need to carry a bit more stuff, but I guess my search will have to continue.
When I got my first MacBook Air, I was looking for a lightweight case specifically designed for this laptop and came across Waterfield. I liked the idea of the "portfolio" design; it could be used with or without the shoulder strap. Can't even tell you how many years ago that was. Don't let the small size fool you though - it had room enough for a few files, the "brick" and cable for charging, accessories, an apple DVD drive, and more. Now I have a Macbook Pro, and it fits nicely as well. But alas, the shoulders pad on the old case's strap was an attached one, and basically began to disintegrate. When I checked online, of course, they no longer make this strap (or this case), but the Supreme Suspension strap was the closest to what I had. Full disclosure: when I first placed the order, they accidentally sent me the larger width size (1.5"); way too wide and heavy for this lightweight case. But one email (and really sincere apologies from them!) and the right one was on its way and arrived like in 2 days. Easy as anything. The narrow strap is PERFECT and matched ye olde case perfectly, but more importantly, it provides a lot more cushioning and stays put on my shoulder much better than the old one. Kudos to Waterfield for incredible craftsmanship and durability. The case itself is in stellar condition even after all these years. Wish they still made something like it; people often ask me where I got it...
