Tom Bihn Ristretto 13 vs. Large Cafe Bag: Comparison and Review.

[admin]

Here is my comparison and review of the Tom Bihn Ristretto 13 (R13) and Large Cafe Bag (LCB).

I was initially looking for a bag with which I could replace my Timbuk2 Classic Messenger bag (Medium). I really like this bag; however, it is quite too big for what I need to carry on a daily basis and have been wanting to downsize it for a while. I work as an editor and copywriter and do not really carry much gear. I have been a TB fan for some time and have owned a few of their products in the past, most recently the Synapse 19. Which I recently sold for lack of use.

Originally, I only ordered the Ristretto, thinking it was the bag I was looking for. Unfortunately, after receiving it and filling it with my daily carry items, I felt it was a bit cramped. So, I then ordered the LCB to see if it would fill my need.

Timbuk2 Custom Classic Messenger (bag that needs replacing):

Ristretto and Large Cafe Bag side by side and empty:

Items I need to carry daily:

Ristretto 13: The R13 is designed to carry a Macbook Air 13 inch. It is built with a padded sleeve for a computer and has other various organization. I really like the style of this bag and I prefer the materials (1050d Ballistic nylon with a Dyneema interior lining) over those of the LCB. The padded laptop compartment takes up a large amount of the interior space of the bag and I feel it leaves little room for much else. While everything I need to carry does fit in the bag, there is little room left for those days that I might need to carry a little more.

R13 Front Full:

R13 Side Full:

R13 Front Pocket:

R13 Main Compartment:

Large Cafe Bag: In general, I feel the LCB is a much more versatile bag, as the non-rigid structure of the bag lends itself to a bit more ‘stuffing’. I do not like the materials (1000d Cordura exterior, 500d Cordura interior) or the styling as much as the R13s. And I prefer the front pocket on R13 as well. However, regardless of this, I do prefer the LCB for the fact that it can hold everything I need, plus a little more. Please note, as the LCB does not have a built-in laptop compartment, I do need to carry my notebook in a separate sleeve. This sleeve does not seem as protective as the laptop compartment on the R13. The R13 is also twice as expensive as the LCB, which might have something to do with what I perceive as better materials on the R13.

LCB Front Full:

LCB Side Full:

LCB Main Compartment:

LCB Pocket:

I am still undecided on which, if any of these bags I will keep. I feel that each of these bags are excellent; unfortunately, neither is perfect for my needs. I may return both and just buy a small or medium cafe bag to use when I do not need to carry my computer and continue to use my Timbuk2 Messenger. I am also considering the TB Co-Pilot. However, I am a bit hesitant to do this because I have already spent $20 in shipping and doing this would necessitate an additional $20 in shipping costs. I may send both back and search for a better alternative. Or I may end of keeping one of them.

[Author]

Posts