Recycle – recycled

I’m a huge fan of Timbuk2 baggage. Big fan.

My first exposure was an old buddy, an illegal alien, I don’t mean from outer space, but he might seem that way, and if his girlfriend would’ve married him, then it wouldn’t be an issue, they had a kid, I think, but no, he just overstayed his visa, way I heard it.

So anyway, at some point, he’d been a bike messenger in San Francisco. He had this huge “bike messenger bag,” and he was forever getting thrown out of the girlfriend’s place, and he’d show up at the old trailer park and sleep on the couch in one neighbor’s trailer. Had everything he needed in that bag.

Good so far? Hope so.

He’d hang around for a few days, maybe work, maybe play some soccer, drink copious amounts of beer, then reconcile and get back with the girlfriend. Saw him two-three times, living out of that bag.

I was impressed, and I figured that it was the perfect road warrior bag. Timbuk2 didn’t have a big presence – yet. Distinctive style, shape, color, and logo. Funny guy, liked to fight, sometimes. Just for fun.

His baggage impressed me.

That led, eventually, to me using a Timbuk2 messenger-laptop bag. Custom built, black canvas, messenger-style bag with a laptop inset. The bag’s been handed off, along with the computer, to another lad. Recycled, as it were. But the bag was still going strong. I carried that bag for several years and across several continents. Went to Paris. Outlasted three or four laptops, but I used to have a high burn rate. Not so much anymore.

The bag itself was useful because it had enough pockets and volume enough for overnight, or three-four days worth of clothes, books, laptop, wires, cables, and so forth. Had the special cross strap thing for a left-handed carry, too, since I tend to be different. I’m right-handed, just, never mind. It was appropriately equipped.

The problem was a long trek from the Austin train station to the trailer park. Eventually, I (pulled, misaligned, twisted) something in my neck, and the culprit was the single shoulder carry. Cool as it is, if I’m going more than three steps, I can hurt myself with just a shoulder bag. As cool – and utilitarian – as ‘bike messenger’ styled bags are? Not so good for me. Age. Knowing one’s limits, or being confronted with them often.

The first solution was backpack, same brand, same company. Bought it, after shopping online, actually bought it at Austin’s Whole Earth Provision Co. Padded laptop compartment, pockets, and enough space for a few odd items as well as a shirt. Maybe a book. Or two.

The problem with that backpack was size, which became apparent on a trip to Paris (France), just a short, barely overnight expedition, but the pack was just a tiny bit too small. Then, the other drawback, there were no ‘water bottle’ pockets on it. Back to the store, back online, then finally, a couple of years later, I got the new and improved version of that pack, with a slightly larger main compartment and water bottle pockets on either side. Cool.

There were a couple of minor problems, first, the fit and finish wasn’t nearly as nice as its predecessor, and this was made obvious by the “made in a third world country by cheap labor” sticker. Another problem, it’s just a minor detail, but the cute, outside pockets, one of them had minor hole in the pocket, and change, chap stick as well as assorted tiny bits disappeared into the lining. A final sticking point, the bottom wasn’t that heavy-duty rubber stuff. Just pack cloth.

The advantage? Size. Perfect size.

Before the summer’s road trips, though, I got an itch. I wanted a new purse, and most female females will certainly grasp the idea. So I started shopping again, first online, then at the Whole Earth Provision Co., again.

I like the Timbuk2 website and obviously, I adore the products. I’d seen a pack on the website that looked right for me, but I wasn’t sure. I was sure after I handled one in the store – it went home with me. Instead of two bottle pockets, it only has one. All black, not a deal maker or killer, but good. Better yet, the logo is red. Not the usual yellow, which is a touch I like. Anything but yellow. Great logo, I just don’t ‘cotton’ to it in yellow.

The pack is strong, resilient, light enough, and a perfect size. Better yet, it has the new side-zipper laptop compartment. While not corduroy lined, it’s padded and exceedingly convenient. No unstrapping to dig out the computer.

Here’s the clincher. The company offers a ‘recycle’ policy. I’m dropping the older bags in the mail. I’ll see if they make good on their corporate word, but from what I’ve seen thus far, I’m sure they will.

Happy trails.