AGVA Bag Review
*Disclaimer: Author has received a complimentary laptop carrier from said company.
Something like this:
Just that you replace the red with green instead. Not too bad actually
*End Disclaimer
Background
AGVA is a company which aims to deliver the bag that people want, rather than make a bag which they think people will want and then sell it to them.
Review
So I've been using this Agva bag for some time, and its been extremely useful. Spacious enough to put 2x Schweser textbooks AND an official cfa text comfortable, without being too heavy due to the "cushioning" part on the strap. At least I didn't really feel the weight for some time.
Although I haven't exactly been carrying a laptop around (my laptop is almost a permanent part of my home desk nowsadays), I can see how the padding around the bag helps keep any laptop safe. Waterproofing is a serious plus as well, unless you're one of those types who like to keep leaky water bottles in the same place that you put sensitive electrical equipment. In that case you should probably return your laptop to the dealer and tell them you're too dumb to own a computer. Try carrying an abacus around instead. On a related note perhaps a water bottle compartment or additional "add-on" to the sling might be a good idea here. hmmm.
The removable flap is another interesting feature. Normally when there's a zip on the back of the bag you expect another compartment, but in this case unzipping it removes the entire flap from the bag, supposedly this is so you can "swap around" for a new look to your bag without having to buy a completely new bag. You can have any colour you want for your bag, as long as its brown. I don't quite "get" why brown is the be-all and end-all colour. Personally I'd have preferred something a little closer to black or grey, but then again maybe its just me.
Of course, things are not all "great". One of the gripes I have is with the rather thin and poorly designed strap. The metal buckles kinda remind me of SBOs (shudder) and when slinging it over one shoulder the less than perfectly rounded edges of the strap tend to chafe the forearm. The design is also not optimal for cross-body slinging.
Another thing is that... I. F87KING. HATE. VELCRO mechanisms. Not only do they get all sorts of stuff sticking to them, there's a VERY. VERY. IRRITATING. *ZZZZZZT* whenever you open the bag. If there's anyone who knows a "quiet" way of opening velcro mechanisms let me know please. For the record, opening it slowly so the sound becomes more like *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt* does NOT qualify.
The main flap operates on velcro, and I've taken to leaving my bag open for long periods of time if parked at one spot. Sometimes I find myself semi-detaching the flap from the zip side and rummaging around inside my bag like a Doraemon wannabe. Would have much preferred a clasp-kind of mechanism. What can I say. I'm a silent, quiet and low profile kinda guy.
The Lowdown
All in all quite a decent bag. Looks-wise ok and function wise is fine too. Main thing is that the company hasn't gone all the way with its idea of "giving people what they say they want". Rather its more along the line of "giving people the pattern on the bag which we mass-produce". End of the day I'm able to put my design on the flap, but that's a far cry from actually getting the bag that I want. You'll probably see me carrying this bag around for some time, especially if I have more stuff to carry than my other "casual" bag will allow. As a laptop bag, it'll be the one I use if I have to lug my laptop around.
Bag Rating: 7/10, would have been closer to 8.5-9 if not for the velcro and strap, but those might be down to personal preferences.
P.S. tks to mnstr for walking to TP to collect the bag with me!
Something like this:
Just that you replace the red with green instead. Not too bad actually
*End Disclaimer
Background
AGVA is a company which aims to deliver the bag that people want, rather than make a bag which they think people will want and then sell it to them.
Review
So I've been using this Agva bag for some time, and its been extremely useful. Spacious enough to put 2x Schweser textbooks AND an official cfa text comfortable, without being too heavy due to the "cushioning" part on the strap. At least I didn't really feel the weight for some time.
Although I haven't exactly been carrying a laptop around (my laptop is almost a permanent part of my home desk nowsadays), I can see how the padding around the bag helps keep any laptop safe. Waterproofing is a serious plus as well, unless you're one of those types who like to keep leaky water bottles in the same place that you put sensitive electrical equipment. In that case you should probably return your laptop to the dealer and tell them you're too dumb to own a computer. Try carrying an abacus around instead. On a related note perhaps a water bottle compartment or additional "add-on" to the sling might be a good idea here. hmmm.
The removable flap is another interesting feature. Normally when there's a zip on the back of the bag you expect another compartment, but in this case unzipping it removes the entire flap from the bag, supposedly this is so you can "swap around" for a new look to your bag without having to buy a completely new bag. You can have any colour you want for your bag, as long as its brown. I don't quite "get" why brown is the be-all and end-all colour. Personally I'd have preferred something a little closer to black or grey, but then again maybe its just me.
Of course, things are not all "great". One of the gripes I have is with the rather thin and poorly designed strap. The metal buckles kinda remind me of SBOs (shudder) and when slinging it over one shoulder the less than perfectly rounded edges of the strap tend to chafe the forearm. The design is also not optimal for cross-body slinging.
Another thing is that... I. F87KING. HATE. VELCRO mechanisms. Not only do they get all sorts of stuff sticking to them, there's a VERY. VERY. IRRITATING. *ZZZZZZT* whenever you open the bag. If there's anyone who knows a "quiet" way of opening velcro mechanisms let me know please. For the record, opening it slowly so the sound becomes more like *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt* does NOT qualify.
The main flap operates on velcro, and I've taken to leaving my bag open for long periods of time if parked at one spot. Sometimes I find myself semi-detaching the flap from the zip side and rummaging around inside my bag like a Doraemon wannabe. Would have much preferred a clasp-kind of mechanism. What can I say. I'm a silent, quiet and low profile kinda guy.
The Lowdown
All in all quite a decent bag. Looks-wise ok and function wise is fine too. Main thing is that the company hasn't gone all the way with its idea of "giving people what they say they want". Rather its more along the line of "giving people the pattern on the bag which we mass-produce". End of the day I'm able to put my design on the flap, but that's a far cry from actually getting the bag that I want. You'll probably see me carrying this bag around for some time, especially if I have more stuff to carry than my other "casual" bag will allow. As a laptop bag, it'll be the one I use if I have to lug my laptop around.
Bag Rating: 7/10, would have been closer to 8.5-9 if not for the velcro and strap, but those might be down to personal preferences.
P.S. tks to mnstr for walking to TP to collect the bag with me!
Labels: Reviews
posted by ~Z~ at
12:50 PM
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