The Berkeley Satchel, by The North Face. I severely dislike the large advertisement on the front flap and will probably remove it soon. Click to view it larger.
Back Story
Nothing was wrong with my previous bag (the Everest Utility Bag), except that it was sometimes too small. It’s lasted well and I will still use it when I want a slimmer, smaller bag. But I wanted a larger one too and I saw this one at Dillard’s in the mall. I checked it out then went home and slept on it, buying it the next day.
Cost
My previous bags were in the $20 range; this one was $50, part of which I assume comes from the brand name — The North Face is consistently listed among the top “outdoor” brands. (Side note: it is now owned by VF Corporation, for which I used to be a factory worker. I wasn’t aware of this when I bought the bag, nor would it have influenced my decision.)
This image shows the innards, with the top flap pulled back, giving an idea of the increased carrying capacity. The front two pockets (bottom) are easily large enough for the broadest of smartphones, or a large wallet. The main compartment is shown holding a full-size composition notebook, a thick trade paperback, pens, a charger bag, and (not visible deeper inside) flashlight and multitool. The padded tablet compartment (top) is empty in this photo, but easily holds our 10-inch Lenovo tablet. Click to view it larger.
Here, I’ve moved the composition notebook to the tablet sleeve, where it would disappear if I rotated it, so I stood it up to show where the slot is. Click image to see it larger.
Construction, Design, And Size
The bag is made of polyester (the company claims it’s “recycled polyester”, but I don’t know how to tell the difference), and was assembled in Vietnam. I couldn’t find any flaws in its construction — no loose threads or ill-fitting stitches. It’s entirely light gray, inside and out, except for the black plastic pinch-clips (a small one to hold down the front flap and a larger one in the middle of the shoulder strap). I wouldn’t describe it as “rugged”, but it feels sturdy and I don’t think it will come apart on me any time soon. There aren’t any zippers — one point of failure on older bags. The shoulder strap is not detachable, but can be separated into two useless halves via the clip in the middle; I’m not certain why this feature was included — I can’t think of when it will come in handy. It is adjustable, long enough to wear cross-body or short enough to keep out of the way.
The front flap covers the entire face of the bag and is held down by a plastic pinch-clip. Unless the bag is stuffed, in which case the flap only covers two-thirds of the front — and the clip is on an adjustable strap so it can still reach. The flap contains no pockets, inside or out, and it covers all the interior pockets when it’s closed.
This is a closeup of part of the main compartment, showing a few pens in slots made just for them. There are wider slots in the lining too, which can fit a phone, pack of gum, phone charger, or other small accessories.
When the bag is fully packed, the base is about four inches thick, but it’s usually closer to three inches. The whole thing is thirteen inches wide and nine inches tall (my measurements agree with the listed specs from the company). The main pocket is almost that big too. The two front pockets are five inches (wide) by seven inches (tall), and have Velcro closures inside. The tablet sleeve is thinly padded, and long enough for a tablet more than 11 inches long.
I wouldn’t recommend using this as a camera bag (the main compartment isn’t padded), but I did put my Canon 60D in there during a recent road trip because I got caught in a rainshower and the bag is mildly weather resistant — it kept my camera dry until I could get under a roof. If someone is thinking of using it as a camera bag, it’s big enough to hold a DSLR with a lens, a spare lens, and a good-sized speedlight, even if the spare lens and speedlight are in padded cases, and there would still be room for batteries and other small items. But I’m using it as a purse, so here’s what I fit in there (easily): a long wallet, a composition notebook (9.5"x7.5"), a book (usually trade paperback size), my smartphone, glasses case, multitool, small flashlight, pack of gum, pens, phone charger, lip balm, eye drops, earbuds, and sometimes other items. I haven’t filled it yet.
Conclusion
As always, only time will tell if the bag is durable, but I think it will be. If I had to guess, I would say the first part to break will be the clip that holds down the front flap — but even that seems sturdy. The color is perfect for me, and the size is what I wanted for a larger option to the Everest.
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