We’ve been kicking around the idea of a mini-travel or everyday shoulder/cross-body bag for years now. It’s been somewhat of a Goldilocks saga: each prototype we came up with was too small, too big, or just not the one in some small way or another.
Then, in Summer 2017, we introduced the , a new style of Organizer Pouch. It seemed like everyone and their brother and sister scooped one up, and when we started getting feedback, lots of it was along the lines of: “The Cubelet is great. I’d like one that’s slightly bigger to fit my phablet” and “maybe with a little more organization” and “can you make it fit my 15-inch MacBook Pro?” When we heard all that (well, except for the last one), a lightbulb went off: perhaps a larger Cubelet, with more organization, could be our elusive mini-edc-travel-unicorn-bag? And yeah, maybe we’d been overthinking things all along.
Prototypes were made. We gave them to friends and family to test, and cogitated on their feedback. Finally we concluded that what made this thing sing was its mix of simplicity, utility and grace. It had the just right amount of organization, but not too much; it’s structured enough to serve as a true bag, but minimalist/lightweight enough to slide inside of a larger bag. Voila!
The main compartment of the Everyday Cubelet zips open and shut with a #5 YKK zipper with a plastic slider. One side of the Everyday Cubelet is clean without any exterior pockets. The other side features a zippered pocket: the zipper sits at a slight angle, which allows it to open a tad more than if it sat horizontally—plus, it adds a bit of style (in our humble opinion). That extra zipper length makes it a little easier to see inside of the pocket, or wiggle objects (like a phablet) in there. Inside the zippered pocket is one .
Which side of the Everyday Cubelet is the front? Because the TOM BIHN label is on the left and right sides of the Everyday Cubelet, as opposed to either face, that’s up to you. Pocket out, pocket in, we’re good either way.
Inside the main compartment of the Everyday Cubelet is an additional , to which an 8” is attached. You’ll also find an open-top organizer pocket sized to fit a wallet, phone (fits the iPhone 7 or 8 and other phablets) or small notebook (think Field Notes) and a pen pocket. The rest of the main compartment is open and ready for whatever you’d like to carry: passport, snacks, pocket dictionary, earphones, sunglasses, wallet.
On the left and right sides of the Everyday Cubelet are exterior o-rings to which its 5/8” shoulder strap is clipped. This webbing strap is simple, without a pad, and quite comfortable for the weight this little unit is apt to be carrying. We also give you the option of adding a : remove the included shoulder strap and clip the Handle Loop to one of the exterior o-rings and you'll be able to carry the whole affair in hand. Laden with heavy objects and swung correctly, the Everyday Cubelet becomes a weapon, but we would never suggest this use.
You’re likely to use the Everyday Cubelet on its own, but also inside another larger bag. One of the folks who tested the Everyday Cubelet for us shared this:
“What I really like about it is that I can either use the Everyday Cubelet on its own, or put it inside my and leave the top of the Everyday Cubelet unzipped; this way, it becomes an open-top organizer within my Cafe Bag.”
