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@jersey
for those interested, my brother just got his Cocotte Alfredo in the mail.
I checked it out in pretty close detail and carried a full load with it.
tings i noticed:
-It's very pretty. A beautiful shape. Gorgeous lines and construction. Sounds silly but it's the first thing you notice. A real piece of craft and art together.
-It doesn't have the same ***construction ***as many messenger bags, with a nylon outer layer and a separate waterproof truck tarp layer on the inside. Instead, the inner waterproof layer is sewn into the bag and is more integrated as one piece with the bag. They claim its waterproof, but it doesn't seem as waterproof as my chrome, which has a very very heavy duty liner with minimal stitching. Don't get me wrong, it appears waterproof, and if it wasn't for the overbuilt Chrome bag I ride with, I wouldn't ever have considered this to be a potential weakness.
-The bag expands as they claim. It's a very nice system once it's cinched down. Basically, the straps that hold the flap down go all the way under the bag and so when you tighten them it's pulls any excess space with it. Problem is that the bag can be unwieldy when the straps are not tightened. I don't know about you guys, but i rarely use my straps. On this bag you have to use them otherwise you have a very very large bag flopping around on your back. It's very very easy to imagine a way this can be fixed by the manufacturer or the owner by simply having the same straps contain an in-line slidey plastic piece that keeps the bottom cinched even when the buckles are undone. My brother an I are already getting it done. Note that if you use your straps all the time, this entire issue becomes moot. It's only an issue if you don't lock the flap down such as myself.
-The shoulder strap is very comfy, and with three large texts books in the bag, the load is well distributed. It seems to distribute the weight over the whole strap and back. The bag hugs you. Very nice. The underarm retention is really well done. Overall it's better than my chrome which is impressive. Also, the system is reversible from left to right. Everything unclips and can be flipped. Very nice. The hardware is strong, and the thing is easy to adjust with one arm while riding. Very smooth operation.
-The ***pockets ***aren't perfect. Again i'm comparing to a Chrome which has perfect pockets. Generally they are too big. I would like to see a small one to put a lock in, and a useful tool slot, such as the Chrome has. These aren't really all that great. They are floppy and none of them appear to have any kind of "cycling specific" purposes.
Overall the bag is great. Good construction, very comfy. If the pockets were better sorted and the expansion system didn't rely on having the flap locked down, the bag would be perfect. As it is now, It's the only bag besides a Chrome worth considering, in my opinion. If you are in the market for a new bag, want something really great and dont think the two issues I cited are much of a bother for you, this may be your top choice. A truly comfy well made piece.