User Review: Patagonia Half-Mass

Patagonia Half-Mass
Above: The current Half-Mass, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed September 19, 2004 by Scott From The Air Capital

Rating: rated 3 of 5 stars
Design: Courier bag
Size: 1,000 cubic inches
Number of Pockets: 7
Height of Owner: 5ft 11 inches

I bought this bag with the intended purpose of using it to commute to work. The bag is immediately an attractive commuting alternative because the design is stylish enough for the office crowd, yet is tough enough to stand the elements.

One of the largest pluses with the bag is the placement of zippers and storage areas. The flap zipper and storage area are awesome. Another big plus is the reflective strip on the front of the bag. The multiple clasps for the chest strap are also nice because they allow for multiple T-strap positions. The shoulder strap is also a positive because you can tighten it up without any excess hanging off.

Unfortunately the bag also has some considerable downsides to it. First, there is no strap or other spot to attach a blinking light for the ride home. The shoulder strap also gave me fits because it doesn’t shorten enough to get the bag high enough on your back. The end result is that the bag is left hanging off your back and dangling precariously over your seat when you ride home. I wouldn’t want to have to ride home with the bag hanging in this position while/after it rains. The padded strap section also caused some problems because it doesn't float or move at all, so you can only keep the bag in certain positions. In addition, the side pouches on the bag aren’t large enough to fit a Nalgene bottle, not a major pain but kind of frustrating.

Overall I would rank this product a three out of five. I’m just not sure that you get enough for your money here. There are some serious issues that become evident when you try to ride a bicycle with the bag, things that you don’t have to worry about with other comparable (and cheaper) bags.

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