Binaural
Eats Squid
Item: Henty Wingman
Purchased From: Henty
Purchase Price (approx): $220
Usage: Commuter bag
Pros - most innovative bike commuter bag I've ever seen. Amazing for work commuting.
Cons - heavy, a bit fiddly to get to the inner tube. Not really a general purpose bag.
Comments: I am a bit of a bag snob. I've used and abused Chrome, Crumpler, plus a few other non bike bags over the years as a regular bike commuter in snow and sunshine. Mostly I prize the convenience, style and water resistance that you get with high quality kit. However, in recent years I've often had to wear office clothes and suits, which has resulted in plenty of hassle to schlepp these and from work. I've used various kinds of folders (and ironing at work), but it all adds hassle to the daily grind and the results are mixed.
The first thing you notice about this bag is its weight - it's noticeably heavier than a comparable backpack or messenger bag. The quality and finish is excellent, and the fit over the shoulder suits me well and doesn't hit my helmet. There are adequate pockets for most purposes and it can tolerate a brief shower without the overcover. But the big gorilla selling point of the bag is this: if you need to ride to work at an office and need to wear an ironed shirt or a suit (dresses? No idea), then the Henty is really the only game in town. Shirts come out looking good, suits better than if you'd put them in a dedicated suit bag. You can chuck used shirts in the waterproof inner tube so the main bag doesn't pick up smells over time. It's all very well designed.
The main downside is that most of the mass is tied up in keeping your clothes from getting smushed, and there's less unallocated room for shopping, bags or large books. If you get this bag to do everything, you might be happier with something a little less specialised. But if you want to keep one bag dedicated to the daily grind, you will absolutely love this bag.
Overall, A+.
Purchased From: Henty
Purchase Price (approx): $220
Usage: Commuter bag
Pros - most innovative bike commuter bag I've ever seen. Amazing for work commuting.
Cons - heavy, a bit fiddly to get to the inner tube. Not really a general purpose bag.
Comments: I am a bit of a bag snob. I've used and abused Chrome, Crumpler, plus a few other non bike bags over the years as a regular bike commuter in snow and sunshine. Mostly I prize the convenience, style and water resistance that you get with high quality kit. However, in recent years I've often had to wear office clothes and suits, which has resulted in plenty of hassle to schlepp these and from work. I've used various kinds of folders (and ironing at work), but it all adds hassle to the daily grind and the results are mixed.
The first thing you notice about this bag is its weight - it's noticeably heavier than a comparable backpack or messenger bag. The quality and finish is excellent, and the fit over the shoulder suits me well and doesn't hit my helmet. There are adequate pockets for most purposes and it can tolerate a brief shower without the overcover. But the big gorilla selling point of the bag is this: if you need to ride to work at an office and need to wear an ironed shirt or a suit (dresses? No idea), then the Henty is really the only game in town. Shirts come out looking good, suits better than if you'd put them in a dedicated suit bag. You can chuck used shirts in the waterproof inner tube so the main bag doesn't pick up smells over time. It's all very well designed.
The main downside is that most of the mass is tied up in keeping your clothes from getting smushed, and there's less unallocated room for shopping, bags or large books. If you get this bag to do everything, you might be happier with something a little less specialised. But if you want to keep one bag dedicated to the daily grind, you will absolutely love this bag.
Overall, A+.
