Examiner.com

Soupansalad by Crumpler

For Christmas this past year, my wonderful girlfriend gave me a Timbuk2 messenger bag to replace my ailing army surplus paratrooper bag.  I really loved the asethic of my old bag, but the new one was far more practical and durable, especially since it was built for bike messengers.  A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to try out the Soupansalad by Crumpler, and I have to say I like it a lot. The bag itself is pretty spacious without feeling bulky.  The sides taper down creating a narrower bottom than top.  This definitely makes it easier to find items (especially on the run), but causes my Macbook to sit a little weird in the bag.  It still fits completely inside the bag without causing any discomfort on my part, but I'd prefer my computer fit a bit better.

The bag also has two unique inner pockets for storing smaller items (one of them is zippered), an externally accessible drink-holder, a secure, yet aesthetically interesting closing mechanism for the flap involving both Velcro and a clip, a glow in the dark design on the inner part of the flap, and a super long over the shoulder strap.  The strap is actually one of my favorite parts about the bag.  I have an abnormally long torso, so on most messenger bags I have extend the strap as far as it will go, and it's still a little short for me. With the Soupansalad, the bag sits as far down on my back as I want it to, and the strap still has more room to go.

All and all, I really like the bag. I think the size and feel of the bag would work great for anyone who needs an everyday bag for commuting via public transit or bike.