Mini review: The Kozmicc 8.9 inch bag (day trips with your iPad mini)
Jul 23, 2014, 6:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
Mini review: The Kozmicc 8.9 inch bag (day trips with your iPad mini)
I posted in another thread a few weeks ago about my search for an iPad Mini bag for a day trip. As I posted earlier, most of my day trips these days are more than met with my iPad mini with some additional accessories.
Specifically, my requirements were:
Well, after searching, I really came up with only two options:
Unfortunately, even though the basics bag was incredibly cool looking and for that price, stunning, I had to discard it because it's actually 12 inches (smallest size) and that's too much of slack with my iPad mini.
So this review is about the Kozmicc 8.9 inch bag
First off, if you are thinking of carrying anything besides the naked iPad Mini, please buy the 8.9 inch version and not the 7-8 inch version. I bought the 7-8 one first, and just fitting in the iPad Mini with the keyboard was a stretch. It was very hard to put in a notepad and also too much of stretch to put in the wires on top of it. So you've been warned. Get the 8.9 inch version.
Now onto the 8.9 inch:
It has a strongish neoprene smell when it arrives. Leave it open for a few days if it bothers you.
It very comfortably accommodates the following (you can add more small accessories into the pouch, including for example the amazing Kenu mount)
I made an error in the image below - its a stretch putting in the kind of faux-leather notepad the picture shows. A regular notepad goes in very easily including a moleskin pad.
Here is how the bag with everything above inside sizes up to a 13 inch laptop. Everything fits in perfectly, no pulling and stretching - easy slide in/out and no slacks around the corners that are large enough to flop/fold around
A look inside the accessory pouch:
Here is a look inside the bag. Note that it has a cheap looking plastic holder to hold cards. There are two such slots next to each other. Cards fit in easily, though I don't know how long it will last. I wish this was neoprene or some kind of cloth.
Here is a closer look at the handles and overall stitching. They decided stitching some additional velcro so the handles can be sealed together is a great idea. I think its unnecessary but it doesn't really do any harm. On the positive side, if you want to irritate someone, you can keep closing and opening the handle in front of them
. The stitching looks fine to me and should be able to carry the weight of the stuff easily.
A closer look at the zips. Good zip teeth and nice soft rubber grips on the holders.
A final look at the bag, filled up and held up
Summary:
A good bag, just the right size. And its worth reminding - it's less than $10. What could be better than this bag? Possibly the amazon basics bag if they made it in this size but they don't. I wish the handles looked a little better but certainly very business presentable (unless you attend meetings where people start the conversation with, 'I say, I just bought the USS Starship Enterprise because I got bored of my private jets...')
Specifically, my requirements were:
- Must be able to comfortably hold my iPad mini enclosed in the incredibly productive logitech keyboard folio
- Must also be able to include a small notepad
- Must have an accessory pouch where I can store a charger, a cable, VGA-lightning adapter and a few more if the need be without stretching
- Must, must, must have a handle
- Must, must, must NOT have slack which flops around (happens if the bag is too big)
Well, after searching, I really came up with only two options:
- The Kozmicc 8.9 inch bag from Amazon ($9.99)
- The Amazon Basics notebook/Mac Air bag ($12 to $9.49 - seems to regularly fluctuate)
Unfortunately, even though the basics bag was incredibly cool looking and for that price, stunning, I had to discard it because it's actually 12 inches (smallest size) and that's too much of slack with my iPad mini.
So this review is about the Kozmicc 8.9 inch bag
First off, if you are thinking of carrying anything besides the naked iPad Mini, please buy the 8.9 inch version and not the 7-8 inch version. I bought the 7-8 one first, and just fitting in the iPad Mini with the keyboard was a stretch. It was very hard to put in a notepad and also too much of stretch to put in the wires on top of it. So you've been warned. Get the 8.9 inch version.
Now onto the 8.9 inch:
It has a strongish neoprene smell when it arrives. Leave it open for a few days if it bothers you.
It very comfortably accommodates the following (you can add more small accessories into the pouch, including for example the amazing Kenu mount)
I made an error in the image below - its a stretch putting in the kind of faux-leather notepad the picture shows. A regular notepad goes in very easily including a moleskin pad.
Here is how the bag with everything above inside sizes up to a 13 inch laptop. Everything fits in perfectly, no pulling and stretching - easy slide in/out and no slacks around the corners that are large enough to flop/fold around
A look inside the accessory pouch:
Here is a look inside the bag. Note that it has a cheap looking plastic holder to hold cards. There are two such slots next to each other. Cards fit in easily, though I don't know how long it will last. I wish this was neoprene or some kind of cloth.
Here is a closer look at the handles and overall stitching. They decided stitching some additional velcro so the handles can be sealed together is a great idea. I think its unnecessary but it doesn't really do any harm. On the positive side, if you want to irritate someone, you can keep closing and opening the handle in front of them
. The stitching looks fine to me and should be able to carry the weight of the stuff easily.A closer look at the zips. Good zip teeth and nice soft rubber grips on the holders.
A final look at the bag, filled up and held up
Summary:
A good bag, just the right size. And its worth reminding - it's less than $10. What could be better than this bag? Possibly the amazon basics bag if they made it in this size but they don't. I wish the handles looked a little better but certainly very business presentable (unless you attend meetings where people start the conversation with, 'I say, I just bought the USS Starship Enterprise because I got bored of my private jets...')
Last edited by arjunrc; Jul 25, 2014 at 6:53 am
Jul 24, 2014, 9:05 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
Programs: UA, AA, DL, B6, CX, KE, Latitude, VIFP, Crown & Anchor, etc.
Posts: 2,589
Excel review & nice photos - I had the same impression when I read it yesterday, it does look a bit, urrrh, on the feminine side, not necessary a purse - maybe it's the color, LOL.
Anyway, I thought I'll share my EDC bag, which I started using again lately with warmer weather for use during the day & on weekend errands in town - when I sometimes ditched the (S) Timbuk2 Messenger Bag over the shoulder.
Made by STM for iPad carry, slim & low profile, excellent padding protection but not much room for lots of extra - but it's perfectly sized for 7" or 8" tablets like the "Mini" or my N7 & BT keyboard. All fit nicely & neatly in the bag, with room for other smaller items + a smartphone (and, room at the bottom for an extra pair of (reading) sun glasses. Limited lifetime warranty but a bit pricey - paid about $45 while on Sale via eBags, model has been updated with the "Link iPad Shoulder Bag" Also, have a look at the Scout 2 bag designed for iPad, they are oversized for an iPad Mini but might just be perfect with the spare room.
Anyway, I thought I'll share my EDC bag, which I started using again lately with warmer weather for use during the day & on weekend errands in town - when I sometimes ditched the (S) Timbuk2 Messenger Bag over the shoulder.
Made by STM for iPad carry, slim & low profile, excellent padding protection but not much room for lots of extra - but it's perfectly sized for 7" or 8" tablets like the "Mini" or my N7 & BT keyboard. All fit nicely & neatly in the bag, with room for other smaller items + a smartphone (and, room at the bottom for an extra pair of (reading) sun glasses. Limited lifetime warranty but a bit pricey - paid about $45 while on Sale via eBags, model has been updated with the "Link iPad Shoulder Bag" Also, have a look at the Scout 2 bag designed for iPad, they are oversized for an iPad Mini but might just be perfect with the spare room.
Jul 25, 2014, 5:13 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,839
I use this
http://www.sfbags.com/collections/ip...l-express-case
I'm a huge fan of their products. Expensive, but indestructible.
http://www.sfbags.com/collections/ip...l-express-case
I'm a huge fan of their products. Expensive, but indestructible.
Jul 25, 2014, 7:01 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
I use this
http://www.sfbags.com/collections/ip...l-express-case
I'm a huge fan of their products. Expensive, but indestructible.
http://www.sfbags.com/collections/ip...l-express-case
I'm a huge fan of their products. Expensive, but indestructible.