The Real Urban Tool

Scribbled by Lethal Illness @ 3:42 PM on January 24th, 2011.

Way back in the day, in December, Cult of Mac and Urban Tool were running a contest to give away one of Urban Tool’s products. I actually won that contest and received Urban Tool’s pocketBar in black and have been putting it through normal usage to see how it holds up and this is the review.

Urban Tool pocketBar's Tag

Style & Appearance

The pocketBar is a gorgeous, modern, clean cut looking bag with 4 cushiony yet semi-stretchy pockets in the front. The main zipper on the top leads to a compartment that fits an iPad or netbook (up to 11.1 inches) as well as anything smaller than the two. The back of the bag happens to look way different from the front as it’s a different [soft canvas-like] material, though the two sides compliment each other and gives the bag a bit of character.

Frontside of the pocketBar.

One thing that is a little annoyingly odd is that this bag is plastered with Urban Tool’s logo throughout the front, back, straps, and the zipper-strings tips. While there is nothing wrong with branding your product, there is a line that it becomes obnoxiously obtrusive. Luckily they don’t have a hideous logo that turns me off from the bag but I would love if they cut down the logo a bit. I’ve counted 13 logos on this 9.06 x 11.81 inch bag.

Features & Durability

How can a bag have features worth talking about? Well let’s start with the pockets, as I said above they are extremely cushiony and can fit my iPad charger, camera connection kit, point-and-shoot camera, phone, and small-medium external hard drive in the 4 pockets alone. Also on the front is a pen holder that I am slightly disappointed with and I’ll explain why. Sure it doesn’t look bad and it holds a pen just fine, however I lifted the pen holder to the opposite side that it naturally curves to and saw a mess of threads like an old beat-up t-shirt.

pocketBar's Pen Holder with Loose Threads

The main compartment is big enough to fit an iPad securely. However if you have Apple’s iPad case it’s a tight fit to get it passed the zipper but once it passes the zipper it has wiggle room and isn’t too tight. Also by the main compartment is a strong pleather-like strap holder that keeps the strap strongly intact which is a neat feature to ensure the straps don’t just rip off under heavy use. Which brings me to the back that has what I think is a strap holder for when it’s not in use? Also, there is another but smaller zippered compartment for papers or like I put a micro fiber cloth and money. Lastly the pocketBar features a removable strap belt to put around the waist of your body, well at least if your unhealthily thin. I personally don’t see myself ever strapping the belt along my waist – it seems very touristy.

Apple iPad with case fitting into the pocketBar.

The pocketBar seems like it can take some rough abuse even though I’m not rough on anything of mine. Aside from that pen holder that I’m extremely disappointed by, all of the stitching seems to be really strong and intact after a month of use lugging around my iPad and accessories. I think this bag will make it out camping and/or on the road traveling and what not.

Extras

I was surprised that the pocketBar also includes extra things in addition to the strap belt. In fact, I’ve found one of those buckle key rings as well as a retractable yo-yo key ring, of course smothered in branding but none the less included with my pocketBar. This is a really cool and neat thing to include with your product and gets the customer excited that they got more than what they bargained for. This is a really smart move by Urban Tool.

Included Retractable Yoyo and Buckle Keychain

The Verdict

Urban Tool’s pocketBar is a hit as far as shoulder bags go. It’s attractive, mostly durable, and provides a way to carry my iPad and accessories while staying slim and light weight. There are however a few hiccups they need to work out like the pen holder [at least in mine] and the fact it is a dust and dirt magnet. I’m constantly taking a lint roller to the bag before I’m using it to go out somewhere. Even with these issues it still is a fantastic product. The pocketBar goes for $99.90 + $10 shipping here in the US and is available straight from Urban Tool. While I think it’s a bit pricey for an iPad bag it is certainly worth the money and priced competitively with similar solutions.

Now I’m on the hunt for a DSLR bag, I think I’m going to check out to see what else Urban Tool can offer me.