American West Retro Romance Large Drawstring Backpack
Bric's Luggage Life 21 Inch Carry On Spinner
Nubrella Hands Free Umbrella
1. This product comes with minimalist instructions that do not tell you how to properly position it so you are not being hit in the head while you are wearing it. Amazingly, the company's website has no such information either. Hmmm. That made me suspicious. Eventually I did find a You Tube demo, but even when "properly adjusted" this still grazed my head and was not comfortable to wear. No wonder there is nothing on the website.
2. I tried this in a driving rain storm after I adjusted it. While it did keep my head and shoulders dry, my pants got soaked, which does not happen with a regular umbrella because when you hold it over your head, it does more than just protect your head and shoulders. In addition, visibility was nonexistent. It was like driving your car in a rainstorm with no windshield wipers on. In addition, while this is hands free, the trade off is that the handle is pressed into your stomach for support. Not very comfortable when walking.
3. If you open this in the house before you go outside, good luck fitting through the doorway. I barely made it.
4. My wife was led to believe that this would be great for bicycle riding and running in the rain. No way. I tried each, and it was virtually impossible to do either because with such vigorous movement this kept bumping into my head, and the handle kept pressing into my stomach. And of course I also could not see where I was going.
5. This is not something that you can easily stow on a crowded train or bus, and I seriously doubt that airport security would let you bring this on a plane. This is also not something that I would want to bring into a business meeting.
Bottom line: This product is expensive, cumbersome, and does not work as well as a regular umbrella to provide maximum protection. Hands free is nice--but not when I am getting soaked from the waist down, can't see where I am going, and have a handle being driven into my stomach. There is no way I would recommend it. I have read the positive review, and can say only that I vigorously disagree.
IMPORTANT: Getting a refund from this company is not simple. I returned the product via UPS with a cover letter including my cell phone and email address, but heard nothing. I then managed to speak to someone at the phone number listed on the website, and was promised a refund. However the company deducted over 25% of my purchase price for shipping (even though I paid shipping to return it) plus a restocking fee (none of which was mentioned at the time of purchase). These are the kind of companies that I try to avoid no matter what they sell. Fortunately after I disputed these deductions, my credit card company issued a full credit.
Update June 1, 2012: This product is no longer listed on Amazon. Out of curiosity I looked at the website to see if there were ANY positive testimonials from customers. You guessed it--not a single one! In fact there are NO customer testimonials of any kind. Just some slick infomercial style videos. That pretty much tells you what kind of product you are dealing with.I've used this twice in the rain, and here's my review so far.
Ease of Use:
The Nubrella website (at the time of this review) doesn't clearly demonstrate HOW to wear it. In a TV interview, the inventor explains that the straps from the back go under your arms to lock the Nubrella into place.
It takes some getting used to. It didn't rain for almost a month after I received mine, so I wore it inside a lot to get a feel for the fit -and to shoot and share pics. I immediately noticed two issues:
The fit It rested on my head until I contacted Nubrella, and was informed about the strap placement (read above).
It collapsed As soon as I began to walk, the handle in the front banged against my body, causing the Nubrella to collapse. I felt that there should be a locking mechanism.
But after adjusting the straps, then properly placing my arms in with the secondary straps (from the rear) underneath my arm pits, and the upper straps (with fabric/padding) on top of my shoulders, it finally fit properly.
So after a long wait, it finally rained!
Test One: Night/Light Rain/Times Square (NYC) heading West
I could not SEE well. Visibility at night lacked due to the raindrops sticking to the plastic. I got bumped into by one person, but that would have happened with my full-sized umbrella anyway, which is much less streamlined. I also had a backpack on which always gets soaked in the rain, but this time it remained dry!
Test One Conclusion -
Pros: My backpack stayed dry
Cons: I couldn't see well at night
____
Test Two: Afternoon/Heavier Rain
This time I took my time and made sure that I was wearing the Nubrella properly. I walked around with it indoors, and it did NOT collapse. Good. Now the real test.
I went to the grocery store. You have to take time to put it on right. Once on, it's great. This time I could see clearly, as it was daytime. At a pedestrian light, I stopped and used my iPhone, which stayed completely dry under the Nubrella. Headphone use is also better/safer.
There were a few circumstances where in order to avoid puddles, I needed to fit between some tight spots. With a normal umbrella, I'd tilt or collapse it. The Nubrella has to be removed, as it IS something you WEAR. So that was inconvenient, but not a deal breaker.
The Nubrella allowed me to carry groceries with both hands. When I arrived at a corner that's always windy, I only noticed the wind because I saw someone else's umbrella blowing around. That's the corner where with my normal umbrella, I collapse it and get soaked or fight with it, despite it being one of those 'wind resistant' umbrellas.
As a New Yorker, I was a little put off by the fact that I had to walk SLOWER than normal with the Nubrella. It could be due to an improper fit (by my error, not Nubrella's), but if I walked at my normal fast speed that day, the Nubrella would bounce around a lot. When I walked slow (or what is probably a normal pace in other parts of the world), it was fine.
One of the straps kept falling down like a bra strap. I had to constantly re-adjust it. Any one-size-fits-all contraptions will not fit everyone perfectly. However, Nubrella is very quick to respond and sent new straps to me. I have yet to test it with those new straps, as once again, it just hasn't rained much in NYC.
The humiliation factor is what some worry about. Well, I can't lie and say I didn't notice people staring, but since I'm an adult -who cares?! One guy loved it. A kid looked in awe. What matters to me is that I am kept drier than I would be with a normal umbrella, and I am. The Nubrella is also more streamlined, so it wasn't in the way. In the midst of a very crowded NYC street, I think any umbrella's in the way, so at that point I may wear a hooded jacket or get bumped around as I did in test one. But I'd rather get bumped than accidentally poke someone with a normal umbrella.
The final part is that the Nubrella opens wide so that it can drip dry easily in an open space.
Visibility from the rear was an issue simply because I chose the black one. If you buy this for biking or any related transportation purpose, you may opt for the clear one.
Test Two Conclusion -
Pros: Once it fits, it works. It kept me drier and warmer than a regular umbrella would have. I could use my iPhone under it. The company (inventor) is VERY responsive.
Cons: You can't quickly collapse it when you come upon something that it won't fit past. I suggest the clear one, as the ones with fabric in the rear obstruct your view.
Further testing in different weather conditions will determine my future updates to this review, but so far, so good. I actually look forward to stormy weather now!
----
Test Three: Afternoon/Very heavy rain/Crowded weekday in NYC
This is likely my final review. It rained very hard this week, so I used my Nubrella, joyfully. In fact, I ran an errand that could have waited JUST to test it. This time I had the new adjusted straps from Nubrella. It worked perfectly. In fact, a co-worker saw mine, tried it, and ordered two!
I cannot imagine using any other umbrella in heavy rain. I have given this umbrella 5 well-deserved stars.
__
Minus one star (Feb. 23, 2013) because after having owned it for years now, I find myself not using it that often due to the strap fit. The key benefit of this umbrella is that it's hands-free, but I find myself always using one hand to adjust the straps despite having the new straps that they released. It's very challenging to adjust those straps to a perfect fit. While walking the straps slip constantly, and when wearing a jacket it just doesn't fit (me) at all without a strap re-adjustment. I really wish the company could remedy that by addressing the fit because I believe in this product and stand by my earlier positive reviews. However, I want to simply put it on and go. The lack of the ability to do that makes me more prone to just grab my regular umbrella during normal rain. But again, during torrential rain, I do prefer the Nubrella.
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Worst purchase I have made in years. Returned one of two and had to file complaint with my CC company to get refund. Would not return calls, could not get Nubrella to work and was totally disappointed. Have receipt they received product back but from that date have not got them to return a call, email or text. Real bad experience.The directions included were not of any help, it showed you how to open and close the Nubrella but not how to adjust it. We never could get it adjusted and only thing they would say was to tighten strap 4" which did no good. No directions on putting the Nubrella back into the bag and that was a major chore. I tore my bag the first time I tried to put it back. Only goes one way I guess and I don't know if we ever really found that way.
Bought two and tried to be fair by only returning one because of the torn bag and I tried to get one to work. Have never used it and probably will never be able to. Wanted one for a wheelchair person but that was totally out of reality.
Oh Hum real bad experience.
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One day I was struggling on the steps outside in the rain--I have to use a cane and I had a bag and my purse to carry, plus needed the umbrella.My husband searched online for a solution to my problem, found this product and bought it for me. At first I didn't know what to think (what the heck is this?), but now that I've used it a few times it has been a God-send.
Now I can walk with my cane, carry my purse and still use an umbrella. Comments from people have only been positive, and it works well.
I don't put the straps under my arms, I just let it rest on my shoulders. It's easy to open and close, and easy to lock shut.
All you do to work it is press the red button on the handle and rock it to the open position. The nubrella pops open. To close, just push ends together like an accordion, press the red button on the handle, slide the handle back over the bundled nubrella. It locks into place again to hold it shut.
It came with instructions. I read them twice, tried it, and had no problems.
I love being hands free, it has made me much safer on icy or wet surfaces, as now I can hold onto a cane or even both hands on a railing if need be.
My thanks to the inventor.
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Just opened it up was looking for instructions on how to adjust it and so on, what did come with it was very minimal.However, after looking at it for a few minutes it was obvious how to make shoulder adjustments. Afterwards it fit really well, very comfortable. The handle does rest on my stomach somewhat but it is not noticeable (I have a beer gut and that has alot to do with it).
Haven't had the chance to test it in any significant weather, but so far so good, but I'm sure it will do the job.
Timbuk2 Pisco Daypack
I already tested this bag for what items I can fit. A small laptop, a small camera, 4 books, sunglasses, a wallet, and a phone. There is still some room left for carrying a small bag of toiletries. I was initially testing how many books I can fit just for the fun of it. With only one travel guide book you can also fit your raincoat in it. Again, this is probably only true for a petit woman. The front pouch is convenient for your wallet and your keys. The straps are very long considering the size of this bag but it did not change my mind about it.Timbuk2 Pisco (Black)
The first Timbuk2 bag I owned was 15 years ago and sadly I don't have that one anymore. Now I'm taking exams for a professional license and was looking for a small backpack to carry a 13in laptop or ipad, a thick study material book, notebooks, and my necessities without doing the one-shoulder-ouch-this-is-kind-of-heavy walk to a cafe. This backpack really is as great as the previous reviewers say. I'm about 5 feet tall and other backpacks are overwhelmingly large, have too much excess padding, and too heavy. I don't want to carry a bag that's heavier then the stuff I put in it.
There's a thin amount of padding all along the shoulder straps and a good thin cushy layer at the back. Just 3 zippers on the outside: 2 to open the main bag for your books and 1 to open a smaller opening in the front. When you use the zippers to close up the backpack, you barely see the glossy metal teeth bc of a built in layer of fabric, nice detailing! The small front opening is a surprisingly nifty compartment that is the full width and height of the bag. The main compartment is 3 inches deep and has a built-in sleeve and organizer pockets. The 7 organizer pockets easily fit necessities like pens, a smart phone, gum and the 1 small zipped compartment for toiletries. The red sleeve fits a 13 inch Mac Book Pro super snug like a sleeve; it will not move around once its in. Just wish the sleeve was a tad higher so that the laptop would not be exposed to scratches in the backpack itself. But I like the peekaboo red tricot fabric and for smaller devices this would not be a problem. I like the minimal logo placements, the clean rectangular shape, and the black color with grey and red accents. This is a quirk but I also like to occasionally wash my bags and this is small enough, with just the right amount of padding, that I think I can throw it into the washing machine too (that's a star for me). Even though it's small, it has a great solid feel to it like any other larger Timbuk2 product (I'd be asking too much if I wanted a water bottle pocket on one side and an umbrella pocket on the other :P) I'm very happy with this purchase!!This backpack is the perfect size and exactly what I was looking for when scoping a bag that would carry everything I needed for a day commute to school. I can fit several notepads, a school book, my IPad, cosmetic kit, sci calc, small wallet, ample pens, snacks...everything fits into a deceptively tiny pack that won't break your back on long public transit commutes. Thank you Timbuk2 for this smart pack. My 2nd purchase from this fabulous company.
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I may have bought two of these backpacks, a black one for my work laptop (a 13" Macbook Air) and a cool patterned one for my personal computer (also a 13" MBA). The MBA fits perfectly in the padded slip pocket, and the bag is surprisingly roomy and well organized. I can fit the MBA, a kindle, an iPad and accessories, phone, wallet, and assorted girlie things (in a makeup bag) and a small bottle of water (think camelbak 0.5L). The bag is comfy even when loaded down, and because it has a really narrow profile, I don't have to worry about whacking people when I turn around on the bus/train or whatnot.My only con is that the front slip pocket runs the whole length of the bag, and stuff tends to slide to the bottom of both the bag and slip pocket, so whatever you have in the front pocket will bulge slightly (and make the bag look less streamlined). This is a small point.
The zippers do go almost all the way down, so be careful when opening. There is a velcro tab that holds your MBA in place, however, so I'm not worried about the computer falling out when the bag opens, just everything else.
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I got this for my 13" Macbook Air and it just fits. The black color is understated and perfectly professional. It's the perfect size for work! It holds the MBA, my kindle, wallet, phone (giant phone!), and necessities for the day.The only drawbacks are: the zippers on the side go almost to the bottom of the bag (so it unzips almost completely on 3 sides) which means that it is prone to falling open, and it doesn't have an exterior water bottle sleeve (which would make it absolutely perfect).
Alas, it is so so close to perfect, I'm still giving it 5 stars. :)
Olive Drab Tactical Canvas Backpack Duffle Bag - 22 x 38, Sports/Travel Duffel
eBags Laptop Collection Tribeca Colombian Leather Zip-Flap Laptop Messenger
One drawback is the magnetic closure. It would have been nice if it was more secure by having magnetic buttons on the surface of the flap and bag. They are embedded in the material and loose enough sticking power so that if you fill the bag, the flap easily comes loose.
I think it is a good deal for the money and would be even better with external magnetic snaps.Pros: Small enough to not take up a ton of space or weigh a ton; carries everything I need (laptop, iPad, papers to grade and some incidentals)
Cons: Magnets are very weak in the closure, to the point they don't really work if the magnets shift (and they do)
I bought some magnetic snap closures and added them to the bag with a pair of pliers and a razor blade. Works great now and stay shut when I am in motion.
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This is a great bag for the price! It's fear enough for the price. It's a bag for who wants to care the laptop, cables, and some gadgets .Gave bag as gift. Recipient thinks it is great and uses it everyday. Lots of compartments and space. Recommend it.Want eBags Laptop Collection Tribeca Colombian Leather Zip-Flap Laptop Messenger Discount?
I got this bag as a christmas gift for my brother. He works at a hospital and he's always taking his books, laptop, and other things. I came upon this bag because it's very similar to Kenneth Cole REACTION Busi-Mess Essentials Bag, but this one has a lot more pockets which i'm jealous of. The compartments are all very useful, but the only thing is that it feels different than mine. I like the leather quality of the Kenneth Cole REACTION Busi-Mess Essentials Bag more than this one, idk it says its the same one, but it doesn't feel as nice, though it still definitely feels great, just not as good. I would recommend this one for students more than anything because of the amount of pockets it has. I'm a photographer and i just got the other one to look professional, to store my macbook pro 13'' and some books and i'm very happy for having it. So it all depends on your wants.Everest 3045W Backpack w/Dual Mesh Pocket
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We bought this for a recent camping trip. It faired very well. It is quite roomy, and the 2 pockets for water bottles is a definite plus. We were pretty rough with the bag and it stayed in tack.Read Best Reviews of Everest 3045W Backpack w/Dual Mesh Pocket Here
Icon Janicon Notebook Backpack
Ossington Mercer Canvas Backpack
Dakine Women's 90-Litre Wheeled Duffle Bag
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I ordered this for my boyfriend. He chose the "Northwest" checkered black and gray pattern. Shipping was fine, and came when stated. The color they sent was a gray bag with green trim/zippers. Which I don't see on this listing even. Thankfully, my boyfriend was okay with it. Instead of going through the exchange process, he decided just to keep the bag.The suitcase is as described and pictured. It has 2 compartments on either side for shoe storage, or separate storage from the main compartment. One thing I didn't like was that it didn't have the straps on the inside to hold your clothing/items in one spot. I would imagine if you didn't fill this suitcase up, your stuff would just flop around. It is a fairly large size, but not too big. We will be taking this to Europe, I will update this review to see how it performs.
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In comparison to motocross gear bags, it's smaller, more expensive, and not quite as high of quality. But there aren't a lot of options for women's gear bags. My wife loves it, and I'm not dissapointed. If I had cost 20% less, I would have rated it 4-starsStephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag
It's on the smaller side and was perfect for my 4 year old.I got this bag for my son for daycare. Every day we have to bring clothes, lunch, blanket, etc. This bag holds it all. He is only 1 years old so of course for now I still have to carry it. He's too small but probably next year it will be a better size for him. It is easy to wipe out and keep clean (his lunch spilled once) which is a big plus for me.
I picked it because it doesn't have characters on it. He's too small to like a certain character that much anyway and if I picked one he does like he'd grow out of that character by next year and not like the bag anymore.
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Fairly sturdy. My son loves it and uses it constantly. Fairly large too. Glad I purchased it. Better zippers then other items I've seen.Read Best Reviews of Stephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag Here
My daughter loves it -perfect size for toddler/pre school child for air line travel. Straps are adjustable which was a requirement for me.This is our 2nd Steven Joseph bag and we love them. My grandson just outgrew the design on his first one and is now interested in sharks. This bag is so cute!Sony VAIO 15.4" Notebook Backpack - Midnight Blue
This notebook is really looked cheap especially the inside part. The color doesn't look like the color from the picture provided by Amazon. I saw a lot of refurbished for sale, I'm worry about the quality. Should keep the warranty info.
Do not buy! I am Sony fans, but this product blew me up.
See picture I posted for detail
14 inch Fascinating Peacock Notebook Laptop Sleeve Bag Carrying Case for most of MacBook, Acer, ASU
Its worth the price I paid. Its not super padded, but thats not a big deal for me since I got it to be protect my macbook in my backpack, and to keep it from getting scratched up when bringing it places. Its very pretty too and is printed on both sides which I love.It seems like a fine sleeve, but it's way too loose on my laptop (Lenovo g470, 14 inches). To be fair, my model isn't listed as one of the ones that the sleeve is meant to fit.
The construction seemed good and the zipper felt sturdy, so it's probably a good value as long as it fits your computer, or if you have a smaller laptop and plan to keep cables or papers in the laptop sleeve.Very pretty case. It looks very nice in a unique way and is of normal quality for hese types of case. Nothing wrong with it that I can see. I enjoy carrying it around.This product was made very well. I don't even own a laptop, but love peacocks so much, that I use it for notebooks and such.
Why it lost a star it took a bit before the some what toxic, "made in China" smell dissipated. Also, I still feel it is aesthetically
pleasing, but looks better on line than in person. (Looks richer Vs. cheaper).
Planet Eclipse 2013 Gravel Backpack
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I'm more of a Dye product fan but this bag had a neat design. It's made well and was worth the money to me.Read Best Reviews of Planet Eclipse 2013 Gravel Backpack Here
Very good product, the shipping of this product was very good and the quality is also very good.Delivery was good.
Tumi Luggage Voyageur Macon Laptop Carrier Bag
If you want a bag with a lot if storage, then this laptop bag may not be right for you. I didn't want a traditional boring bag, I wanted a lightweight bag that wasn't bulky. We it has too many pockets, you'll be tempted to carry more; therefore, making your bag heavier & shoulders tired. my boyfriend bought this laptop bag at the outlet store for $99 for me, so check out your nearest store, it may be cheaper than online.
The Anna Sui pattern is a fun pattern. Tumi may cost a little more than regular laptop bags, but they make great products, and have a great warranty plan. I plan on using this as my purse as well on the days I'm carrying the laptop, which the laptop bag is an extension of hit style.
I also got the matching utility pouch for my essentials to switch between my purses and the laptop bag.
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I like this bag it is classy and compact. Can take only a limited amount of stuff but that is the intent it is a laptop carrier and looks good.Read Best Reviews of Tumi Luggage Voyageur Macon Laptop Carrier Bag Here
This bag is more pinkish than Amazon photos depicted, but I like it more because color helps hide dirtiness. :DI carry a MacBook Pro 15" in it, fits well, and the shoulder strap makes it very comfortable to carry even though the laptop itself is heavy. The bag itself looks very sleek.
Add-a-bag sleeve: If travel with luggage, this bag can also be slip on a luggage handle, added convenience.
Size-wise, think of it as a fitted skinny quality laptop sleeve case with handles and a shoulder strap. It can't carry much more than a laptop, the power cord, and a 20-page letter-size document. There are 2 side pockets, but too small to put a Calculus textbook unless no laptop in there. One of the side pockets also includes a slot for a smart phone (4.5 inch or smaller). As another review said, it does not have lots of small pockets to organize small stuffs, such as cosmetics, a wallet, keys and you name it.
The only thing I am not sure is the "decorated tag with mirror" from the product description. I can't find this mirror in the package. If it's an Anna Sui decorated tag with mirror, I sure want it!
Overall, it's a lovely fitted lightweight quality laptop bag for everyday use, but it can't carry lots of documents.
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Everest Luggage Backpack with Dual Mesh Pocket
It was a shame on me to have gifted a faulty stuff. .I have bought several expensive goods from Amazon, but this one disappointed me..
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Using as get me home bag for my vehicles. Fits everything I needed and then some. Quality of the materials was good.Read Best Reviews of Everest Luggage Backpack with Dual Mesh Pocket Here
V.T. 15" Full leather sport motor travel backpack w/3 straps 3 Rooms L61
Could not be happier. Beautiful and well built. I didn't oil mine or anything, and the stiffness is gone after just a couple of weeks of use. I would not hesitate to buy another item from VT. Excellent.
Dr. Barry Joslin
Louisville, KYThis bag was more than what I wanted...I am so happy with my purchase...I got so many complements on my bag as I strolled through the airport during my past vacation. Durable and leather through and through.
P. Martin Frazier
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Just what I was looking for. Rugged, not to large, just right for 2 week trips that require a daily carry sack with enough room to carry a days worth of stuff. the buckles are a bit to shiny but some rubbing can fix that. Three compartments are good for separating daily food and water from rain and mosquito gear and jacket stuff. Thick leather to withstand abuse.I wanted something that looked good but was not "pretty". This fits the bill.
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This bag is awesome!It's everything I wanted and more. I am happy I did not spend 2x the price and go with a Saddleback.
This bag may be made in China, but theirs is made in Mexico so I don't understand the argument there.
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Belvah Medium Quilted Zebra Print Backpack Purse - Choice of Colors
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