Overview
In our home state of Colorado some 14 years ago, Chrome bags began making cycling-specific bags utilizing high-quality fabrics and seat belts as bag straps. As word spread, Chrome moved from their humble beginnings in Boulder to San Francisco in order to take advantage of the up-and-coming urban cycling scene.
Solidly planted in San Fran, Chrome now makes over 30 different styles of bags and includes a stable of mens and women's clothing as well as messenger-esque casual shoes (think urban Chuck Taylor). We stumbled upon the manufacturer a few years ago and have been a huge fan ever since.
As our need for bags have changed over the years, we found ourselves in search of a laptop bag that would serve double duty as a cycling specific bag and an all-around, all purpose bag to carry our trusty silicon embedded goodness. A fairly new introduction to the Chrome line, the Soma, caught our attention for it's true combination of cycling-ready geometry and traditional laptop carrying goodness.
The Good
If you haven't owned a Chrome, then most of this will be a bit new to you...and if you ride and carry a bag, then you really need to take note. Chrome gets cycling, period. The over the should geometry and pad positioning is absolute nirvana. We here at CogSnob have all tried various options from Timbuk2 and Manhattan Portage and agree that they look cool off the bike, but when on the bike, we longed for our Chrome.
Not unlike the rest of the Chrome line, the Soma incorporates the same over-the-shoulder positioning, fastened together by the iconic seatbelt strap and Chrome buckle mid-chest. This alone is worth another thousand words in a later post, but the Soma has other goodies that we found well thought-out.
Simple, Functional
No extra handles, straps, or tiny, obscure pockets and zippers that add bulk while hindering functionality...that is the key to the Soma's design. The innards include a four sided, foam cushioned cocoon for your under 15 inch laptop with a hefty velco strap to hold your baby nice and tight. And yes, the Soma includes an appropriately sized main cabin with just enough room for a pair flip-flops and a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. Need quick access to your ear-buds or keys while en route? The Soma includes a small outer pocket to hold those small sundry items you seem to always lose...
With the classic, messenger style, flap-over design secured by two plastic clasps, the Soma can by synched-down to minimize side-sway when riding.
Our Recommendation
Some may say a bit pricey at $140, but really, shouldn't you invest in something that holds your laptop and all of the data on it....while strapped to your back screaming through traffic at 30 mph? Get it. Case closed.
Comments