2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unique and beautifully made . . . but very heavy, January 20, 2007
This review is from: HARVEYS Seat Belt Bag Carriage Large Tall Tote (Apparel)
This bag is even more well-crafted than I expected. All materials are top-quality - the hardware, the seatbelt fabric, the satin lining, the duster bag - everything is impressive. The only thing I didn't anticipate was that the big is fairly heavy when empty, given these dense, top-notch materials. That's the only downside, it's unique and rugged; easily allows me to replace the tote and gym bag duo I've been schlepping for months - the capacity is amazing. Great bag!
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as practical as other Harveys bags, but prettier than many of them, February 15, 2012
This review is from: HARVEYS Seat Belt Bag Carriage Large Tall Tote (Apparel)
If you've never tried a Harveys seatbelt bag before, let me say this first about the brand as a whole: they're well-made, they're incredibly durable--I got my first one about 6 years ago, and it still looks almost new--and they catch people's attention. I carry nothing but seatbelt bags these days, and on average, I get a comment on whichever one I'm carrying approximately every other day.
Now, for the specifics of THIS seatbelt bag, the Lola Ruffle large satchel. There is one specific thing that I like better about this bag than I do about the more "normal" bags (like the medium tote, the boxy, the large satchel, etc.), and there are a few things that I don't like as much.
What I like better:
- This bag is prettier than a normal seatbelt bag (for example...
HARVEYS 4205 Large Satchel) because of the ruffles, the woven handles, and the silver rings that attach the handles to the bag.
What I don't like as much:
- There are no metal feet on the bottom of the bag. Most of the newer Harveys bags have four (or more) feet on the bottom, which accomplish two things: one, the bag balances on its own and doesn't tip over, and two, if you set it on the floor of a restaurant or a bar, the feet keep the material from having to touch the floor and thus keep it cleaner. The Lola Ruffle will be harder to keep clean on the bottom, and it doesn't stay upright on its own; it has to be leaned against something.
- The handles are short and don't fit over my shoulder. Most seatbelt bags have a 7-9" drop in the handles, but the Lola Ruffle has a 5" drop. As a result, I have to carry it either in my hand or slung over my forearm and resting in the crook of my elbow. The bag does come with an adjustable shoulder strap, but I just detached it, because to me it looks more industrial or utilitarian than the rest of the bag.
- It's heavy. All the seatbelt bags I have are heavier than bags of comparable sizes that are made of different materials--which makes sense, because seatbelt material is dense. But this one is even heavier than usual, probably because the decorative ruffles add material that isn't present on the more classic seatbelt bag shapes. If you fill the bag up, especially with heavy items like an e-book reader, a coin purse, a full makeup bag, a water bottle, etc., be prepared for the bag to be a bit taxing if you're carrying it around all day.
- It doesn't have a pen pocket on the inside. The Lola Ruffle has two internal pockets (and a zippered pouch sewn into the opposite side), but both pockets are wide--one about the width of a cell phone, and the other about 4" wide. I'm so used to having a skinny pocket in which I can slip a pen or a tube of chapstick that I miss that feature in this particular bag.
So. Overall I'm happy with my purchase of this bag, because I love the look of it. I have other bags that I carry day-to-day that are more practical for my purposes, but this one is a lovely addition to my collection for situations when I want something that's prettier and doesn't have to be as useful.
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