Pacsafe VentureSafe 150 GII Review

I don't like putting stuff in my jeans pockets. And I don't like hanging keys and whatnot on the belt loop of my pants, something that a lot of people tend to do - I don't want those things jingling when I walk!

That is the reason why I used to use cargo pants and shorts and belt bags on a daily basis.

Much to the wife's disappointment...

But there are a couple of things I really, really like:

Great design and the color orange!

That's why when I saw the Pacsafe VentureSafe 150 GII in orange, I immediately got it!

Color orange aside, this is a low-profile bag. It's a cross-type body bag, and it's big enough to handle most of the things I could've put in my cargo pant's pockets but small enough to be really manageable even in tight spaces. I can put inside a battery pack, a couple of lightning cables, a point and shoot camera, two Olloclip lenses (wide+fisheye and wide+telephoto), my wallet, an iPhone 5s and an iPhone 6s+. Those are actually a lot! (I have now replaced my iPhone 5s with the newer iPhone 7.)

Imagine putting all of those in your jeans pockets (or even a pair of cargo pants). If you ever attempted it, you better make sure that you have a sturdy belt. Because, otherwise, one wrong move and you will be flashing people with your, ahem, undies...

There is a pocket inside that is supposed to protect your cards from card snoopers, an RFID-safe pocket, but, if you want to protect your cards and passport, they should not be in a wallet because the compartment is very small. Pacsafe could have made this bigger...

And speaking of tight spaces, Pacsafe prides itself by being, well, safe. There is a wire mesh running around the bag underneath the outer cloth of the bag and this will prevent people from slashing your bag and getting your valuables contained in it. There is also a couple of thick wires in the strap so people would need actual wire cutters to pry the bag from your body. And lastly, there are zipper locks that will take some effort to remove, so snatchers won't be able to easily open the zipper of your bag when you're not looking.

All-in-all, these are great theft deterrents when you are in a crowded place.

With all the safety features, great design and beautiful color, the Pacsafe VentureSafe 150 GII is Highly Recommended!

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Almost all photos shot with a Canon Powershot G-series.

Review of the Rags2Riches Julius Sling Bag

Helping others is always a good thing. Doing something that can somehow improve someone else's life even if just by a little can go a long way...

This was what the wife and I want to do, so, as much as possible, we support social enterprises that alleviate the plight of people that have much hardships in life.

Rags to Riches, or R2R, is one such company. This outfit, in their own words "are a fashion & design house empowering community artisans. We make things that matter and weave joy into every story.  In a world where fashion and design are often seen as excess, R2R is proof that style and sustainability can coexist." The company helps bridge the gap between people who want to make a living with local designers who are at the forefront of style and fashion. The materials the company uses come from "upcycled, overstock cloth & indigenous fabrics". By removing the middle man, these people from modest backgrounds can sell directly to customers and get the most profit for each product they have sold.

An example of product that R2R makes is the Julius Sling Bag that the wife gave me for our wedding anniversary. The bag is finely crafted and well-made. There is an interior compartment for an iPad and this compartment is big enough even if you use a case and/or a cover for your iPad. Actually, you can put a retina Macbook Pro 13-inch inside!!!

You can still put other stuff inside like a couple of books and an umbrella. Outside, at the front, there is a small pocket for your smaller things like a phone and wallet. An iPhone 6s+ fits in this small pocket without any issues. Also, at the back of the bag, there is a small zippered pocket where you can put small things like coins or your MRT card or an ID for easy access.

You can wear the bag either on your left shoulder or on your right giving you a couple more options.

This bag is a nice thing to have if you just need something to stow your iPad or tablet, and even a 13-inch laptop, plus a couple more things when you go out and about. This is a great bag for the daily commuter! And you don't just get a nice bag, you are able to help people too!

Highly Recommended.

Photos shot with a Canon G7x Mark II and edited in an iPad pro using the iOS app VSCO

Timbuk2 Dashboard Laptop Messenger Bag

I absolutely love good design.

This is the reason why I am very loyal to very few brands:

I love The North Face jackets, Levi's pants, Muji notebooks, Chuck Taylor shoes, Canon DSLRs and lenses, Sony point-and-shoots and mirrorless cameras, etc.

And all things Apple of course. I absolutely love Apple products!!!

Another thing that I absolutely love are Timbuk2 messenger bags.

I had a Timbuk2 bag, one that fits a 15-inch MacBook Pro, which I used for about 7 years while the wife and I still lived in the US. It had absolutely no signs of wear-and-tear that, I believe, I can sell it as a rarely-used item. I gave it to my nephew who was about to enter college and I believe that he will use it till the day he graduates.

And beyond...

But I missed my Timbuk2 bag... And I lost sleep over it and I thought about asking the bag back, though that would have made me a really bad uncle. So, even if I already have a Timbuk2 bag that can fit a full-sized iPad, I decided to get another Timbuk2 bag that can fit a 15-inch laptop.

No, I rarely bring my laptop out of the house these days, but I can always find a use for such a bag.

For example, when the wife and I went to Singapore, this was the bag that I brought. It contained a rain coat (a North Face), an umbrella, a couple of 日本語 (Japanese) books, a MacBook and its charger, my Canon G15, my iPhone 6+, an external battery, snacks and other knick knacks.

I actually wanted to bring my smaller Timbuk2 for those days when we were in Singapore and I actually hated myself a little for not having it with me.

And yes, living in Southeast Asia, where it rains for most of the year, having a waterproof bag is a big, big plus. My Timbuk2 bags perform admirably against rain shower, torrential or not!

Just a couple of tiny cons...

The thing that my small Timbuk2 had over this big one is that there are two inner pockets in the smaller bag whereas there is only one in the big version. That seems very ironic for me... Oh, and the iPad compartment in the smaller bag is built-in whereas for the big one, the laptop compartment is removable. Some people may find that a plus but, for me, I wish that it is built in - it's one small thing that I won't have to think about anymore...

But I love this bag (and I equally love the smaller one). And if ever this breaks down, which I doubt it will, I will definitely get another Timbuk2 bag. And I hope their presence in the Philippines will not waver.

Get yours here:

For the smaller Timbuk2 bag...

Photos made with an iPhone 5s and iPhone 6+ using the iOS app, Hipstamatic: