Editing The Pen Addict 287/transcript (section)

== Tom Ben Bags ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I like it. I like it. So you were in the home of Tom Ben last week. And then all of a sudden, I see all this chatter in our show notes document. Myke, I have a new Tom Ben bag. So how did this come about?

'''Myke Hurley:''' I went to Tom Ben.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay. So you actually went there. So, yeah, I want to hear about that. I'm pretty jealous of this. Being someone who makes bags and, you know, related accessories. Like, this is like the mecca for me, right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, a few of us went down there. So, like, we hopped in a car and we went down to see Tom Ben. And I wasn't intending on buying anything specific. But, like, I was just like, oh, I'll just pop down there. And, like, they have a bunch of, like, great accessory stuff. Like, I'll pick something up, right? Like, that's kind of what I thought I would do. And their place is awesome. Like, their store is kind of just, like, a cordoned off area of their workshop. Sure. And, like, the people there were super nice, really helpful. They can, like, explain everything to you, that kind of thing. And I'm, like, poking around. And, like, I love my manal bag, right? But I've noticed something that it doesn't have as much space in it as I would like at times. Like, when I'm packed for a trip, I have, like, a little space in there so I can, like, throw a snack in at the airport or something. But that was kind of all I could get. Now, I will say, right now, having used this, I bought a Synapse 25, was what I went with, which is, like, their kind of their big backpack. I will note that, like, then having filled up the Synapse bag, it's maybe heavier than I would want, right? Because I put too much stuff in. So, like, I need to refine this over time. But I do, like...

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's a trick. Yeah. It's a very delicate balance. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' So, I mean, but the thing is, I was taking my laptop with me on this trip, which isn't, like, an always thing. And I do really feel that way. Right. Now, the great thing about Tombin, right, like, their systems, like, I didn't just buy a bag. I bought a whole system. Right. I bought the Synapse. I bought the Cache to put my, like, to put my stuff in, right? So, I bought two of them, like, one for the laptop and one for my iPad. But I actually ended up just using one and putting them both in the same one. That made more sense for me because you could just fit them both in there. I bought the Freudian Slip, which is the best product name, which is just, it's just, like, a thing that's made to fit perfectly in the bag that just has, like, a ton of pockets on it. So, that's an organizational thing. What else did I get? I know, right? A Snake Charmer. And, again, it's so awesome. I bought the Big Snake Charmer. And they have a pocket on the base of the backpack, which the Snake Charmer fits perfectly inside. Yeah. I like that pocket. And also the travel tray I got as well, which is just this little, it looks like a little bag. It just pops out to be this little tray. So, when you're traveling, you have, like, a, just, like, a little thing that you can put stuff in in the hotel room. It's kind of a smart idea. So, yeah, I went overboard and I emptied the Tom Bin store. And I love the amount of pockets. There's so many pockets on this bag. And I feel like I'm able to, like, just arrange things way better than I have been in the past. So, yeah, I am actually very happy with my purchase. I'm still going to use my Manal bag. But I'm actually now going to use that for more, like, out and about in the day type stuff. Which is actually what the bag is meant to be for. As opposed to my traveling bag. So, like, if I'm, you know, if I'm going swimming, I'm going to use the Manal bag. Like, if I'm going down to, like, work somewhere for a day, I'm going to grab my Manal bag. Like, it's perfect for that kind of stuff. And I have really enjoyed it for traveling. But I feel like I just needed a little bit more. But the thing is, the Tom Bin 25 is a lot more. It's not just a little bit more. But I'm happy with that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, I considered the 25. And I ended up going with the 19, which was a mistake for someone my size.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I considered the 19, but it's too small for me. It's too small for my frame.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Yeah. It definitely looks like, you know, when I put it on, it just looks funny, right? It looks like I'm carrying, like, a kid. Yeah. Right? Yeah. But it's awesomely made. What exterior and interior colors did you get? Because their colors are great.

'''Myke Hurley:''' The ballistic gray with the Halcyon Island Bluve interior.