(Photos: James Buckroyd/BuckyRides.com)
James Buckroyd is our resident product geek. See his past reviews here.
I have been slinging this guy around the city for a while now. Mainly on small in-city runs to and from meetings where I needed a few essentials but not a massive bag full. Here’s what I found:
Chrome’s Welterweight Kadet bag ($100) is a single strap low profile “sling bag” – this particular one has been weight-reduced by using aluminium buckles and selective use of lighter materials. Regular versions can be purchased with steel buckle and many spicy fashion-forward colour options.
What it carries well: a u-lock, notepad, can of beer, a few pens, keys, phone, and a wallet really well. If you omit the can of beer, you can squeeze an iPad in there (I fit the 9.7-inch version during the test), but I’m not so sure I recommend it, as it feels a bit too large and rigid. It can also accommodate a lightweight rain shell folded with care.
What it doesn’t carry well is a medium-sized camera. Think of this Kadet as carrying slimmer things well. Beyond that, I struggled either with not being able to zip it up all the way or had to make do with lumps. Maybe a pocket-sized point and shoot but not a small mirrorless or DSLR. My smaller camera is 5″ x 2.5″ x 2.5″ and it was just a bit too awkward which is a shame really (even though on the Chrome website it shows a camera in there, they have obviously not tried to zip it up and ride).
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So, why would you want this bag? A few logical reasons:
- Smaller than a backpack, less bulky, more convenient than a larger bag.
- Sling style swing around accessibility for on the go-ness
- A single strap look without the played out messenger fixter look
- Available in other colours in the regular models
- You want a fresh look for on or off the bike
Consider this:
- How much stuff you need to carry, this bag has a specific niche.
- Chrome should lose the Chrome badge off the front. You don’t need it Chrome, you own this market. Have some confidence and make a design statement.
- Not really for riding with a camera, Chrome should make it fit a compact mirrorless camera, the “sling around feature” is a sell for this – riding and shooting.
Read the full story about this bag over on buckyrides.com.
If you’re in the market for a full-featured camera bag, check out Chrome’s new Nike F-Stop Backpack.
— James Buckroyd – Buckyrides.com
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