Hi, this is Pam and Gilbert from 2 Bikes 4 Adventure.
With so many Brompton compatible bags available these days, it can be challenging to decide which
bag to purchase. For some people, there's no such thing as too many bags or too many bicycles for
that matter, but most of us have a limited budget and are looking for the one bag to rule them all.
To make our decision easier, we can first establish our most likely use case scenarios
for that new bag. Let's assume the following criteria: The bag should be large enough to
fit a few groceries from the local market. The bag will sometimes be used to commute to work
or school, so large enough to safely contain a 15 inch laptop and some extra clothing or paperwork.
It should be roomy enough for clothing for an overnight or weekend trip.
The content should be protected from impact and rain and it should be reasonably priced.
With these criteria, the ideal bag size is probably around 20 liters. We compiled the list of commonly
available bags in the 20 liter range and the corresponding cost per volume. These are in $US.
It spans from the Brompton Basket bag at $115 or $5 per liter to the Swiss-made
Freitag Coltrane at four times the price. The Basket bag has been around almost as long
as the Brompton itself and remains a best seller. It's appropriate for grocery shopping or carrying
odd cargo, but because it has no cover, it's less suitable for commuting or weekend adventures,
and we'll drop it from our list. The unique style of the Freitag bag could make it a great gift
but its price tag is significant and its size is on the borderline for our intended use, so
we'll remove it from the contender list. A fully waterproof bag usually has a higher price tag.
Expect to pay $300 or more for a highly weatherproof-rated bag. We cannot over
emphasize the peace of mind waterproof bags provide while touring, but for daily or weekend trips,
a rain cover or a waxed canvas bag like the Carradice City Folder should be sufficient
for short showers. And the money saved could be put towards a new saddle or upgraded tires.
That leaves us semi-finalists the Vincita Birch bag, the Carradice City Folder, the Borough Roll Top
and the Metro Messenger. While the Borough Roll Top would be top of the list for touring,
the use case scenario we defined previously focuses on daily or weekend trips, so we'll
drop it, leaving the last three bags standing as the Birch, the City Folder and the Metro Messenger.
From here on, we'll look at the most cost-effective solution, the Vincita Birch Bag and see how it
satisfies our requirements. The birch is built around a removable standard S-Frame,
compatible with all Brompton handlebar types, and is made of 600D polyester. Its design is based on
the classic flap over model. Reinforced fabric covers the bottom of the bag and all sides are
padded with a 5mm foam lining. The flap is held in position by a 5cm buckle
and some velcro strips. The inside is a large main compartment with a well-padded laptop divider.
The wedge-shaped fold can somewhat reduce the available volume at the top of the bag,
a problem common to this type of bag as can be seen here on the Ortlieb O-Bag.
A larger internal volume can be achieved by loosening the front buckle strap.
In this case however, the velcro closures will no longer align.
It boasts three zippered one liter pockets, two at the front and one at the back.
They're well padded with 5mm foam which is a feature rarely found in similar bags.
A bottle holder is located on the left rear of the bag which may be handy for
a left-handed cyclist. It's rather small and could be overwhelmed by a larger container.
The top flap has another zippered compartment. There's also a zipper at the top of the bag
that enables quick access to the main compartment without having to unbuckle
the main flap. We have to be careful when putting items back through this opening
as a moment of inattention may result in the items slipping out under the flap. A well padded and
removable shoulder strap is provided with the same buckle mechanism as the flap top closure.
To improve comfort when carrying the bag off the bike, flip the fabric flap cover over the
frame bracket area using the velcro strip. For cycling, fold it into the frame handle opening.
With the S-Frame removed, the bag can be slipped onto a luggage trolley handle
or carried with a secondary soft handle although it's somewhat off-center. This feature can be
particularly useful when using the bag as carry-on during a bicycle-free business trip or vacation.
Finally, a unique feature of the Birch bag is the removable clothes packing bag.
It can be easily inserted and secured in the main compartment using four snaps. It consists of a
large mesh compartment and a smaller transparent one plus various attach points. The compression
straps can also be used to hang the bag vertically on a hook for easy access to the contents.
This innovative system is a cost-effective alternative to commonly found packing cubes
and garment folders. When not required, it can be removed and stored away for the next journey.
Using key features we identified in previous videos, let's compare the Vincita Birch against
the older C-Bag and the latest large Metro Messenger. We will score each feature with zero,
half or one point. While both bags can adjust to a larger load, the length of
the front flap and velcro closing mechanism is more accommodating on the Brompton bag.
Both provide similar accessibility. The top zipper on the Birch is an asset
but can also be a liability if used carelessly. The Brompton has zipper pulls, the Birch doesn't.
Both provide a light-colored interior that facilitates finding small items,
a draw. The Brompton shoulder strap is permanently attached which prevents losing it, but even when
neatly tucked at the top of the bag, its padding can interfere with the opening of the main flap.
This problem has existed since the 2nd generation C-Bag and continues to this day
on the Messenger. We wonder if a removable strap would not be simpler (in spite of the risk of loss).
It's too bad that neither option provides an anti-twist solution like some other bags.
We eventually gave an extra half point to the Birch for its capability to transform into a
non-cycling specific carry-on luggage with its trolley handle capability, bracket cover
and secondary carry handle. Neither the bags has extra attach points.
Both have a laptop divider. The Brompton provides additional zippered accessories pocket but it's
no match for the versatile Birch clothes packing bag. We give the Birch only an extra half point
as some cyclists may have no use for this feature. When we're cycling, we use the external pockets a lot.
Snack, phone, wallet, water bottle, passport, camera, sunscreen, are all in our external pockets.
The ones provided on the Birch, while well padded, are much smaller than those on the C-Bag or Messenger.
Note that Brompton acknowledged the importance of rear pockets by making them bigger throughout
the years, although the move from zippers to snaps in the latest version is arguable.
Brompton also provides side mesh pockets which are missing on the Birch. One full point for the
Brompton. A fully waterproof bag would have earned 1 point. Both these bags provide
a rain cover, which is worth 1/2 a point. Note that the Brompton flap zipper is water resistant.
The Brompton's Cordura 1000D is likely more abrasion resistant
than the Birch's 600D Polyester, but Vincita's superior foam padding more than makes up for it.
Equal score. Both are reasonably priced, but Vincita has the lead, especially of opting
for the older Birch 1.0 which has a slightly cheaper mounting mechanism.
Appearance is always open to discussion. The "all-black" Brompton is never out of fashion,
but does lack some flair. Even the older C-Bag looked better with a splash of light
gray and reflective piping. The Birch overall look and color palette gains at half a point.
In our comparison, each factor is only worth one point,
but your decision matrix may weigh some features more highly such as external pockets and price.
We do have a few items on our wish list for a possible Birch 3.0. As mentioned earlier, larger
external pockets (particularly at the rear) . Potential side mesh pockets. A larger front
flap pocket (even if it means removing the top access zipper). Relocate upward or even remove
the front velcro straps as they're ineffective as soon as the bag is filled over 50%.
We wish to thank Vincita for providing the Birch Bag for our honest evaluation.
We hope your Brompton front carrier block can easily transform into a launch pad for
a new set of adventures: the only thing that you need to add to the right bag is some imagination.