Reviews by User: DC commuter (12)

This pad is unlike anything I've ever seen, and it's definitely interesting. I purchased it for camping in Africa, but haven't been over to test it yet. It's more like a piece of mesh attached to a plastic egg-crate - so I see how it is ventilated. There wasn't any mention of a bag/case and/or straps in the description, so I did an online-chat with backcountry before ordering. I was told that it would come with a stuff sack and a patch kit. There aren't any parts that would ever need to be patched (it's not inflatable), but there was no patch kit, bag, or straps to secure it at all. FYI, otherwise I would have been tempted to give 5 stars.

I'm not sure about a conjoined twin, but this bag is versatile and well thought-out. The water bladder is separate from the laptop area (this is a bit confusingly-worded in Backcountry Outlet's description), so in theory you could use both at once for a long bike commute to work, etc. Because of the shape of the bag (wider than it is tall), wearing it in the backpack configuration is a bit odd-looking but gets the job done. The shoulder strap for messenger-style carrying is very nicely padded and the top carry-handle is convenient too. I cannot seem to find a padded sunglasses pocket, but the rest of the pockets are great and provide many organizational aspects (I wish there were more pictures of the interior online, since I ordered it blind). The front organizing pocket has a key clip, pen slots, and pockets for other small accessories, while inside the bag there are more pockets available - but these are flat so if you don't need them they stay out of the way. I like that the backpack straps stash within the bag and the shoulder-carry strap is also removable and stashes in the bag so you can hide them when you don't need them. For people expecting a sleek Camelbak design, be aware that this is a large bag for carrying items as well as water. My one major complaint is that the laptop sleeve barely fits my 15-inch widescreen HP laptop, so accessing it is difficult but not impossible. Overall a lot of bang for your buck!

I got this for bike commuting to work. I have a 15-inch widescreen laptop and it doesn't fit in the included sleeve. The compartment itself is large enough to put the laptop in, but doesn't provide protection without the sleeve. I recommend this for users with slightly smaller laptops. Otherwise, it is very comfortable and versatile since you can remove various parts and adjust it.

I own a couple of pair of Keen sandals, and this was my first purchase of non-sandal Keens. I know that this brand typically runs a bit narrow - but for me these shoes were extreme. The top of the shoe is very tight to the footbed, and I couldn't even get my foot in. They are going to have to go back. Can't comment on any other aspect, just wanted to warn people about the width/height of these shoes!

This jersey is so very soft and comfy, so it lives up to it's name and description. It's also not as short or as fitted as some jerseys, in my limited-experienced opinion. For me it looks and fits great and is very comfortable. However it is a bit heavier than other short-sleeve jerseys I have tried, so if you are looking for something thin and wicking this may not be it. For slightly cooler conditions you can't beat the comfort!

I found this jersey to be extremely comfortable. It's well-ventilated and made of breathable material. I'll admit it's on the short side, but I think most bike shirts are, and this doesn't seem to be any shorter than others I've tried. It's not worth giving a low score because of it. I wish they had more colors and recommend this one!

I got these for biking, and they are great. I agree with other reviewers that they don't seem to shift tint, but maybe I just can't tell. However, they are super-comfortable, lightweight, and great for biking. They stay on my face even in the heat, and the included hard case and cloth bag keep them protected when I'm not wearing them. I have a small-ish face, and they fit me great. The nose-pieces and sides are adjustable.

I purchased this kit when I got my first bike, looking for something simple with everything I'd need. The multi-tool and patch kit are very lightweight and good for packing light. The saddlebag didn't fit my seat because my seat has an integrated light, so I can't really comment on that (I carry the tools in my bag). My one gripe is with the pump - it pumps great, but because there isn't an integrated gauge you have to switch back and forth to check the pressure, and buy a gauge because one is not included in the kit. For the price, it's a decent starter kit.

I have the 4ft length and I use it to run through my front (quick-release) wheel and through the frame and attach the loop on the end to my U-lock, which is on the rear of the frame and my back wheel. The cable seems very strong and it's thick, so I feel very safe using it for this purpose. I like that it folds up nicely and also includes a velcro strap for wrapping it for transport.

I agree with the other reviewer, I didn't quite realize the size of the bag. I wish they had other pictures available on the website. It's definitely not purse-size by any stretch of the imagine, and even too big for a messenger-bag of typical size. Maybe for very large loads or even an overnight trip. I may end up sending it back because it's not what I expected, so I wanted others to be aware.

I bought this because I just wanted to see how far my bike commute to work is, and honestly you can't beat the price. Install was fairly simple, the instructions are straightforward and come in approximately 12 languages. This gives basics on distance per use, total distance, current speed, max speed, and time. Sometimes I am a bit doubtful of the accuracy (less than 1mph down a huge hills), but mostly it seems appropriate for how fast I think I am going. I would recommend this for casual/recreational use but not for serious competitive use.

I wanted a sturdy case to take a digital SLR and lenses on vacation to Africa with. I got the "small" size, from the pictures it looked like that size would fit 4 lenses plus the camera and the extra-small 2 lenses plus the camera - and I have 3 lenses. This bag is WAY too big for me, there is tons of room for even very large lenses, and I wish it had backpack straps for the size of it. Other than being too big (my fault for ordering it), it is very sturdy and well-organized. Unless you have A LOT of camera equipment, I'd recommend the XS.