For some women it’s shoes. And, for others it’s jewelry. Me? I’m a bag girl. I just can’t help myself. If it’s stylish and/or functional I want it. As a result, I have purchased, tried, and abandoned more purses and packs than I care to admit. When running errands with my son, I usually have both an iPad Mini and an iPhone 7 Plus in addition to the myriad of other items in my purse. Add cash and passports for vacation, and I found myself guarding the day bag instead of enjoying the sand and surf with my family. A quest for the “perfect day bag” for our last cruise vacation resulted in a nirvana like knapsack experience. So, if you are a fan of terrific totes or just looking for a well-designed accessory, behold, the CoolBag™.
Eureka! The Perfect Day Bag by CoolBag!
There are so many amazing aspects to this handy little bag. Here are some of my favorite things about it.
Padded Cable Handles & Cut Resistant Liner
CoolBag™ looped and locked around a post
One of the handles hides a cable lock (the type used to secure bicycles). The handle detaches so it can be wrapped around things like the arm of a lounge chair or a palm tree. It’s then secured inside the bag. So, unless a thief is interested in walking off with the entire chair, your bag is secure. I was worried the cable inside would cut into my shoulder. (I had a rope-handled tote that was painful after a while.) I’m delighted to report the handles are very well padded and were quite comfy.
Combination Lock
Combination lock on CoolBag™
You may be thinking, “but, certainly, the thief could just open it and detach the cable?” Ha! The zipper is secured with a combination lock, preventing anyone from rifling through your things. And, they also included a fabric patch to cover the lock so it won’t get hot in the sun. So thoughtful!
Magical Pocket
CoolBag™ Carry-On View
The 2nd generation CoolBag™ (which I have) has a hidden secret. A pocket on one side has a zipper bottom. So, when it’s opened, it may be placed over the extended handle of other luggage! It was surprisingly easy to get on and off the handle. Just make sure to close that zipper before trying to use it as a functional pocket.
Smart Interior Pockets
There is a pocket hidden on the inside (shown here with an iPad and 3DS™ XL and room to spare), as well as two pockets perfectly sized for smartphones.
Hidden liner pocket in the Coolbag™
Smartphone pockets in the CoolBag™
It’s Also a Backpack
Backpack View of the CoolBag™
Though set a bit wide the backpack straps are adjustable and very padded, so I adapted quickly. This was very handy when the day bag was heavy or I needed both hands available.
What Makes it “Cool?”
Bottom access to the CoolBag’s™ cooler
I’m a fan of the “idea” of a cooler in my bag. So, I’ve tried a few. But, in order to access the cooler (usually in the bottom of the bag) I had to tip the top over, often resulting in belongings pouring out. Also, they tended to be hard to zip closed while full, and impossible to sit upright if the cooler compartment was empty.
Interior access to CoolBag™ cooler
The CoolBag™ has solved these problems. Its cooler compartment is accessible from the inside and outside of the bag and I didn’t need to fully unzip the cooler to access things most of the time. Then, when we’d consumed everything in the cooler, the bag didn’t tip over. Instead, the design allows it to just sink a bit in height.
The Ice Bag
I’d searched several times for a heavy duty waterproof bag. When staying at resorts and hotels without a freezer, we can’t freeze our ice packs to keep the day’s consumables cold. So, we’d use a Ziploc bag filled with ice, but those regularly leaked, making a wet mess in the bag.
Tear in liner of CoolBag’s™ ice bag
One place the CoolBag™ wasn’t absolutely perfect was the ice bag. When my husband tried to empty the bag, not knowing his own strength, he tore through the first zipper closure (it’s really just a heavy duty Ziploc bag.) But, that was OK because they have three zippers for redundancy. Ours held up perfectly well with only two zippers and the Velcro closure. So, just be mindful to be a little more gentle when opening the ice bag.
It’s Enormous!
All the things the CoolBag™ holds
Even with the cooler and all the pockets, the inside feels cavernous. At 21″ x 13″ x 4 “, this is not a dainty bag. Everything in the photo fit in it, and there was STILL room! If you, like me, value a giant tote, the CoolBag™ doesn’t disappoint.
So, there it is…806 words about a bag. If you’d like to learn more, you’ll find the CoolBag and accessories at https://coolbag.com. As a self-diagnosed bag addict, I’ve spent unknown hours Googling in pursuit of the perfect day bag. Now, I won’t have to search anymore. I’ve found it. What should I do with all the time I’ll save? I hear LuLaRoe is nice.
*Consideration provided by brands mentioned in this post.
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