Review: Hedgren Asharum Waist Bag

As a recent email told me "Fanny packs are back and there's nothing you can do about it." The last time I sported a fanny pack for real was when I was 14. In the 25 years since, I've bought exactly one waist bag (fanny pack, bum bag) and that was for a Halloween costume. The waist bag trend has exploded again in a huge way and you can find them everywhere. Everyone's getting in on it, even high end European manufacturers like Hedgren.

Gone are the days that you can only get the same exact bag in cotton or leather. Fanny packs now come in a variety of colors, fabrics and styles. The Asharum Waist Bag from Hedgren's Inner City collection shows you that you can wear a quality fanny pack that looks great with whatever you wear and it won't make you stand out as a tourist on your travels (which you totally did back in the day). Old and young and every age in between are picking up a waist pack and making them look chic and popular. 

The Asharum Waist Bag has all the organization you need, so you aren't just rummaging around in a main compartment to find change or whatever else you're keeping in there. It's structured, too, giving it a nice silhouette against your body, instead of being a lumpy bag. 

You'll find three separate compartments inside, one of which is zippered, so you can keep those items from being shown to the world every time you open your bag. 

One side compartment has both card slots and an RFID zipper pocket. You can put your large smartphone here, as well as up to three credit cards. 

The zipper will fit your passport. I was able to put both of ours in it with no problem. This allows you to keep your information safe from digital thieves. The length of the bag is also perfect for keeping your boarding passes and other travel docs from getting all crumpled. The other compartment is plain and can be used for anything you need to carry with you. I put my large back-up battery and cords in it and there was still room leftover. In the middle zippered compartment, I kept my few cosmetics I take with me when I go anywhere.

The front of the bag has a smaller zipper slot, perfect for all the change you tend to collect as you travel. You could also use it for your transportation passes. Because it's on the front, it's fast to get in and out of. 

The side against your body has a larger zippered compartment, where you can keep dollar bills flat impossible for pickpockets to get at. It opens wide so you can see everything inside easily and takes up nearly the whole length of the bag.

The bag has a sturdy zip closure that is held down with this hardware, meaning you can close your bag with one hand with ease and your zipper end will never flop out of the bag, which I'm sure you've had happen with other bags you've owned. It's the worst, right? The Asharum also has a nice little cube detail that you can keep on or take off if you like. It gives the bag just a little bit more interest.

As you can see, even with all the stuff inside, the bag is still a manageable width. It does expand a bit to make it work for most of the things you'd like to carry around in it. The different sections are separate from each other, so it's not just one big bag with sections that can make the bag too wide and/or droopy when full. The sections are stitched together, so they retain their shape and don't allow the bag to accordion out so much that it is heavy and pulling down. 

You also have a heavy duty strap and buckle. The buckle was impossible for me to pull apart just by tugging hard on the two sides, so it's not going to just snap and fall off while you're walking around. It's also going to be hard for someone to snatch and drag off your body while you're wearing it. The strap is easy to adjust, too, so whatever size you are, you can make it comfortable for you.

I think this might change my mind about fanny packs, but if not, Hedgren has plenty of other great bags for me to try. I've got three more to bring you! Don't forget about the dad or grad on your list who might love this for their travels, or just to look cool around campus.

Other details

Where to buy them: On the Hedgren website or Amazon

How much is it? €49.00 (approx $65)

Colors they come in: black (shown) | dolphin blue | tango red

Additional specs: 5.91 x 1.57 x 10.24 inch, durable water repellent 100-200D twill nylon

Who's excited to see the waist bag return?

Loving Hedgren and want to see all their new products and see how to make them even more fashionable? Find them online: 

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram

Disclosure: I was provided with the Asharum Waist Bag for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own. 

Review: The Better Umbrella from Cabeau

Okay, so by now you know I am not an umbrella carrier. I live in Portland where it rains quite a bit. I’m totally used to it. I either suffer or I wear my rain jacket. The last time I traveled with an umbrella was in 2005 when I went to Cancun. It was in the middle of hurricane season and we were lucky enough to visit in between a tropical storm and an actual hurricane (Hurricane Wilma). Rain pretty much follows us everywhere we go, but I always end up wishing I didn’t bring my umbrella, because it just gets in the way and is too cumbersome.

If you feel like this about an umbrella, and are also bitter that you have to either bring one per person or travel with a giant golf umbrella, then you will want to read on to learn more about the Better Umbrella by Cabeau.

Cabeau knows how annoying it is to travel with an umbrella that either doesn’t keep you dry, is too large or gets your arm wet when trying to share with a friend. These are all the reasons I quit taking them on my trips, but the Better Umbrella just might change all that, because its innovative design is not only awesome and useful, but it allows me to not have to wear an extra layer of clothing when I’m somewhere warm and rainy.

The Better Umbrella has an offset handle, so you don’t have stand to the side of the middle of it, so half of you is covered really well and the other half is only partially covered and probably getting a little wet. The other problem that the Better Umbrella solves is when you’re wearing a backpack that sticks out (because don’t they all?) and you’re trying to keep dry with an umbrella, but because you have to hold it in front of you, your backpack – and your legs and feet – is getting drenched, along with everything in it. Womp womp. Having to figure out how to dry all your stuff out when you get back to your room is not fun at all.

The offset handle means you can keep yourself and your belongings dry, you get more coverage where you need it, plus you can even see where you’re going! Novel, right? The worst is when you’re walking around with an umbrella, but you can only see the people’s feet in front of you. What all are you missing around you by not being able to look up – or even at eye level?

The handle is ergonomic and comfortable in your hand. It has a design that makes it impossible for it to slip from your grip while in use. It has a nice storage case and a loop that you can use to hang it and let it dry out when you’re back inside.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pics of me using this outside in the rain, because I was on my own, but it made walking around in the gross Portland weather a bit more enjoyable and kept all of me dry. Plus, I didn’t have to wear a coat, which was nice, because summer has finally made it here (on most days anyway) and I didn’t have to be hotter in order to not get soaked.

So, if you are an umbrella carrier, either at home or on trips, The Better Umbrella should be on your wish list. You’ll find out quickly that its name is appropriate and will make your rainy days that much better. It also makes a great gift for those that travel frequently or live in a rainy place like I do. Father’s Day is coming in a few weeks and graduation season is upon us. Get this for the gap year grad on your list.

Other details

Where to buy it: On the Cabeau website

How much is it? $29.99

Colors it comes in: black

Additional specs: Open: Diameter=39″/ Height=23″ /Weight=13 oz, Closed: Diameter=2.25″/Height=12″, Fabric=100% Polyester/ Handle=100% ABS Plastic / Frame=2% Steel, 21% Aluminum, 12% Fiber Glass, 8% Polyamide Plastic, 7% Polyresin 

Can you see The Better Umbrella making your trips more awesome?

If you love the innovation of Cabeau, check them out online:

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: I was provided with The Better Umbrella for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.                                                                                                                                      

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 3

My coffee tour continues this month. We've had some really nice days at the beginning of the month, making it nice coffee weather, because I could sit outside if I wanted, and walking to one shop from another is fun and not miserable. I love that sort of weather. Actual Spring weather where it's sunny and warm enough to not wear a coat, but not so warm that you're sweating from walking three blocks.

This month I found some winners that were based on Instagram, Swarm friend suggestions and good old fashioned map Googling. I was pretty lucky with my visits too. You'd think that'd be easy with a coffee loving city like Portland, but not every coffee shop is created equal, which I have found out fairly quickly with this blog series. Anyway, let's get to the brews:

Peaks Coffee PDX

It's amazing what sort of connections you can make on Instagram. I found Peaks by following other coffee shops in the city. It's pretty much brand new and took over a tiny space in SE. They sucked me in with their minimalist design and their delicious coffee pics, including their new Mt. Tabor, which I decided I needed to try when I went in.

There were a couple really nice days in Portland, so everyone was getting excited about iced coffee, but it was back to dreary when I visited, so I ordered the Mt. Tabor hot and then a Mt. Hood bagel sandwich. The Mt. Tabor is a latte made with fresh mint. The hot version isn't that minty, though my breath was extra fresh for an hour after. It also has the added challenge of having floating leaves in the cup, which would probably easier to drink if it were cold and you had a straw. It was good though. It had a pretty good flavor that wasn't too bitter or too sweet, but I'd probably try something else next time.

The sandwich was awesome though. The Mt. Hood is a sandwich with cream cheese and thinly sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. I got salt and pepper on it and it was one of the most delicious bagels I've ever had and it would be on the top of my list if I returned.

Peaks is small and only has bar stools for seating, so you're not going to go there and work on your novel or chat with your friends for an hour. You're going to go, chat with the barista while they make your drink and then sip it while watching people walk along the street, or you take your drink with you and become one of those people. Their prices are pretty consistent with the other coffee places in town, with a latte costing $4.75 and a bagel sandwich just $4. I'd say less than $9 for breakfast is a pretty decent deal.

Deadstock Coffee

This tiny little coffee joint is like walking into a little bit of an old school hip hop video. They have sneakers and sports memorabilia and a fun piece of art that features a boom box. They have a few stools to sit at, but when I was there they were full, including someone doing homework on a laptop, so they obviously are pretty social in their small space. You won't find food here, or a menu, but they claim they'll make any coffee you want, or you can ask for their specials. They didn't have any when I visited, but I asked them to just make me something cold and the barista suggested the Zero Chill (also seconded and applauded by a customer, or possibly another worker on break). 

It is a cold brew coffee mixed with ice tea. Those are my two favorite things to drink! He was nice enough to pour it into an espresso cup first so I could taste it before I committed to a full size, but I was in. It only cost $4, which I thought was a decent deal, considering how good and refreshing it was. If homeless people bother you, maybe just park across the street in the paid lot instead of finding street parking. I'm used to it and no one bothered me, even after I took my drink to go and drank it on my way to my next coffee adventure.

Courier Coffee Roasters

This little European style cafe is in a fun shaped building that's also home to several other eateries, including Portland landmark Sizzle Pie. They don't really serve food here either, but they have places to sit and their coffees are affordable. I asked for their most popular drink and they told me it was probably their lattes and also that the espresso was "especially good" that day, so I ordered that and a canelé (what I'm told is a baked custard pastry). The two cost just $6 - $4 for my latte and $2 for my pastry. 

The coffee had a lovely rich flavor with a little bit of sweetness that eliminated the need for any sugar at all, plus it was pretty to look at! The pastry was amazing. I'd never had a canelé before and I look forward to having another one. It was crispy on the outside and like a super moist cake on the inside. I loved it. I'll definitely be back next time I'm downtown, and maybe I'll head around the corner to one of the three places to eat as well. I was very impressed, and I'd have to say this is in a much more approachable part of Portland, right across the street from the North Park Blocks and a few blocks from Downtown proper with a ton of food cart pods nearby.

Heart

This was another shop that was my second visit of the morning. If you didn't know where Heart was, you'd probably not even notice it. It blends in with the buildings on the block and their monochromatic color scheme. The sign is small, but once you get there, you wonder how you missed it.

I found the prices of this minimalist coffee place a bit high. The prices seemed a $1 more for coffees and $1.50+ more for pastries. I had already had one coffee when I visited, so I opted for a small Americano and a blackberry blueberry scone. With a dash of sugar, the coffee was perfect. They use a mix of beans to get a lovely bold roast that is very satisfying. My scone had a nice crisp on the outside and was fluffy on the inside with that burst of fresh fruit. The two cost me a total of $7.50 ($3.50 for an 8oz $4 for my scone). 

For the price, you get the added convenience of a Downtown location, but unless you're visiting on a weekday morning, you probably are going to end up paying for parking as well. Although, if you're already downtown, it's easy to walk to and close to the mall, Target, Powell's Books, and Pioneer Square. There is plenty of inside and outside seating and the space is airy and bright. It's a friendly place to pop into for a to-go cup or to sit and relax for a bit. Don't expect any substantial food though, as I think I picked the heaviest thing on offer.    

There you have it. Four coffee shops that you may not have heard of and may be interested in grabbing a cuppa on your next visit to Portland. 

What's your favorite coffee shop from home or your travels?