Sometimes, you don’t need or want a massive backpack to carry your everyday essentials. You just need something small, practical, secure and easy to take anywhere.
And that’s where the Tomtoc T33 comes in. The T33 has a clean, minimalist look that fits nicely with everyday outfits, whether you’re heading into the city, travelling, or just going out for the day.
This is the 1.5-litre version, which is their most compact, measuring around 21 by 11.5 by 6.5 centimetres, and weighs just 218 grams. This comes in five colours: black, grey, green, blue and khaki, which is what I have here. There are two slightly larger versions available, which are 2.5 or 3.5 litres. These are bigger, ever so slightly more expensive, but not all colours appear available like with the 1.5-litre version. As I open various compartments, you’ll notice a bold orange interior, which I like a lot.
You can wear it as either a chest bag or a sling bag, on your chest or your back, so you have flexibility depending on what’s most comfortable for you. There is an adjustable strap, making it accessible to all shapes and sizes, and it can also be unclipped, making it easy to get on and off without a need to put your arm through. It’s designed to keep things lightweight without adding unnecessary bulk.
A couple of key features are present with this bag. It has RFID protection, which is designed to help prevent unauthorised scanning, keeping your data secure. I wasn’t able to test this; I don’t have a device that could do such a task, but if it does work, that is a very handy feature to have. The other, it’s made from water-resistant nylon, giving your belongings some protection against light rain and everyday splashes. Just keep in mind that water-resistant doesn’t mean fully waterproof.
There are three main compartments to this bag, one at the front, one at the rear and one in the middle, being the larger, main area. Both the front and rear compartments are zipped and allow space for money, a wallet or purse, smaller, slimmer items. Within the front pocket, you’ll see a clip, where you can attach keys, or perhaps an airtag. In the middle compartment, you’ll find an elasticated area, which I found best for my phone. Plus another internal zip, for a mesh area, for perhaps money, loose coins.
As you can see, I’ve chosen to place my wallet within the rear compartment, so it’s close to my chest, making it the most secure area. Within the main compartment, I have space for my phone, keys, AirPods, action cam and sunglasses, with space for a few extra bits if needed. I wondered whether I could fit a small water bottle in, but I couldn’t. However, with the 3.5-litre model being slightly longer, you may be able to, but then the bottle would take up most, if not all, of the space available.
So, who is this bag actually for?
I’d say it’s worth considering if you prefer travelling light, want quick access to your essentials, or simply don’t like carrying a backpack everywhere. It could work well for city walks, commuting, holidays, and everyday errands. But if you regularly carry a tablet or laptop, a large water bottle, or lots of accessories, you’ll probably want something bigger.
The main appeal here is keeping your everyday carry simple, compact, safe and out of your pockets.
With a retail price of just £32 here in the UK, or slightly cheaper if you shop around, what’s not to love? It looks good, it’s comfortable, it carries all my essentials securely, and they’re easy to access quickly.
To find out more, head over to the official Tomtoc T33 webpage.
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