I've been with this one for quite a long time now.
The TUMI 3WAY briefcase “26180AT2E.”
Until then, KAZUKIN had used TUMI's expandable briefcase to handle big loads. When luggage grew, I widened the gusset. It still fits. A little more fits. And it gets heavy. The TUMI reassurance is outstanding, but of course stuffing it full puts more strain on my shoulder. Around then, something began to nag at KAZUKIN. “A TUMI you can wear on your back would be nice...”
I met it at the outlet
One day I dropped by a TUMI outlet on a whim. That's where I met this one. The 3WAY briefcase 26180AT2E.
“...This is nice.” I pick it up. Put it back. Step away. Return. Pick it up again. Try it on my back in front of the mirror. Put it back. And come back again. Am I buying it or not? The staff must have thought, partway through, “This person's been looking at this the whole day.”
Agonizing. Wavering. Holding back. And picking it up again. It was less considering a product than a negotiation with the bag. Even at outlet prices, it was about ¥50,000. Not an amount you buy with a casual “well, I'll get it.” Yet KAZUKIN's heart was already leaning quite far.
What attracted me most was, again, the 3WAY
The biggest reason I was drawn to this bag was, of course, the 3WAY. Hand carry. Shoulder. And backpack. What especially appealed was being able to wear it on my back. The load that had been concentrated on one hand or one shoulder can be spread over both shoulders. That is easier.
Laptop, documents, charger, and various other things. Somehow a business bag keeps getting heavier if you let your guard down. It was supposed to be normal in the morning, but by the time I'm home, “What am I carrying today?” At such times, being able to make it a backpack is hugely appreciated.
A gray TUMI was good too
And another thing that grabbed KAZUKIN's heart was the gray coloring. A business bag means black. And TUMI means black even more strongly. Of course black is good. It's easy to use for work and dirt isn't conspicuous. But among those lined-up black bags, I found a gray one. It's a little different. Not flashy. But it has real personality. This exquisite feel tickled KAZUKIN's fashion sense.
Not ballistic. That's why it's light
And another point I liked about this model was the lightness. TUMI means durable ballistic nylon. Sturdy and long-lasting, but at the same time people often say “TUMI is heavy.” The 26180AT2E, however, uses a nylon-type material unlike the rugged ballistic types KAZUKIN had used. That makes it light.
Of course there were concerns too. “Isn't it less durable than ballistic?” I thought about that a bit. Take durability? Or take lightness? It's just like choosing a stock. Do you take the fundamentals of high durability, or the growth potential of light weight? ...Probably not the same.
But for a bag you carry every day, “light” is a legitimate performance feature. If you chase only durability and the bag itself becomes heavy, you have to carry that weight every day too. Thinking that way, the lightness had plenty of value.
Before I knew it, my heart was firmly grabbed. “I'll take this.” After all that agonizing, the moment of decision was quick. I was immediately directed to payment. The staff must have thought, “Finally decided.”
The 3WAY is convenient. But not perfect
Using it for real, the 3WAY was indeed convenient. Especially on days with heavy luggage, the backpack style is overwhelmingly easier. The benefit of spreading the load over both shoulders is big.
But over time, the downsides appear too. For example, when I want to take out my wallet. With the pack on my back, I take it off my shoulders. Bring the bag in front. Open the zipper. Take out the wallet. Put it on again. ...It's a bit of a hassle.
“Then just use the shoulder strap.” Yes. You're absolutely right. But then the point of buying a 3WAY fades. Having bought a bag you can wear on your back, I want to wear it on my back. I don't mind if the wallet is somewhat hard to get at. My shoulders are comfortable. To gain one convenience, you give up another a little. The world is well made.
And it became quite a long relationship
At purchase, I was a bit worried about the durability of the non-ballistic material. But before I knew it, this one and I have become quite long-term partners. A slightly unusual gray color. A relatively light nylon material. And above all, a 3WAY I can wear on my back when needed. ¥50,000 at the outlet.
I'd like to tell the KAZUKIN of that day, who kept picking it up and putting it back: “You're going to buy it anyway, so go ahead to the register.” With bags and with stocks, I agonize endlessly until I buy. And after buying, I think: I could have decided sooner. Well, that too is part of the fun of shopping.
TUMI 3WAYブリーフいいよね
KAZUKIN Rating
- 💴 Outlet price — ★★★☆☆ (about ¥50,000, bought after agonizing)
- 🎒 Convenience of the 3WAY — ★★★★★ (being able to wear it is justice)
- 🎨 Gray coloring — ★★★★★ (stands out among all the black)
- 🪶 Lightness — ★★★★☆ (nimble because it isn't ballistic)
- 👛 Ease of taking out a wallet while wearing it — ★★☆☆☆ (have to take it off a shoulder first)
This article is a personal opinion and record of use. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with TUMI. I'm just a TUMI-loving customer. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The illustration is an image based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from real stores and products. It is not an official manufacturer image.