Waterfield Designs Zoom Crossbody review: A premium day bag for the discerning Surface user

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

I've been covering laptop bags by Waterfield Designs now for many years. Based in San Francisco, it is one of the rare bag companies that designs and makes its products right in the U.S. Made in small-scale batches, the numberless command a larger toll bespeak for the quality, uniqueness, materials, and a lifetime warranty. In curt, you buy its bags and go along them forever.

The new Zoom Crossbody but came out and is part of Waterfield'due south "vertical laptop collection," which I observe the most applied for daily commutes, short travel hops, or wandering around the city. The purse is simple, but with deep pockets, a colorful yellow inner layer (to assistance you see meliorate), and Ruby (or Blue) Forza colorway, it's one beauty of a bag.

If you lot carry a Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, or whatever modern Ultrabook that's xiv-inches or under, you'll want to know the pros and cons of the Zoom Crossbody.

Hither'south what you demand to know after I spent the last 2 weeks using it.

Waterfield Zoom Reco

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody

Bottom line: A fashionable, calorie-free day bag used to acquit your laptop to the office, accept a quick car ride, or run to the coffee shop. While the traditional waxed canvas or ballistic nylon options are great, you should become for the cherry-red or blueish Forza accents.

The Practiced

Exceptionally well designed and high quality
New ruddy or blue colorways
But the right amount of pockets
Fabricated in the Usa

The Bad

Expensive
No grab handle

The perfect day bag

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody: What I like

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

Waterfield e'er goes out of the way to deliver top-notch designs and features. The Zoom Crossbody has a full laptop compartment that is padded and lined with a soft material to ensure you lot won't scratch your device. This bag likewise appears to be a refresh of the original Bolt Crossbody, a bag I still used regularly upwards until the Zoom arrived.

What makes the Zoom so interesting is it is ane of the few vertical bags instead of the more than traditional horizontal ones (or a backpack). This blueprint is much more than coincidental, discreet, and comfortable, peculiarly for traveling lite since there is less flopping.

The zippers are splash-proof, then if you are caught in the rain, the water can't leak in through the zippered openings. Likewise, on the within is Waterfield'south famed gilt water-resistant liner. While that color may seem an odd choice, its reasoning is brilliant: when you look in the bag for any smaller items, in that location is actual contrast letting you see better. Many bags have black compartments making it hard to detect that pen, a key, or anything that's non highly visible. That's not an event here (plus, it looks classier).

Besides the dedicated laptop compartment, the main heart area tin concur another laptop, tablet, or a book. There's a smaller sleeve surface area that tin fit an Amazon Kindle Oasis perfectly. There are two dedicated pen holders and a primal claw that lets you attach your keys for easy access.

Turning to the exterior, on the front is some other zippered pocket. This one has a slot for your smartphone (fifty-fifty a Surface Duo fits), some other pen slot, and a larger compartment for any other items. The rear has a non-zippering pocket ideal for papers or magazines. Both these front end and rear pockets let quick admission, letting you grab essential items while withal wearing the bag.

Like all of Waterfield's bags, this one comes in waxed canvas (chocolate leather), ballistic nylon (blackness leather), and two new colors Red Forza and Blue Forza. Waxed canvas has a beautiful "classic" wait that ages nicely with a typical patina, whereas the ballistic nylon is stealthier. But the new cherry or blue options add a fleck of style and vibrancy. For this review, I am using the Blood-red Forza, and it is akin to a slightly lighter red burgundy making information technology stylish only besides non as well flashy.

Every bit the name implies, this bag has a strap that you sling around your shoulder, preferably beyond your body. The strap is detachable and seatbelt style with a padded (and grippy) shoulder department to ensure the bag doesn't slide around while also reducing pressure level points. Seeing most Ultrabooks are about 3 pounds (one.3kg) and less, the Zoom Crossbody never feels heavy when fully packed.

There are too two sizes to cull from when ordering: compact ($209) and tall ($229). The meaty size is ideal for small tablets like iPad Pro 11, Surface Become with Blazon Cover, or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold. The tall version, reviewed here, takes any 13-inch laptops, including Surface Pro 10 and Surface Pro 7. Many modern 14-inch laptops can also fit, east.1000., HP EliteBook 1040 G7 or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

A few niggles

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody: What I don't like

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Compared to the Bolt Crossbody, there are a few pattern changes that I mostly hold with. For instance, the back pocket no longer zips making it more platonic for conveying a mag. The front pocket no longer has a magnetic push button latch and instead zips, ensuring whatever is in that pocket won't spill out. Waterfield also added that key hook to the Zoom Crossbody (it was missing on the Commodities). It's a handy feature that makes finding your car or firm keys less of a mystery since you're no longer just tossing them into a void.

But the Commodities had a nice leather snippet on the zipper to grab quickly, and that is no longer the example with the Zoom. Besides, the Bolt had a nifty grab handle on the back, which I found very useful when flying (clutching it from under the seat) or after driving. Sure, I tin can snatch the shoulder strap, only in tight quarters that could event in a lot of bag flopping. At that place was just something very satisfying about that grab handle.

The competition

Crossbody Comp Source: tomtoc

At this price bespeak, there aren't as well many bags that check all the boxes of a Waterfield Designs, precisely the vertical and light layout.

Superlative Design has earned a famous reputation, but its bags are much larger and more than ideal for camera gear and digital equipment instead of just a laptop.

Polare brand some excellent "professional" leather bags, just none are the vertical blueprint of the Zoom.

There are likewise much more affordable brands like tomtoc with a rather tacky behemothic logo and Targus, only both are different leagues than Waterfield for quality, longevity, and warranty.

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody: Should y'all buy

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Primal

You lot should purchase this if ...

Yous want a bag that looks great

Waterfield specializes in quality and professional designs that look great in a pub, coffee shop, business concern trip, or just walking around the city. With now four excellent colorways, premium materials, and no flashy logos, the Zoom Crossbody is without peer.

You want a bag that will last years

There's something to be said well-nigh a bag that won't fade, rip, or fall apart after five years. In a earth of disposable accessories, it's overnice to run across something that bucks that tendency. Waterfield's lifetime warranty applies to whatever "defects encountered in the normal apply" (non personal damage)

Y'all want a light day bag with a vertical design

There are plenty of backpacks and briefcase laptop numberless out there, but few are vertical and fabricated for smaller tablets or devices similar Surface. I always prefer a messenger-fashion (crossbody) bag, but it'south the vertical pattern I discover highly-seasoned as it just hugs your body improve. If you desire a simple purse with enough of pockets that tin can fifty-fifty accept some rain, the Zoom is going to be your choice.

Yous should not buy this if...

The idea of a $200 bag freaks you out

When you are living pay bank check to pay check, dropping over $200 on a day bag will seem ridiculous. That'south fair but bookmark this review. When y'all desire something with a flake more panache, Waterfield Designs will be waiting.

You need to carry a lot more

People like backpacks because you could comport an iPad, or a fifteen-inch laptop, some sneakers, a water bottle, books, snacks, and whatever else. That flexibility is nice, but the trade-off is that you have a bag that is sometimes overkill. Still, if you need to conduct a lot more gear, this is not your bag.

Overall, I like the Zoom Crossbody. Information technology's a nice evolution of Waterfield's vertical handbag lineup and perfect for the discerning Surface user (13" Laptop, xiii" Volume, Surface Pro, Surface Pro X, Surface Go) and anyone with a svelte and modern Ultrabook (see our All-time Ultrabooks 2022 for more ideas). The new Red Forza is outstanding, only if you desire the classic, go for that waxed sheet.

That said, I'd love to see Waterfield bring back that rear grab handle, which seems like a simple request. But if that doesn't carp you and you desire something premium and made in the U.S. I tin can hands recommend the Waterfield Designs Zoom Crossbody.

If you need some other ideas and similar Waterfield's design, check out my reviews of its Cargo Laptop bag, Outback Solo, Tech Folio, or its many other designs for all devices.

Waterfield Zoom Reco

Waterfield Zoom Crossbody

Bottom line: A stylish, low-cal solar day bag used to bear your laptop to the function, accept a quick car ride, or run to the coffee shop. While the traditional waxed canvas or ballistic nylon options are peachy, you lot should go for the red or blue Forza accents.

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