Product Testing - MLC and Overhead Shed

We test our gear on a variety of levels. Our athletes and ambassadors are responsible for putting the latest designs and fabrics through the paces before we'll add a new product to our lineup. But just because something reaches our shelves doesn't mean testing is over. Once a new item shows up in our catalogs, our Customer Service staff gets busy ground-truthing the latest offerings. They know the questions our customers will be asking, and turn that attention to our gear.
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Product Report  - MLC and Overhead Shed
4/13/07
Airline Travel – Weekend Trip
Tested by: Skye, Patagonia Online Customer Service

I recently tested a couple pieces of Patagonia luggage on Friday, April 13th, an excellent day for air travel.  I commenced packing the night before since my flight was due to leave at the crack of dawn the following morning.  I was only going for an extended 3-day weekend and the weather in Park City was supposedly "lovely" so I didn't need to bring much.  I decided on the MLC bag and the Overhead Shed.   

I was hoping to carry everything on, but alas my contact solution, shampoo and multitude of wrinkle reducing creams didn't allow such minimalism.  I decided I'd shove as much as possible into the Overhead Shed and go light with the MLC as my carry on.  I had to bring along some oddly shaped items as I was attending a baby shower, and had cargo that included 50 pink paper plates and cups as well as an odd shaped parcel containing a bottle disinfector, a thrilling gift for any expectant mother.

I extricated my cat from within the Overhead Shed—where he had decided to sleep for the evening—and began packing.  I was able to fit a pair of shoes, the aforementioned odd shaped gift and plates and a couple of light clothing items before I realized the bag was pretty much full.  The size and shape of the Overhead Shed make it a pain to pack.  You have to be sure that you unsnap the side flaps to access as much space as possible and anything odd shaped does not pack well into the curved shaped of the bag.  There isn't a lot of give in the external fabric.  The Overhead Shed is nice if all you pack are soft clothing items and not many of them. 

The MLC on the other hand was a breath of fresh air after packing the Overhead Shed.  It opened up completely giving me free access to the entire bag.  I was able to stuff all of my clothes easily into the bag and found the external organizer pockets a handy place for wallet, cell phone and ticket.  The shoulder strap was comfortable and distributed the weight of the bag nicely.  I did find the bag a bit ungainly when trying to make it down the aisle of an aircraft without whacking anyone in the face, but that could be alleviated with a better packing job.  There is also a handy mesh pouch inside the bag that doubles as a compression strap for those trips when you bring back more than you left with. 

I checked the Overhead Shed and did have some difficulty with the handle.  I had to give it a swift smack to get the handle down and when I picked it up from baggage claim the handle had come completely undone.

Overall, the MLC is a great travel piece for quick trips.  The Overhead Shed is nice if you have a heavier load as it has wheels, but I think it may be better suited as a cat bed for the time being.

Comments

[stephen o'grady]

Second the comments on the Overhead Shed. In retrospect, I should have gotten an MLC instead, and indeed I may replace it with one.

The construction of the Shed is fine - I've had no such handle problems, as an example, in several months of heavy travel.

The difficulty, as the tester noted, is in the flap style. While the novelty of the doctor's bag-style opening appealed when I bought it, I can confirm that it is in fact very difficult to pack. You cannot open the bag and leave it open, instead having to reopen for each item to be entered. And if you're packing dress clothes, it's even worse.

While I'm not a big fan of the Shed, however, I can't say enough nice things about my One Bag. Best briefcase I've ever owned, bar none.

http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/11/01/buy-this-bag-but-not-its-wheeled-cousin/

[Patrick McCarthy]

I haven't tried the overhead shed but can vouch for the excellent design and practicality of the MLC. What a terrific bag for trips from one to several days! I travel a lot and find it versatile -- fine for airline travel as a carry-on (can evevn put laptop in a sleeve in the outside pocket) and for extended car trips in my field-oriented job. The backpack straps, though not practical for hiking, are perfect for carrying a heavy load. Well done, Patagonia!

[CM]

I own the MLC and I agree with the others. It's an amazing bag. Having the backpack straps (which can be hidden) is a huge plus especially when the bag gets to heavy for the shoulder strap or you are carrying a lap top bag in the other hand. On a recent trip to Kauai I packed 7 days worth of stuff in there along with flip-flops and hiking shoes. I definitely pushed it to the limit and it worked fine. Bonus points for the front organization pockets for documents and other do-dads. I recently recieved the "half-mass" ;) bag and that has become my daily bag as well as my weekend gear bag. That bag deserves a whole other post.

[TwoSevensClash]

Actually, CM - thats the full sized, "Critical Mass" :-) Glad its working out!

[JVK]

I travel on 2-4 day trips for work quite a bit. I tried the ONE BAG and it felt too flimsy especially trying to carry a laptop in it. I returned the ONE BAG in exchange for the Lightwire Pack (large), it has the same amount of capacity as the ONE BAG, but is much sturdier. I can fit my laptop, some documents, a good book for the flight all in the back compartment and I can fit a pair of jeans (maybe 2 pairs if I need them) a couple of t-shirts and a couple of dress shirts (of course patagonia shirts that don't wrinkle) along with toiletries in the front compartment. The organizer is great for cellphone, boarding pass, ipod shuffle, etc... The two side pockets hold a few odds and ends as well as my Houdini Full Zip and a water bottle.
My longest trip with just this single bag was 4 or 5 days. Any longer and i usually bring another bag for some extra cloths as a carry on as well.

Great stuff.
Cheers!

jvk

[nan reynaud]

ya all should let me test your products cuase actually im testing them now in boulder colorado as a bike messenger and they are barely passing the test.

[localcrew]

Well Nan, gotta be honest with you and tell you that product testing isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's best performed by the full-time gear nerds we currently have working with us . . . folks who are willing to do things like spend multiple days biking the same short stretch of pre-marked road, measuring evapotranspiration rates through different denier fabrics.

That, of course, doesn't mean we don't appreciate and welcome any feedback we get from people putting our gear through the paces of the real world. If you're not happy with something, we'd love to know about it. Unfortunately, your message doesn't mention which products you've used or how they're not passing the test. If you've got the time to let us know which products you've used and how they've let you down, then we'd love to hear it.

On a related note, we've received rafts of feedback about the latest version of our Critical Mass Bag and have been working hard to incorporate those improvements. Keep an eye out for the latest version, due out Spring 2008.

[David Gard]

MLC is the best. I use is it full time as my briefcase. Handles over-night business trips perfectly.
Certainly need something to back it up to be checked in. Must be able to handle formal clothes.
Any suggestions?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

The MLC is hands-down my fave piece of luggage. Very versatile. It's been to Hawaii, the Yukon, Alaska, Patagonia, all over Canada, and still looks and performs perfectly.

Glad to hear the honest opinions about the Overhead - I had thought of buying one, but wondered about some of the same features others mentioned as being more complicated than I need.

It's great to see honest gear reviews on a company site!! Seems like very few companies would dare...

[incline]

Hi David,

We don't have any travel gear that is specifically set up to handle formal clothing at this time. You might want to check out our classic Freightliner which is a wheeled bag with multiple compartments and a retractable handle. There is a floating baffle within the bag that allows for expansion in each compartment. It is a nice complement to the MLC for longer trips.

[laughtears]

Were any Patagonia Travel bags/packs/garmet bags built w/ accommodating suits (for weddings, big-money meetings, etc...don't laugh/smirk) and other fine fancy-dress attire that shouldn't be wrinkled?

[Nora]

Full disclosure: I work for Patagonia in the edit department but I am here to say I like the Overhead Shed. Recently, I was on a month and half tour, that took me out for three or four days at a time before regrouping, and the Overhead was perfect. I had to carry on baggage; I could not afford to lose a bag. I packed two "lecture" outfits, two changes of running/exercise gear and shoes, the Homeland Security plastic baggie of shampoo etc., a nightie and some t-shirts, and several pairs of shoes. I was amazed at how much a small bag can hold and I kept finding nooks and crannies. Also, I loved the little zip pocket in the front. Just right for laptop and cell phone chargers zipped in at the last minute. NG
NG

[Andy]

I'm a delighted owner for a 5+ year old MLC that's been all of the place. It's awesome.

Re: a bag for suits, a while back Patagonia made the Burrito Suiter. It's a tri-fold garment suit bag constructed of materials similar to the MLC. Though discontinued, I hunted around and found a new-old-stock one at an independent backpacking shop in Berkeley, CA for ~$100. They also turn up from time to on eBay.

I've used my Burrito Suiter several times to take suits cross-country and it worked great. It was a little tight in the overhead compartment, but that probably had more to do with my packing than the bag itself.

Bring back the Burrito Suiter!

[Andy]

I'm a delighted owner of a 5+ year old MLC that's been all over the place. It's awesome.

Re: a bag for suits, a while back Patagonia made the Burrito Suiter. It's a tri-fold garment suit bag constructed of materials similar to the MLC. Though discontinued, I hunted around and found a new-old-stock one at an independent backpacking shop in Berkeley, CA for ~$100. They also turn up from time to on eBay.

I've used my Burrito Suiter several times to take suits cross-country and it worked great. It was a little tight in the overhead compartment, but that probably had more to do with my packing than the bag itself.

Bring back the Burrito Suiter!

[Peter Esko]

I'll second the call to bring back the Burrito Suiter. I've got one that is still hanging in there but I would love to see it and more products like it brought back to the linup.

I did a week in Paris with the bag and had no problems. It's gone across the country countless times and I absolutely love it. Best travel piece I've ever had.

[Peter Esko]

I'll second the call to bring back the Burrito Suiter. I've got one that is still hanging in there but I would love to see it and more products like it brought back to the linup.

I did a week in Paris with the bag and had no problems. It's gone across the country countless times and I absolutely love it. Best travel piece I've ever had.

[patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com]

I second CM's comment regarding the Critical Mass/Half Mass Bags. I have the CM and it's my second one. I upgraded after Patagonia released the updated version (in 2004 was it?) and couldn't be happier. That bag is a warrior and big but not obnoxiously big. Indeed, how about a completely separate entry about that product!

[patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com]

I second CM's comment regarding the Critical Mass/Half Mass Bags. I have the CM and it's my second one. I upgraded after Patagonia released the updated version (in 2004 was it?) and couldn't be happier. That bag is a warrior and big but not obnoxiously big. Indeed, how about a completely separate entry about that product!

[Ed]

God almighty do I love my MLC. It must be ten years old by now and it's been everywhere and never let me down. I've strapped it to the top of a bus on the Karakorum Highway, had a monk sit on it on the way to Mandalay, and carried it on hundreds of thousands of miles of business travel. It still looks great.

Patagonia used to sell a smaller version, the LBC, now sadly discontinued; any chance of bringing that back? I'd buy one.

[Cary]

I have a half-mass bag from 2002/2003 (the old style without the laptop compartment). Quite simply one of the best bags I've ever owned. It is a perfect city bag. That bag has been tossed across grass, dirt, concrete, subway cars, etc.

I'm waiting on getting the MLC as I've been doing more travel recently and all my backbacks are either way too big and burly for a a simple weekend--or it's my ski backpack with straps and buckles all over the place that I really don't need while on public transit.

From what I've read about the MLC I should be really impressed -- so I wait and see.

[Shiva]

Bags: I have a lot to say about this one, since I am a complete bag addict. Like much else, the new line of Patagonia bags simply don't seem to follow the form/function formula of earlier. I have the Little Brother (the smaller MLC) and it has been perfect. I really, really wish Patagonia wd bring it back. I am very small made, and it is the only bag that fits me really well; and of late, with international travel having become very sticky with carry ons, even the MLC is way too big for many airlines. The Overhead Shed is simply useless as a carryon, and was not allowed for most international travel. I recently started to buy from RedOxx--but I wish Patagonia wd bring back the Little Brother.

2. I also have an older Duffle--a simple bag with foam bottom--that has withstood years of travel to India --and in and around India...and I am hard pressed to replace it.

3. And yes: the burrito suiter is great.
4. The Stand Up Case--has to be one of the most versatile briefcases I have ever owned; also now obsolete.

the new bags are sad...the materials are better, but the designs just don't work.

[Carolyn Crook]

I have both the MLC, plus the LBC and an overhead shed--I plan to give the overhead shed away--it just does not work--the size would led one to believe that it will hold more than it does plus with spine in the middle causes you to lose more space. Love my MLC and have on order one with wheels. The MLC and the LBC have made many trips and always hold more. The MLC has been to OR more times than I can count as I got it when they first were available. Now would love to find a small day pack on wheels that is more square to use for the really short trips. Was hoping that the overhead shed would work but not at this time. Carolyn

[localcrew]

Carolyn, you're in luck. The MLC Wheelie is due out this spring. Keep checking online, as this should be available for purchase through the website within the next 2 - 3 weeks.

cheers,
lc

[patagoniacommunity]

Just saw that the redesigned Critical Mass is now available. Very excited about checking it out as the new features and changes seem to make a lot of sense for those of us who use the bag from work to trips to hauling the kids' stuff around. I noticed on the site that it's not available until Feb. 5 but do the stores carry them now?

[Free]

The new spring products will be arriving in the stores over the next few weeks. Compared to the Web site, it typically takes the stores a little longer to swap out the fall gear with the new spring gear. I'd say it's definitely worth a call though. They might have them now.

Hope to see a review on your blog if you pick up the new Critical Mass. : )

[patagoniacommunity]

Free, thanks for the info. I will definitely write a review of the CM on my blog if/when I get a new CM. While I love what I can see of the CM's new design features on the website, the $119 price tag is a bit daunting. The old $99 price point was so accessible, so pure, and so two-digit-y. (It also helps that I had gotten mine as a gift.) But if the unpredictable bidders on eBay are kind to me, I'll have a decent subsidy from the old one that will vault me toward that unsightly 119 number! Thanks again and all the best to you.

[patagoniacommunity]

Question here. I noticed that someone currently has one of the new CMs for auction on eBay. In fact the same seller sold one on Jan. 16th which means he/she must have had it even before them. Is it possible that someone could have it so early? Could it be a fake?

That's a real good question. There's a chance the bag(s)you're seeing are authentic, as the Spring 08 models just went on sale last week.

It is worth pointing out that imitations are cropping up all the time, some of them so detailed as to seem like a real Patagonia piece to all but the trained eye. Unfortunately for some purchasers of Pata-faux-nia products, those trained eyes belong to the folks in our Returns Dept., and we cannot accept returns of--or perform repairs on--non-Patagonia items...no matter how close they look to the originals.

Goes without saying, but the best way to ensure you're getting a Patagonia original that will be covered by our legendary warranty is by purchasing the bag directly from Patagonia or one of our licensed dealers.

Cheers,
localcrew

[Bob]

I looked at the new MLC and it has some nice features. The store I was at had both old and new, and it seemed the new MLC is slightly smaller, i.e. thinner. The specs on the website are wrong for the new MLC. Can anyone advise dimensions, capacity and weight for both old and new?

Also are the new zippers better? They look nice and you pay more for a jacket that has waterproof zippers, but are they more or less reliable?

The other changes I noticed were the front compartment organization and the detachable shoulder strap. Did I miss anything else?

[Ken]

Bob, the dimensions for the new mlc are indeed smaller, airlines keep downsizing their carry on size limits and people were overstuffing their mlcs and being forced to check them.
I checked with the product designer and the dimensions online are correct although they were incorrect in the luggage comparison chart. This should be fixed momentarily. He also says that the new #10 laminated coil zippers on the mlc are "bomber". Hope this helps.

[patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com]

Alas, I had to leave the Mass family and joined the Lightwires (Tote, that is). Thanks to localcrew and Free for your help through the months!

[localcrew]

Oh nice! Keep us posted on your thoughts. I've been hearing good stuff about the Lightwires. Word is, it's a great bag for travel.

I've not yet converted (committed to running my old-school commuting backpack into the ground first), but I'm really interested to know how that pack feels for bike commuters with laptops. Any thoughts/experiences you (or anyone, for that matter) wish to share are heartily encouraged.
cheers,
lc

[Doug]

I own both a MLC and an Overhead Shed and the latter has never seen its way out of the closet.

The MLC is a Godsend. I commute 1000 KM each week to my job and am able to pack 3 night's clothing without a problem. The compression panel keeps everything tight and, well, compressed. The shoulder strap is comfortable and I have converted it to a backpack from time to time and am pleased. I have not used it on a bike but would only do so as a backpack and not as a messenger-type bag; it's not stable enough for that.

Then there's the Overhead Shed. Difficult to pack through a small opening even when unzipped and unsnapped, no tie-down straps; I've honestly tried to use it for 4-5 trips and ended up giving up every time. I tried to return it but was told that since I took the tag off (hadn't anticipated such a significant degree of uselessness), I may or may not get my money back.

Happy travels...

[localcrew]

Hi Doug,
If you purchased that bag from us, then your return is always welcome. While it is true that we may not be able to offer a cash refund for a pack from which the internal tags have been clipped, your proof of purchase is enough to make sure you get full credit toward a future purchase. Wouldn't want that bag rotting away in the closet when you could be picking up some Patagonia gear you can actually put to use.
lc

[gsv]

I am on my second MLC (the first one got trashed in a flooded basement; both, however, are not the current generation) and have humped it tends of thousands of miles. When I switch it for a conventional wheeled bag, I find that I miss the MLC for its ability to accomodate so much. I, too, recently bought the Overhead Shed, thinking that dimensionally it would have a slight edge for multiday trips. However, when attempting to pack it, I discovered, like many of the others who have chimed in here, that it is nigh-on impossible to get anything in with hopes that it won't be a wrinkled mess. Makes me wonder why it was even developed. But the MLC is a true packhorse--well, it is a pack, but you have to provide the horse aspect of it.

[Sarah Kemper]

I love my MLC. The company I work for gave them out as christmas gifts in 2004. Aside from the occasional short vacation, I use my MLC to carry lunch and other personal items back and forth to the office every day. Considering that my commute is all of four blocks and that my lunch is not particularly heavy, I was very surprised when the zipper on the front compartment gave out a few months ago. Otherwise, no complaints with the bag. I've still been using it to carry lunch, but next time I have to fly anywhere it will be a huge inconvenience not to have the organizational pocket (or, even worse, try to find another bag that can live up to the standards I am used to from my MLC)! Is the faulty zipper covered by warranty and, if so, how do I get it fixed (and survive without it in the meantime!)?
Thanks, SK

[Laurie C]

I hate to be so sexist, but I've noticed that most of the comments on the bag seem to be from men....
How do women fare with the MLC for weekend/long weekend trips? I'm not frou-frou and don't need a hair dryer, but I know that I pack more than my boyfriend does....Any thoughts? Thanks.

[localcrew]

Laurie, you're not being sexist at all. Thanks for opening the door for more comments from the women among our readers. You're right, the travel needs can be different, and your question is a good one.

And Sarah, you bet we stand behind our zippers. Complete return instructions can be found here: http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=5175&ln=74
Or by clicking on the "Returns and Repairs" link near the bottom right corner of our Home Page. Please have a look at the instructions here before sending your bag back to us, as it contains important information about turn-around times, refunds, etc.
cheers, lc

[Jeff Judge]

It seems like a lot of people want the burrito to come back. Any chance it will or some variation?

BTW - I think I'm going to pick up the MLC, every time I head out of town for an overnight trip I keep thinking that I should have a small bag. I'm glad I subscribed to your feed and saw this post.

[Darcy McGee]

So, as someone who's planning to buy an MLC when I'm in Seattle for an extended training mission next month I've been researching.

I found this:
http://www.onebag.com/wheeled-bags.html
with the following comment:
"I used to recommend the Patagonia "MLC®" [until it]...switched to a lower-quality fabric."
in addition to comments about the dimensions.

I wonder if addressing the fabric question would be possible? Is it a lighter FEELING fabric with the same (or higher?) strength?

I realize dimensions will change to accommodate slight shifts in rules.

I often fly with a Buritto Suiter. Love that bag, and I'm thinking the MLC will be a good counterpart to it for more casual travel.

[Old School]

Hi Darcy,
Thanks for the link to one bag.com. I'm not really sure what he means by "lower quality fabric" In Spring of 2005 the MLC switched from 630 Denier Ballistics Cloth to 1680 Denier Ballistic Cloth which is the same fabric we are using today. Denier is a measurement of the thickness of the individual fibers that make up the fabric. So actually this a better fabric than the old stuff. This is one of the toughest and most abrasion resistant fabrics on the market and I have to say that this is the first time I've ever heard any ballistics class nylon referred to as "lower quality" let alone "inferior".

As far as losing the "rectilinearity" we have found that square corners tend to wear quicker so rounding the corners really increases the life of the pack (they also facilitate sliding your bag into those ubiquitous carry-on sizing boxes) As for the additional zippers, most of our customers really appreciate having the addition organizing pockets.

[Darcy McGee]

Thanks for the fabric info etc. I figured this was a matter of one person's opinion not based on fact: it's nice to know.

See you in the Seattle store, week of July 14th! I'm just debating the Blue or the Green at this point (definitely not Black.)

[Doug]

As a follow-up, after I posted my comments about the Overhead Shed, the folks at Patagonia followed up with me and were helpful and responsive; I sent it back and purchased a MLC Wheelie.

Now having used both the last generation MLC (no wheels) and the Wheelie, I can say that both have their + and -. First, the MLC is just bigger than the Wheelie - Luggage Design Team, make the Wheelie bigger next time! Because of the way the Wheelie opens (from the top down), it's a little more difficult to pack, though not terribly so, and the compression panel is a little bit more difficult to use.

That said, it sure is nice to have wheels! I can more comfortably use the Wheelie for 2-night trips where the MLC will do better for 3 nights. The Wheelie size is great for stuffing into the overhead bin (it may actually fit under a seat, but I haven't tried it yet).

All in all, the MLC and Wheelie, particularly with their great compression panels, have the vote from this weekly traveler/bag junkie.

[lowellbellew]

The MLC and Wheelie are fantastic.

One feature request: I'd love to see the wheelie version have a modular replacement for the wheelie component. In particular, I'd like to be able to insert a water bladder in that space. Even being able to remove the wheels for travel-light, travel-fast ease would be great.

Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
JLB

[Hunter]

"Patagonia used to sell a smaller version, the LBC, now sadly discontinued; any chance of bringing that back? I'd buy one."

I totally agree with this...please bring it back.

[Craig]

I have a One Bag and a MLC. I spend a LOT of time on the road and have worked to minimize what I take with me. For formal wear I bought a Travel Pro suit folder. It fits perfectly in the MLC under the removable small items pouch. If I'm in multiple climates I have a smaller roller bag that fits my briefcase, my dress/running shoes and a sweater. I've never had any problems carrying on my gear. I've been able to make this work for up to 3 week trips. Oh, I also carry a small bottle of hemp soap for washing out the unmentionables in the hotel sink. Perfect bag, the MLC that is!

[Nate]

I've been looking for burrito suiter for years, and heard a rumor a new version might be coming out soon. Any truth?