Pros & Cons
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- Environmentally friendly.
- Inexpensive.
- Thoughtful, original design.
- Free recipes (with select bags).
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- Material and appearance can be a bit rough.
Made of repurposed rice-paper shopping bags and recycled rubber from old tires, the Keen Cornell messenger bag saves you money while doing the environment a big favor, too. Keen is known primarily for its footwear--laptop bags are a new venture. But though the Cornell may appeal most to a somewhat niche audience, it hits the right markers in this category.
Individualistic laptop owners will embrace the bag's uniqueness. While all Cornell bags share a common design and layout, each laptop bag includes unique components: No two bags look exactly alike. The Cornell is reborn from used materials collected from within China, with sections of reusable shopping bags bearing Chinese writing. The inside flap of my Cornell bag, for example, includes a step-by-step recipe for cooking rice, with illustrations and instructions in Chinese.
The messenger bag is comfortable, though the rough recycled material feels a bit stiff and awkward at first. Since its made from the same material, the Cornell tends to make the same crinkly sound as reusable shopping bags.
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