This Indiana Jones Satchel Is the Perfect Commuter Bag: Woods Monkey Transit Bag Review

Sitting in the dark theater with the now-famous theme music filling the air, the first time I saw Indy’s satchel, I knew I had to have one. Being 9 years old when Raiders of the Lost Ark came out, sourcing such a bag was impossible. Mom had a few old purses, though, which is one of those memories that makes me glad cellphones and social media weren’t around back then.

The Woods Monkey x Blue Ridge Overland Gear Transit Bag is perhaps a little smaller than the WWII-era British MKVII gas mask bag used in the Indiana Jones films, but it’s certainly no less useful.

In fact, its smaller size is one of its biggest assets. As I’ve been using it the last few weeks as my regular EDC bag, I’ve found that it is just large enough to carry what I truly need.

At the same time, it is small enough to encourage a more minimalist approach. That’s a good thing for me, as I tend to “what if” my way into packing far too much stuff.

Being familiar with the quality of Blue Ridge Overland Gear, I knew going in that the odds were high this bag was going to be a home run. Having Woods Monkey put its spin on things was just icing on the cake. Even so, I did find a couple of areas of possible improvement, though perhaps I’m just being nitpicky.

In short: The Transit Bag from Woods Monkey isn’t just another satchel. It has a smart design that encourages minimalism while still affording plenty of space for daily essentials, no matter what sort of adventures you have planned. The X-Pac material construction provides long-lasting durability and exceptional protection from the elements, so you’re ready to tackle anything. For EDC and even light adventure carry, this is an ideal satchel for folks who prefer one shoulder strap on their bags to two.

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Woods Monkey Transit Bag Review

The Transit Bag is part of the Triple Run collection from Blue Ridge Overland Gear. This is its signature line of products. While everything it produces is good, the Triple Run products are extra-good, with overengineered designs and exceptional quality components.

In the Triple Run lineup, you’ll often see features like laser-cut MOLLE, technical fabrics like Cordura and X-Pac, and lots of Velcro fields. The Woods Monkey bag is no exception. It was inspired by the same gas mask bag used in the Indy films, but designed with useful modern features for commuters and adventurers.

Design & Exterior Features

The keywords with this Transit Bag are sleek and efficient. There is no wasted space anywhere. The front flap has a zippered slash pocket that’s perfect for quick-grab items like your phone, keys, or a small bandana for mopping sweat from your brow.

The front of the flap also has MOLLE attachments, in case you wanted to add another pouch to the bag. I’ve been using them for pen holders, which works great.

The Velcro that runs diagonally, top to bottom, on the front of the bag serves two purposes. It’s a great way to display a few of your favorite patches, if that’s your thing. More importantly, the closure flap is secured to the front of the pouch with Velcro.

Here’s what’s really cool. The flap sort of self-adjusts based on what you’re carrying inside the bag. Let’s say you snatched a particularly chunky idol from the temple ruins, or maybe it’s just a pile of books for the archaeology class you signed up for on a lark. Either way, the result is a bulky load in the bag. The flap will extend over the wide mouth of the bag and still seal against the Velcro, protecting your cargo until you get home.

Running diagonally next to the Velcro are more MOLLE attachments. Again, these work great for pens, pencils, and a flashlight if you’re so inclined.

Turning the bag over, there is a grab handle and still more MOLLE. A large zippered pocket covers most of the back panel. This is a great spot for those who carry tablets, notepads, or similar flat items.

Interior Features

Along the back of the interior is a large sleeve pocket — perfect for a paperback book or maybe an EDC tool kit. Opposite are three smaller pockets of varying sizes. One is ideal for a pen or a light. The others work well for things like notecards, Altoids tin-type kits, a multitool, or perhaps a portable battery bank.

Velcro fields are on the inside front and back of the satchel, allowing for nearly endless configuration options with aftermarket pockets and organizers. The goldenrod interior makes it easy to find what you’re looking for inside the bag.

The exterior is a handsome coyote tan, allowing it to easily blend in no matter your work or recreation environment. This color scheme is exclusive to the Woods Monkey iteration of the Transit Bag. Blue Ridge Overland Gear also offers this bag in a few other colors, including Cayenne, Ocean Blue, and Olive Green.

The manufacturer’s stated dimensions for the Transit Bag are 10.5 x 10.5 x 4.0 inches. According to my ruler, the height and width appear accurate. The thickness, though, seems a bit off. I measured in several spots, and the best I could come up with was 3.5 inches. This isn’t any sort of deal breaker as far as I’m concerned, but the deviation was enough to be worth noting.

Blue Ridge Overland Gear told GearJunkie that this is likely due to its measurements being taken from the cut material rather than after the bag was assembled.

Materials & Construction

I wasn’t familiar with X-Pac, so I did a little research. The brand is a laminate fabric Dimension-Polyant manufacturer. It made its name with high-quality sailcloth, a niche in which it has become a world leader. The manufacturer then turned its attention to fabric for packs, and thus was born X-Pac. It has three layers of polyester bonded with an adhesive, with the end result being a lightweight, abrasion- and water-resistant material.

The adjustable shoulder strap on the Transit Bag is Mil-spec 2-inch webbing, secured with a quick-release buckle. This webbing strap is stitched into place and goes all the way around the bag.

Woods Monkey Transit Bag Performance

I received the Transit Bag a few weeks ago. Each morning, I just loaded the bag with my gear and carried the bag with me as I went about my day. It even held the notes I made about the satchel’s performance.

Naturally, the load changed from day to day based on what I had planned. The Transit Bag went with me to a couple of planning meetings with my county’s emergency management team. It worked well for carrying a notebook, writing utensils, handouts, and other office supplies.

On the weekends, I’d switch it up and swap the notebook and pens for a fire kit, some other survival essentials, and snacks before hitting the trail. While my favorite hoodie wouldn’t quite fit, stuffing in my 5.11 rain poncho was no problem.

The carrying capacity is deceptive. While the Transit Bag will hold far more than it looks like it should, given its relatively small size, this is not a kitchen sink sort of bag. You may find yourself redefining what you feel is truly essential for daily carry.

If you’ve not used a satchel-style bag before, it can take a bit to get used to. I carry it on my left side, with the strap adjusted such that the top of the bag is about even with my waist.

When I’m hiking, I’ll often swing the bag behind me, so it rests more on my butt than at my side. This keeps it from getting hung up on close bushes and low branches.

One Potential Improvement

My only real gripe about the Transit Bag is with the strap. If you put any serious weight into the bag, such as a few books or something along those lines, the strap can be uncomfortable after a while. It starts to dig into the shoulder.

A bit of padding, permanent or removable, would be great. Most of the time when I was carrying the bag, I was wearing a jacket or a sweatshirt, so it wasn’t a huge issue. But there were a few occasions where I was just in a thin shirt, and after a bit, I noticed my shoulder getting a little sore.

A friend of mine suggested the addition of a water bottle sleeve to the outside of the bag, but I’m torn on that one. I mean, having an easy way to carry a water bottle is rarely a bad thing. But in this case, I feel it would detract from the bag’s overall appearance and minimalist design.

Woods Monkey Transit Bag: Who Needs This Satchel?

So, other than globetrotting archaeologists and similar adventurers, who really need the Woods Monkey x Blue Ridge Overland Gear Transit Bag? It hits the sweet spot, allowing you to add EDC capacity without tossing a full pack on your shoulders.

Whether it’s a day spent on the trail or you’re just heading to the office, it’ll carry what you need without weighing you down. Commuters, travelers, students, and even hikers will appreciate its simplistic design and durable, water-resistant construction. It might even encourage you to rethink your approach to EDC and shave it down to true essentials. The Woods Monkey Transit Bag is available now on the brand’s website. It retails for $140.