I’ll admit it, I am a sucker for bike bags and backpacks. Seeing the first prototype pics of the Vandal late last summer I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one; as soon as they became available I ordered me one as a Christmas present to myself.  After ordering the bag I found out that the masterminds behind the Mission Workshop are the guys that founded Chrome, so my expectations were raised quite a bit. Almost five months of daily use have passed, so here are my findings:

Materials & Workmanship: 5/5

As one would expect from a company with that heritage, the bag is impeccably made. All stitching is superbly executed, with some nice reinforcements on the stress areas. In a notable difference from other bike bags I own, Mission Workshop uses different materials. The outer shell of the bag is made out of a somewhat “softer” cordura than my Chrome bags, but it appears to be just as sturdy. The inner compartments are not made with truck tarp but rather some reinforced nylon (I believe), which appears just as sturdy and waterproof, but a lot softer to the touch and much more flexible. All buckles are of the “high-end” variety that doesn’t get brittle in the cold; furthermore they are all standard sizes, so in a pinch you could just grab a replacement buckle at REI if time is of the issue. All Zippers are of the coated variety, and while Mission Workshop labels only one compartment as waterproof (all others are called storm-proof) I’d think that even a rain shower of the heaviest kind would not be able to penetrate the zippers.
The bag is handmade here in the US (go Denver!) and comes with a lifetime warranty.
All of this attention to detail, however, does not come cheap. Price of the bag is $239, the additional hip belt (highly recommended) is $30.

I am in no way suggesting the bag is overpriced, but I can see fellow riders just scoffing at the price when “a $20 Walmart backpack does the same thing” (no, it doesn’t).

Design & Practicality: 5/5

This section, as well as the next one are what truly makes the Vandal a kind of its own.
All bike-centric bags I know fall into one of two categories: the over-the shoulder messenger style, made famous by Chrome and Timbuk2 or the knapsack-style pack pioneered by Ortlieb and picked up by a few other companies as well. Both designs work well enough on a bike, but also have a few shortcomings inherent in their design.
The Vandal is the first bike bag I’ve see that shuns all that and starts with a clean slate.
When you see a Vandal for the first time it looks unassuming, almost to being bland. I can see some people looking for a bit more “bling”; for someone like yours truly that favors the stealth approach, the looks are about perfect.
Starting from the back of the bag, the first thing you’ll notice is a carrying system not unlike what you would find on a mountaineering backpack. You’ll spend a few minutes to set up the various straps and buckles to get the bag into a comfortable position, but you have to do it only once. You’ll at that point also notice that the Vandal has an internal frame that goes a long way in providing stiffness as well as a snug fit. For an even better fit, by all means get yourself the optional hip-belt, you will not regret it.
Moving to the front, things are getting even more interesting:
I noticed the absence of an organizer mesh pocket and initially though this to be an oversight, but after exploring the bag a bit more I realized: The Vandal doesn’t need an organizer pocket, it is one big organizer in itself.
Up on the very front is the smallest compartment (still pretty big) that I find perfect to stash my lock, keys wallet and so forth.
Behind that is a larger compartment with a divider that I find perfect to stash my tools, pump and rain gear. Both of these compartments offer coated zippers, Mission workshop dubs them as “storm-proof” but honestly I can’t see how anything would leak in there even in a very heavy rainstorm.
In the very back is the largest compartment, big enough for a 17″ laptop. It is designed as a rolltop, so it is going to be waterproof.
Finally, there’s the crown jewel of the Vandal: The expanding mid section.
Between the middle and the large compartment is a big zipper that runs around pretty much  the whole bag. Open it and you’ll see another zipper and two buckled straps. Open said zipper and you will be greeted by a positively huge compartment, ready to swallow pretty much anything you might have to carry. This compartment is not water or even storm-proof (and not designed to be) bo offers a grommet at the bottom for a quick runoff of any precipitation you might acquire.

Fit and Capacity: 5/5

In between the top-notch carrying system and the optional hip-belt this bag offer me the the best (by a long shot) fit and comfort of any of the bags and packs I already own, regardless if I ride it semi-empty with the expanded section closed or fully opened up and loaded full. The same experience has been share to me by some of my riding friends that are shorter than me (I’m 6′3″) or have a different build. Spend a few minutes to adjust the carrying system and you will be comfortable no matter if you haul 3 pound or 30.
With the mid-section fully expanded I have hauled the same if not more stuff than with my Sultan, all the while being more comfortable than ever carrying a heavy load on my back. The most intriguing aspect however is not only the positively huge capacity in itself, but the fact that one no longer has to face the problem of bringing a too small bag for hauling stuff or a too big bag and not really needing it.

Summary:

Without a single doubt, the Vandal is the best bike-centric bag ever made. In-between the high-quality materials, expert workmanship and the incredibly clever design I can not see any rider that would not be smitten by it. Recently, Mission Workshop introduced a mildly updated version of the Vandal that now offers to additional small pockets in the front. My version of the bag doesn’t have those yet I have no reason whatsoever to change my opinion on the Vandal by one Iota.
Go and buy one (don’t forget the hip-belt) and ride it for a bit. You’ll wonder, like I did, how you could have done without it for so long.