Roka Bag online sale (brought to you by your local Enabler)

Considering how common they are amongst - ahem - outdoorsy slightly boho women of a certain age, they’re tricky to find in shops. I bought mine at the Maritime Museum in Falmouth a few years ago, where there was a great selection.

I noticed the main Roka site in the UK had a sale on recently and I nearly bought another one. I don’t know if they ship to the US.

I am very upset. The word ENABLER is nowhere in the title of this post !!!

Kim, you read my mind! Lol!

BEFORE I even opened this post, I thought to myself "This must be from Mardee."
Thanks once again for sharing a shopping tip!

I was on the University of Washington campus a few weeks ago. Sure enough, saw a Roka bag go by.

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! You guys are hysterical!!!! Happy now? :-)

Golden Girl, the site I linked to here does ship to the US, and for a mere $7!

Oh too funny, as this post is still on the front page -- and sure enough now it is labeled loud and clear !!! (Insert laughing emojis here)

You can also find them on Amazon.co.uk, same prices as on the Roka website

Amanda, that’s good to know, although I think the shipping prices are pretty high there. I checked on something else there once and it was pretty pricey to have shipped. Although maybe the Roka bags are different. I’ll have to check. Thanks!

Hello, Enabler and co!
I'm almost afraid to ask this but… do you like all things Roka or is there an item in particular that strikes your fancy?
Cheers!

Does the fact that I immediately knew who this “enabler” was mean that mardee is now a bonafide “influencer”? I think it does. :)

Thanks for the heads up, mardee!

Ha ha ha! I'm surrounded by comedians!

Mary Lou, in answer to your question, I do love all things Roka, but I really like the Canfield bag and that is what I have bought each time. I have 2 of them - one small and one medium, although I mostly use the small size as it is perfect for an everyday bag. It holds plenty of stuff but is lightweight, has an inside compartment for an iPad or tablet, and 2 other inside zipped pockets. It has 2 pockets on each side (I use one for my water bottle and the other for my phone), an outside zipped pocket, and "secret" pocket hidden on the side. I especially like the roll top design, which is nice as it gives it a bit of extra security, since the bag zips on top, then you roll the top down and secure it with 2 strong magnets.

The larger one (the medium size) has those same features, but is bigger (duh) and has a padded 15” laptop compartment inside. I would use that more as a personal bag when flying, or going on a long day trip where you needed more stuff.

Golden Girl, who posted above, has a Roka bag. I think it's the Canfield but maybe she can clarify. And Skye Girl, who lives in Scotland and frequently posts on the UK boards, also has several bags, but I believe she has the Bantry. It's similar to the Canfield but without the roll top.

I have the Kennington as I prefer a crossbody to a backpack. That’s just me though. I had it out in the pouring rain yesterday and I loved that the bag was not soaked as my previous Lug bag would have been.

KB, I think that's my favorite feature. It's been raining so much here in Duluth and not once has anything inside my bag gotten wet.

Mardee - Thank you for enabling me! I just bought the Kennington lol

Ginger, that's what I'm here for. You're welcome. ;-)

This is my 4th day in London, and till now, I hadn't seen any Rokas. I went to the Tate Britain and lo and behold, there were two Canfields on the patrons. And yes, one ofvthe carriers was a middle aged boho woman.

Left the museum and there was another on the street!

When I met Mardee in Plymouth, I was really surprised when she said: “is that a Roka bag?” But now I realise she’s a Rokanfluencer.

I went to the Tate Britain and lo and behold, there were two Canfields on the patrons.

Tate Britain is perhaps the most Roka museum in London.

Just purchased the Roka Canfield medium!
Another success story for The Enabler.
(insert happy emoji)

Sandra, that's funny!

Goldlen Girl, ha ha ha, another comic! :-) Seriously, when I see someone with a Roka bag, I immediately think "kindred spirit." :-) I do like your description of the typical Roka bag user.

Mary Lou, maybe I should write a book, lol! Roku bags I Have Pushed Onto Other People, and Why I Keep Buying Them.

Golden Girl, who posted above, has a Roka bag. I think it's the Canfield but maybe she can clarify.

I’ve just seen this. I think mine’s a Canfield but I bought it at Falmouth Maritime Museum rather than online so I didn’t really notice the “type.” It has a roll top although if I fill it up, the top doesn’t roll, obviously. It’s teal coloured and the reinforced canvas is very rain resistant. Which has been useful here in the UK over the last few months.

I spotted a couple more in London today!

Now I'm in Lewes, and I saw a woman with a flat look Roka shoulder bag.

That's probably the crossbody.

Returning to the ROKA thread…

Yesterday I was on the escalator in the branch of Marks & Spencer in my home town with my Roka backpack on (the same one that Mardee noted when I met her at Easter).

The woman behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, “can I just ask, is that a small or medium Roka? I’m thinking of buying one on line and I can’t get my head round the sizes.”

Anyway we had a nice chat once we’d got off the escalator, and established that it was a small Canfield. She asked if I’d mind if she touched the fabric as she was trying to decide between canvas or recycled nylon. And it ended with me opening my bag and showing her the various pockets. It was a nice chat and I’m pretty sure she’s going to buy one.

They’re quite a Thing it seems.

This 43 year-old woman has the Roka US site bookmarked because she is fully convinced (influenced?!) that this is a Thing indeed.

Though she's also wondered if perhaps she should wait and buy it in the UK next year so it's labeled Roka, not Ori, the US name. It's like she's a pre-teen again with an Adidas jacket or Umbro shorts or something! The name matters!

Oh, no! Now you have all forced me to look at Roka bags, which I had never even heard of before succumbing to curiosity and reading this post. Is there a 12 step program for this!

Golden Girl, I love that!!! I was getting a leak in my tire fixed at Costco, and the woman who was waiting on me noticed my bag and asked all kinds of questions about it. She said that she is going to look for it. Word does get around!

Ha, Linda, I wish! I just bought another one!!! Because I liked the color!!! However one of the extra backpacks I bought is going to my daughter on her birthday, so really I only have 2 (well, 2 small - 1 medium).

Hannah, I like having the Roka label on there. But I will say that if you don't want to wait, the KJ Beckett site I bought them from before is still there, and has a lot of them for 10% off and only $7 shipping to the states (for each bag). They ship quickly, too, and they have the Roka label. Just sayin...

I will say that I have succumbed to other bags before and weren't that crazy about them after I bought them. But I really love the Roka, and carry it everywhere. And now I have it in two colors!

ETA: Hannah, aren't you going to York in the somewhat near future? If so, there was a good selection of Roka bags at Browns of York, located in the city center. Browns also has branches in Helmsley, Beverley and Gainsborough. And of course, you can find them (in limited colors) at most National Trust gift shops.

Oh! Somehow my brain did weird things and forgot about the kjbeckett site you had originally shared and had later moved on to/bookmarked the Ori site but now I'm fully back on kjbeckett and imagine my impatient self will soon be placing an order! (How's that for a sentence.)

Oh, Mardee, I found an Ori crossbody in Ely yesterday.. I didn't buy it because I needed to research the brand. Thanks for this post. It looks like I NEED to buy this before we head home on Sunday.

Oh wow, that's interesting! Ha, my family was just up in Ely, mnannie! Well, my son-in-law and 3 of the kids. They got home on Monday just in time to leave for the UP a few days later.

And yes, you definitely need to buy it! Then I can come and visit you and see it!

We've been at the Fall Lake camp since Saturday. It's currently 56 degrees.

Oh, that's nice. It's gotten cooler here, too. It was in the low 60's today and is supposed to be even cooler tomorrow. But next week is warmer.

Yesterday was cold and rainy, so we headed to Smokey the Bear's 80th birthday party in Ely. I stopped at the store and bought both the Chelsea and Kennington. The backpack my daughter wanted was gone, but she can get 20% online as an essential worker, so she will do that. It doesn't have a ring inside, so I will sew one in. I'm set for our next trip.

"It doesn't have a ring inside, so I will sew one in."

@MNAnnie...I didn't see this discussion upthead? So are you talking about sewing a split ring (keychain ring) into the bottom or the zipper pocket? I just attached a Seattle DryDoc coil tether to the zipper of my Kennington Seaport cross body for my car fob. It's a little long, I need to get the shorter tether I have somewhere (in some bag probably in a plastic bin under the bed, lol).

I've been using this for my daily purse and I mostly like it. I feel like the open internal pocket is not quite deep enough as my phone slips out. The zip pocket is fine. I LOVE the Seaport color and it makes me happy. I think I will take it for my travel purse to France in October although I've got a Baggallini I usually use that is lighter. Both will hold my iPad Mini so size-wise they are equal. I will use the coil tether for my pouch with my passport although I might sew in a split ring in the bottom for that one and use the coil tether for my small CC/daily money wallet.

Pam, I was thinking of attaching a small strip of waxed canvas to a D ring and sewing the fabric to the side lining. I like tethering my wallet, etc. when I'm traveling.

Does your fob live in the front pocket or on the outside of the purse?

@ MNAnnie - My fob lives in the inside of my purse, lol. I have the split ring attached to the zipper on the inner compartment.

Years ago, Lynn from Boise started me sewing a split ring to the inside bottom of my purse to attach my wallet. I think I will do that as well on this purse, then use the coil tether to attach the 2. If I get picked then the wallet is on the bottom of my purse and is attached so they should not get far.

As a Tom Bihn fan, I have gotten rather used to o-rings. I ought to try sewing some into my other bags.
I still have the Roka tote and the little shoulder bag (Carnaby XL) I bought in England. I want to sell them and buy a Canfield Medium. Can't decide on the color, though. I no sooner see a color I like and then, hey! what about this color? LOL

Just checking in from the Edinburgh Fringe, where it’s Roka backpacks galore… to the extent that the woman I was sitting next to at a show last night had the same model and colour as mine.

Luckily I remembered that I’d brought a larger daypack with me (to carry the waterproof garments that are essential in Edinburgh in August) otherwise I would have picked hers up and taken it with me.

Ha ha, Golden Girl! That’s an interesting coincidence.

I actually met another Roka convert this morning. I had my annual Medicare visit with a new primary care physician, as my old one moved out of town. At the end of the visit, she noticed my Roka bag and was asking about it.

I told her about it and how you can buy them online and get them shipped to the US for pretty cheap. She immediately got out her phone and pulled up the KJ Beckett website. I gave her the info about my bag and mentioned that there were other sizes and other colors. When I left, she was scrolling through the website, lol!

I’m trying to decide if Mardee is paying for her travel with all of our purchases she easily convinces us we need or whether she’s going to start her own travel group where everyone shows up with the same bag, same coat, same shirts, etc. LOL!

We need you to come to a Coeur d’Alene/Spokane meet up, Mardee, and do a show & tell travel packing demo! : ). We will pay you in French pastries & cookies!

Hahahahahaha, Jean!!! I wish I could make some money! This upcoming trip with my grandkids is getting to be very expensive!

And I would love to come to a Coeur d'Alene meeting, although I wouldn't dare do a travel packing demo in front of you, the queen of packing light! But I'll still take the French pastries and cookies, lol!

It happened again. I went to a Medicare town hall the other day to talk about changes and open enrollment, and of course had my Roka bag. The woman sitting next to me kept looking at it, and finally asked me about it so I gave her all the information.

I think I need to just have some printed cards made up to pass out to people, lol!

LOL ohhh I'm dying at this. I have one (or two) on my Christmas list!