One Mommy's Review of the Rafe Kate Hobo Handbag

If you are looking for a handbag that can hold all of your essentials plus some extras for your kids when in need, you should take a peek at the Rafe Kate Hobo. Thanks to a fellow bag lover, I was able to snag one at a decent price of $234 (including shipping from Shoes.com). For a bag that retails around $600, I thought it was a deal. I purchased it in Cognac leather, but they are available in linen with patent leather accents as well.

I am in this bag transition phase. My youngest is almost two so I find myself needing to carry less on a daily basis but still needing the room in case we head out for a longer outing. Because of this, I enjoy carrying something for me that can fit what I need versus the typical diaper bag. Lucky for us ladies, there are tons of options out there.

The Rafe Kate Hobo is what I would consider a medium bag. It measures in at 17"w x 9.5"h x 7"d and is perfect for a mommy who needs the extra space or for the working woman who wants to have room for a water bottle (or travel Starbucks mug...) without having to carry a different bag. Honestly, you can fit a sandwich and apple in it as well. It features a nice front pocket that fits my iPhone and keys and leaves me room for a list or two if I need. It also features two lined pockets on the sides that fit a can of soda or sippy cup. I do like that they are lined...gives you a bit of leather protection in case of a leak. The leather is slouchy so it compresses and looks smaller when it is not stuffed full, too.

The Rafe Kate Hobo is not only a great size, but looks great as well - an easy bag to dress up or down. I feel comfortable carrying it with jeans and it looks great in a nice skirt as well. One of my favorite qualities is that it is not bulky. I hope this makes sense, but there are a lot of bags that when packed and worn under your arm, leave you feeling like the State Puff Marshmallow. This carries very narrow and does not puff up, which may be due to the nice depth of the bag. There is plenty of floor space so you are not overstuffing and piling things on top of each other. The Rafe Kate is very versatile, too...this next bit is what sold me on the bag...you can adjust the strap THREE different ways!







Here is a shot of it carried on its shortest Hobo setting. It fits comfortably over a coat of sweater. At this setting, you cannot reach in the bag without taking it off, which is really my only complaint with it. If it had two handles, you could leave one on and let one loose so you could access it. However, that being said, I prefer bags with one strap because I hate straps slipping. So, complaining done.


Here is a shot of it at the second settting. For this setting, you undo one of the side clasps and leave the other one in the original spot. At this setting, you can easily access internal junk while carrying it.





Here is a shot with the Kate on the longest setting worn at my side. I am 5'7" for reference. I would not carry it here a lot, but would be good for traveling when you need to juggle a lot. This may work well for taller people as well. For this setting, you remove both clasps and attach them to the circular hardware.





Finally, here is a shot of it worn messenger style! Is that cool or what? This is the same as the last pic, just worn differently. This setting is awesome for traveling. Everything is safe at your side and it also works well when you need to carry one child and hold another's hand.




Given the versatility in how I can wear the Rafe Kate Hobo, the wonderful quality of the leather, and the ability to use this for work or play, I am confident this will be in my collection for a long time to come. It is a bag that can work in just about any situation.

If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I will answer them. If you have found this review helpful (or not), I would love to hear what worked and what didn't. It helps for future reviews.

Happy Holidays everyone!