I'll admit that I spent nearly a week reading through this thread, post by post. I've been addicted. I've had dozens of tabs open to ebags, Very Bradley, REI, and
Amazon. It hasn't been pretty.
When I first saw the VB Hipster, I knew I had to have it... in multiple patterns. I love it. I even tracked down the nearest store that sells VB bags (turns out it's across the street from my normal bus stop on my way home from work - dangerous!) and went and checked it out for myself. The Hipster is perfect and I love it, but I balked at the $56 price tag. I am a recently graduated graduate student and the idea of paying $56 for anything made out of quilted cotton is a bit much for me right now.
However, somehow paying $32 for the All In One Wristlet in Java Blue was ok. Don't ask me. But, I do love it and it does make my life a lot easier, in that it's going to be much harder for me to go to work without my keys to get into the building!
Well, it's also REI's winter sale right now, and since we live in Seattle, we pretty much consider REI to be second only to the grocery store in importance. I had been wanting to check out the Overland Equipment Donner bag that a lot of people in this thread have liked. Checked it out, but didn't love it. It was on sale at REI for $39, but it felt flimsy and cheap. I was happier with the Overland Equipment Auburn bag and almost bought it, until I realized that the main part of the bag fastened only with a single magnet - I would end up losing my wallet (umbrella, book, water bottle, insert heavy but small enough to fall out item here) within the first week of owning it! However, in the same aisle, I did find the REI Annie shoulder bag for $44. It doesn't photograph well, but it is actually a kind of cute bag - not something that I'd carry around to go shopping, but it'll make a wonderful travel bag.
http://www.rei.com/product/778769
Things I like: Big enough to fit all the essentials - book or magazine for flights, poncho, camera, Purell, suncreen, sunglasses, etc. Outside zip-up organizational pocket for passes, cards, pens, phone, ipod. Water bottle pocket that zips up to hide it on the side. Back organizational pocket big enough for Passports, etc. when travelling in places that are not as safe as Disney. Pockets and dividers (including one zippered) inside for organization. Adjustable strap lets you wear it across your body, with enough room to ride low. No outside flap to mess around with.
And the best part: it's made from recycled plastic bottles, and so I can feel a bit better about shelling out more money to support my consumerist lifestyle!
The part I don't like: Not nearly as cute as some of the other bags out there and it only comes in two colors - green and blue. I chose the blue bag, but would have preferred a raspberry, orange, or a neutral like brown or black. Oh well.
I figure it can also be used for days when I bike to work (when it stops raining here in Seattle in, oh, July), so that's nice.
Anyway, thought I'd add a new bag to the mix. It's not the prettiest, but the organizational features are some of the best I've seen, no magnets to mess with your cards, and it feels sturdy and well-made, like all REI branded stuff I've bought in the past.
Happy bag shopping, all!
There are lots of pictures of it on the Ebags website though.
Please give us a review after you use it.
We like to travel light so we don't always bring a bag (woo pockets!!), but the Hipster was so comfy I was happy carrying it. 
