Super Ego tweaks

[timd]

I'm still well within the honeymoon period with my Super Ego - it's the best bag I've owned to date. But there's a few minor things that would make it perfect:

• Feet. Although the bottom of the bag seems pretty robust, I find myself thinking twice about where it gets put down, in case it gets damp etc. If it had feet, or perhaps a rubberised bottom panel then I'd feel happy sailing it down a river.
• A removable waist strap. I never use it, so it would be great if I could remove it completely.
• A zip on the back pocket. It's great for stowing a newsppaper into, but it would be even better if it could be zipped up - or maybe even 'accordianised' a bit?
• Dividers for the main compartment. It's so large that things rattle around, particularly loose papers - so dividers (maybe removable?) would help keep things from getting trashed.
• Ok, so this is going slightly nuts - but how about an expanding main compartment? The bag that my Super Ego replaced has an all-round zip that let the main compartment expand by about an inch or so, which was great if I was trying to cram lever arch binders or running shoes in there. Although I did need a crane to lift if afterwards, mind...

But these are all really minor tweaks to what is a superb bag to start with, of course...

[Darcy]

I'm still well within the honeymoon period with my Super Ego - it's the best bag I've owned to date. But there's a few minor things that would make it perfect:

• A removable waist strap. I never use it, so it would be great if I could remove it completely.

Hi!! I'm glad you like your Super Ego, and thanks for your suggestions. You should be able to remove the waist strap on your Super Ego - you can wiggle the webbing ends out of the plastic buckles that they feed through.

[TdeF]

expanding compartment - the creeping bloat syndrome!

[timd]

Hi!! I'm glad you like your Super Ego, and thanks for your suggestions. You should be able to remove the waist strap on your Super Ego - you can wiggle the webbing ends out of the plastic buckles that they feed through.

Boy, they took some wiggling - but it worked!

[grumpy3b]

I am not sure about a rubber bottom but maybe it might be nice if there was some sort of leather covering the bottom. A harder leather that can be cleaned with saddle soap. Properly cared for that should last about forever and beyond.

One issue leather would have is moisture but keeping it conditioned with either mink oil or neatsfoot oil would address that issue completely. Hey, their are minks, one of the meanest nastiest leetle beasties on the planet...they make badgers look like push overs...may as well use 'em for 'sumptin... And the leather & neatsfoot oil comes from cows we eat anyway (and in some cases it is distilled from petroleum.)

[thax]

Timd,
I am happy that you are in love with your Super Ego, I have been using mine for well over a year and love it to the exclusion of my other bags. I'd like to respond to some of your concerns with what I have experienced with mine.

Feet/moisture: I thought about that, but since the bottom is not rigid the feet wouldn't keep the bottom of the bag off the ground. I have accidentally put mine down in puddles getting out of the car, waiting for the bus and it seems to be pretty water resistant. There are a few layers of the nylon and it doesn't actively soak up the water. Also most of my items that touch the bottom of the main compartment are in bags (laptop in softcell, multimeter in case). The stuff in the front pocket has never gotten wet even sitting on the ground through a short rain storm. The bottom has not really worn either, but I don't drag it around I carry it .

Waist Strap: Darcy covered that.

Zip the Back Pocket: Hmmm, that pocket is a stash pocket and most Tom Bihn bags have that. Interesting idea though, it would keep whatever you tossed in there more secure. I just use it for when I have already cranked the zipper and seatbelt buckle shut and am too lazy to open the bag up for that one last thing. I probably would use it less with a zipper since I would just open the main pocket zipper and slide whatever in there as that one is splashproof.

Dividers: Cool idea, reminds me of the Empire Builder.

Expanding compartment: Also reminds me of the Empire Builder.

I really like hearing what other folks use their bags for. For loose papers I leave a manila folder open end up in the main pocket, that way if I have no papers it is microscopically thin and always there to handle the few dead tree slices (papers) I have to carry.
Thanks for the thread timd, stuff I have not thought about before.

thax

edited: I R a gud spellar

[Darcy]

Feet/moisture: I thought about that, but since the bottom is not rigid the feet wouldn't keep the bottom of the bag off the ground.

That's exactly why feet on a soft bag don't really work.

I've never really had a problem with the bottom of any of my bags getting wet (since the fabric is water-repellant) or being worn out. The fabrics we use - Ballistic Nylon and Cordura - are super tough.

[timd]

I'm still well within the honeymoon period with my Super Ego - it's the best bag I've owned to date. But there's a few minor things that would make it perfect:[LIST][*]Dividers for the main compartment. It's so large that things rattle around, particularly loose papers - so dividers (maybe removable?) would help keep things from getting trashed.

I've been meaning to post this for a while - here's a quick hack to give the main compartment a 'file divider' for loose paperwork.

I work for a law firm (but IANAL, I might add) - the endless quantities of paperwork that get produced are usually filed into folders that are two sides of cardboard joined by a cloth 'accordian', with a card flap. They're like ordinary document wallets, but are bit more robust and a bit more expandable.

The Braincell has a pocket on the front which is secured at the top by two press-studs. If you cut vertical slots in the wallet's flap which are just slight wider than the press-studs, you can slide the flap down inside the pocket, which then holds the folder in place while remaining open. Voila, one pocket for holding loose papers.

It's easier to do than explain, but these photos should show how it works...

The other quick hack is to add a handle to the side - I find that when it's fully loaded, the bag tends to bang around a bit on my hip. It also provides something to grab hold of when throwing it onto / grabbing it off an overhead luggage rack on a train. The handle is a just a large carabiner with a foam sleeve, which is threaded through the strap buckle. Crude, but effective...

[Tom Bihn]

Very clever use of a file folder - good job.
I am currently working on a horizontal version of the Freudian Slip, which might also provide you the organization/protection you seek. So far, it has two file-size pockets (vs. four on the vertical version - there's just not room for more, but two is still two more than you get without any Freudian Slip )

Regarding feet on the bottom, thax pretty much hits it on the head, but I went into a needlessly long explanation here:

http://forums.tombihn.com/showthread.php?t=429&highlight=feet

Handle on the side? Nice hack, keep me updated on how it works for you. I love the idea, but when I did some prototyping for a similar feature, it was always hanging up on door knobs etc., as I walked past. I need to figure out a handle that is easy for hands to grab but not so inclined to grab everything else too.

[Banjo]

Second to the feet -- or some other solution

I like the idea of the feet, too...or something to stabilize the bag so that it isn't so tippy. It's a little frustrating to have such cool styling on the front, only to have it tip over on its face. With the notebook in the brain cell, I can sit it on the absolute strap to give it some added stability, but without the notebook, I can't keep it up!

[MikeL]

Timd...Thanks for posting pics of your Super Ego tweeks. I flipped when I saw them, and have done both.

The folder one is perfect for papers, and odd file that find their way into my main pouch.

The large carabiner hack works great as a place to hang my laptop ID from. To explain: In my company we cannot take a laptop out of a building unless you have a laptop bag with the appropriate ID attached. I had it haning from the straps on the bottle holder; but it hung to low, and flopped around too much. I bought a red large carabiner to match the red ID, and added the rubber sleeve. It worked perfect...thanks!

[apyang]

I am currently working on a horizontal version of the Freudian Slip, which might also provide you the organization/protection you seek. So far, it has two file-size pockets (vs. four on the vertical version - there's just not room for more, but two is still two more than you get without any Freudian Slip )

When do you think this would be available?

[inkblot78]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

Horizontal version of the Freudian Slip,

When?

How much...I don't care, I want one.

[inkblot78]

I'm a middle school teacher who teaches A LOT of different subjects (English, ASB, Journalism, Study Skills, Homeroom), as well as our school webmaster. I I live out of my Super Ego (it's awesome) but a Horizontal Freudian Slip would be a godsend. Being able to quickly move my materials in and out, as well as keep them organized...oh yes.

If you need a tester, I'd be more than game.