buckle on a brain cell

[leon]

Velcro provides for easier access when the brain cell is secured within a bag, but I would love to see one with a snap buckle flap (similiar to those on the messenger bags) for those of us with a velcro aversion. Just have yet to see a velcro closure with any mileage on it that wasn't frazzled.

Most high end sleeves use it though, so most buyers must like it.

[Tom Bihn]

Hook & loop closures (AKA "Velcro” - we use Aplix brand, which survives more open & close cycles than its competitors) has been a popular feature on the Brain Cell: it’s easy to open and close with one hand, and creates a secure closure at the top of the Brain Cell. The cereal-box closure on the Brain Cell, which works great for accessing your laptop when looking down into a bag, would be difficult to pull off with a buckle-type closure. Perhaps for a design intended for use as a stand-alone case such a buckle-and-flap closure would be practical (some bags you see with a buckle closure have a simple flap closure that offers little padding to the top of the laptop, and may leave part of the laptop exposed).

That said, hook & loop is noisy, gets along too well with wool sweaters, and indeed doesn’t age well if you use the cheap stuff. We use the best quality hook & loop, but still we’re always looking for new closures. New fabrics, new foams - I’m always tinkering in the factory with new ways to put it all together that work well, protect stuff, and look cool. Right now I’m working on a soft sleeve that can be carried on its own, but provides protection both inside a backpack and inside a briefcase or messenger bag.

[leon]

Thanks for response here and at NBR.