The Brain Bag and Packing Cubes / Stuff Sacks

[feijai]

it is interesting to also note that the height of my Tall YSS is 13" - no the 11" listed on the website. The difference is probably to account for the cinching when closing the YSS

Yes, I believe the measurements on the site are with the bags filled to capacity and cinched closed.

I do not know about size of your power supply but the Tri-Star video shows the person putting an Apple power supply in a Size 1 TSS - see this thread:

Unfortunately that power supply does not have the large power cord connected, which greatly increases its size. Thanks though, it was a good size reference.

I've been thinking about the TSS: they're not in dimensions proportional to one another. Thus unlike the tall and medium YSS, you can't really stack them evenly. My suggestion would be to change the TSS dimensions as follows (I assume 0.83 scaling for the rounded rectangle, which is about right)

* Size 4: 10 x 8 x 6 Volume: 400 cubic inches
* Size 3: 5 x 8 x 6 Volume: 200 cubic inches
* Size 2: 5 x 4 x 6 Volume: 100 cubic inches
* Size 1: 5 x 4 x 3 Volume: 50 cubic inches

I imagine this would pack much more neatly.

[tpnl]

@feijai

You are correct - I used 2 Small YSS and not Medium YSS (I got confused because the height measurement of my Small YSS is 6.5" - more to the size of the Medium YSS). Good catch. The other YSS are definitely the Tall YSS (however, it is interesting to also note that the height of my Tall YSS is 13" - not the 11" listed on the website. The difference is probably to account for the cinching when closing the YSS). However, there is enough room in the BB to use the Medium YSS instead of the Small YSS as it is only 1" taller and the same diameter as the Tall YSS.

I do not know about the size of your power supply but the Tri-Star video shows the person putting an Apple power supply in a Size 1 TSS - see this thread:

http://forums.tombihn.com/general-ba...=tristar+video

Hope this helps

Cheers!

[feijai]

@tpnl Is it my imagination or are your medium YSS of smaller diameter than your tall YSS? From the pictures you supplied it certainly looks that way. Because on the Tom Bihn website it states that they're both 6.25" diameter.

@moriond I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around what you said regarding the power supplies. The #3 TSS is basically rectangular at its base but of course the sidewall can assume any shape (and likewise for the YSS). Is the issue really total circumference? A #3 TSS is about 21.2 inches around. The medium YSS is 19.6 inches in circumference.

Can anyone verify that the #4 TSS is actually 50 cubic inches smaller in volume than the Tall YSS, as is stated on the website? Because I'm getting pretty different results from the dimensions.

[tpnl]

[*]Additionally can anyone with a Medium YSS (or Tall) and a Brain Bag fill it to the gills with, I dunno, socks, and try to get it into a Brain Bag compartment vertically?

Sorry for the fixation. Help would be appreciated.

@feijai

I have 2 Tall YSS (1 fabric bottom and 1 clear bottom) and 2 Small YSS (both fabric bottom)

Here are a few pictures of them in 1 of the main BB compartments together. There was a little bit more room and so I put in a Side Effect as well. All the YSS compress well into the 4" depth of the BB compartment:




Here are a few pictures of the exterior of the BB with the YSS and SE in it as well as a Size 2S Brain Cell in the front compartment:




Here are a few pictures of the 2 types of YSS to give some size perspective:




Contents:
Tall YSS - fabric bottom
1 pair of size 11 running shoes - New Balance 857. These have a wide stabilization base so take up a lot of space in the YSS. They are a bit tight but do fit.

Tall YSS - clear bottom
1 pair of jeans and 3 t-shirts

Small YSS
4 underwear

Small YSS
4 socks and 1 t-shirt

Hope this helps and is what you are looking for to help with the conniption!

Cheers!

Edit: I initially thought I had pictured a Medium YSS - however it is actually a Small YSS. I have updated the above text accordingly.
Also, thanks @moriond for showing me that fix for displaying a jpg.

[moriond]

@feijai, I'm not where I can access these accessories, and I've never had a Brain Bag, but I can give you one clearcut example of where the size #4 (largest TSS) gives you and advantage over the tall YSS -- try carrying shoes. Of course, your feet may be too large for either of these to work, but I've put a pair of men size 10½ M sneakers into a size #4 TSS, which works because of the more rectangular and wider shape, and which utterly would fail in a tall YSS of similar volume (which is better for water bottles or as yarn project bags). Take a look at @brendabethman's posts in the Parental Unit as Gym Bag thread. With men's shoes the filled width of the size 4 TSS is much wider than in her pictures, but it fits.

I posted some pictures showing relative sizes of the TSS and YSS with the TLSS for A30.

@tpnl, if you change the BB code from URL to IMG the pictures you link to will display directly in your posts. In the desktop browser you can choose the image icon, but instead of uploading an attachment from your computer, choose the From URL tab, paste in the URL of your link, and then uncheck the box for "Retrieve remote file and reference locally" if you don't want this saved as one of your attachments, Ir you can just edit the BB code to switch the URL and /URL in the square brackets to IMG and /IMG (not case sensitive, by the way).

HTH

moriond

ETA: You can easily fit two 85 watt Mac power bricks with attached power extensions cords into the size #3 TSS with some room for a few other cords and connectors. I checked this once, and I did find it easier to use the TSS than a YSS becasue of the more rectangular shape of the power bricks. YMMV. I tend to carry a Synaose, so my power bricks go horiontally into the bottom front pocket, and I don't use stuff sacks for this. Actually, a favorite accessory for this type of use is the now-discontiinued Kit. I love the favpct that you can put sprawly items in this bag, and the wider base means that it won't roll or flop over, and the narrower top makes it easy to grip, In my Synapse, it sits either in the front bottom pocket, or it also goes well at the top, where the bag narrows (especially love this at the top of my 19" Indigo/Solar Synapse, where I use a Kiwi Kit, often inverted). Just my preferences, but probably not relevant to Brain Bag discussions.

[feijai]

I am still having a conniption fit over what stuff sacks to get. I would like to get some LARGE stuff sacks for travel (not necessarily in TB bags -- maybe suitcases). I also would like to get one MEDIUM stuff sack in which I can stick my Mac power supply, plus the thick cord, and maybe another cord or two (I'm not interested in a snake charmer). The problem is that, lacking these bags, I can't tell what I really need. :-( And I'd prefer not to buy all of 'em, then return some and pay the postage.

Does anyone have BOTH yarn stuff sacks and travel stuff sacks, and maybe a Mac power supply, who could post a picture or two for me? Specifically:

• The Tall YSS is 50 cubic inches bigger (good?), and is taller than the Size 4 Travel Stuff Sack, and a bit cheaper. But I'm worried multiple ones wouldn't pack as well as the Size 4. Does anyone have one of each? If so, could you post a picture of each stuffed to the gills, lying down next to one another, something like this picture (which unfortunately shows a Size 3):
  
• The Medium YSS is the same size as a Size 3 Travel Stuff Sack. It is wider but shorter, and a bit cheaper. I'd lean towards the Size 3 except that I don't know if, with a 4.3 x 6.6 opening it's easy to get an 85W power adapter into it with one hand, when wrapped up something like:
• Additionally can anyone with a Medium YSS (or Tall) and a Brain Bag fill it to the gills with, I dunno, socks, and try to get it into a Brain Bag compartment vertically?
  

Sorry for the fixation. Help would be appreciated.

[tpnl]

@feijai

I agree that one of the advantages of the TSS is that is is more rectangular shaped. However, as they are made of Dyneema, they can be tightened to conform to whatever is in it - so to me, it does not make too much of a difference - but I can understand people wanting more rectangular shaped Stuff Sacks to be a bit neater or if dealing with soft items that do not keep their shape.

I get the YSS instead of TSS because of the 2 (not 1) connectors - an external Key Strap style clip AND an internal triangular clip. This allows me options to clip the YSS directly to the O-ring system. I like to clip all the small bags / pouches to the O-ring system so I do not have to worry about losing them if I need to take one of them out to get at something underneath. The internal clip allows me to "hang" something in the YSS as well for quick access - e.g. a flashlight mixed in with other stuff like a pocket knife, first aid stuff, lotion, etc.

Here is a picture of my Small Iberian YSS with a Bose Soundlink Mini speaker in it (middle left of picture). The speaker is 7.1" long while the YSS is 6" tall - you can see the bottom wrapping up the side of the speaker conforming to the shape of the speaker:



Here is that same Small Iberian YSS (on the left side of bag) using the external clip to attach to a key strap which in turn is attached the O-ring of the Tri-Star:



The only negative I have read about the YSS is that the clips can rub / scratch what is inside the YSS perhaps. It could be an issue if you have something delicate. For me, if it was delicate, I would use a hard case instead (e.g. a compact camera) or use a silicone sleeve (which is what I have on my speaker) before putting in the YSS.

One other note - @badger developed a way to easily use the TSS with the O-ring system:

http://forums.tombihn.com/questions-...ghlight=badger

Hope this helps

Cheers!

Edit:
Here is a picture of the inside triangular clip that is in all YSS in case you were wondering (courtesy of a Indigodragonfly review)

[feijai]

As to Yarn Stuff Sacks vs. Travel Stuff Sacks.

It seems to me that the one advantage, if it is indeed an advantage, of a TSS over a YSS is that it is approximately rectangularly shaped rather than circular. Other than that, it seems to be all disadvantages: it has no connector on the outside, and it's more expensive for a smaller size.

I'm thinking of getting a variety of stuff sacks, and am trying to determine just how important that rectangular shape really is. Let's say I got a Size 2 TSS or a Medium YSS, which are exactly the same volume: but the Medium YSS is $3 cheaper and has a connector. The Size 3 TSS is 4.3 inches wide, which would fit moderately well in the Brain Bag compartment (or if you like, we could instead consider the Size 2, which is 3.5 inches wide). Is the square shape of the TSS worth the $3 more and lack of connector? Or does the YSS conform just fine to the compartment and floor regardless of its bottom shape?

[tpnl]

All: what would be the tradeoffs of getting an Aeronaut 45 Large Cube for the Brain Bag, versus two Aeronaut 45 Small Cubes, largely for packing clothes (jeans, t-shirts)? Which would you suggest?

.. tradeoff - more wrinkled clothes ...

Seriously, IMHO, if you do not carry any business shirts or pants or are ok to roll your clothes / fold very neatly, you should be fine with the Small Cubes and I agree with @Ilkyway that the Small Cubes are more versatile in this application. For me, that is why I got 2 PCSB (similar to the Small Cubes). But, I think getting 2 Small Cubes and 1 large (or perhaps a Tri-Star Medium) one should be good. With this setup, you would still have a little extra space on top of the large cube for a Snake Charmer or other similar sized bag. However, I do not have those Packing Cubes and I am basing this on what I know of the PCSB and PCBP - TriStar and Aeronaut versions.

Hope this helps
Cheers!

[Ilkyway]

I'd rather have two small. That gives me the opportunity to sort the clothes a bit and maybe (around half way through the jurney) use one of them for the laundry. And I would feel more flexible in using on short trips or what not only one of them. But I do not have to pack dress-blouses or such things as I do not wear them. So everything I have to pack from shirts to jeans can be rolled up or folded up to fit well into the Small Cubes.

When I bought our A45s (two) I bought two large, two small and one end-pocket cube to try what works best. We use them all, but I like the small once best. I know an A45 is no Brain Bag.

Ilkyway

[feijai]

All: what would be the tradeoffs of getting an Aeronaut 45 Large Cube for the Brain Bag, versus two Aeronaut 45 Small Cubes, largely for packing clothes (jeans, t-shirts)? Which would you suggest?

[Ilkyway]

I didn't consider the Pilots at all: they're on backorder until April.

Sorry, did not check this beforehand. Than they make no sense for now.

[tpnl]

My concern about the A45 Large and Small bags is that they're 5.9 inches thick and the Brain Bag's compartments are 3.5 inches. That's some serious overstuffing, or more likely, waste of fabric in the bags. I am concerned that the Side Effect is to costly for my purposes. Not sure why I didn't include the Night Flight packing cube, that was an obviously glaring omission. Below I include arrangements mentioned earlier by others.

One item I didn't mention: it'd have been nice if Tom Bihn made longer and thinner stuff sacks. The lack of a long thin item put a serious crimp in my packing cube assembly style in these diagrams.

To your first point - if you need thin - how about a Tri-Star (2.4" deep) or Western Flyer (3" deep) version of the packing cubes. I select the Aeronaut cubes because you can always shrink a bigger cube when not using the space but you can't do the reverse for a thinner smaller cube - more to the flexibility rather than waste.

But, to reverse my thought, I actually use a Side Effect instead of a Snake Charmer - again - to your comment on thin - the Side Effect is nice and thin - 2" vs 3.5" for the Snake Charmer. The number of different accessories (ie standardized connectors, can go wireless in most places so do not need a network cable and there are retractable small network cables, etc) and the size of them (ie, new Apple adapter, Micro vs mini vs regular USB, etc) have really gone down in the past 10 years and I find even an Side Effect is more than enough - in fact, I use a 3D fabric Organizer Cube - even thinner and flexible Dyneema allows it to be even thinner if needed.

Note that, as you mentioned before, the Brain Bag can stretch and (at least with my Brain bag) each compartment is more closer to 4".

As for other thinner options that are longer (besides the Tri-Star and Western Flyer versions and @Ilkyway's Pilot cubes), there is sweet Founder's Packing Wedge - you find it in the parts section. Also, perhaps large Organizer Pouches if you need to go super slim. Also, thinking laterally, perhaps a bunch of small Tripod Quivers - still wider than needed but build to house long, thin items? Also, one characteristic of Dyneema Stuff Sacks allows you to stretch them and have them be longer and thinner - part of the base becomes the side.

Here is a link to a recent discussion on the Founder's Packing Wedge:
http://forums.tombihn.com/questions-...ing-wedge.html

Lastly, IMHO, the dimensions on the TB website are more "max" thickness. Also, please note that the depth of an Aeronaut Packing Cube Backpack seems to be less than the TB dedicated Packing Cube - closer to 4" seam to seam but with stuffing, the middle can pillow out to the "max" thickness.

Hope this helps

Cheers!

Edit:
There are some "differences" in packing cube thickness measurements recently discovered. There are other forum discussions on this topic as well. Originally, TB had 4.3" as the thickness of their A45 large and small cubes - go to the 'Weight, Volume & Dimensions' link at the bottom of the TB main page to see this.

However, when the A30 cubes came out, I believe they used a different measurement method which caused some confusion as the smaller A30 had packing cubes that were thicker than those for the larger A45. So, TB corrected this - and now you see 5.9" as the thickness for A45 packing cubes.
As I do not have a dedicated Aeronaut packing cube, I cannot speak for the actual dimensions. However, for the PCBP - my measurement is 4" seam to seam and the TB website states 4.25" (so pretty accurate) - so perhaps someone can measure their A45 dedicated packing cube seam to seam to get that dimensions - I suspect that will be 4.3" and the the packing cube can pillow out to 5.9" max.

[feijai]

What about the Pilot Front Pocket Cube?
Ilkyway

I didn't consider the Pilots at all: they're on backorder until April.

[Ilkyway]

Hmmm, the Brain Bag of this house is still out and about: What about the Pilot Front Pocket Cube? I like that size for laying on the bottom of the pack with non-cursial items. And maybe the Pilot Main cube for taler items? Did not look it up, but I recall them not so deep.

Sorry for throwing in new cubes... I am so impressed by your chards, I want to see more of them ;-)

Ilkyway