Padded Hip Belt Question

[Pokilani]

Thanks so much! Now, do I order one now, or wait for the ever elusive Nordic/Notwasabi Smart Alec? Who am I kidding! I am ordering one as soon as I get back from getting my haircut!

[Darcy]

Thanks so much! Now, do I order one now, or wait for the ever elusive Nordic/Notwasabi Smart Alec? Who am I kidding! I am ordering one as soon as I get back from getting my haircut!

Darcy, thank you! Something that many of us were waiting for.

I'm glad you guys are looking forward to trying the new Hip Belt out, and I'm eager to hear how it works for you! It fits me/works for me well (when paired w/the S19, S25, and Smart Alec).

[bchaplin]

I too am excited to try one. Speaking of Smart Alec's though, I have been eagerly awaiting ordering one in the new black Halcyon. Any idea when they will be produced with a non-red interior? I would buy one in an instant if it had a NWS, or even wasabi, interior. Keeping my fingers crossed those combos will be made soon.

[phelan]

Yikes, I only just bought my synapse 25 just a week ago. Oh well, I can add this and the SE to the shopping cart for a future order.

[brucep]

I too am excited to try one. Speaking of Smart Alec's though, I have been eagerly awaiting ordering one in the new black Halcyon. Any idea when they will be produced with a non-red interior? I would buy one in an instant if it had a NWS, or even wasabi, interior. Keeping my fingers crossed those combos will be made soon.

I passed on the SA because of the colors and lack of a good hip belt when I bought a non-TB bag last week.

[daisy]

This will tip me over into an order.... I have a bunch of nice-to-haves on my wishlist ... a padded waistbelt for my s19 is a must-have!

[adalangdon]

Update! In part due to everyone's feedback in this thread, we've designed a new 1" Padded Hip Belt, and it just debuted on the website minutes ago.

The new 1" Padded Hip Belt is designed to be used with the Synapse 19, Synapse 25, or Smart Alec.

And I'll share here an excerpt from the blog post introducing the new 1" Padded Hip Belt:
Our Aeronaut 30, Aeronaut 45, Tri-Star, and Western Flyer travel bags all have 1” webbing loops that can accept the 1” Padded Hip Belt. If you’ve been hoping for a Padded Hip Belt for your TB travel bag, then this may be your best option. We’re not officially recommending the 1” Padded Hip Belt as an option for these bags because the aforementioned travel bags are larger and do not have internal frames, and because the attachment point for a waist belt is somewhat high, the 1” Padded Hip Belt can end up riding high on some folks, especially those who are taller. Same advice we gave earlier applies here: if you already use the included 1” Webbing Gatekeeper Waist Strap on your travel bag it works for you but you’d like to upgrade to a padded version, then feel free to give the 1” Padded Hip Belt a whirl, and let us know how it works for you (maybe you’ll change our minds!)

For those who find the Aeronaut 45 to be heavy when fully packed, here's what we usually suggest.... you may very well have already considered 1) and 2) but we're adding it here just in case:

1) Muse on your packing list. Are you carrying heavy items that could be swapped out for lighter items, or items that could be left at home entirely? (Think: extra shoes, or heavier clothing like jeans.)

2) Downsize to the Aeronaut 30. Easy enough if you find yourself filling your Aeronaut 45 not because you need to but just because you can, but if that's not the case, you'll still need to go w/the advice above (pare down your packing list).

3) You might try the new 1" Padded Hip Belt, and if you do, let us know how it works for you.

The 1" Padded Hip Belt is available here on its own page and can also be ordered with the Synapse 19, Synapse 25, and Smart Alec.

P.S. Tom has a new blog post that came out of our discussions on this topic -- A Brief History of Padded Hip Belts

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! This is going into my wishlist ahead of 28 November <3

[Pokilani]

I'm glad you guys are looking forward to trying the new Hip Belt out, and I'm eager to hear how it works for you! It fits me/works for me well (when paired w/the S19, S25, and Smart Alec).

I ordered mine! I'll be testing it out with my A30. You know. Because I don't have my SA yet. [emoji3]


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[Darcy]

I too am excited to try one. Speaking of Smart Alec's though, I have been eagerly awaiting ordering one in the new black Halcyon. Any idea when they will be produced with a non-red interior? I would buy one in an instant if it had a NWS, or even wasabi, interior. Keeping my fingers crossed those combos will be made soon.

Now, do I order one now, or wait for the ever elusive Nordic/Notwasabi Smart Alec?

I checked in w/our production crew today and here's the colors that will be in the next batch of Smart Alecs (estimated ship date: late November or early December)

Black/Iberian
Black/Northwest Sky
Steel/Wasabi
Navy/Iberian
Black Halcyon/Island
Nordic/Northwest Sky

[Pokilani]

I checked in w/our production crew today and here's the colors that will be in the next batch of Smart Alecs (estimated ship date: late November or early December)

Black/Iberian
Black/Northwest Sky
Steel/Wasabi
Navy/Iberian
Black Halcyon/Island
Nordic/Northwest Sky

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!! I'm so excited! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Black Halcyon/Island is also tempting though.


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[moriond]

I checked in w/our production crew today and here's the colors that will be in the next batch of Smart Alecs (estimated ship date: late November or early December)

Black/Iberian
Black/Northwest Sky
Steel/Wasabi
Navy/Iberian
Black Halcyon/Island
Nordic/Northwest Sky

@Darcy,

Please can you tell us when the upper and lower modular pockets for the Smart Alec will refresh? Of course, I know that @Pokilani has prepared for this, and bought her Halcyon UMP at the end of June, when they were first made up:

I bought a Nordic UMP even though I don't have the SA. I'm waiting for Nordic with a preferred interior. I jUMPed on it because they seem not to refresh too often. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Nordic with an alternate interior. I have these zipper pulls patiently waiting for the SA. Hint hint...



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Now that you've announced Black Halcyon/Island and Nordic/Northwest Sky SA combinations, I'm sure ther will be more inquiring minds wanting to know!

moriond

[Darcy]

Please can you tell us when the upper and lower modular pockets for the Smart Alec will refresh?

Good question! And.... well.... as the original plan was long ago, we're only making the Smart Alec modular pockets in Black Ballistic going forward. We did do one more batch of various Modular Pocket colors due to requests posted here on the Forums, but that was the very last batch.

[pammy]

Good question! And.... well.... as the original plan was long ago, we're only making the Smart Alec modular pockets in Black Ballistic going forward. We did do one more batch of various Modular Pocket colors due to requests posted here on the Forums, but that was the very last batch.

Oh, my. Then I am very glad I already purchased a Nordic UMP in anticipation of different interior colors. It's not that I dislike wasabi, but I am still holding out hope for a SA in Nordic/Island. I do have an original halcyon SA with matching upper and lower pockets and it's awesome. I used it to one bag it flying a couple weeks ago and loved it. It fit my short frame well and was very comfortable. I will be off flying again in a couple of weeks and it will most likely accompany me again.

[Pokilani]

@moriond, you just reminded me that I have the UMP in Nordic so that has solidified by decision!


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[GrussGott]

we're only making the Smart Alec modular pockets in Black Ballistic going forward