Q-AM (Quick-Adjust Messenger) strap

[Zephyrnoid]

We just got a sample Q-AM (Quick Adjust Messenger) Strapyesterday and of course- I couldn't resist giving it a try.

- This is one of three strap options for the ID Bag and I imagine, any Messenge type bag that uses the same ladder-lock as is on the ID Bag (1.5" 1/2 toothed)
- The other two strap options are the Standard strap and the Abolute strap.
- Whereas the other strap options are one length of strap that are then threaded into the ladder lock on each end of the bag, the Q-AM attaches that way but then pulls a neat trick as well.
- A messenger/bike rider using the ID with any of the other straps would customarily drape the main strap across thier chest and then anchor the base of the bag using the waist strap. This is a pretty standard arrangement.
- The Q-AM strap however, allows the user to attach the male end of the waist strap directly to a short sliding intermediary straplette on the main Q-AM structure. This effectively draws an angled anchor coming from the bottom of the bag to the chest.
- The ergonomics of this new option wasn't lost on me as I discovered that it was really faster to don and doff the ID bag using the Q-AM when in a hurry. I can see why professional messengers may prefer this as they must perform this routine many times over the course of a day.
-This arrangement has additonal pluses and only a couple of minuses to it.

(+) Because theQ-AM padding is NOT the stretchy kind used in the Absolute strap, it mitigates 'bounce' .This makes for a controlled carry of a loaded messenger bag when on a bike.
(+) The weight distribution and comfort in carrying the bag makes more sense for a rider bending over in a riding posture- as no tension is placed on thier waist - as would occur if the customary waist strap was used. This is contrasted to someone climbing a hill on foot-for example. In that case, the waist strap is preferrable as it mitigates bounce and shares the load better from the shoulder.
(+) Detaching the secondary strap is easier/faster for a rider using the Q-AM since it's positioned up near the chest rather than at the waist.No more reaching down under layers of outerwear to find the buckle release.
(-) Some riders sitting up straight, may prefer the waist strap since it may better suit thier anatomical build (See> Anthropometrics)
(-) Unless you're wearing the bag, the short intermediate connection looks a bit lonely when detached- this is a minor aesthetic gripe.Once the rig is set, a solitary one half of a waist strap remains dangling off of the bag. Unless I missed something, it just hangs down, waving.
(-) Well endowed female users may discover that the tethering strap lands at a problematic location on their anatomy:eek: - this predicament dosn't occur when using the waist strap normally and again, it really depends on personal preference as well as individual anatomical topography.

Consclusion- the addition of the Q-AM strap to the Tom Bihn strap lineup, gives customers yet another excellent option for specialized use of the ID Bag as well as similar messenger bags . Professional messengers will love it :)

What's Missing? Nothing at all except for the Tom Bihn logo tag :)

[timarelay]

It took me several re-readings of this post to properly visualize the strap. It's like Timbuk2's ( cross strap), right?

But what's the "Quick Adjust" part of it? Is it simply the fact that it's easier to remove the stabilizing strap than it is with the other styles?

[Zephyrnoid]

Darcy sent me a picture of Alex wearing it. Darcy? Can you post the picture or should I ? It is hard to visualize and still a bit tricky to figure out even when it's in your hands:eek: . That's not heuristically a good thing, but once you HAVE figured it out it's grand.
The 'quick adjust' part refers to the fact that once preconfigured to your 'set parametrs' it only takes one pull on one tag end of the main strap to tighten the whole deal up, rather than two seperate tightening actions ( one for the main strap and another for the waist strap.In fact, because the waist strap is reconfigured, it stays put together. That's what makes it so handy for Messengers.:)

It took me several re-readings of this post to properly visualize the strap. It's like Timbuk2's ( cross strap), right?

But what's the "Quick Adjust" part of it? Is it simply the fact that it's easier to remove the stabilizing strap than it is with the other styles?

[Darcy]

(-) Unless you're wearing the bag, the short intermediate connection looks a bit lonely when detached- this is a minor aesthetic gripe.Once the rig is set, a solitary one half of a waist strap remains dangling off of the bag. Unless I missed something, it just hangs down, waving.

You can slide the connection point to the waist strap right off the Q-AM strap, if you don't intend to use it.

(-) Well endowed female users may discover that the tethering strap lands at a problematic location on their anatomy:eek: - this predicament dosn't occur when using the waist strap normally and again, it really depends on personal preference as well as individual anatomical topography.

The women in the office have found that adjusting the strap for a woman's body solves this issue...it's hard to explain in words, so you'll have to wait for pictures! :)

I'll be posting more pictures of both men and women wearing the Q-AM strap soon! In the meantime, here is that picture of Alex (TB Shipping Associate)...

[Tom Bihn]

The Q-AM strap has a somewhat curious evolution: the floating sternum/waist strap arrangement was suggested by Alex after he had used the Q-AM strap for a while without any such feature. The idea is to add further stability to the bag while cycling. Certainly you can still use the bag's waist strap same as before: the sternum/waist thingy just gives you one more choice. I suppose it is similar the one that Timbuk2 uses, and just about every other brand of "messenger" bag as well.
Mostly the Q-AM strap was designed to allow the user to switch easily and quickly between two different modes of wearing a bag: with a long strap the bag rides nicely at one's side for easy access to pockets etc.; with a short strap the bag can be pushed around to ride higher on the back, better suited to movement. Definitely a plus for riding a push-bike or a motor-bike, but the Q-AM strap was really the strap I wanted on my shoulder when I walked to and from class this summer (at least five or six miles everyday).
The super-cool thing is that it adjusts so easily: a large (1-1/2") "ladder-lock" type buckle, like you find on a backpack's shoulder strap, only bigger - so going from short-to-long or long-to-short is a cinch (excuse my pun).

[Zephyrnoid]

Tom & Darcy explain it so well. Thanks!
Not being as experienced in competitor's bags, I often write about suff as total newbie would ;)

[timarelay]

Ooh, wow. That strap looks and sounds really cool. One of my main qualms about your bags has been the lack of a way to quickly adjust the length of the straps, something I'd grown used to doing with my previous messenger bags. I'm very excited about this strap :)

[Zephyrnoid]

Does this forum have a pass-around policy? If so, I'd gladly set up a pass-around on the Q-AM strap for people to become acquainted with it. I've not used it but for 20 minutes to set it up and compare the dynamic to the regular straps- otherwise it's in MINT condition.Darcy are you OK with that?

[Darcy]

Does this forum have a pass-around policy? If so, I'd gladly set up a pass-around on the Q-AM strap for people to become acquainted with it. I've not used it but for 20 minutes to set it up and compare the dynamic to the regular straps- otherwise it's in MINT condition.Darcy are you OK with that?

Awesome idea!

Can you send the strap back to me here at the TB headquarters? It's easier for us to send it out to forum members for our own tracking purposes, and we need to add a hang tag to the strap. :)

Forum members who want to test the Q-AM strap - PM me!

[Zephyrnoid]

OK then friends ... It heads back to Tom Bihn HQ and Darcy will take from there.
Let the Pass-Arounds begin!

[renegadeot]

I just wanted to say that I really like the model shots. At first I thought that when you meant tight aross the back I thought you meant you just swung the bag around behind you and made it tight, I didn't think of it across sideways like that. How do each of the bags fit on really thin people? Does a Imago fit better than a Ego? I'm pretty small, so I'm not sure if the Ego would be too big on me like that. The guy in the photo is pretty thin, it's hard to judge in the photo.

[meekasmom]

whoa. I will have to see this in a video, I think.

[Mausermama]

My first Tom Bihn bag ever was the Imago. I initially purchased the Absolute Strap to use with it, and that worked for quite awhile, but I was always frustrated at how it wasn't a quick adjustment on the length of the strap. About a month ago I ordered the QAM strap, and I must say that I love it so much better than the Absolute for this particular bag. It still distributes the load quite well, but I can pull it up or down so easily and I love how it can slide around so easily!

[moriond]

My first Tom Bihn bag ever was the Imago. I initially purchased the Absolute Strap to use with it, and that worked for quite awhile, but I was always frustrated at how it wasn't a quick adjustment on the length of the strap. About a month ago I ordered the QAM strap, and I must say that I love it so much better than the Absolute for this particular bag. It still distributes the load quite well, but I can pull it up or down so easily and I love how it can slide around so easily!

@Mausermama I'm so glad the Q-AM strap worked for you! This is my preferred way of carrying the Imago, since the smooth nylon surface of the strap makes it easy to swing the bag around for access (which the grippy surface of the Absolute Strap does not), while the long padded area of the Q-AM strap does a good job of supporting the weight, and also works for cross body carry. On larger messenger bags like the ID bag, I'll use the Absolute Strap. I'm not using the strap to carry these bags high on my back, so the point at which I switch over straps is determined by the bag size (and hence weight) I feel comfortable carrying this way.

I know that some people find it more comfortable to use the Absolute Strap with this bag, and it does take some initial adjustment to set this up comfortably the first time you use this strap, so I'm pleased this worked for you. At one time @Janine set up a traveling Imago with Q-AM strap for forum members to try, but we seem to have lost track of it.

Thanks for reporting back on this. Enjoy your strap!

moriond

[Mausermama]

@moriond, yes, you were the final factor in my decision to pull the trigger on the strap, and I'm so glad I did! It has made a great bag even more functional for me! Thank you for the recommendation!