Gosh darn it...the same issue again (tiny shoulder bag)

[ladyinblack1964]

I thought I had this one figured out a couple of years ago. I'm convinced, however, that there's no such thing as anything comfortable that hangs around one's neck with any weight whatsoever.

My travel EDC is a very lightweight LL Bean backpack. I also have a small Eagle Creek bag, in which I keep my TB wallet, eyeglasses in hard case, a pen, and a smartphone (which I use for Googling directions etc.) I just added that smartphone last year, and I noticed that it made the little bag pull on my neck. I do like to keep things in my raincoat pocket whenever possible. However, it was so humid last year in London I wanted to throw the raincoat into the Thames.

I'd like to avoid swinging the backpack off my shoulder to get at things as much as possible. I'm starting to think there just isn't a viable solution. Shoulder bags, I cannot do for long periods of time (I use a Swift for my EDC at home, and even that starts to hurt). Cross body bags, no can do. Lumbar packs, nope.

That Travel Cubelet is the cutest thing ever...I'm just not sure it would work. Maybe I've just got to keep the smartphone in the backpack...

Any thoughts at all? (Don't mean to sound like such a Gloomy Gus).

[sturbridge]

What about a Side Effect worn as a hip pack? Or does that not work for you aesthetically?

[jessmakes]

I don't handle weight around my neck well either - I can't even handle a lanyard with my badge on it for work! I am still team crossbody, but prefer to use the absolute or mini absolute straps because the grippiness of the strap keeps it on my shoulder, rather than sliding up on to my neck. Love my travel cubelet, but it can move around a little depending on how slippery the top I am wearing is (due to the thin strap and lack of grip). I do appreciate that with the TC, if I don't want to wear it cross body, I can shorten the strap and wear it around my waist. The size of it keeps me from loading it down with much (in a TC, I carry my wallet, keys, iphone, and maybe a couple of other light things).

If you really can't tolerate a waist/lumbar pack or anything on your neck or shoulders, I would suggest getting a vest with some pockets and balancing your load on your body, and reducing your carry as much as possible.

[terayon]

If you don’t mind using a hip belt (regular or padded), you can clip a Cubelet or Travel Cubelet on there. It keeps the weight on your back and hips but you still have a little pocket handy. See post 188 in the Bag Hacks thread (I’ll see if I can figure out how to add the direct link).

https://forums.tombihn.com/general-bag-discussion/9001-share-your-bag-hacks-creative-uses-13.html

[G42]

I realize that the fashion police may step in here, but I carry my smart phone in a nylon case clipped to my belt or pants, at my hip, like the engineering geek that I am.
Yes, it breaks up the line of my shirt
I value the functionality over everything else and really, no one seems to care.

[ladyinblack1964]

Thanks for the suggestions!

No, I can't do anything at the waist either. I get bad back pain.

I'll take a look at those Absolute straps. Yes, when I think about it, that's what's happening: the darned strap is riding up against my neck. I often wear it under my raincoat and I think that makes it a bit worse. Over the raincoat, it feels "squeezy."

[ladyinblack1964]

I don't handle weight around my neck well either - I can't even handle a lanyard with my badge on it for work! I am still team crossbody, but prefer to use the absolute or mini absolute straps because the grippiness of the strap keeps it on my shoulder, rather than sliding up on to my neck. Love my travel cubelet, but it can move around a little depending on how slippery the top I am wearing is (due to the thin strap and lack of grip). I do appreciate that with the TC, if I don't want to wear it cross body, I can shorten the strap and wear it around my waist. The size of it keeps me from loading it down with much (in a TC, I carry my wallet, keys, iphone, and maybe a couple of other light things).

If you really can't tolerate a waist/lumbar pack or anything on your neck or shoulders, I would suggest getting a vest with some pockets and balancing your load on your body, and reducing your carry as much as possible.

By mini Absolute strap, do you mean the standard?

[jessmakes]

This is what we informally refer to as the mini Absolute strap (I'm hoping the link opens the mini SOS strap, but you might have to select that option) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001TST8U...ing=UTF8&psc=1

It is made by the same company that makes the TB absolute straps - it's just narrower than a regular absolute strap and works beautifully where a regular absolute strap is overkill. it's made a big difference for me in carrying my bags.

[ladyinblack1964]

Thank you!!

[Aeon]

I think the mini SOS strap is a bit overkill for a Travel Cubelet; SOS/Absolute straps come with medal hardware that isn't insubstantial. It seems to me that whatever solution the OP works out will have to be conscious about ounces and weight.

@ladyinblack1964, have you tried strap wraps to help keep shoulder straps from sliding up onto your neck? I'm thinking something fleece or fleece-lined that will keep a strap in place, but adds neglible weight to your set up. I believe TB's solution is too wide for a Travel Cubelet, but something to that end. Have you tried simply getting wider straps as well?

I kicked myself for not trying the mini SOS strap years earlier after thinking the SOS Curve/Absolute strap was overhyped. The fact that the mini is narrower and not curved means that it doesn't creep up onto my neck like its bigger brother does, so that strap works wonderfully for me even on larger bags like my A30. When I had my Side Effect, I prefered carrying it with a 1-inch strap I got from another bag instead of the one it came with.

[haraya]

Have you tried a wrap-style strap? By that I mean one that looks sort of like a scarf, made of fabric that you can spread out or scrunch up, to provide more weight dispersion or more padding as the case may be. Try searching for "wrap strap for camera" on Etsy. Here is one. Most of the sellers seem to offer a choice of connectors (clasps) to work with whatever bag you have in mind. You'll want to choose a supportive fabric, but I would think you would get a bit more adjustability and more support than a thin webbing strap.

[b1gsky]

Have you tried the Travel Cubelet with a 1-inch shoulder strap? That's the one that comes with the PCSB. I feel like it's a better fit than the very thin strap of the TC and the bag feels more lightweight with the wider strap. And it doesn't look too big for the bag either.

[BWeaves]

I prefer small crossbody bags, like the SK or TC. I always wear the bag in front of me.

1. It keeps the bag where I can see it. If it's off to the side, it bumps into things. If it's behind me, I'm scared of pickpockets.

2. It keeps the strap on my shoulder and OFF my neck.

[ladyinblack1964]

I think the mini SOS strap is a bit overkill for a Travel Cubelet; SOS/Absolute straps come with medal hardware that isn't insubstantial. It seems to me that whatever solution the OP works out will have to be conscious about ounces and weight.

@ladyinblack1964, have you tried strap wraps to help keep shoulder straps from sliding up onto your neck? I'm thinking something fleece or fleece-lined that will keep a strap in place, but adds neglible weight to your set up. I believe TB's solution is too wide for a Travel Cubelet, but something to that end. Have you tried simply getting wider straps as well?

I kicked myself for not trying the mini SOS strap years earlier after thinking the SOS Curve/Absolute strap was overhyped. The fact that the mini is narrower and not curved means that it doesn't creep up onto my neck like its bigger brother does, so that strap works wonderfully for me even on larger bags like my A30. When I had my Side Effect, I prefered carrying it with a 1-inch strap I got from another bag instead of the one it came with.

I did try a fleece-type strap wrap for a PacSafe CitySafe bag a couple of years ago. It didn't help much at all.

[ladyinblack1964]

Have you tried a wrap-style strap? By that I mean one that looks sort of like a scarf, made of fabric that you can spread out or scrunch up, to provide more weight dispersion or more padding as the case may be. Try searching for "wrap strap for camera" on Etsy. Here is one. Most of the sellers seem to offer a choice of connectors (clasps) to work with whatever bag you have in mind. You'll want to choose a supportive fabric, but I would think you would get a bit more adjustability and more support than a thin webbing strap.

No, I've never heard of the scarfy ones. Interesting!