HLT - why one row of elastic loops and one non-stretch?

[loma]

I recently learned from a Youtube review that one of the rows of loops is elastic while the other is non-stretch. Just wondering, why is it like that? I assumed they were both elastic, which seems like it would be preferable.

[moriond]

I recently learned from a Youtube review that one of the rows of loops is elastic while the other is non-stretch. Just wondering, why is it like that? I assumed they were both elastic, which seems like it would be preferable.

My assumption was that items like multi-tools (among others) often have one part that is handle-like that you want to secure without an expandable elastic and another end which needs variable width accommodation. In many toolkits the securing fixtures are set up like that to keep small tools from randomly flopping. If you are using the elastic loops to secure cords, then you intrinsically wouldn’t need much expandability either, and a fixed end would keep these better aligned. However, this was only my conjecture from seeing a variety of the different packups used for HLT items, and also keeping in mind that there’s usually some thought behind the base design. Think, for example, about putting in a small pair of scissors (narrower where the blades are), other tools or implements where there is a clear handle, etc.

Just guesses on my part that this makes a number of items that could be broader at one end (certain flashlights and other tools) less likely to flop.

moriond

[moriond]

I thought I would add a link to one of the forum posts by Tonya that referenced this feature of having one elastic length fixed as an issue in her HLT review:
HLT review 03-25-2020
https://forums.tombihn.com/forum/tom...218-hlt-review

She set up her HLT 2 as a sketching & watercolor travel/field kit. She has also made external reviews of this and other Tom BIHN products (such as the Daylight Backpack) on her external blog site. I’ll link to her blog article where she discusses the HLT 2 as one possibility in her Ideas for Watercolor Travel Kits

https://www.scratchmadejournal.com/b...avel-kit-ideas

in her forum review, she wrote

Also, I was surprised that only one of the interior webbing strips is elastic; the other is standard webbing that doesn’t stretch. Although the molle webbing is great on the outside, I can’t really figure out a use for this on the inside. I kinda hope Bihn considers double elastic webbing in the future, and also figures out a way to tighten down the loops. If so, I’d immediately purchase another HLT.

I haven’t seen a lot of references to this, but I recall reading this post on the forums. (It was a particularly busy time for work, so I didn’t have a chance to respond; even now, it’s kind of weird that I have to find most relevant forum posts based on direct memory of old posts that I’ve read that I then search for).

A second point that she brought up in that post was redesigning the width of the stitched pockets by using a seam ripper. There’s also a background story about that which I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere, but which I have knowledge of based on being a moderator on the Ravelry forum that discusses Tom BIHN Knitting Bags. The very first production release of the HLT 1 sent out some accessories that were not stitched down in a seam that divided the zippered pockets under the elastic bands. This apparently only happened for some models of the HLT 1 that were manufactured in Halcyon, and the way it came to light was when one of the the Ravelry members reordered a second HLT 1 after her experience with the Halcyon HLT 1 in the first order. She ended up with one HLT 1 with the stitching and one without. Darcy answered the query, which took place on January 8 an 9, 2020. (This seems to mainly have shown up in Ravelry members who got Halcyon versions of the HLT 1 first, then were able to get colors like Seapine or Logic Blue in a later order — the non-Halcyon versions didn’t have the stitching. The brief discussion had users saying they preferred to have the accessory come stitched down, because they could always use a seam ripper to reconfigure this if they wanted. It’s less clear whether this would be desired for the HLT 2 (which didn’t have this production issue), because the pockets are larger, but apparently Tonya found reconfiguring the size to be useful for her HLT2.). we’ve also found that some forum members have used a similar procedure to reconfigure the pocket widths in Freudian slips or other bags with sewn in pen pockets.

Finally, I don’t think these are still available, but in my early HLT reviews I mentioned that the TB rulers that they used to include with Swifts, Little Swifts, and Field Journal Notebooks, as well as sell separately for $1, were a perfect size for both HLTs. I also used to show the HLT 2s fitted with Leaf Pouchkins from the First and Second Aid Pouches for an extra pocket. That hack seemed popular, but now the supply of First and Second Aid Pouchkins just recently showed up as retired.

This was one of the pictures in my 12-02-2019 review of the HLT 2


That’s the Red Leaf Pouchkin from the First and Second Aid Pouches added to the HLT 2. The reverse side of that pocket is holding a TB ruler and a presentation remote Controller. The Kindle Paperwhite in case at the left can fit under the mesh zippered pocket it is lying on top of.


Other items were shown for sizing (could fit some in zippered pockets). In this packup I had thick whiteboard markers in the elastic bands, so I moved the ruler to the back of the Leaf Pouchkin Pocket. Those Leaf Pouchkin supplies held up for over a year and a half past my original hack.

loma could you link the video that you saw? What did they discuss about the elastic? These were only my conjectures behind the design. Somebody could ask customer support for a detailed answer.

[loma]

Thanks for all the info!

The video I saw simply said that one row is elastic and the other is not; they didn't go into any pros or cons of it.

[Tonya]

Sorry for any delayed response, not that it was expected but I'm just now seeing this. Busy summer! Anyway after writing my review, I also posted a question regarding the nonelastic vs elastic issue in the forum here and didn't receive much of a response. I know many have EDC pens/tools/etc that have clips so the nonelastic may work for those, but I still wish both rows were elastic. That would work with all tools regardless.

I ordered some cheesy pen clips that slide up and down on pencils/pens so I could use them in my HLTs (I now own both sizes), but those clips don't work with any other items besides pencils and narrow pens. I still don't see any reason for the non-elastic row, so I would say it's totally a con but I'm open to suggestions, ideas, corrections, etc.

[G42]

Sorry for any delayed response, not that it was expected but I'm just now seeing this. Busy summer! Anyway after writing my review, I also posted a question regarding the nonelastic vs elastic issue in the forum here and didn't receive much of a response. I know many have EDC pens/tools/etc that have clips so the nonelastic may work for those, but I still wish both rows were elastic. That would work with all tools regardless.

I ordered some cheesy pen clips that slide up and down on pencils/pens so I could use them in my HLTs (I now own both sizes), but those clips don't work with any other items besides pencils and narrow pens. I still don't see any reason for the non-elastic row, so I would say it's totally a con but I'm open to suggestions, ideas, corrections, etc.

Tonya your original post was during the initial stages of the shelter in place orders, so it was probably overlooked by many folks... we can ask Darcy to see if Nik can share any insights as to the design reason for including fixed & elastic webbing and what things he and the crew may have used the fixed webbing for

[Tonya]

Tonya your original post was during the initial stages of the shelter in place orders, so it was probably overlooked by many folks... we can ask Darcy to see if Nik can share any insights as to the design reason for including fixed & elastic webbing and what things he and the crew may have used the fixed webbing for

Good point and again, I'm sure those big brains at TB considered many aspects of this. The nonelastic works better if you want to attach a clip, extra pouch, etc to MOLLE webbing. So inside an EDC tool/whatever kit seems odd, but it may make sense in many applications that I haven't considered because my use of the HLTs is purely artistic.