Durability of absolute shoulder strap?

[MichaelD]

Hi there. I love my Absolute Shoulder Strap - it's amazingly comfortable. However, I'm concerned about some wear I've noticed on the "grip" side of the strap and wondered if it's normal, or if anyone has noticed anything similar. It's almost like the grippy rubber is flaking off.

I use it on a iPad size Ristretto, normally carrying it on my side with the strap over my opposite shoulder. Maybe about an 5 hours a week of wearing it.

Photo:


Any ideas?

[Heidi Jill]

Hmmm....that doesn't seem right. I used my Imago bag w/the Absolute strap every day for a solid year and the strap looks like new. I was usually carrying a light load, but from time to time I did stuff the bag full of bricks! Well.....not really bricks, but you know what I mean! LOL!

[Seesul]

I've had one ever since the first Checkpoint Flyer came out, (2008) and have used it with that fully loaded with a 15" MacBook Pro and all of the accessories and then some. I usually put everything that is usually in my purse in the bag as well when I fly. It still looks brand new. Is there any possibility that whatever fabric is on your shoulder is causing it? That's the only thing that I can think of. It appears from the photo to be rubbing against something.

[blackfungi]

could it be your sweat working its way into the rubber underside?

[backpack]

What side of the strap is that?


What strap did you use with your Imago?

Are you working in an environment where there are unusually strong chemicals?

What weather do you usually experience?

Have you ever spilled anything on your precious Tom Bihn object? Come on! It is alright to admit it.


And last but definitely, not least

Do you have a cat?


Sorry for all the questions but they would help determine the source of that very unusual "side effect", (sorry could not resist).

[gmanedit]

Oh, right, blame the cat. It's always the cat's fault.

[backpack]

Oh, right, blame the cat. It's always the cat's fault.

Just after a move, our beloved cat, at the age of 16, clawed one of my husband expensive shoe and one of my walking shoe.


I thought she was mad but after doing the scratching she usually sauntered with the "up curly" tail which is a sign of play in kittens.

I found great recycled material scratching boxes which I filled with organic cat nip and the scratching went on there.


The one to blame was me, shoes need to be in shoe boxes at all time when there are pets or babies in the house.

[MichaelD]

Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately nothing really out of the ordinary. I've only had it since winter and it's only started getting hot here, so sweat seems unlikely. Some snow and rain exposure but nothing severe. I put Nikwax on the Ristretto but I had the strap off when applying it and letting it dry. It sat on my left shoulder which was generally covered by a nylon or wool winter coat, or more recently typical jackets or shirts. :-)

The photo is the grippy rubber side, and not the soft stretchy side. There's a little bit of lint-like "pilling" on the edging, as can somewhat be seen in the photo, but nothing else out of the ordinary on the strap whatsoever.

[blackfungi]

maybe ask here.

[Darcy]

MichaelD: Please email us (TOM BIHN Bags - Laptop Bags, Laptop Backpacks, Laptop Cases) and we'll get back to you on Monday regarding your strap. We don't know why it would be wearing out like that, but we'll help you figure it out and come up with a solution.

For future reference: while it's totally OK to post something like this here, you're unlikely to get a prompt official response from one of us here at TOM BIHN. If you email or call us, you will have a response within a business day. See: Need an answer from TB staff? Call or email us!.

[MichaelD]

MichaelD: Please email us (TOM BIHN Bags - Laptop Bags, Laptop Backpacks, Laptop Cases) and we'll get back to you on Monday regarding your strap. We don't know why it would be wearing out like that, but we'll help you figure it out and come up with a solution.

Thanks! Will contact you on Monday to look further into the mystery. (Most of all, I wanted to make sure I didn't do anything wrong with the 2nd bag I ordered last week with the same strap.)

[matsui]

Durability of Absolute Shoulder Strap.

Is this usual expected wear and tear of an absolute strap? I use it maybe once a month, sometimes less and seems a bit premature to me after couple years plus for what should be a high quality product.

[tpnl]

@matsui

Sorry to read about your troubles - that is definitely unusual - I have not experienced this in the many years I have used the Absolute Shoulder Strap.

I would call or email TB customer support and they can sort it out for you (as Darcy mentions in your email above).

What I do know about neoprene is that Salt, Sunlight and Heat exposure cause the neoprene to break down faster. Salt is corrosive to it and Heat compromises its flexibility. I assume your strap has not been exposed to that type of environment on a constant basis where there is constant exposure to Salt and Heat. It could be a manufacturing defect too.

FYI - the strap is made for TB to their specifications by OP/TECH.

Hope this helps

Cheers!

[matsui]

Thanks tpnl

Wasn't my thread originally but just wanted to know if this was expected. Seems not the case so I will email customer service. Definitely nowhere near salt, sunlight, or heat as stays in a dark wardrobe when not in use.

[matsui]

Thanks tpnl

Wasn't my thread originally but just wanted to know if this was expected. Seems not the case so I will email customer service. Definitely nowhere near salt, sunlight, or heat as stays in a dark wardrobe when not in use.

Just to close the loop I did contact customer service and they sent me a replacement - said it was unusual to have such accelerated wear and tear.