Western Flyer fitment question

[ceb]

Its called TB Anticipation Syndrome!

Yep - and it is getting worse since I had to send it back because of a shipping glitch.

Ahhhh well, I have some of the pouches to play with. At least I have time to decide what fits where.

[ceb]

I got the bag the day before yesterday at it is very nice. Unfortunately, the wrong one was sent (I had ordered one with a sleeve and got one with the straps.) Luckily, Katy immediately sent me a return label so it is winging its way back to Seattle now.

This is the first bag I've ever bought that didn't have any loose threads or frayed edges anywhere. There are other companies out there that make good bags (dare I say that on this forum?) but none (including Red Oxx) pay such close attention to detail - even in places where it makes no difference.

Great bag and great customer service. I can't wait to get my replacement (since I had to send it back I decided to get a Tri Star instead) and use it to travel back home in a few weeks.

Why a TriStar? It certainly doesn't have a sleeve in back, but the extra inch all around will let me fit my Eagle Creek folder in one of the compartments and I think it'll hang from my roller if required.

[Fat Crip]

Finally, why don't I just wait until I get the bag next week and try it out?

Its called TB Anticipation Syndrome!

[Moose]

HI ceb,
In the interest of full disclosure my WF is actually black/steel. Its my Syanpse that has the solar interior. If you need something to attach a TS to another bag have you seen or tried Travelon's Bag Bungee, they're listed on Amazon. I've always been interested to know if they work and how they hold up. A TS, or any bag for that matter with straps and a sleeve would be wonderful. Unlike you, I'm more likely to use one of the backpack straps. I generally throw a bag over my right shoulder.
Take care,
Moose

[ceb]

Thanks Moose, I saw Susan's pictures too (albeit a bit late.)

I was waffling between the TriStar and the WF. I settled on the WF because of the sleeve for the handle. I don't ever expect to use the backpack straps but I can see myself sliding it over the handle of the 20" Briggs & Riley.

Maybe we'll see a TriStar one day with the same sleeve (or both sleeve and straps.)

[Moose]

HI ceb,
A Tri Star is the next bag on my list. I'm holding off in case a new color arrives later in the year. If a new color doesn't arrive I'm going for the steel/ultraviolet. I'm hoping to see a larger Co-Pilot (Pilot) in ultraviolet dyneema. They'd be a very nice combo. I can only guess a dyneema Co-Pilot might fit in a WF or TS. The fabric has a much higher squish factor.
Take care,
Moose

Edit, SusanM put up pictures of a Co-Pilot in a Tri Star in the thread titled Review: Tri Star, Medium Cafe Bag Organizer Wallet etc. There are two great photos. Sorry no link, I'm challenged by technology.
M

[ceb]

Hi Moose

I wanted black/solar but that isn't an option any longer - too bad

Thanks so much for checking the co-pilot fit. It would be nice to have a bag that fits into a bigger bag but can be pulled out for airline use - then stored back in the larger bag for transport. Maybe I'll have to buy a Tri-Star too...

[Moose]

HI ceb,
As it turns out I have a black/solar Western Flyer. I also happen to have a black/steel Co-Pilot. In order to answer your question I tried to fit my Co-Pilot in the front pocket of the WF, no go. If the Co-Pilot is empty I can squish it enough, maybe, to make it fit. I don't see how putting the Co-Pilot in the WF is practical no matter which side I use. I like my Co-Pilot I also wish it was a smidge bigger. I'd like to be able carry my Field Journal and have a lot more space left over than I do.

If you're looking for a underseat type carry on and like backpacks the Synapse is wonderful for that. I've got two. I'm a bit of a bag junkie myself. My usual 5-7 day trips are with my WF and a Synapse. I've got one in plum and one in the ultraviolet Dyneema. The two bags weigh about 20 pounds+/-. 12 in the WF and about 8 in the Synapse.

As for the key straps, I doubt you ordered too many. They are useful for a lot of stuff. I use them in all my bags. I like knowing that my stuff isn't going to get away from me.
Safe travels,
Moose

[ceb]

Thanks. Yes I bought some key straps. Probably too many but I figured that I could use them in other bags too (I know it is hard to believe but I DO have a few other bags.)

I ordered the WF in black over steel. My packing cubes are in steel and I asked for the pouches to be in solar or other bright colors to help in finding them.

What I probably need to do is get a co-pilot to hold my assorted junk. I wonder if it would fit in the WF in half of the front pocket.if it wasn't too full.

I'm currently on travel (the same trip that demolished the eBags) so pictures will have to wait.

[Moose]

Hi ceb,
I did have some thoughts, probably not very useful though. Your cell phone(s) might fit nicely in one, or more, of the pouches you purchased (for protection) and then in one of the outside zipper pockets of the WF. Why did you buy so many pouches (aka crap) cause you need them of course. You'll "need" key straps too, did you order some?

As for waiting until the bag arrives, it sounds to me like you have TB Anticipation Syndrome. I'm sorry there is no pill for that ailment. However there is a TBAS support thread that might help. Trust me though, as soon as the UPS delivery truck drives up you'll start to feel MUCH better. What colors did you get? Will we get pictures?
Take it easy,
Moose

[ceb]

What? No thoughts? Should I be posting these questions on a Red Oxx forum

[ceb]

I'm a bag junkie. I've spent years looking for the perfect bag. I thought I found the perfect computer bag (a cheap Dell case that came with my Dell D430) but finding something for clothing was more difficult.

I discovered the eBags Mother Load duffel bags and though that I had found THE bags. After getting badly scuffed falling off the back of a C-130, I replaced it with a TLS Mother Load bag (the new version) but I was soured when the handle wouldn't extend or retract at the airport on first use. Here I am pulling the bag out of the car at the airport and I have to wrestle the handle up; then another issue when I can't get the handle back down at the ticket counter.

I arrive at my destination just to find that my other TLS bag has had the entire top U shaped zipper ripped off. Here I am for a three month stay (hence the two checked bags) with one with a defective handle and the other with the lid flapping in the breeze.

Since the bag was new and unrepairable, the airline pays for my bag and I get a Briggs & Riley 20" carry-on to replace the 25" TLS. The B&R is a great bag by the way and I'm in the process of replacing the TLS with the defective handle for the 24" version of the same bag.

So what does this have to do with the Western Flyer?

While I can't buy into the "one carry-on bag" for business travel [as I'm often in the same place for multiple weeks (in my current case 3 months) so I need at least 4 or 5 suits, the requisite shirts, ties and whatnot in addition to casual wear for weekends,] I can use one bag to supplement a single checked bag - and, of course, I'd use a single carry-on for my personal travel.

United generally lets you "gate check" a carry-on so I'm planning on doing that the rolling bag and carry my WF onboard. I ordered the WF with the pocket on back that slides over a handle so I should do quite well in airports.

Now, to my real question.

I ordered the WF with the #5 Brain cell, the Freudian slip (for the multiple loose things that are normally in my computer bag,) a large packing cube (to replace the Brain Cell if I'm carrying it loose) a small packing cube and shoulder bag cube (as the second small cube for the front section.) I also got a snake charmer and a handful of pouches in various sizes.

Will a pair of US size 10.5 dress shoes (wingtips) fit in the small packing cube? What, if anything, fits on either side of the Brain Cell since I have the smaller size? Where do I put the snake charmer? Is there room to put a ScotteVest Windbreaker that rolls up into its own bag? Why did I buy so much crap to go with the bag?

Where do I put my cell phones? I generally carry three blackberries and a larger cell phone. One BB is in my pocket and I don't need to get to the others during flight.

Finally, why don't I just wait until I get the bag next week and try it out?