Topic: What is your ideal bag? Either already in existence or one you've made up.

[achalsey]

Curious what people's opinions are.  Wondering what people's favorite features are on the bags they use, or would like to use.  Have the opportunity to possibly commission a custom bag from a lady in town, and thinking about options.

Pocket placement...carry options...dimensions...shelves....ventilation (my stupid 680 doesn't like getting too hot)...anything that people like about different bags.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I'm a big fan of the Sonicase bags...  I like how there is a velcro access flap on both sides and bottom...  Also, like the window flap on top...

I wish it had metal hardware instead of plastic, ie the should strap etc.

Terry

[achalsey]

Thats what I use now actually.  I'm thinking of using that general design and adding/subtracting a few features here and there.

[Gordon]

love my nova 5 but wish I could afford a petrol pegz.

[carlbeck]

I love the Petrol bags, it's just unfortunate that they offer a small, large & XL with no choice of something in a medium size. Otherwise I like the sonicase. The Lowepro bags are nice too but don't offer shelves for our purpose, i use anti static foam as a divider in mine. Good idea on the custom bag solution, for years my wife accused me of being goldilocks with bags, there's never been the perfect bag for me.

[2manyrocks]

As soon as you add one more gizmo, the once perfect bag is no longer perfect.  I carry a camera bag and an audio bag....

[stevetoney]

The perfect bag is mostly a function of what you're taking to the gig, and that can change from gig to gig for me.  But in general, I have several answers...for an overall high quality bag for what we do, I can't image anything satisfying me more than the Petrol PEGZ I had.  For versatility, I actually picked up a $40 tool bag from Home Depot that I like as well as anything.  It's big and has a million tool pockets to stash everything into, which helps to keep stuff from rattling around and scraping up your gear. 

The strap is usually overlooked...the portabrace bags have the best strap in the business, AFAIC.  I HATE a bag that has a strap that won't grip my shoulder because then I'm constantly fighting with it walking in and out of the show...and festy people know that walk can be LOOONG sometimes so it can be a real PITA if the bag is slipping off your shoulder every 10 yards.   

[Gordon]

I have a portabrace strap on my nova 5.  WAY better than the nova 5 one.

[2manyrocks]

The ability to reposition dividers in a bag via velcro straps is very helpful.  thinking more about this, one doesn't even have to have a sewing machine to make dividers.  A little bit of the right divider material, velcro, and some fabric glue to make up a divider will work.

[achalsey]

The perfect bag is mostly a function of what you're taking to the gig, and that can change from gig to gig for me.   

As soon as you add one more gizmo, the once perfect bag is no longer perfect.  I carry a camera bag and an audio bag....

Both good points.  I personally use a Nova 3 for 2 channel shows or where space might be limited, but use the 4 shelf SoniCase as my 'everyday' bag.  I'm pretty limited in gear (one recorder, one preamp) so my set up is generally the same for every show.

[acidjack]

I like the Kata Sundo and can't imagine something being much better, though those Petrol bags are great it seems if you run an SD deck.

[bombdiggity]

I have a different approach so will throw that out for thought. 

My favorite bags have wheels...  I've defaulted to backpacks (primarily the ones with wheels), though I do have one without for the lightweight go anywhere setup.  Wheels eliminate the carrying and the strap issue and as far as straps I've always liked the backpack mode rather than single strap over the shoulder for anything (not just gear). 

Within those I use smaller bags for the components (a cable and accessory bag), a tiny bag for the M-10 and immediate accessories (batts, adapters, cards), bags/cases for the mics.  I don't use a giant preamp or recorder and don't do mud fests (anymore) so it is easier on that front, but I often bring video (all of which is in another small bag) and photo stuff too.  I have a Swarovski binocular case (very hard shell - aluminum) for the R-44 and a DVD battery or two.  The bags/cases basically fit together within the backpacks (which is easier with lots of smaller stuff than really large components). 

With the light rig packed tight I can bring audio, video, a collapsible stand (everything I need) in one small backpack.  I've really come to like the folding stand in the backpack as a solution to the urban schlep/crowded subway travel. 

Essentially everything with all rigs can go as one medium rolling backpack with the small backpack on my back.  The rub there are the stands/tripods which I carry together in one of those big Ikea shopping bags (along with some electrical extension cords).  I can still carry all of that anywhere as a single trip (though the stands become burdensome on long distances).  I think I need a little better solution for the stands (probably some other sort of wheeled thing that will work for those).  One of those bag lady shopping carts might hold everything.  For the fest I have one of those folding red fabric wagons which also accommodates some folding seats and cooler. 

[stevetoney]

In re-mic stand.  I like the lightweight version that's about 3 feet long folded up that fits nicely over my shoulder like a baseball bat.  Any shorter and it doesn't look intimidating enough because I make sure when I'm walking alone back to my car at 2am on the dark streets of Pittsburgh (with $5k to $7K worth of gear) that my stand is VERY plain to see so that it's clear to anyone that their brains will spill from my swinging stand if they try anything funny.

EDIT TO ADD:  It doesn't hurt that I'm 6'3" 300 pounds and that Pittsburgh is a fairly safe city, as far as big cities go.

[bombdiggity]

Yeah the stand thing has advantages... though none that the usual "stand your ground" accessory doesn't eliminate... 

I've gone to this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/917559-REG/sirui_bsrt025x_t_025x_carbon_fiber_tripod.html (with a thread adapter) since I don't need the height at stage lip (or even further back in a seated club) and folding down to less than 12" means it goes in the backpack perfectly without even taking up much room.  It used to cost quite a bit less than it seems to be now. 

[2manyrocks]

Some folks use one of those rolling things you carry a golf bag in to haul mic stands, but I think they are hauling several at once.   

[bombdiggity]

Some folks use one of those rolling things you carry a golf bag in to haul mic stands, but I think they are hauling several at once.

A golf bag itself might work if it has wheels. 

Yeah I'm sometimes hauling a video tripod and at least one stand though usually two or three stands.  I'll run video plus two pairs of mics for the more important stuff where all that works. 

[2manyrocks]

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=34757716&cp=4406646.4413887.4413989.4414127

Sometimes places like Goodwill have these golf bag carts or golf bag cases with rollers, but the carts are the ones with the big wheels.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Thats what I use now actually.  I'm thinking of using that general design and adding/subtracting a few features here and there.

If I were to improve the Sonicase...

1. I would make all the plastic buckles metal.
2. I would add stiffeners to the the outer shell so that it stands up better, and also add a stiffener plate to the back panel.
3. I would improve the shoulder strap so that it was comparable to the PortaBrace strap... 
4. I would improve on the material used in the bag, ie the PortaBrace uses "thicker" material...  I would prefer a very long-lasting water-proof denim-type material... 

My own thoughts, hopefully helping you design your own bag...

Terry

[achalsey]

Much appreciated Terry!  The more feedback the better.

1.  Metal is certainly an option.  I've never had an issue with the plastic, but you're making me nervous, so metal fasteners might be a good idea just in case.
2.  Thats a good idea that I hadn't thought of.
3.  A better strap would be nice, but I'm cheap, so this might be lowest on the list of priorities
4.  The material is actually relatively limited.  It'll be made from the scraps of sails.  (my dad owned a sailmaking company up until recently) So will be waterproof, but thinking about it now, might be a bit rough.  Gluing some felt to the inside might be a good idea....

I'm thinking about adding some extra, more usable pockets to the outside as well.  Hopefully try to eliminate the need for the external pouch.

[voltronic]

Right now I use a very simple REI backpack, but my small cases of different items are more free to move around in there more than I would like.  I've been looking into photographer's backpacks with the adjustable dividers to keep everything secure, but they're usually rather expensive.  Then I just came across this a few minutes ago:
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Backpack-DSLR-Cameras-Accessories/dp/B002VPE1WK/ref=pd_cp_p_0

[carlbeck]

I don't know if this is an issue elsewhere but around me a lot of venues won't let backpacks inside. In the past it was such an issue that one time Lynchie had to bring his rig into the venue with a garbage bag because they refused to let him inside with a backpack. Granted this was the Verizon Center for WSP & they were not used too tapers bringing gear bags in but regardless there were a few other instances where there are no backpacks allowed.

[bombdiggity]

I don't know if this is an issue elsewhere but around me a lot of venues won't let backpacks inside. In the past it was such an issue that one time Lynchie had to bring his rig into the venue with a garbage bag because they refused to let him inside with a backpack. Granted this was the Verizon Center for WSP & they were not used too tapers bringing gear bags in but regardless there were a few other instances where there are no backpacks allowed.

That may be an issue at the arenas (though I'm not sure a large gear bag would be any more acceptable if that is the case)...  I don't do those anymore (well the last time I did it wasn't that sort of act so I wasn't bringing a backpack anyway).  Not sure if they would have let anyone in with one there now that you mention it though. 

Some good ideas on this thread.  I will be checking the thrift stores for one of those golf bags if I'm at one.   

[adrianf74]

+1 regarding the backpack issue.  I've also encountered it at smaller venues; professional camera bags (Lowepro Nova 4 are okay) while camera backpacks are not.  That said, I've gone for the pro camera bag route.

[bombdiggity]

Well good to keep in mind then.  I've never had an issue with the backpack/s (often more than one) but tend to "non-conformist" venues (clubs, DIY), though I run some shows at Smithsonian museums and they make me wear it in front (but do that to everyone with any bag or purse - presumably since it is too easy to bump a pack into something if it is on your back).  The Kennedy Center and Library of Congress also allow backpacks (though not recording!).  I guess my "name" venues are tourist spots so they are used to packs (but may want to inspect them).