Topic: Best gear bag for 722 / V3 / SLAs, etc.

[Mike Sarnovsky]

Subject says it all... I'd like know what the best gear bag out there is for the 722 / V3 combination plus room for cables, supplies, SLA batteries, windscreens, mics, the whole thing.  What are you guys using and do you have any pics?  Is portabrace the best out there? 

Also, I've vecroed my 722 and v3 together presently and kind of like that setup which make the thing one brick basically.  I have some of those v3 stilts coming in this week to prevent the unit from resting on its cables which should be nice so consider that in your response!  Thanks.

[Kevin Straker]

Do yourself a favor and trade those sla's for a lenmar/walmart style Lithium ion.

[achalsey]

Lots of opinions/options:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=134832.0

[it-goes-to-eleven]

The v3 can put out some serious heat (though probably less when running on 6v rather than 9 or 12).  Almost as much as the 722.   Though I think the heat mostly comes from the side plates where the power supply op-amps attach.

Still, I think any gap you can get between them would be good.  At least make sure you keep your lithium batteries cool.  It shortens their life, reduces their output, and in the absolute worst case situation causes smokey drama.

[Mike Sarnovsky]

I read that thread and am still not convinced which bag is the best... is petrol of better quality than portabrace? 

Can anyone comment on the PEGZ-2 versus the PEGZ-3 in terms of size... the 3 seems pretty damn BIG.   

[OFOTD]

I'm carrying the PortaBrace bags.   AR-7 for my 744 and RM-Multi Deluxe for my V3, LiOn batteries, 4023's, clamp, donut and NOLAbar.     Have a Sonicase, Lowepro Magnum and Nova 5 collecting dust.

Lean and mean.

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

Portabrace is made in the US of A.  Petrol.  Not so much.     I love my Portabrace AO-2X.

I read that thread and am still not convinced which bag is the best... is petrol of better quality than portabrace? 

Can anyone comment on the PEGZ-2 versus the PEGZ-3 in terms of size... the 3 seems pretty damn BIG. 

[page]

I'm carrying the PortaBrace bags.   AR-7 for my 744 and RM-Multi Deluxe for my V3, LiOn batteries, 4023's, clamp, donut and NOLAbar.     Have a Sonicase, Lowepro Magnum and Nova 5 collecting dust.

Lean and mean.

Agreed, I'm lean with my AR-7/RM-Multi (standard, not deluxe) combo, but I have an AO-1X when I need space for a pre-amp or something like that. A 1.5X or 2X should hold all of the stuff you listed easily. In just the RM-Multi, I can fit; 2 tekkeon batteries, caps, bodies, 3m active cables, 2' interconnects, shockmount, small kwon-style bar, clamp, rapid adaptor, my ear plug case, a 3.5mm patch cable, and the SD7XX c-link cable. If I add the AR-7, I house my 722, the bottom lion battery, a 6' SPDIF cable + 3 BNC adaptors, a couple granola bars for setbreak. It just requires that I pack it a very specific way to get all that junk in...

I heart Portabrace.

[Kevin Straker]

Portabrace is made in the US of A.  Petrol.  Not so much.     I love my Portabrace AO-2X.

I read that thread and am still not convinced which bag is the best... is petrol of better quality than portabrace? 

Can anyone comment on the PEGZ-2 versus the PEGZ-3 in terms of size... the 3 seems pretty damn BIG. 

I carried almost the same rig in a Pegz-2 with plenty of room to spare.

[Mike Sarnovsky]

Right now my Nova 5 is pretty packed so I'm looking for the best way to upgrade.  I am presently carrying:

722 / v3 velcroed together
3 - Pelican 1020 cases with 140s in each, plus the sth-100 bar in the 3rd case
2 - 6v SLA
Crown Royal bag with some random shit in it
Sonic case cable holder strapped to the back to hold windscreens, all interconnects, flashlights, etc.

[scb]

ditch the SLAs.  i've been running the v3 off lithiums for a few years now.  so much lighter

[darby]

Pegs 3:

I have even more gear in it now than when I took that shot

and definitely lose the SLAs in favor of Lithium Ions

EDIT:
I can get everything in my signature except extra recorders in my bag
along with batteries, mounts, clamps, 2 pairs of pliers, cables, extra 20' Audio Magic HCs   

[Mike Sarnovsky]

One question I forgot to ask... so I had a SonicCase for YEARS.  Thing turned into a piece of shit... the velcro lost its "adhesiveness" and barely stuck anymore and the bag just felt on the flimsier side to me over time... definitely didn't hold up.  The more and more I loaded it down, the less secure the thing felt. 

Have you guys noticed the same thing with the Petrol or Portabrace cases?  Ideally I'm going to be buying something that lasts for the long haul.  

[darby]

I always thought the Sonic case left a little to be desired, even new
my Petrol bag is 4 years old and doesn't seem to be any less rigid than the day I got it
you can't close it up like the Sonic case so it doesn't protect as well in dusty environments
plus the thing is HUGE, sometimes a little big for some shows where space is an issue
but it holds alot of gear and I can keep everything wired up and ready to roll

[flipp]

Currently a PEGZ-3 on ebay starting @ $150 with BIN of $170. It's been relisted a couple of times since it went without bids earlier.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170518991435