Pouch vs backpacks

Utilizing the multiple straps and my usual DIY fashion with the help of a couple carabiners, external storage includes gloves, guards and the usual stuff one puts on once at the trail rather than left in the pack.

Having tested out my "upgraded" pouch system a few weeks, reckon I'm gonna be sticking with this for a long time. With a bit of ingenious strapping it carries just about all that my biggest and most comfortable Vaude hydropack can but a lot less klunky to haul around on epic day rides.

In retrospect, overall hydropacks just doesn't cut it anymore for me.

• (a) smaller slim ones usually do not have enough volume. Straps to match bag profile means its usually too thin. Discomfort.
• (b) big ones are too cumbersome and if there aren't enough things in there, too much rattling around.
• (c) Reaching into bag for things means having to remove pack from body.
• Displaces one's C.G. when riding style needs lots of body movement

Started off with the Boblbee but realized it is just a tad small after awhile with a full load including trail tools. The Mountain Smith TLS Tour did all I needed by now.

Reaching out to the back for the bottle was getting to be a PITA so I re-jig with a Camelbag 3L bladder. Getting the last bit means reaching back to give it a squeeze but otherwise all's good.

With all the essential stuffed within, there's still space for more. Would easily accommodate my folding spade and more hydration if necessary.

Whether carrying more or less, the center-of-gravity when lowered... the main reason for wanting to get away from the hydrobags for better handling on the bike apart from the hot and sticky sensation on the back after awhile. Terrible humid tropical weather where things never dry up makes me wish I'm back in temperate zones.

I pack small items tightly together but certainly not some pen sized 40gm carbon pump for my big ass tires or a tiny Swiss knife to hack at fallen branches and trunks. But even with these and a full 3L bladder, the main compartment still has about 1/3 of unused space left. Have a habit of keeping things compact...  a number of some stuff some not clearly shown)  - first aid, spare pair of brake pad, 2 pivot bolts, 2 tire levers, master link pin, patch kit, large inner tube, spare hanger, small pliers an 850L torch, an mp3 player, Lezyne Huge Ass Pump. Big hex key set that goes to a  size 10mm key, 3m of duct tape , Zip-ties, 14" total length folding kukris (folded 8"), 3m of paracord. These are the  SOP items.. others like a spare dee on long epic rides or half  a dozen gelpack or even a spare change of clothing are thrown in as the need arise.

(I'm still testing this out for the longer term and yes this is totally self funded but loving every minute with the use of this bag/pouch watchawannacallit for all my riding/ outdoorsy paraphernalia).


20  Dec 2013 - Update

No doubt, this is the carrying-system I would be sticking with. Carrying the same kind of haul-it-all load like a normal backpack, having the weight low and most of it off your shoulder makes a HUGE difference.

Apart from my usual rides, here I was in a 3 hr race... Had my usual stuff with 3L water, gel packs and all.... easily  5.5kg (>12b). Would probably have melted if it was a normal hydropack under the midday sun at Lor. Asrama.

3 Mar 2014: To test it out once and for all... I decide to bring this along for this year's CM DH rides... thought there might be a remote chance I would find it unsuitable and also bought along my std hydro bag... Nope.. the Mountain Smith hip bag stayed with me for the entire vacation-- high speed balls to the walls ride as usual of Chiang Mai riding. Sans problemo. Hardly even register I was carrying a pack shooting down the mountains.... guess I can stockup another 1 or 2 more if there is a sales going on somewhere...

Pathfinding Gears...

Ok call it new toys show off or whatever... things have changed a bit, decided to go a little more with cutting out sections in little known areas to increase whatever riding mileage there is in little Red Dot.

New endeavours means more stuff needed. God of Providence has been kind so I figured a little retail therapy won't hurt... Right after the Boblbee MT Cargo, I chanced upon something similar yesterday at Beach Road miltary surplus market.

A Mountain Smith waist pouch with shoulder straps. Good cmpartment designs and this one will pretty much put all the stuff I need.

Boblbee MT Cargo  vs MountainSmith TLS Tour

Unlike the Boblbee, this one poses no problem to pack moi big ass pump along with all the other stuff thrown in. Bottles packed on the side leaves the entire main compartment for any bulky stuff if necessary. Of course today was showtime Rajah... First proper test to clear lots of fast overgrowing veg and dead branches after the heavy rain.

This is one meanie to have around. No question about the sharpness. Good weight and very well balanced. Hold it to the rear and flick to slash with the broad front end... butter through all small stuff. With the right technique 3-4 hacks and twist makes quick work on 1-1.5" thick branches. Action is so swift that a couple of time I almost narrowed missed it contacting the bike on the end of an inward stroke.

Despite what is shown in the video demo (and I don't doubt it's capability), this really is still a light hacking blade, albeit really sharp. Best done with a ~30 degree downward hack/slash and let momentum carry through to reap the most from it. Like all nicely balanced kukri and curve blades....just keep eyes to target-- the blade should come thru spot on even if you slash from 3-4 feet away. Did nick a bit of the edge today with a couple of mis-cue perpendicular whacks.

Only thing like many of the blades with coated surface.. it stains really fast.

This's probably better off with a little writeup on its own but since it made it into today's ride, well ....

Mulling on Sun as to why there is no XC lids and a goggle combo... I whip up my DIY contraption. See, I'm no fan of 200 bucks Oakley or Rudy Project shades, never mind about losing 'em all the time. Have been going mostly without for a few years but somedays do miss having especially on wet rides or tight tracks. No fun getting whip lash in the eyes.

Goggles? Figured the usual ones with my full face helmet look weird until remember having picked one up that might just do the job...

Was wondering how to DIY something like the Air Flap to make life easier and not fug up....ooops I mean fog up. Pretty unsophisticated but hell yea... gotta luv cable ties.. and the gog sits nicely against the visor when pushed up. On it stays when not needed. One flick-- and all good to go.

Guess what.. read on Mon in www.bikerumor.com that Bell just came up with just about the same thing you see here for an enduro gog-lid combo!

This is the one but think I like my version better ;)

So with all the gears of the day I thought maybe just once..

Shut up! No its not Naruto inspired nor anything from Shinjuku
weekend fashion district. Totally out of necessity for the day.

Recce another potential descending line. Not much can be seen from here and as usual there isn't much elevation but walking down it looks to be pretty winding and flowy with a bit of drop-ins.. only problem, its all pretty overgrown. Managed to clear ~100ft when 6pm-Mozzie-Kamikaze-Squads say its time to leave.

Left the entrance untouched to avoid unnecessary attention. 5 feet down is where the clearing started today.

Was checking out my original intention to see if there is a way to cut around the rear running along the length of the Bird Base and hopefully clear down to Resevoir-- where I have seen another potential patch that can possibly run all the way to the next industrial area...

No flipping way the Bird People will allow that.... triple reinforced fences. Place is like a frigging minefield. Ok backtrack...

Along the Dune... and what what did I see! Something I thought was probably extinct. Never knew its name but in the 70s... this was one of those things we eat right off the fence. ripened, its orange and sweet. I just call it mini passion fruit. You wont even see it being sold anywhere.. only school kids who actually catch spiders and grasshoppers will know... ;)

While clearing a little later on... sweat was dripping into the eyes and I ALMOST miss seeing this!
Triple ant bomb.. and the nastiest kind was 1 foot directly above where I just about slash down on the branch holding them.. Stepped back just in time. Close call!

At least now I know where the unknown few that keeps getting into my helmet whenever I ride past comes from. No more. Sorry little guys. Go rebuild somewhere.

Stopped for a little chat with one of the regular fishing blokes in the area who just snagged a ~3kg Patin the other day. well looks like this waterway does hold some serious sized fishy. Its been here for almost 30 years and the Tomans (Snakeheads) would be..........HUGE. Heard that there might even be a couple of Gigas arapaima around too!

Boblbee MT Cargo

"The fanny pack, belt pack, belly bag, Buffalo pouch, hip sack ,hip pack, or bum bag, sling bag.." or watchawannanameit pack.

If anyone has been following.. this is another of my OCD in personalizing ride paraphernalias.
Been taking the contact-minimizing approach with packs further these days... 

...weaning off the usual hydration packs for awhile nnow and instead been relying on a waist pouch. Trying out for a few months on what I would eventualy need, types of adjustment and carrying options. but was unable to find something to fit the entire mental checklist...

Was searching and searching until......  yup, who else but  Dirty that Whatsapp over another poisonous picture of just about everything I ever wanted out of a hipster style bag complete with quick release harness.

Much like a military skeletal battle order which is of course very very muchie in line with me holy-waist-pack image. Yea, all i need now is to tape a field aid dressing to the shoulder strap and drop some camo sticks in one of its ridiculously numerous compartments ;)

Detachable (Velcro) waterproof pack for phones and other hydrophobic geeky gadgets on insides of main compartment cover. Main is also partially protected by splash proof plastic cover that can be removed as necessary. But this can also serve to slot your guards or whatever gears that need to be removed quickly without unzipping.

 Waist strap/belt that are conveniently tucked away when not needed

 When things get weighty on longer day rides... string up the webbing.

Ok ok.. apart from the military fantasy thingie..its still a must have. In my experience.. once total weight of pouch exceeds 2.5-3.0 kg-- u need some of the weight to be distributed over shoulder strap.

Some folks ask me then what is the point and might as well go back to just a backpack.
First, no sticky wet sweaty packs stuck to my back.. Better ventilation = decreased hyperventilation. Maybe not as pronounced in temperate countries but we are riding in tropical humid ovens over here most of the time. I also find that it helps to displace CG to a lower position which suits my riding style a lot better than hiking up carried weight with a backpack.

 

Good size and should be able to carry all I need for day long trip. Will be experimenting tonite with diff gear-packs and weight to simulate diff kind of rides

Yup, its even a handlebar bag. Thoughtfully designed with straps just for the purpose. Exactly what I need on the road on a long homeward ride after a full day bouncing on the trail...  those time when you don't need any extra thing sticking to the body but maxing out body surface area to benefit from any wind to cool you down.

20th Jul
Tried and tested... All good to go. Feels just like my old SBO. No it doesn't fit snug when you are seated as there is a tendency for the thing to ride up the body.  It doesn't slosh around though and once standing it all drops back down to hip level with the shoulder straps preventing further downward movement. Good enough even when launching off, didn't feel any side to side displacement.

Only bad thing-- I couldn't chug my usual portable pump in there. while the overall length is long enough but the 2 side compartments actually isolates and makes the main smaller than the actual ~14" Then again the Lezyne is one mother of a plunger... so just had to get around fitting my smaller Topeak.



23rd Jul
If Mon is blue then it must be all purple and knotted by Tues.. but it also happened to be the one yr anniversary at our present place. No time to prep or cook... so it was a quick 5min-Sushi-Chip-Express-run @ Central for pack away chow on my trusty old no-one-ever-want-to-steal-market.SS

And what better way to test the bag's versatility.... yup, a tt mount too ;)

"ITADAKIMASU !"

New "Hydro" Pack

If one doesn't mind the fallen trees ...its pretty much rideable year round here. But fighting the tropical climate is a constant battle.  After awhile, saturated in perspiration on every ride, microwaved in 100% humidity under the foliage produces some pretty interesting smell on clothing and accessories. Smell that doesn't really go away no matter how it's washed.

With the current Northwave pack going for almost 2 years seemingly undersized now that riding most time involves hauling all kinds of guards, tools and other paraphernalia..I was looking at those with an air mesh to keep the back away especially on epic rides... but either what's available is not suitable or just plain expensive.

Found the right size pack in my recent Bangkok trip. Only problem was that it isn't a proper hydro pack, hence no dedicated compartment for the bladder. The main compartment is just too wide and the bladder will sag like a bag of sh#t for sure.

The side has an opening which I assume is for earphones...that serves nicely for threading the water hose through in my usage.

Not sure if the Karrimor is a cheap knock off or things are just simply cheaper over there but overall it looks about sturdy enough at the stitchings and pack a few nice handy compartments on the cushy waist straps

First  a slit was made on the brand new bag. Ouch. To prevent the opening from tearing apart, its time for some needle work.

Initially just wanted to thread up the ends but thought it looked kinda sloppy. Pride takes over and soon... the stitches work all the way around the entire opening. Reminds me of how grandma used to needle each button opening while grandpa was cutting out the suits/ blazers profiles in the background....

Slit allows the holding strap on bladder to go through and be secured with a carabina to the carrying handle of the pack. That way the bladder will stay "up"

Riding Pack essentials.

100 oz (3 liter) bladder
Lighter
Tire Lever
Digital presseure gauge
Trusty Gorilla Hex tool with size 10mm for CK fun bolts
440 steel 4" Folding Knife
Chain Breaker
Spare hanger for EG
Spare tube and emergency patches
Med and bandages and id
Cable ties
Pump
Shock Pump
Lube
Spare links
T-25 Torx Key for rotor bolts
Philip screw driver, not shown



Many people have asked me why don't I just get one of those multi tools. If anyone has ever tried to use those short stumpy screwdrivers or hex keys will  understand why. Tired or not, I'm not risking rounding bolts and nuts especially out on the trail with less than ideal tools giving insufficient leverage.

Long days or riding trips calls for an additional rear deraileur.

Sometimes I do pack a few small components as well for testing and reviews.

Can everything fit within? Time to find out.

Apparently it does. Of course helmets gloves, bandana and shades are stuffs that's  usually keep outside for easy access.

Total Weight (not including  MP3 player and 50mm stem for testing during tomorrow's ride), 6.2 kg  [13.66 lb].

Air mesh takes care of the back from sticking to the pack, leaving  the number one area to eliminate smell; straps.

Stink Absorbers
Little old DIY from army days, cut bands from inner tube holding onto 5mm thick neoprene strip. Only have white 'prene on hand. Sure it adds to the fugly factor.... till I get me paws on some stealth black ones

More for the waist straps and upper back paddings later... getting late now

Put pack on..Nice snug fit. move around, nothing comes loose. Alright....good to go.

$22 bucks for the pack + 45 mins of doodling....lets see how things hold up in terms of durability.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........