It’s been more than nine thirteen years since my last blog post regarding my every day carry bag. Something must have happened between August of 2019 when I started this blog post and July of 2023, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to think of what could possibly happened to have derailed an idea. Rather than putting this post off any longer, I’m just going to publish it largely as-is.
Perhaps it’s time for a progress report or update?
Back around about the summer of 1994 I wanted a bag to carry my stuff in. 12 I needed it to hold a binder, pens, pencils, and other assorted college student things. Since this was my very first sewing project, I vastly over planned, prepared, and engineered everything. I made a lot of mistakes, but nothing catastrophic.
1. LESSONS
- Material. It turns out that canvas was eventually scrapped in military uses because it doesn’t resist abrasion well and will rot and decompose if not stored carefully. I also never treated mine to be waterproof with wax or some other substance. A more modern and durable material is probably ballistic nylon or Cordura. For a much more lightweight bag, a ripstop nylon, polyester, or polypropylene may work better.
- Hardware. I used 2-inch wide plastic buckles and clips on the bag as well as nylon webbing.3 These were the only sizes I could find back in 1994 at the local sewing / crafts store, so that’s what I bought. In anticipation of making a new bag, I’ve already bought webbing made from seat belt material and plan to 3D print all new hardware. I would probably add some loops of fabric or cord for attaching a small carabiner, lanyard, or keys.
- Sewing. I’m proud of this bag. While there are a few rookie mistakes4 , it has held up incredibly well over the last 25 years. I planned it out, drew everything out on large sheets of paper, transferred the designs to the canvas, cut everything leaving generous sewing allowances, and sewed it up with my mother’s already ancient sewing machine. Next time, I’ll focus on x-box stitching on straps and better stitching practices.
- Zippered Cowardice. I admit my own cowardice as a beginner tailor in actively avoiding zippered pouches or pockets. I’m not certain how important having zippered enclosures in a bag is, but it’s nice to have these. Then again, I could probably just as easily have a velcro closed pouch that would serve just the same purposes and be less… clanky.
- Flatness. One of the things I appreciated most about the bag I made was that when it was empty/nearly empty, I could simply cinch up the strap and sling it across my back, where it would be basically hidden underneath a fleece vest I wear a lot. This made it easy to take with me – or just ignore when not needed. On a recent trip to an amusement park, I used one of those give-away schwag drawstring backpacks to similar effect. When not in use, I just wore it underneath my vest. When I needed it to care stuff for myself or family, I could tuck some small things inside it – or take it off and wear as intended.
2. BAG TYPES
- Backpack. A normal school-type backpack with two shoulder straps, large interior zippered area for books, binders, supplies, and a smaller outside zippered area for smaller supplies such as pencils, pens, etc. There are usually a large number of interior pockets.
- Laptop Backpack. This type of backpack has an extra padded divider or compartment for protecting a laptop and a little extra space for carrying power cords and such.
- Satchel. A soft sided cross body single strap with a flap that folds over the front and can be buckled closed.
- Courier/Messenger Bag. A wide side slung bag with a wide strap suitable for carrying several stacks of large documents. Usually has a large flap that folds over the front that buckles closed.
- Laptop Bag. Similar to a messenger back, but just wide enough to accommodate a laptop in a padded interior section, typically with a handle on top.
- Tactical Backpack. A backpack with a LOT of pockets, straps, buckles, harnesses, handles, etc. Ranges from small to very large.
- Fanny Pack. I hate to admit the practicality of these bags because they’re so incredibly ugly.
- Sling Messenger Bag. “A bag with one strap that is designed to be carried on one shoulder.” These tend to have a narrow and rounded triangular appearance, with a strap attaching to the left or right of the base.
- Cortility Bag. In episode #69 of the Cortex Podcast on 5/22/2018, CGP Grey talked about getting a small bag to carry a minimum amount of useful things since his everyday wear does not have enough storage. Such things included his wallet, phone, headphones, earplugs, airpods case, a small camera, aspirin, etc. This is my exact problem. I want to be able to carry just a few more things with me.
- Drawstring Backpack. These are the kinds of bags that are basically drawstring bags where the loops of cinching cord are anchored at the bottom, so they can also serve as backpack straps. They’re simple, easy to make, pack down super small, but they’re also… simple and don’t have a lot of room for many features.
3. STUFF
- Stuff I Carry. I’m not a survivalist, camping enthusiast, or have any special need for a bug-out bag. Hopefully, I’ll never find myself in such a position that this bag will be what makes the difference. With changes in life and lifestyle over the years, the things I need to carry has changed as well.
- High School / College: Books, notebooks, pens, pencils, playing cards
- Grad School: Laptop plus books, notebooks, pens, pencils
- Work Life: Sunglasses, bulky cell phone, laptop, small notebook/paper, pens, pencil, camera
- Life Work:
- Sunglasses, small cell phone, small notebook/paper, pens, pencil, small tools, sometimes a charger/portable battery and/or a laptop,
- Bag Needs. While pondering what I really need a bag for these days. I’m no longer really very far from the things I need whether I’m at work, home, with the family, or just someplace near my car. Now I’m of two minds on the topic. Part of me wants something akin to a “tactical backpack” which is, depending upon your viewpoint, a glorified fanny pack worn across the back or a single strap side sling narrow backpack with lots of hooks, loops, straps, etc. Part of me wants an unobtrusive and nearly invisible “drawstring backpack.”
I still use that old bag fairly regularly.
Annnnnd, that’s about where my blog post from 2019 left off…
Custom Every Day Carry Bag- Mind you, this was back in the mid-90’s when it wasn’t uncommon for someone to have a fanny pack [↩]
- Looking back, I was going for more of a manly Indiana Jones satchel / bugout bag [↩]
- The technical term for these nylon straps [↩]
- having way more than 10 stitches per inch basically perforated the canvas underneath the webbing [↩]