While I’m currently on a bike-stuff acquisition hiatus (or guh, trying to be) after completion or near completion of my summer bike projects, I recently received a product in the mail that was custom made and has been anticipated as being awesome, but with these things, you never really know. I’m happy to report success.

Archive Bags produces hip and tool sacks/wallets on a custom or small-batch basis using certain material selections. Each is hand-made and made to order. The bag is smaller than some of the competing hip sacks, especially the larger one I used over the last few years, now as a camera lens carrier. My goal was to find a nice lean, compact sack to carry vitals, attached to my own belt I’m already wearing rather than it’s own belt like my last one, and to be able to carry a lock if I want in lieu f my jeans pocket or a separate lock holster, as Lung uses. The key was compact efficiency. When I started carrying less small gifts in order to lighten the belt load, I was annoyed the the bag I used was bigger and still physically difficult to ignore: it tended to be in the way. My hope, with the Archive Bag, based on Flickr photos, was that it would be small enough to be less noticeable, and big enough to be functional.

As you can see above, I’m using my compartmentalization method as I generally do. It allows me to keep part groups separate from each other for easy access, minimizing tangling and mess, and making it easier to utilize my system of modular parcels for different ride conditions (light, tools, different bikes, etc)… here I have a rolled tube rubber-banded to one side, and a parcel to the other containing my Crook Type 3 field kit, including multiple CO2, tyre levers, valve extender, minitool, extra allens, air driver, spare key, Heat Bullet, etc. It fits just so, and doesn’t prevent the flap from completing the Velcro fastening, and the load is light and tight. (I’ll show you light and tight. Well maybe not). It also has a small utility strap on the front for keys, valve bullet, knife or whatever you might want on the outside, or even a little belt strap like from a pedal, if you are doing your crazy youthful tricks and are afraid of losing small gifts in all that inertia.

The fit and finish is of the best I’ve seen on hand-made bags. The stitching is tight and the waxed fabric is comfortable and not greazy, which is a pet peeve of mine for water resistant sacks. The belt strapping is solidly sewn and allows me to use my regular belt. It can carry a lock.

The side profile shows just how lean this sack is. Olive drab with a Go Fasta Red interior vinyl.

Here’s a shot against my saddle to show size comparison. Very compact.

Overall, it’s a great product. They aren’t cheap, at about $40US but well worth it if you are into optimizing your ride bag with a top quality item for small gift transport and utility. I know I am!

http://archivebags.wordpress.com/

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