Homebrew mod- improving sleeve cases for carrying stuff

I write about my Waterfield Designs sleeve cases all the time but there is one design decision that has always bugged me.  The cases are custom fitted for the intended device and there is one pocket on the back of the case that can carry relatively flat items.  I carry my Verizon v740 modem, a pen/stylus and my BlackBerry in mine when I use it but since the pocket is the width of the bag it doesn't secure the items in the pocket.  I have had items fall out of the pocket more than once and I wish SF Bags would address this issue.  A few weeks back I was thinking about this problem and decided that there might be an easy fix I could try to see if it can be solved.  I am happy to report that my fix has worked brilliantly and only cost me a few minutes and a couple of bucks to implement.

The photo above shows the pocket on the back of the sleeve case along with the reinforced strap that runs from the back to the flap on front.  What I did was go to the store and pick up some Velcro tape for a couple of bucks.  I cut a strip the width of that strap in the photo and just down in the pocket I applied it to both the strap and the inside of the pocket flap.  I let it cure for 24 hours like the instructions said and it secured nicely with no signs it will pull out.

Now I simply put my items in the pocket and make sure the Velcro has closed properly and voila!  It tightens the pocket up so nothing can fall out which is what I wanted to achieve.  Here's a photo with my gear in the pocket secured by the Velcro, which is just out of sight down in the pocket:

This worked so well that I have installed the Velcro on all 4 sleeve cases I use and it works great in all.  While this hack is in use for the Waterfield Designs cases I imagine it would work on any gear bag with an outside pocket like this. 

Comments

[Toby]

I carry up an inch thick of files in the back pocket of my Sleevecase, therefore wouldn't want Waterfield to make it a tighter pocket!
Hence I think your bag hack is rather good compromise.

I really love the Sleevecase! As often as I can, I go very light on my daily commute and to court, just carrying my X61T in the Sleevecase, with papers in the back.

Hence my personal gripe is the lack of in built owner identification. I'd love to see the option of a business card slot, or owners tag, perhaps under the flap. Currently I have to clip on a rather large luggage tag!

Was rather cool that Gary Waterfield himself replied thanking me for my suggestion of the same ages ago, although I can't find his email to see what he said.

Btw, any international readers, Waterfield ship internationally pretty speedily. I ordered mine to London, England.

[arthur Zaretsky]

I think this is a creative solution. However, if you want to secure items in this pocket, why not use the velcro horizontally along the upper edge of the pocket flap?

[sitecharts.com]

Hi Kevin.
I am curious to get your input on the various sleeves available.
I personally am a big fan of the Shinze ZeroShock sleeves and had one for almost 4 years before I upgraded to a Lenovo x60 tablet last summer. Despite being a 12 inch screen too - like my previous laptops - the x60 (and the x61) are much more square than all other laptops I know and do not fit the old sleeve.
Have you tried the Zeroshock sleeves? How do they compare to the Waterfield Designs sleeve cases?

[Terry Gho]

This is interesting. I carry my Fujitsu P1610 around the mine sites (I am a mining engineer) and in my SF Bag open pocket I always put one pen, a small paper notebook and my Eten X800 PDA. I have thought about the idea they are falling out but I have yet to have that occur on me. I can't stress how *easy* it is now to navigate around equipment and through the nook and crannies with the SF bag :D

[James Kendrick]

Arthur, some of the items I carry are too tall to allow putting Velcro along the entire width of the pocket. Just putting an inch wide Velcro strip works better for me.

[James Kendrick]

sitecharts, check out my video review of the waterfield sleeves to see how they compare:

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkotr_audio_edition/2007/04/jkotr_mobile_me.html

[Scotty]

James,

Here's hoping you haven't run afoul of a patent. Brenthaven has been doing the velcro trick to the outside document pouch on their bags for years... One patch of velcro in the middle of the top of the opening. I've appreciated that touch ever since I got my first bag from them.