Mountain Project Logo

Seeking Constructive Feedback on Bag Design

Original Post
Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

Hey fellas!

I make chalk bags and only chalk bags and after reading the post on zippered pockets and receiving some emails from users I've come up with some prototypes.

Below is the one I'm most stoked on.

I'm calling this model the Opaque and it is sort of a hybrid between my Talc and Olu models.

I enlarged the overall size of the bag to accommodate a full zippered pocket. while wearing taped gloves on a long route.

I made the zipper run the entirety of the backside of the bag which I believe makes this the largest zippered pocket currently on the market. The zipper is at the bottom of the bag as to the least intrusive as possible. I also used a very low profile zipper to protect it from excessive wear. This pocket is lined.

This is still a prototype so I am looking for any constructive feedback the community may have.

In the past when I've reached out I'd gotten great feedback which really helped me improve may products.

Let me know what you think!

Cheers,

Josh
TUFA Climbing Owner/Operator

Profile: Angled top and tapered body

Wide no-snag opening

Reinforced elastic brush holder

Backside of bag. Zippered pocket runs the entirety of the backside of the bag. Very large

Tight, Centered Closure

Detail showing internal, lined pocket

Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114

Sweet looking bag! I'd order one in a heartbeat.

Don't know what I'd change without giving it a whirl.

Nathan Scherneck · · Portland, OR · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 2,370

I like the design. What's the diameter of the opening (I have big hands)? Can you do one in all black? I'd order one as well.

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

I appreciate the kind words, fellas!

The diameter of the opening is 5" Depth is 8.5"

I can do these in any material or color(s) of your choice.

If you're interested in ordering send me a PM and I'll get you taken care of.

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

What would everyone think of a vertically oriented zipper? Going up the side of the bag.

I feel that this would be more prone to opening accidentally but it may be more offer more a ergonomic opening.

Anyone have experience with such a bag?

Tico · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

The problem with both bottom and side-mounted zippers is that zipper failure=content spillage. I'd be more inclined to buy a chalkbag that had the zipper up high, near the rim, and a piece of fabric over the zipper (that stiff VX stuff works great for this purpose).

Sdm1568 · · Ca · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 80

I have one of your previous models and its been my chalk bag of choice for a while - Good workmanship! I have to agree with Tico that I would prefer a zipper up high near the rim and preferably on the backside (unexposed). Large enough to fit my keys etc... and maybe a horizontal zipper would be less likely to open.

Edit: Also prefer to have the draw on the side so its easily accessible. Let me know what the final product is, I may be in for another chalk bag!

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

Thanks for the responses, Tico and SDM. I'm going to work out some prototypes with your suggestions. I like the suggestion of a zipper flap.

I don't cut corners when it comes to the quality of my materials or the workmanship but I understand that the consequence of even a mistakenly left open zipper could be potentially catastrophic.

I'll work out some protos and post later.

Tico, do you sew your own stuff as well?

Tico · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

No, I just complain a lot. Make one in all black and I'll likely buy it.

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 436

My experience with other chalk bags with pockets has been that when the pocket is overstuffed, it makes it hard to use the chalk bag, because the contents of the pocket take up the interior space of the bag, interfering with dipping your hands.

I have that problem with my current chalk bag, a Petzl Sakapoche. The pocket is large enough to fit my ultralight windbreaker, e-lite, and knife, but the pocket bulges inwards a bit, taking up interior space, making dipping more difficult.

I had thought that the best way to deal with this issue was to create a pocket on the bottom of the bag, basically taking up space at the bottom rather than taking up space along the length of the bag.

However, if your design doesn't have this issue, then it's probably fine the way it is.

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

I like chalk bag pockets. I carry a very small knife and two prussik loops in mine. There's room for a Petzl e-Lite if I want to carry one. But that seems to me to be about all you should be trying to carry in a chalk bag. In particular, stuffing a windbreaker into a chalkbag pocket, mentioned above, strikes me as absurd. Get a windbreaker or rain jacket that stuffs into its own pocket and clip the thing to your harness.

I'd second Tico on the bottom zipper. A pocket with the zipper at its bottom is gonna dump stuff. You'll pull something out and it will drag other things with it. I wouldn't buy it. A zipper at the top is safest. If you want to get fancy, maybe a u-shaped top zipper to make access a little easier. If the pocket is full-length with a zipper at the top, it will be a pain to get out small items unless there is some type of bellows construction. I'd say a vertical side zipper is a better idea for a full-length pocket, and I don't think dropping will be that much of a concern. If you sewed in some key clips, the potential dropping problem could be eliminated.

The Metolius Stash has a zipper at the bottom but the entire pocket is at the bottom, so less of a problem about dropping stuff, and the pocket contents don't compress the chalk bag. It is going to be hard to improve on that for simplicity and functionality.

The world doesn't seem to be screaming for it, but I'd like to see a chalk bag with an integrated chalk sock. The Korean company Hanchor makes two---they began with a Kickstarter project kickstarter.com/projects/17… ---but I don't think the one I have (the Hula) works all that well. It fills through zipper openings, and it is hard not to spill a ton of chalk. Plus, the chalk gets into the zippers and makes them quite hard to operate. (It appears from their pictures that they expect you to use block chalk and crush it up after inserting it.) In my opinion, there is still quite a bit of room for improvement.

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 436

The problem with clipping a windbreaker to your harness is abrasion. My windbreaker is very light, but the fabric isn't that durable. (Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisper) Clipped to my harness, it would get shredded. I keep a cordura camera case clipped to my harness. It gets a lot of wear and tear. It's heavy cordura, but is still showing wear. My windbreaker is much lighter fabric. A couple of chimneys and it would be thrashed, I'm afraid. The other issue to clipping a windbreaker to your harness is it's one more thing clipped to your harness. Keeping it in the chalk bag simplifies and streamlines things.

I agree that the Metolius Stash design seems to be the best for a bigger pocket. However, I'm willing to give the Tufa design a whirl based on the designer's assurances that the pocket won't interfere with chalking up, even when the pocket is full.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

I think the chalk bag market is pretty saturated. There are only like 300 different models out there, most of which are fairly reasonably priced. Chalk bag design doesent seem like it offers much room for future innovation considering its simple design and insubstantial nature. That said, I dont like the bottom pocket. As others have said, stuff will fall out and you cant easily access it on the climb.

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

I like the zipper on the bottom idea if it could incorporate a bellows or compression design?

Stuffing a poncho in the bottom bellows section would eliminate the cramped dipping problem.

Maybe a catch of some sort to engage the small hole in the zipper pull could be used as a safety to prevent accidental openings?

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

I designed this bag based on the feature requests of user Kai Larson: whom posted above.

I'll keep playing with some designs.

20KN: I don't really give a shit. I'm making quality gear for myself and I'm making it here in the U.S. Obviously you have other U.S. made options. You don't have to support my project.

I think the biggest concern with a zipper on the bottom is that you could accidentally leave it open with important items such as keys in there.

Would this zipper fall apart in a decade of use. Unless you're dragging it behind your car I can guarantee you the answer is no.

Thanks for the feedback!

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

I took some more of your input and i feel now that I've come to a truly innovative pocket system. Let me know what you think.

Nicaraguan leather rum bag

Untie the front to get into your pocket. Access pocket from rear of chalk bag.

Pocket extends through the entire bag. (Front and Back).

okay I'm done

Okay for real though. Thanks for the awesome feedback! I'm going to make one with a flap as Tico suggested and try moving the pull cord to the side. If you guys have any other comments in terms of improved features I'd love to hear them.

Josh

BigFeet · · Texas · Joined May 2014 · Points: 385

Yes, take my money! I like the new design. Please make me one!

J. Serpico · · Saratoga County, NY · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 140
Josh Kornish wrote: 20KN: I don't really give a shit. I'm making quality gear for myself and I'm making it here in the U.S. Obviously you have other U.S. made options. You don't have to support my project.
Love the attitude. Seriously. I finally replaced a really old chalk bag with some larger metolious zippered model (vertical zipper, it seems designed for an MP3 player due to headphone hole). Zipper is important to me, because like rgold, I keep a few small things in it. Knife and rap ring come to mind as always being in there. If I take a headlamp, I put it into a baggy at the base of the bag or on my helmet if it's getting late.
M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911

"The stash" lol

J. Serpico · · Saratoga County, NY · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 140
MJMobes wrote:"The stash" lol
I don't think so, the zipper is vertical on mine, it sounds like the stash is on the bottom...I might be wrong, but it just sounds different.

Great bag though. Not sure what brand I had before, but it worked fine for a really long time and had a nice zippered pocket. My little brother took it home with him, so the Metolious was next up.

Nope, the Techno ID...which is ironic as it seems to be made for gym climbers and I never climb indoors. Great bag though, seems well built, pocket is nice sized, and the Halphalon is some durable stuff. Should last a long time.
Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

Here is a little prototype taking into feedback received here.

1) I moved the zipper to the top but I still can move it up 1.75" which I will adjust the pattern to accommodate.

2) I put a fabric flap guard to cover the zipper and to make certain that the zipper doesn't accidentally become undone.

3) At SDM's request I moved the pull cord to the side for easier one handed opening. I positioned it on the right.

Let me know what you guys thinking keeping in mind that I am going to move the zipper higher.

Pull cord moved to the side.

profile showing zipper height. The pocket still runs the full backside. I am going to move the zipper slightly higher

Guard flap for zipper

Thanks J. Serpico! I appreciate it.

Josh
TUFA Climbing Owner / Operator

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Discussion
Post a Reply to "Seeking Constructive Feedback on Bag Design"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.