This is the last stolen empeg that I will read about without learning my lesson. I will NEVER leave my empeg in the car unattended. But I can't bring my bulky Pelecan 1400 case with me everywhere...

So, what bag can we use that is small, plain looking, and either has good padding OR good handles to prevent droppage?

At the one empeg meet I attended, I remember seeing genexia's cool cloth bag. It was tiny and, I think, JUST fit the empeg. I wouldn't mind putting just the empeg in there and bringing it into the mall, restaurant, or movie theater; even with a date!

Anyone have any better ideas for making the empeg more portable EVERYWHERE we go? Man purses? (darnit, men NEED purses, but nobody else but me can see that!) Little jacket pockets to put the empeg in? Any ideas?

I just use my empeg bag.

Too bad there are approximately 10 empeg bags in the world.

And I have 3 of them in my apartment

Selling?

Nah, I have a Zip Drive bag (for generation 1 Zip100) that I got with my old zip. I wonder if the empeg will fit in that...

That or a purse, I guess. You know, a cool lookin' purse... um.... manly or something.

IIRC, thinfourth2 found that a PSone bag (or something similar, Nintendo maybe) fitted the empeg pretty well.

Edit: See this thread -- the GBA bag might work.

How about bolting down a lockbox in your trunk. They will have to steal the whole car to get it.

And there are three in Edinburgh...who has the other 4?

Definitely not selling, I'm afraid - couldn't do without it.

Who made the empeg bags ??? Would they be willing to do a small run of them to satisfy demand on this board ???

I would be willing to operate and finance this, as I would kill for an empeg bag (watch out boxer I know where you live )

They wouldn't have to have an empeg logo on, although this would be nice.

Cheers

Cris.

who has the other 4?

Two here in Leeds, only two to go!

(One is not kept at my address, for security reasons!)

Two here in Leeds, only two to go!

Two here, so all accounted for

I've got 2 in London. One still in it's protective wrapper

Greetings!

Of all the cases I have tried, the one that works best is an old pistol case (d33zy: I am surprised you have not tried this!). It is heavily padded with eggcrate and removable foam inserts for a great fit, just enough space for the player / remote / power / cables, usually with very sturdy locks or the ability to padlock it to something.

Mine is from an old pistol, and the outer shell is injection molded with the gun manufacturer's name on it. It looks quite intimidating, especially when you have an NRA Life Member sticker on it!!!

Note: You do get really strange looks when you go around with a case like this. Especially if you live in certain parts of the US and even more if you have ever been into the folk/rock scene! I have been to a couple of coffee houses where they looked at the case and nearly asked me to leave! (Until I opened it and demoed the empeg, that is...)

Until I opened it and demoed the empeg, that is

Then they were probably so amazed, they said: "Get outta here" anyway.

It's actually a whole lot simpler to produce these bags than you probably imagine, I've spoken to an advertising/promotional bag/luggage manufacturer, whom my firm has used before, who can produce from 20 upwards and see no problem with the size or material.
I'm not sure about the logo, but I won't bother Rob unless we have a serious commitment, re. its copyright as Empeg or Rio.
I'm going to be passing their address in Manchester, next thursday, 11th, and can show them the bag, so, if anyone who is interested can post on this thread, so that I can get an idea of numbers for them to cost out, do so, before then.
At this stage, no commitment whatsoever - on your part, or mine!

Interested in 1, perhaps 2 depending on price.

Yeah, I'd be interested.

count me in as well

My empeg bag is slowly degrading, so I may be interested in one depending on price.

Count me in as well.

I use this one and love it. No problems yet, plus it holds my power cable / rca cables ...

http://www.surprise.com/electronics/accessories_and_supplies/Case_Logic_PDC1_Portable_Drive_Case.cfm

price dependent, im in

Boxer - You THE man !!!!

Sounds like we have a goer here, if we have no luck with your contact, I will probably push with a few others.

Cheers

Cris.

contingent on price, me too.

-brendan

I'm in, depending on price of course.

Yes, count me in too for one, maybe two, depending on price.

I'm interested in two, still kicking myself for not accepting Rob's generosity at the first empeg meet in the US, where he was trying to hand several out to anyone who would accept them.

I think we were all too distracted by the tuner bits Hugo had to think about the bags becoming a limited supply item.

I am interested in 5 or 6 (some for me some for friends)

I'd be interested in 1 for sure, maybe 2 if the price is good!

I would be interested, if the bag design was exactly like the empeg bag except for a slightly wider outer pocket. My only problem with the original pocket is that it only barely fit the width of my leather checkbook, making putting the checkbook in there an ordeal.

Yes, I use my empeg bag as a man-purse. Got a problem with that?

Yeah, I'd like at least 1, possibly as many as 4. (2 is likely, if I buy one per person instead of one per empeg)

I'd be interested if there are going to be colors other than the original black and blue (I have one of each already). A dark red, maybe?

It's European!

I'm also interested in one, perhaps two (as usual, depending on price).

If there are any enhancements that can be made over the original bag design (as Tony prompted) then it might be a good idea to voice them in here.

It would probably help if we were pointed to an existing thread that may already contain a good description of the original empeg bag. I suppose I'll search...

Bruno

Padding and structural re-enforcement. To protect the player from deceleration trauma.

I disagree. I wouldn't want the bag to be any thicker than it already is, which would be required if you added additional padding.

I figure, if you want it protected against drops, the only way to go is a Pelican case. Otherwise, the existing design of the empeg bag is perfect because it's so small and easy to carry. Padding, structural support, and/or straps would just complicate it and make it non-useful to me.

Perhaps whoever makes an empeg bag could offer two models. The "lite" model, essentially the same as the current bag, and the "padded" model, which would be a bit larger and have padding and reinforced corners and such.

Valid point. You would not be able to add enough padding to make it worthwhile without really bulking up the case.

I'm game...

One more "me too". The seams on my trusty empeg bag are beginning to fray a bit.
-Mike

a slightly wider outer pocket

Noted, and I agree.
If they're true to their word and can do as few as 20, we're probably there already, I could be wrong, but I imagine such a small run will up the price, but we'll see.

colors other than the original black and blue

I imagine that for such a small run, we have to have them all the one colour, but they will probably have a choice, that being the case, I'll put a poll on the site at that time.

Anybody got some pics. of Empeg bags that they can give me a link to? My Thursday meeting cancelled 'till the New Year, so I'm going to try and get a quote by e-mail.

Take a look here:

http://www.norman.cx/photos/default.asp_Q_ST_E_1_A_F_E_20031203

The thumbnails should work for whoever it was using a browser annoucing itself as "Mozilla/3.01+(compatible;)" and strongly prefering "%20" to " " in URLs

my goodness tony, you cant fit your wallet in this?

(yes, i realize you said 'width' and 'checkbook', but when i looked at the picture of the bag i couldnt help but think of this seinfeld episode.

Maybe we could add some loops to the sides so we can attach a shoulder strap. Yes, I know that would REALLY make it like a man purse, but I always wanted that.

If anyone's looking for a real man purse, I recently picked this up at eddie bauer in an effort to not look like a tourist carrying a camera around. It's definitly hold an empeg, but doesn't offer any padding on the front, much like a backpack.

Matthew

If anyone is after a tough bag that doesn't look like a camera bag to hold camera or an empeg take a look at Crumpler.

I got one of these:


http://www.crumplerusa.com/products/camerabag/tall_e.html

while I was in Seattle last summer, for my Canon 10D and lenses. I think they are great. That one would be far too big for the empeg, but they do smaller ones too.

They have some of the best product names I've seen in some time. To wit:

Brian's Hot Tub
Company Embarassment
The Formal Lounge
Stamp Claimer

and my favorite...

Budgie Smuggler.

Good prices too. I have to pop over to the local dealer & check them out.

-Zeke

my original empeg bag seems a little small it is kinda hard to get it in the bag.

boxer: Thanks for offering to get these reproduced! It is, of course, the best solution to our dilemma. I'd be interested in at least two, price is not (too much of) an issue.

tfabris: Rock on with your man purse! Now I know I'm not the only one.

robric: Shoulder strap rings are a great idea. But I wonder, if you walk around holding it in your hand instead of worn over your shoulder, is it really a "man purse"?

pgrzelak: Haha, gun case. The goal is to find a case I can cary around WITHOUT attracting attention.

my original empeg bag seems a little small it is kinda hard to get it in the bag.

Mine was a tight fit at first but after a month or so of use it was a perfect fit and is easy to get the empeg into using the "hold the backside, put the face in first, and slide down the back" method. It's now 3 years old and going strong.

yes thats how i get mine in to.:)

"hold the backside, put the face in first, and slide down the back" method

i see a dirty joke, but ill let it be

Roger, thanks for the link to the thread about the GBA case. Unfortunately, it seems like there is more than one ALS Industries GBA case.

Does anyone know the correct model number for the ALS Industries GBA case that's apparently so perfect? Or, anyone know where I can still get one? I'm guessing it probably not made thanks to GBA-SP being out.

Oh, and if it's the model GB7 we're talking about, this review probably cost the author more in wasted time than it did to buy the darn $10 thing.

i see a dirty joke, but ill let it be

I even went back and reworded it carefully in the most non-sexual-image-conjuring way. Ah well.

Hmm - funny...I always put the back in first, as it has the sharpest corners and would snag, and then slip the rest in so the face is at the top.

Here's the spec. i've sent out this morning and thanks Andy for the link:
I would like to get a quote for a bag to contain a specialist DIN size car music player, pictures of which you will find here: http://www.norman.cx/photos/default.asp_Q_ST_E_1_A_F_E_20031203
The main area which takes the player is approx: 18.5w x 16d x 5h cms. I am in Leeds and would expect to come across and show you the bag, before proceeding, to ensure correct measurements. The whole of the main area is close fitting round the player, padded, and closed by two zips on the same track.
An unpadded, zipped pocket is on the front approx. 12cms. High and 3cms. Deep, although this is not shown on the previous one, users would like the pocket across the whole width.
The previous bags had a side and an end handle, but users are keen to have metal loops for a shoulder strap on the new version.
We are uncertain at this stage whether a logo will be required, but would like a quote for with and without a white logo as shown.
Previous bags were available in black and blue, but users would like to take a poll to arrive at a colour to specify for this order
This is not a promotional item, it is for an association which I have offered to help on a voluntary basis and users are looking particularly for hardwearing properties in the final item, as well as protection for what I and most of my colleagues regard as a priceless possession.

take a look at Crumpler

Nice. Depending on when they last updated the page about Digits, the idea of a "Prince Charles" seal preventing unexpected entry is either very unfortunate or very funny...

Peter

I suppose you didn't see:

Nad-Sac
Scrote
and LollyBag

Bruno

Yeah, I was just looking on the camera bag page. There's a ton of great names: Aggott, Bees Knees and Fux Deluxe.

The GBA case I have is the ALS 1500 http://www.gexpress.com/detailedspecs.cfm?returndept=GBAAC&returnpage=1&number=048413403568 I got mine at Sam Goody, if that helps. It works well, although I would recommend wearing it like a satchel to prevent it slipping off your shoulder.

I think that it is worth putting an extra 1/2" of padding on the bottom of the bag. I'd guess that 90% of drops would impact on the bottom first, and that the first impact is going to cause the most damage since it's likely to be from 2-3' height.

Despite what they said on the phone, to produce low numbers of a bag to a non-standard design, to a quality of protectiveness and robustness that would satisfy any of us, in low numbers is going to be prohibitive, it isn't a large enough number to out-source to the far-east and, suppliers here generally want to just stick a logo on to a standard design.

Hi boxer,

What do they call low numbers ??? I was thinking there would be enough demand for 200 or so, just look at how many docks mlord has shipped.

Cheers

Cris.

http://www.crumplerusa.com/cartIndex.php?prodId=85&prodType=Bag&catId=22

(new link and images, when will companies work out that replacing their webpages on mass, without making the old links still work is a bad idea)

My Tallee got its first test of camera survivablity the other day. I took my first tumble off my bike, I lost the front wheel at about 20mph and went straight over the handle bars. My Crumpler was on my back with my 10D, 17-40 EF and 28-85 EF. I rolled completely, rolling on the bag itself.

A few anxious seconds later I managed to take this shot:

http://www.norman.cx/photos/showphotonew...ke/IMG_2287.JPG

Both camera lenses are still working fine...

Heh, well done!

I'm not so lucky here.. one of our new kittens just pushed my 50mm 1.4 off the shelf where I keep many of my lenses, and it failed the 4' drop test onto the hardwood floor.

Shrug.

Cheers!

Is this the only major conversation about getting new bags made?
Cool Tools posted about Hoggans who specialize in making custom packs and bags.

This post is really more of a reminder to self, who needs to sift through the archives and see what has been said about bags in the past, collect some specs and fire off a query to Hoggans about the cost of a new empeg bag.

I think self is busy until later in the week. Thanks to Boxer, who went through all of this before, and left behind what he figured out.

--Nathan

Yeah, I'm out for a bit. Should be available later in the week. Cheers.

I once got some instrument bags/cases made in the UK, the company that made them is still in business and I would be only too happy to approach them again. The only problem being I do not have an example bag, does anyone have the specs i.e size, padding, zips any relevant info whatsoever?

It seems you enjoy wide angle scenery shots. My Nikon AFS 17-35 is my favorite (tourist) lens. I've never heard of Geocaching, had to Google it...

"Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.....A cache can come in many forms but the first item should always be the logbook. In its simplest form a cache can be just a logbook and nothing else. The logbook contains information from the founder of the cache and notes from the cache's visitors. The logbook can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. A logbook might contain information about nearby attractions, coordinates to other unpublished caches, and even jokes written by visitors. If you get some information from a logbook you should give some back. At the very least you can leave the date and time you visited the cache. Larger caches may consist of a waterproof plastic bucket placed tastefully within the local terrain. The bucket will contain the logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt. You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, its only fair for you to leave something in return. Items in a bucket cache could be: Maps, books, software, hardware, CD's, videos, pictures, money, jewelry, tickets, antiques, tools, games, etc. It is recommended that items in a bucket cache be individually packaged in a clear zipped plastic bag to protect them."

Ah.. speaking of wide angle.. I forgot to include the 10-22mm on that list!

And for geocaching, things generally get a bit more complicated that the "traditional cache" that Google found for you.

Here is an example of one of mine.

Cheers!