How many times did it take to remember to zip up the equip section of your bag?

[brecklundin]

I just got a National G NG-5737 Large bag...it's my first backpack style bag and so far it was twice for me in the first week. Luckily both times were at home and only once did anything actually fall out and that was onto the bed so no harm done.

But, just curious if I am the only absent mined dolt to forget to zipper the equipment compartment before picking the bag up.

I am blaming the fact that this bag has like 9000 compartments and well, there can be a lot of straps, snaps, flaps and zippers to deal with. ;)

[Quad]

Well for me I am more forgetful as I burn out brain cells so I am not sure if there is any hope for you. There is a reason old folks are slow when they are in the grocery line ahead of you as spelled out below.

Just work slowly and think about what you are doing now what you are about to do until it is habit and you can stop paying so much attention.

[SuzyView]

I have so many bags and so many compartments to deal with, I have to close them all every time or else, things get lost or fall out.

[aridan]

Never happened to me. I spent too many pesos on my equipment than to forget about it...

[brecklundin]

Well for me I am more forgetful as I burn out brain cells so I am not sure if there is any hope for you. There is a reason old folks are slow when they are in the grocery line ahead of you as spelled out below.

Just work slowly and think about what you are doing now what you are about to do until it is habit and you can stop paying so much attention.

yeah, no kiddling...I felt so just careless when it happened the first time. Then when it happened AGAIN I was just beside myself at how I let myself feel rushed and just forget....AGAIN.

And yeah, it's a matter of time before it becomes route. Now that I have the bag I keep all my gear in there ready to go. I also carry my 17" laptop in the rear compartment as well as a travel router, power supply and mobile broadband dongle so I can acess the web from pretty much anywhere with my Nokia N800 pocket internet tablet (nope not a phone).

I only take everything when I am going for a full day and might decide to stop somewhere or simply stay overnight. I just had to get a system down and decide what pockets to dedicate to which devices, accessories and supplies.

I really LOVE this pack as it gives me basically all the room I will need when I add that Sigma 150-500mm around the holiday's. I also get the added bonus of having all my other equipment that actually pays for the camera stuff on hand for a day off taking pics and still getting some work time in if I want or need to...

But you are sooooo right that with a new setup one needs to really be somewhat deliberate to make sure everything gets in and secured properly. Still it's funny to me in a self loathing fashion when I do silly things like this...I can say, however, that never once out of the house have I neglected to zip everything up. Prolly a result of scaring the sheet outta myself from watching the lenses drop out onto the bed... :o

[brecklundin]

Never happened to me. I spent too many pesos on my equipment than to forget about it...

yeah, hehehehehe...you aren't just a-kiddin' dude...I know I turned completely white seeing that happen. Even though the lenses were not $$$ ones, it did not matter because they are the ones I could afford for now and all I could think of was "....oh, great, I just begin to have some fun and splat, the photo-gawds smite a blow upon my head...!!"

My money is on that I NEVER again forget...I hope?? :rolleyes:

[brecklundin]

I have so many bags and so many compartments to deal with, I have to close them all every time or else, things get lost or fall out.

I am so used to my Tom Bihn bags maybe that is the problem for me too...we have tried to get him to make a good camera bag but as they tell us over on the TB boards, it is sort of a saturated market already with a lot of outstanding options. I just know I really love his stuff it is always so well made and comfy.

Then again, this NG pack has the first waist belt that I can actually wear w/o killing my back. It's nice and wide and padded so as not to out a lot of pressure on an old injury.

[ben_r_]

Def never happened to me. I am extremely careful and precise with all my gear and double check things like that regularly!

[steved110]

I have no trouble remembering - at least till now. If i spill my gear now, I'll blame your jinx for bringing this thing up ;)

[brecklundin]

d'oh!!! It's OK, I always get blamed for everything anyway... ;)

[Tapeman]

One of the drawbacks to backpack style camera bags is stuff falls out if you don't zip then up. I worry about my wife picking up my bag to move it without checking to see if it is zipped.

[brecklundin]

tapeman:

I have come to learn that fact. Even last night with the bag empty I simply picked it up w/o checking the zipper. I tend to get absent minded now and then these days, but have been better about the zipper issue.

I think I forget because I rarely open my other backpacks all the way when using one. I usually just unzip just enough to get at what I need. But with the camera bags you really need to open the whole flap to get at everything. So, I am needing to retrain myself to always check the zipper. I imagine there are more than a few folks with this habit we need to break.

[neilwood32]

Never happened to me - I am still (probably) overprotective of my gear (now amounting to about £2000) so before moving i check and recheck the zips/buckles/straps a few times before moving anywhere!

My family think im daft for having such an expensive hobby so i can imagine explaining why im replacing equipment cause i couldnt be bothered chacking the bag

[In2Photos]

I never zip up my bag! :shock:


























It doesn't have zippers! :cool:

[Tixeon]

I forget to zip my fly now & then. Does that count?

[brecklundin]

I never zip up my bag! :shock:
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It doesn't have zippers! :cool:

Now that is s'not nice!! :p

[brecklundin]

I forget to zip my fly now & then. Does that count?

Well, I guess for some of use it would matter and others....not so much... :oops:

[dan_1337]

i took my NG medium backpack out to the snow for the first time on the weekend. i think i lost my lens cleaning cloth. damn compartment must have been left open at some stage and it must have flown away!

[brecklundin]

dan,

well that stinks!! At least all you lost was the cleaning cloth!! It surely could have been a worse loss.

I think the straps give the illusion of it being securely closed and we just have not gotten into the habit of ensuring the zippers on the equipment section are closed. I have begun making it a policy to close the zipper immediately after I retreive whatever it was I needed. That way if I have to quickly grab the bag and go, there is nothing to worry about. Still I am also trying to double check as it only takes a second...but, geeze, a WHOLE second and maybe TWO? Outrageous!! :lol:

BTW, what do you use to waterproof your NG pack? I am using Nikwax stuff called Cotton Proof. I use Nikwax on all my Tom Bihn bags and it lasts a long time...really seems to work too. Of course the NG packs are never gonna be "..a frog's butt..." kinda water tight but any extra helps. ;)

[dan_1337]

brecklundin,

i haven't waterproofed it yet. i might have to do it soon but not really sure what to use. might go to some outdoor stores and see what stuff they have that i can spray on to repel water.

...or maybe i'll just use the rain jacket that came with the bag...

[brecklundin]

Use both the bag and a treatment. I have use the nikwax line of products for years. Very solid stuff. For the NG bags I use their Cotton Proof. but you could also use their Tent & Gear Proof.

I think I posted the link in another thread but here is their site:

http://www.nikwax.com

They have all manner of treatments from spray on to paint on to wash in and everything inbetween...do some searching and you will likely find their stuff lasts and is pretty well regarded. It's also not expensive...btw, Scotch Guard is a waste of cash as you are constantly having to re-treat.

I use Nikwax Tent & Gear on all my Tom Bihn bags and only need to treat annually. I am using the "Cotton Proof" I mentioned on the NG bag as it's canvas. I just sort of used a simple paint brush with a solution diluted as the directions tell ya to do. It sure beads water...took a couple days to fully dry though. I think I might have used a bit too much...hehe...better too much than too little. ;) But still I would always use the waterproof cover in wet weather because these bags are simply not water tight because of all the zipperless pockets...

I just like the product plus it's supposed to be pretty 'green' and non-toxic. And it also works...