Rigid board for EDC bag

B

barber oregon

Joined
Nov 19, 2000
Messages
234
Afew months ago, I received a Timbuk2 Commuter bag XL as a birthday gift. The bag here http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?sizeId=7&skusetId=29&categoryId=7

It's a great bag with enough pockets to carry most of my EDC gear to and from the office. However the shoulders of the bag are beginning to droop significantly when it isn't full (which, given the size of the bag isn't very often) and I don't have a laptop. This is especially noticeable when I use the shoulder straps.

I'm wondering if anyone can suggest some sort of lightweight, fairly rigid material that I could put into the laptop pocket of the bag -- I think that this would likely prevent or minimize the drooping. It would be great if I could also somehow attach a big a$$ piece of Velro to this "board" so that I could 'strap' addtional gear when needed; something along the lines of the Maxpedition stuff:http://maxpedition.com/product/case/0605_operator/0605_04.jpg

I was thinking of a piece of well-sanded Balsa from th local Home Depot.

Any suggestions?
 
I'll second the kydex suggestion. It'll be much much lighter than the plywood and more durable. I would worry that the plywood would splinter (especially the way I treat my timbuk2 bag) and that would be very messy.
 
if you wanted something flexible you could try a piece of one of those high density foam carry mats, or one of those 'sit mats' they sell at outdoor shops
 
I had the same sort of problem with a backpack, and I wanted more padding too, so items inside didn't poke me in the back.

I put a sturdy notepad portfolio in there, the kind that opens up to a pad on the right and a flat surface with a slot pocket on the left.

Back in the good old days, you could get this sort of thing in legal size like I did!
 
Lexan/Polycarbonate....Kydex is not rigid enough, Wood is too heavy, and warps, absorbs water....

Lexan is shatter resistant, more than adequately rigid, cuts to shape easily and if you round all the edges, works great.

I used 1/8", but you can go to 3/16" if you need more mass. I WOULD use the 1/8" in conjunction with a portfolio as Esav suggested, as this would be the best balance of mass, and weight, with practical considerations.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Wow some great ideas here! Thanks for the replies.

Esav, I used to do that Portfolio trick with my bookbag back at school too!
But the Timbu2 bag I have now was made for an Apple Powerbook (17" screen) - it'll be tough finding a portfolio that size.

Kohai999, grnamin or anyone else: where do I get a panel of Kydex or Lexan? What sort of businesses would I be looking for in the Yellow Pages?
 
Masonite. They make clipoards out of it.
 
Look for plastics suppliers in the Yellow pages, or ask local machine shops or industrial fabricators.

I second the Lexan, UHMWPE (if thats what it is) used in my Camelbak takes a set curvature opposite what I need using it. Its a pain to pull out and reverse.
 
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