I fancy myself something of a “bagger” when it comes to social discussion, online or in person, about satchels, slings, and messenger bags. My wife can attest – perhaps a bit too loudly – that I have more bags than any reasonable person should own. That might be true, but I bring it up to make one point: “I know my bags, man.”
So let’s talk bags. In this specific case, the new Rollacrit’s Con Bag of Holding, which will immediately resonate, title-wise, with anyone who has played a fantasy role-playing game in the last decade or so. For those not in the know, a “bag of holding” is a magical item that defies the understanding of space and time, and provides its possessor a limitless space to hold anything.
Truly, the only limitations are the size of the object you want to store and the opening of the item you want to store it in. You cannot, for example, put an elephant in a magical Bag of Holding that only has a five-inch diameter opening. Yes, it could hold an elephant, but good luck trying to jam the pachyderm in question into said mouth of yonder enchanted carryall.
In the real world, I’m sorry to say, magic of the most arcane lives only in books, movies, and songs. In the everyday, boring, mundane world we live in, the best we can hope for is a bag that combines utility with style. And that, my friends, is what the Con Bag of Holding provides, sans magical artifact.
The Use Cases and Capacity
So, why a bag? Other than the obvious answer, which is “I have more stuff than I can comfortably carry in my arms,” one must ask why you should invest hard currency in a soft satchel. Since the Con Bag of Holding is designed for you, dear reader, who is of the geeky persuasion, the use cases are fairly obvious.
- You have lots of games
- You have lots of game support material
- You don’t want to carry stuff and junk
Good news: The Con Bag of Holding was designed specifically for you. This bad bag boasts 22 liters of expanded holding capacity, giving you more than enough room to collect, contain, and carry more items than you should reasonably consider “safe” for an outing at your favorite convention, out and about town, or simply chilling on the back porch with your hands completely free of various goods.
Look here, dear reader: you are going to get a lot of reviews on the bag itself, but I want to focus on what we saw and appreciated most. And that is orchestration and organization.
Let’s start with the bag, from the back to the front.
The Back:
- A thick loop to use with your roller bag (of holding), slipping it onto your bag’s handle for easy co-carrying.
- A small inner pocket for quick retrieval of maps, tickets, badges, or that all-important picture of actress Marina Sirtis you want signed.
The Big Pouch:
- Four small pockets in the back
- A secure zipper bag in the front
- Three additional small pockets
The “Wingman” Pouch (i.e., the little pouch in the very front):
- Three small pockets in the back
- A reinforced eye-ring for power cables (that’s right, folks, use that secure zipper bag in the front for your travel battery!)
- Many different little loops to hold pens, pencils, and anything else you can think of
- The very front of the Con Bag of Holding can be converted to mesh straps for holding miscellaneous items, or a Velcro-backed and clear plastic-covered front to proudly display your many little patches
Sidekicks and Slings:
- One mesh bag for holding water bottles
- One mesh bag with an adjustable bottom for holding additional bottles, maps, mats, or anything else that comes in a tube-like form
- Reinforced and easy-to-manage zippers along all the sides of the bag for easy and secure access
- Crowning above it all is the adjustable, metal-reinforced sling belt with a shoulder pad
- A rubber handle for quick pull and carry
Looking Stylish; Feeling Fine
Great! You’ve kicked the tires, and everyone can agree that this is, indeed, a bag. It also holds stuff at Cons (or other places), so the title is not only accurate but also reasonably descriptive of the bag’s purpose.
But so what? As much as I would like to say I have all the time in the world (and financial freedom) to spend every waking hour surrounded by my fellow geeks at various conventions around the globe, I – like so many others – have to go to a job.
This bag will not only be the envy of those you chuck dice and sling cardboard with, but will also turn heads at your next weekly professional debriefing.
The bag is a professional black. Sleek and sexy, demanding not only everyone’s attention but a raise at the next monthly review. It feels right at home wandering the game convention floor or moving from meeting to meeting to discuss that important business topic.
The point is, the bag fits all your stuff and your lifestyle, whether personal or professional.
To learn more about the Con Bag of Holding, visit the bag’s Kickstarter page.
Final Word
The Child Geeks took this bag on the road and packed it with snacks (at least one bag of Doritos and a bag of Snickers), game controllers, games, and even a card box or two containing Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. In all cases, the bag held up. According to one Child Geek, “The bag is better than my backpack, and all my friends want to see what is inside.” Another Child Geek said, “I like this bag because it makes me feel like I really know what I am bringing, and people want to know what I have and are interested in how much I can put in my bag.” Needless to say, when the Child Geeks were asked to vote on their approval or disapproval of the bag, they all voted “HECK YEAH, WE LOVE IT” and immediately went back to their infighting on who would get ot use it next.
The Parent Geeks were also very impressed and for very different reasons. One Parent Geek said, “This is a solid bag. I used it to carry my role-playing books on a weekend, and on Monday I carried my work gear and lunch. In both cases, the bag did its job and was complimented by those who saw it.” Another Parent Geek reported, “A great bag! I think it is a bit too hardcore for my everyday use, but I would absolutely use this bag on the weekends. It holds everything, including juice boxes, string chees, and my bag of dice, and never once felt out of place or a burden.” When the votes were counted, the Parent Geeks strongly suggested this bag could hold its own.
The Gamer Geeks were very impressed, calling it an essential piece of gear right from the start. According to one enamored Gamer Geek, “This is the kind of bag you know was designed by someone who has gone to many cons, owns many games, and knows all about back pain. I used it for a few days and fell in love. I cannot wait to invest in this bad boy.” Another Gamer Geek said, “A true bag for a true gamer. But also for the professional. I used it at the office, and it did a great job on my commute and at work. Truly functional on every level.” The Gamer Geeks all gave the bag their highest regards and deepest regrets that they no longer had access to it.
As I said at the stop, I am a bagger. I know my bags. I own too many and will never – ever – believe I have enough. A bag, like the clothes you wear, represents not only the mood you are in, but also the impression you want to give. This bag is not only stylish, showing those who look at it that you know a thing or two about personal storage, but is also so deeply rooted in its utility that it feels like the sidekick you’ve always wanted.
Truly, a most impressive product, and worth your attention. Do take a closer look at this Con Bag of Holding. I can guarantee it will hold your attention (with plenty of room to spare).
Father Geek received this bag as a review copy, which he sadly had to return. Father Geek was not paid, bribed, wined, dined, or threatened in vain hopes of influencing this review. Such is the statuesque and legendary integrity of Father Geek.