Brisbane Outdoor Gear Blog

Rain rain go away...

2012-01-25T10:47:00.003+10:00

With all the torrential rain lately, I have been getting a few enquiries about how waterproof our bags are.

Well how about this for feedback?

"The bag is doing swimmingly, literally. I don't think I've ever been rained on, on my motorcycle ever before than in the last 2 months. Bag is completely, utterly dry inside after a 40 minute each way commute in torrential rain. (Think cups of water squeezed out of my gloves)"

So, plan on riding in the rain and want to keep your kit dry? Stress not, as all our Messenger Bags are definitely rain proof! Truck tarp or Billboard liners; either way they are guaranteed to keep everything dry!

The entire range of dry messenger bags can be found here!

Helen Update

2012-01-24T17:16:00.001+10:00

It has been a while since we last talked about Helen; so long in fact I am sure most of you have forgotten about her.

Ultra quick refresher:
We here at BOgear wanted to give back to the community, however being a small company didn't have any spare cash lying around. Decision? Give back with our time. Solution? Raise a Guide Dog pup. Enter stage left, Helen a beautiful black labrador. For a year we raised Helen as a Guide Dog pup, before returning her to Guide Dogs Queensland for her formal training. It didn't take long before GDQ realised that she was awesome (we already knew that!) and decided to put her on the breeding program. Which was when we got a call asking if we would like to keep looking after Helen. Obvious answer? YES!

So for the past year we have been looking after Helen! And gosh she is cute. Only now, there is something more cute than Helen...

Yup, thats right... Helen has had her first litter!

Seven of the most beautiful and cute puppies! Six boys, and one girl. Needless to say, I will be bombarding you with ultra-cute photos and videos of Helen and her litter over the coming months!

Big thank you to Guide Dogs Queensland for both their amazing care of Helen during this time and their constant contact with us here at BOgear (silly us needlessly freaking out!). This cannot be done without generous donations from the public; so go on...

Head over to the Guide Dogs Queensland page and donate to a very worthy cause!!

Let them know you are part of the BOgear Community!

Hello 2012!!

2012-01-10T16:38:00.003+10:00

Well hello 2012!! And what a big year we have planned from our end! We here at BOgear hope you all had a fantastic holiday!

For now, here is something new...

Can you tell what is unique about this bag??

How about the coloured webbing! That's right, coloured webbing is IN! Which means we are not only using it for our Strap Ons, but also for the bags...

Keep an eye out for even more unique bags!

Last Custom Bag for 2011!

2011-12-22T15:08:00.000+10:00

The last custom bag for 2011 has just left our studio. And rather than keeping it to ourselves, we decided to share... plus it looks freaking amazing!

Check it out!

Custom Royal Blue Sindrome

Safety never looked so good! Triple reflective stripe on the flap... this almost covers the entire flap, so will positively glow under lights! Impressive, plus a unique pattern to boot!

The bag is also lined with a heavy duty truck tarp, while a second shoulder strap is added to cope with heavier and bulkier loads. Oh, and like us, the new owner is a polo fiend... so we had to include three rigging straps which are perfect for strapping polo mallets to the bag!

So, last custom bag of 2011... what do you think? Our thoughts?

ACE!

Want one of the first 2012 custom bags?

Drop us a line now to reserve a spot in our build list!

January's build list is filling fast...!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T08:30:00.000+10:00

To everyone who we have come into contact with over the year...

Merry Christmas!

We here at BOgear hope you rest up well, and spend a fantastic time with those you love! Recharge those batteries, and see you in the New Year! May 2012 be a fantastic year for all!

And just because we need to talk about work:

BOgear will be closed:

23rd December - 9th January

Coloured FRS Strap Ons!

2011-12-20T07:30:00.000+10:00

I briefly mentioned previously that our coloured FRS Strap Ons were coming...

Now for a sneaky peek!

Three colours (Khaki Gold, Orange, Lime) with two more to come!!

Coloured FRS Strap Ons; available early January!

Dirtified custom Papermunky!

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000+10:00

Just received this sweet little email from a longtime BOgear customer!

"G'day Dave,

Hope all is well and your year has been a good one. Enclosed are some pics of my "Weird love child". It's been a great bag and I have used it every day since I got it. I took it to the UK last year as well so its travelled far and rides with me to work every day.

Keep up the good work!!"

Ah, thanks for the kind words Pat!

And now check the bag out... still going strong!

This is definitely a custom "Weird Love Child"!! A Papermunky shape and size, but with Sindrome features (pleated pocket an from memory, a shoulder pad). Double sided billboard liner... and it is still going strong!

Want a custom bag yourself? As usual, drop us a line!

Custom Papermunky!

2011-12-16T14:33:00.001+10:00

A sweet little custom Papermunky just left the studio. Check it out!

The customer originally wanted a screenprinted or embroidered "Q" on the front flap. However given the high expense opted for a simple stitched outline. This is not as bold as the previous options, but certainly is a heck of a lot cheaper! Despite this, the rotated "Q" still looks ace!

So if you want something custom on your bag flap, give us a yell! We have a lot of different options available to us, and are willing to work to a budget!

Oh, and those two Black Papermunkies in the background are now live and available here. Free 420D nylon liner upgrade (triple liner!), available in either red or black. Get on it!

Beer + Chunky Toad

2011-12-14T12:03:00.001+10:00

Late last week I uploaded a quick explanation of our Chunky Toad. Check it out on our YouTube Channel.

Turns out I was wrong... The bag doesn't just fit a carton of beer...

It fits TWO, plus two bags of ice!

And for those eagle eyes out there, this is the original prototype Chunky Toad, complete with billboard liner!

Coloured webbing IN!

2011-12-08T17:00:00.001+10:00

And milking yesterdays post a little more, look what arrived today...

just a small sample of what arrived...

WEBBING COLOURS!

Coloured FRS Strap Ons here we come! And being sneaky, we also got the exact same colours in binding tape. This means you now have options for your bags/backpacks too! Multiple fabric colours, binding colours, webbing colours and stitch colours. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

Woot!

FRS Strap Ons now online!

2011-12-07T20:35:00.001+10:00

The FRS Strap Ons have been in stock for about a fortnight now, but unfortunately our website didn't reflect this.

Guess what?

They are now available online and in these quality stores! So grab them while they're hot.

Black only at this stage, but we have colours on the way... Promise!

And if you don't believe us that they are easier to install and adjust, make sure you check out this video showing how to install and adjust them... it really is incredibly easy!

Got camera... will video

2011-12-06T13:05:00.001+10:00

Yup, thats right... we've got a video camera. Oooh... fancy fandangled moving pictures!

Why?

Well, video just makes it that much easier to show things coherently. Plus it is quicker to do than write a full page of instructions.

So what this means is we now have a Youtube page. And on it will soon be lots and lots of videos (give us time of course!).

First up we have a video explaining how to fit and adjust our FRS Strap Ons, as well as an explanation behind using our Bike Travel Bag.

Go... go now and check it out!

and let us know if you want any specific videos!

Woot!

2011-11-30T07:30:00.000+10:00

OOOH YEAH!

We have just hit ID#700! 700 bags down, many more to go!

Want this particular piece of BOgear history? You can grab the Grey Lovehandle from GEAR Shop Brisbane. Be quick!

Thank you for helping us!

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000+10:00

A big Thank You to all of you; Fans, Friends, Customers and Abusers!

Why?

Because you are what makes us. What I mean by this is we wouldn't have got to where we are today if it weren't for you. Our products wouldn't have been abused, purchased, and no feedback would have been given. We wouldn't have grown, and would have ceased to exist.

aww... warm fuzzy times!

Seriously,

Thank You!

As part of our way of giving back, we donate to an environmental cause, as well as a community cause.

And no, the "community cause" is not a drinking session for the local Brisbane riders (although we do donate to local events!)

As you are probably aware we do this by donating through One Percent For The Planet, as well as to Guide Dogs Queensland.

As the end of Financial Year has just rolled around (okay it happened a while ago... we are just slow!) we have done our bit through One Percent For The Planet. We chose to donate a minimum of One Percent of our turn over to the Australian Conservation Foundation.

And to segue back to the thank you... because of your support, we were able to donate! So again,

THANK YOU!

Chunky Toad: Abuser Team Feedback

2011-11-28T10:30:00.000+10:00

Another kind feedback email popped into my mailbox recently... this time from an Abuser Team member who helped work on the Chunky Toad design. The original design didn't have much clipping webbing on it (unlike the current model), but despite this Andy managed to carry a set of wheels. Check it out below

"Just thought I'd send you a photo I took of my Abuser Team Chunky Toad decked out with a spare wheelset I needed to take to work.

I thought it would prove to be a bit difficult considering there were no straps like on the finished model but I ended up just anchoring some occy straps to the handle on the top, and then across and through the wheels, and then anchored again on the hip belt.

It worked surprisingly well as I transported them a total of about 20kms without any major issues or discomfort.

Just thought you'd like to see your bags being well loved and utelised so that I didn't have to ditch the bike for that trip like I thought I was going to. :]

Take care!

Andy"

Point of the story? Get creative with your rigging! You will be surprised just how much you can rig to your pack with a little bit of thought!

DUB Feedback!

2011-11-25T08:30:00.000+10:00

I love receiving mail about bags that are out and about being used and abused. This recently dropped into my inbox!

"Hey BOcrew,

I've been meaning to getting around to sending you some feedback on the custom DUB you created for me earlier this year.

It's been going a treat and doing everything that I've needed and more. When I was looking at which bag would work for me, I was trying to sort out just how big I needed it to be for work and gym stuff so that I could get myself down to a single bag instead of multiple bags. Well the DUB is fantastic. I can get all my work stuff as well as gym gear in there and when I'm working weekends, I can fit a whole bunch of shower gear as well as food and clothes to get me through the whole time. I've attached a photo (which I apologise is a little blurry!) of what I manage to cram in on the weekends.

The tie pouch [an add on!] is also working superbly to keep my ties neat and tidy and the hidden pouch [an add on!] that I'm using for my wallet is great so that I can get to my money without having to get all the way in to the interior of the bag.

The bag is fantastic and is doing everything I need and more.

Cheers

Paul"

Thanks Paul! It is kind words like yours that keep us going through the cold winter months (okay, its not cold in winter in BNE, but this is just an expression...!) So, hows your bag going? Have you fully dirtified it yet? Drop us an email and let us know!

DOOBYBRAIN Coverage!

2011-11-24T06:50:00.000+10:00

Doobybrain just did a review of our Chunky Toad!

WOWSER!

always wanted to say that on the blog!

"Pardon the dirty appearance of this bag — I haven’t been able to stop using it since I got it over a month ago which means that it’s been on my back — on my bike — through hot, sticky NY days, chilly nights, and lots of rain (and one snowstorm too!). It’s become the backpack I wear pretty much day in and day out while I’m on my bike and there’s a lot to be said about how wonderful it is to use, wear, and look at."

Check the full review here...!

Thank you very much for the kind words Herman! You make us blush!

Another custom Sindrome!

2011-11-23T10:28:00.001+10:00

Last week was the week of custom Sindromes. This is the last of the lot to leave the studio, and gosh it looks ace!

We don't often play with multiple colours that mesh well, so when we do, we just want to share it!

Grey flap, black webbing, black bartacks

Second shoulder strap added. Removable backpadding added.

Black front panel with black webbing and opposing bartack colours! Grey tacks on black fabric, and black tacks on grey fabric. ACE!

Oh, and it is also lined with grey 420D nylon just to make it all mesh together perfectly!

Want it?

Well you cant, its GONE.

But you can have its yin/yang twin sister! Basically we have the complete opposite of this bag available! And it too looks hot! Essentially for this available bag, black fabric is now grey, and grey fabric is now black. Grey tacks are now black and black tacks are now grey. Opposite day! (remember that from school? ahh... those were the days!)

Something a little different...

2011-11-16T07:07:00.000+10:00

Definitely something a little different... It is still a bag, but sized to fit a custom object. The custom object looks like a wakeboard but is not. Cryptic much? Ssshhh...!

Custom fabric imported from the States. Military specification 1000D Multicam Cordura. Yup, genuine label Cordura! Freaking nice fabric!

Like the fabric? Let us know as we may get some more in!

Colour matched webbing and thread.

All in all, a very nice bag!

Again, sorry for being cryptic, but more info to come...!

Custom Sindrome

2011-11-15T09:34:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I talked about a pile of custom bags leaving the studio in the last two weeks. This is one of the custom Sindromes!

Nice navy blue flap with cyan bartacks. Lots of reflective panel surface area... remember... safety first!

On top of the bag is a convenient carry handle, again accentuated with cyan bartacks. This is constructed from 50mm seatbelt webbing folded around 25mm pebble weave webbing. Thick yet comfortable!

and exactly the same handle on the side of the bag!

And finally when you open the flap... BAM! Colour smacks you in the face. A truly luminescent safety yellow front pocket, which unfortunately is not done justice by this photo. It has to be seen to be believed!

Of course, the obligatory cyan bartacks are still featured, as well as an additional drink bottle pocket on the left hand side. Finally to shake things up a little, the liner is a contrasting red!

So... a custom Sindrome twigs your interest? Then order it here...!

Custom Elephantitus

2011-11-14T07:30:00.000+10:00

A big pile of custom bags have walked out of the studio over the past two weeks. The majority have been Sindromes, as well as a couple of Babycandy's. This however is one of the raddest Elephantitus's we have built yet. It simply is amazing to look at, as well as virtually bullet proof.

Check it out:

Dual red speed stripes, complete with reflective trim. Not only will these stripes be visible in day, but also at night. Fashionable-safety first people!

The bag is constructed from our near indestructible X-pac material. I know I have said it before and you are probably sick of hearing it, but this fabric is the ducks nuts. Waterproof, highly abrasion resistant, tear resistant, and sexy as hell.... (yes fabrics can be sexy)
Despite the fabric being waterproof on its own, it is lined with a 900gsm truck tarp. This is thick, heavy, and virtually indestructible. It will also provide waterproofing for a long, long time.
And for a touch of overkill, the bag is lined with a red 420D nylon. This provides a smooth internal face fabric (so things dont snag on the truck tarp) which not only makes putting things in the bag easier, but also protects the truck tarp from internal damage due to sharp objects. Want to carry a nice and sharp boulder home? Then line your pack with this!

Given the colour scheme, bartacks just had to be red! Don't they just pop nicely! Simply looks amazing in the flesh!

And because we are not good with logical progression, lets close the flap up again and check out the backside of the bag.

Removable external padding. 10mm thick. Guaranteed to stop stuff digging you in the back! Oh, and the removability means washability... a must for sweaty Brisbane weather!

And as a final touch of class, the top of the shoulder straps are red, while the undersides are black. Simply superb!

Want your own custom Elephantitus? Check out the design here, and then order by contacting us here!

FRS Strap Ons!

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000+10:00

The FRS Strap Ons are back!

Different materials, updated design, but most importantly... 100% AUSSIE MADE!

more details below...

Okay, most of the changes to the design are inspired by a need for easier adjustment, a want for 100% Australian made, and a desire for a longer lasting product. Although our previous version was shit hot (yes we are biassed!) we knew there could be something better, which would easily address all these concerns.

This is it.

So what are the changes, and why did we do them?

WARNING: TECH GEEK OUT AHEAD

1. Materials

First thing you are going to notice with the design is the change of materials. Previously we used a highly abrasion resistant TPU material. Now we are using (like our original pre-production prototypes) 25mm webbing. Why the change?

Well TPU is highly abrasion resistant, but unfortunately isn't very cut resistant. We found in a lot of instances that people wanted to use the straps on metal pedals. Unfortunately these metal pedals created a very sharp edge which over time can cause a cutting action on the TPU material; occasionally breaking them at a critical point. Thus we needed to find a more cut resistant material.

In addition to this, most of the wear to the TPU version always seemed to happen where the strap meets the pedal.

damage occurs here...

Despite TPU being highly abrasion resistant, abrasion did occur in this spot. Why? Essentially there is a small surface area of TPU which is sandwiched between the pedal chassis (very technical term) and something abrasive such as the ground. Because this surface area was quite small, there was a point load which wore through the TPU material in no time (in layman's terms this means all the weight of your bike is put through this one point, causing more wear more quickly). And to compound on this, the cutting action was happening at the same time as the abrasion action. So despite our best efforts to source abrasion resistant material, the straps still had the potential to be abraded away.

Because of these two key elements; cut resistance and potentially no need for abrasion resistance, we decide to go back to a webbing material. Webbing is more cut resistant than TPU, but also less abrasion resistant. And as we saw from the previous example however, abrasion resistance is not as important as first thought. Also although webbing is technically not cut resistant, it is much more resistant than TPU. And so we come to our solution.

2. Easier adjustment

The second major change to the system is the adjustment. Feedback received showed how much you loved the secure feeling of the system, but absolutely hated adjusting it. It almost required a degree to adjust; yes you do get quicker adjusting over time, but it still sucks having to adjust.

This adjustment complexity meant there was a bigger surface area of velcro, which in turn increased hold and foot security. A fine balance given how much one feature was loved and the other loathed. And so we had a conundrum... how do we make it similar, yet easier to adjust, while also as secure?

And this is our solution!

The front attachment method remained the same, while the rear attachment method was changed from a dual crab claw to a single sided crab claw. We also removed the 50mm protective flap, meaning that all you have to adjust now is the 25mm webbing.

We will be doing a quick video shortly showing how to adjust, but in the meantime a verbal explanation will have to suffice:

1. Wrap the bottom crab claw piece over the top of your foot.

2. Wrap the tongue over the first piece

3. Close up the crab claw.

And thats it.

Much easier to adjust!

Yet still strap system still has the same amount of grip and security!

You will also notice that the ends of the adjustable straps have "tongues" of velcro. These can be cut off should you have a smaller foot or run a tighter strap set up.

3. 100% Australian Made

This is a big one for us. We are proud to manufacture in Australia, yet in the early days could only keep up with demand by outsourcing the manufacture of our straps. For a little bit of historical musing, check out our C-Word Post. Since this point we have continually reinvested in our machines and production capabilities. For example we now have our automated webbing cutter, as well as our bartacker. Essentially this has helped us speed up the manufacturing process, essentially meaning we can now keep up with demand while also manufacturing in Australia! big BIG woot! WOOT!

So now we have finished our geek out, so lets check it out further and from more angles...

Still stiff, still secure, but now more easier to adjust, more cut resistant and 100% AUSTRALIAN MADE!

Not on our website just yet, but they are available NOW! Email us if you are keen, otherwise keep your eyes peeled here when they go live on our site next week!

Lovehandle: bigger than you think...

2011-11-10T08:30:00.000+10:00

The Lovehandle is a pretty useful sized pouch. It is small when not in use, yet expands out when needed. It fits your keys, wallet, phone, and D-lock, or as Johnson found out it can also fit your whole life.

Johnson has a standard Lovehandle made from 100% reclaimed offcuts. It looks a treat, and is one of a limited few to look like this! Want your own? Get your own Lovehandle here!

Freemantle: Tweed Run!

2011-11-09T18:15:00.003+10:00

Head along and dress up in style for the Fremantle Tweed Run! Wish we could go... :(

Small Backpack

2011-10-26T16:59:00.001+10:00

Last week we were busy pumping out some Chunky Toads... this week we are working on its smaller sister.

Thats right, a small backpack is coming. We've been promising it for ages, but it is actually finally happening. Do you know the saying "pics, or it didn't happen"? Well here is a pic...

Chunky Toad in black; its smaller sister in blue.

More sneaky peeks coming soon...!

Dirtify?

2011-10-24T18:22:00.003+10:00

Recently I've had a couple of people ask what we mean by the word "dirtify" or any of its other forms such as dirtification, or dirtifying.

This is what we mean...!

Dirtify (v)…
Dirtify is the long process that occurs when you use a piece of gear regularly. It results in gear that is so full of sweat, dirt, love and experiences that it stands up on its own; but maybe that’s just because of the dirt. It becomes so powerful that it is almost as if the piece of dirtified gear becomes you, and you become the gear.

Once a piece of gear becomes dirtified it protects you through a magic aura or maybe that’s just the stench. It is never possible to over dirtify a piece of gear. Duct tape and random stitching made from dental floss only add to its dirtified nature.

Be warned though, a fully dirtified piece of gear should never be washed for fear of losing all the special qualities that make it so.

Needless to say, we encourage you to dirtify our gear.

Go get dirtifying!!

Busy much?

2011-10-20T17:59:00.001+10:00

Busy much?

8 Chunky Toads
3 BIG Backpacks (not shown)
1 Elephantitus (not shown)
2 Sindromes (not shown)
2 DUBs
3 Papermunkys
1 Babycandy
and a partridge in a pear tree...

It has definitely been a busy week. Feels good to get a lot out though! Someone please buy us a beer..!

Oh, and I am unsure why, but Forest Green seems to be a very popular colour lately!

Paging all Manventurer's

2011-10-19T11:20:00.000+10:00

If you have been following our Facebook page, you might have noticed a recent post by one of our fans, Mr Basiljet. And that post is very giggle worthy... yes, I giggle sometimes.

First we were Rootbeer Approved, now we have the BAM seal of approval! Rock on Strap Ons!

Here is a little excerpt:

" I’ve been using Strap Ons for a year or so, and they’re the real shit. Good for you and your gonads, they’ll keep you secure, like maxi-wings. This is how the tv ad goes..."

Want to read the rest of the "TV ad"? Check it all out here!

Talladega Nights!

2011-09-30T12:24:00.001+10:00

Almost forgot about this! Why do we always forget to post info about events until the last minute...?

This Saturday. Gold Coast.

visit PURSUIT bikes for more

And our donation??

the bag, not the machine.

Playing with Sand

2011-09-29T13:45:00.001+10:00

So we were too busy playing with sand yesterday to write a blog post. Which is kind of ironic when you think about it, seeing as the blog post was meant to be all about what we were doing...!

So what are we talking about?

How about this:

3 tonnes of sand (yes that photo only shows a small amount...!). We are talking about sand, and using it in a product which we small batch manufacture.

And we are also talking about sealing up the sand so it ends up looking like this....

And we are also talking about finishing the product so it looks like this.

Kind of cute and simple isn't it?

NO! Not really!

Its definitely not cute if you are the one using it. Why? Because they are sandbags for the fitness industry. Specifically for Bootcamps Australia. Each are 8kg of pain. Lots and lots of pain. Trust me. You will be using these bags in ways you didn't think was possible; raising them above your head, jogging with them, lifting multiple bags, passing them... so on and so forth.

As for simple? Not if you are the one manufacturing it...! Why? Because it has sand in it! Sand, the thing that gives it the 8kg weight, is also the thing that leaks out over time, or even while manufacturing. Sand and machine oil do not mix well, and instead creates a grind paste which can quickly destroy our expensive machines. So what do we do?

Firstly we have two problems. Priority #1 is leaking of sand both during and after manufacture; while #2 is having to physically bring sand into the studio and on to our machines.

Fitness orientated sandbags have mostly been a DIY product, and as such the intertubes are ripe with "How To's" regarding making a sandbag.
One suggestion is to put the sand directly into a duffel bag, and not bother about it leaking. However, this is not a good idea as sand leaks through the zip and pours all over your sweaty body. Exfoliation anyone?
A second idea revolves around double bagging the sand in plastic bags before taping them up. From a small batch manufacturing perspective, this is ultra time consuming. And as time is money, the end result is an exorbitantly costly product. Besides, plastic bags don't stretch, so if you accidentally drop the sandbag (and it will accidentally happen when you are exhausted!) the plastic will tear, resulting in a leaky sandbag.

Next thing we discovered was this ultra advanced product called a flood sandbag, used to protect properties from flood damage. Ultrahigh tech.... not really... All this is, is a simple "pillowcase" style bag constructed from a geotextile. This geotextile is kind of like felt (for the fabric-tech-nerds, it is a 2mm needle punched polypropylene manufactured in Australia). Not only does it allow water to flow through (this is important as Bootcamps Australia use this product rain, hail, or shine!) but more importantly is impermeable to sand.

After grabbing our hands on these, we quickly knew the solution. Inner bag the sand in the geotextile and then stitch it into the outer bag for added protection. Problem now being how do you seal the sand in the inner bag? We simply did not want to get sand in our studio and all over our machines!

First we tried partially plastic bagging it, but this didn't work. Next step was to try sewing it on the cylinder arm machine (this has the feed bed on a cylinder above the normal horizontal/flat sewing surface.) The idea behind this was the sandbag would be held at roughly a 45 degree angle, thus reducing the likelihood of sand spillage. Again this did not work. There was simply too much sand all over the machines.

So we had to seal the sandbags outside. There simply was no other option. How about staples? Nope, they had difficulty penetrating the geotextile. What about sticky tape? Nope, sticky tape doesn't adhere well to polypropylene (and it splits when dropped rather like the double plastic bagging technique). Then finally we found our solution. How about we sew the sandbags outside??! After all, sewing is our specialty! This has been done for years with animal feed, namely through an aptly called "bag closing machine".

Enter stage left, our new toy...

A bag closing machine! What sets this machine apart from all the others are three things:

It is portable. You can take it anywhere. Sewing outside is now possible
It is a chain stitch. Not an important feature, but it does mean we don't have to worry about bobbins/base threads.
It sews on a vertical surface. This means we can sew the sandbags while they sit there. No need to tip the bags onto their sides!

Close up of the vertical sewing surface.

Bingo. Problem solved! Fill the bags outside using the geotextile pillowcase. Sew the sandy bags outside using a bag closing machine. Place the inner bags into the outer bag while still outside... and only now do we bring the bag into the studio for final stitch and closure. Yes, we still bring sand into the studio, but this time it is fully sealed and double bagged!

So both our problems are solved. The bags will not leak and there is no damaging sand destroying our machines!! Win!

So as you can see this particular small batch manufacture job helped us expand our skill set, kept us on our toes, allowed us (made us!) purchase a new machine, and encouraged us to try new materials. Small batch manufacture for us is keeping us pumping!!

Oh, and for the fabric tech nerds, here are the specs on this bag:

2mm Geotextile inner (manufactured in Australia!)

J-folded and chain stitched to limit leaking

1000D Airtextured Nylon outer (highly abrasion resistant)

25mm tubular webbing (2.5 tonne breaking strain!) bar tacked into a loop

Box-X tacks at handles (reduces likelihood of tubular webbing tearing away from the bag outer)

Coats Dabond M40 Thread (very strong bonded nylon thread)

25mm polyester binding tape.

Small Batch Manufacturing!

2011-09-27T10:44:00.000+10:00

As we mentioned in our "Dusting the Cobwebs" post, we have:

"bought new toys and materials, played with sand (more on that later!), and opened up our doors for small batch manufacture work."

Today and tomorrow we explore a little about this small batch manufacture, coupled with sand and new toys!

But firstly, what are we talking about when we say "small batch manufacture" work? Simply, this means we are now doing manufacture work for other businesses. This may mean working on already established designs (known as Contract Manufacturing), or coming up with a unique design for other businesses and subsequently manufacturing it (known as Original Design Manufacturer). We also have tweaked designs for other businesses, making them suitable for our manufacturing processes, and materials.

So why are we doing this?

We are doing this for a couple of reasons, each as beneficial to us as the other. And again we use bullet points to make this look important!

Since growing, we have acquired a lot of new and specialised machinery. Not all of our products use this machinery, and so it occasionally sits there all forlorn and alone. And no one likes sad machinery. So we have decided to give it a smile, and put it to good use!
Having other products flow through our studio increases morale. It sounds stupid, but it does improve morale! Having continually the same products being manufactured really is boring. It is repetitive and mind numbing work; thus having different designs flow through shakes things up a bit. It also means being able to switch work stations, as well as body positioning and stance.
It helps keep our studio running through lean months. And this is actually a fairly important point as there is a distinctive sales cycle with our regular product. We have lean months, and crazy busy months. Having extra work helps as it allows us to keep pumping out at a greater capacity during these otherwise quiet months.
It will enable us to employ more staff. While this hasn't happened yet, it is on the cards. Having extra staff also increases morale. There are more interesting people to chat to; and as well having extra staff means you can swap roles and work stations should boredom strike!
And finally it has enabled us to try different manufacturing techniques and skills which we otherwise do not use in our regular BOgear lineup. This in turn has encouraged us to keep learning and growing, while also trying these techniques in our lineup!

While manufacturing in Australia is quite expensive when compared to other manufacturing hubs, the benefits of using BOgear for other businesses are quite vast. These include:

Being able to have achievable and affordable minimum order quantities. This helps with the demand for product now, while also being able to plan for future larger orders overseas should the need arise.
Being able to manufacture on demand (having little to no product sitting around helps keeps costs low - which is a form of lean manufacturing). This also helps should there suddenly be an unexpected spurt in demand. Normally there would be a massive lead time which includes shipping via sea... not so when it is manufactured locally!
Being able to quickly adjust a design should the need arise. Nothing sucks more than having a design flaw and a lot of excess stock sitting around with this flaw. Suddenly you are unable to sell the product, or have to sell it at a loss.
Being able to watch the manufacture of product without spending a fortune traveling to far fetched places. Heck you can even come in and have a beer/coffee/water with the folk who manufacture your designs!
Being able to take a design concept through to prototype and beyond into production at a rapid scale
Confidence in knowing that the design will not be copied/ripped off/stolen (insert whatever word you personally feel describes losing a design to an unscrupulous manufacturing plant... and yes, sadly it happens)

So as you can see, small batch manufacture in Australia through BOgear is really a win/win for both parties involved!

Now what instigated our desire to open our doors to small batch manufacture? Simply, Crank It Fitness! We have talked about Crank It Fitness before, but I will mention it again.

It is a series of webbing straps which enable you to use your body weight for increasingly difficult exercises. In the words of Owen, director of Crank It:

"The CrankIt Straps are a new, functional fitness training tool that allow you to utilise your body weight as resistance and perform over 350 exercises that build strength, stability, endurance and flexibility and can also enhance your cardiovascular fitness. With this portable fitness tool, you can train anywhere, anytime. Now there is nothing holding your back from keeping in fantastic shape, no matter where your journey takes you!"

This product has allowed us to buy a dedicated Bar Tacker. This is a machine which we have been eying off for a long time, but were unable to justify on our BOgear product alone. It has also allowed us to purchase other equipment, plan the purchase of future equipment, as well as develop new techniques in our lean manufacturing arsenal!

As you can see, opening our doors to small batch manufacture has been a big step in our growth. We are thankful for the businesses choosing us, and will continue to manufacture like this for time to come!

Oh, and in the next post I promise to talk about another small batch manufactured product, as well as sand, and new toys!!

Fabric restock

2011-09-26T09:00:00.000+10:00

We just received 7 rolls of fabric to restock our dwindling supplies...

Lots and lots of meterage there... and weight too. Gosh each roll weighs a lot. Thats my work out done for the day!

Included in the restock is black, usa woodlands, grey ballistic, forest green and red! The red fabric is a 420D nylon, so now as an upgrade we can triple line your bags with THREE colours! Black, Grey, or RED!

What is a triple liner? The upgrade triple liner consists of three layers of fabric; 1000D nylon outer, billboard/truck tarp middle, and a 420D nylon liner. This extra liner layer not only increases durability (it stops stuff digging into and puncturing the waterproof middle layer) but also reduces the likelihood of things "gripping". For example the billboard liner when lightly damp (not even wet, but damp from humidity) can grip onto smooth objects making it hard to remove... not any more!

*sigh* Three liner colours now... we're in heaven!

The bike bag is almost here!!

2011-09-23T15:05:00.000+10:00

We have been talking about and working on these for a while, and have finally come up with the completed form. Whatchatalkingbout...? Bike bags! A foldable, compressible, soft yet moderately padded bike bag!

These bags are just the beginning as we will be working on a couple of other related items. These include removable inserts to make the bag an almost-but-not-quite hard case (more protection!), as well as packing aides to use dead-space within the bag (more protection and padding, while also meaning you could effectively travel with just a carry-on and a bike bag). Simple foldable wheel bag sleeves are also in the works for all you travel junkies.

So... here is the first piece in the puzzle:

We have used folding bike bags before, and really liked them however found some major flaws and room for improvement. This is our solution!

Padding used throughout the entire bag is a 6mm Geofabric. For the fabric-technerds, this is a needle punched polypropylene material manufactured in Australia. It is commonly used in the outdoors for draining and landscaping. It is highly puncture resistant, and can be found in beach rock walls (these boulders have a tough time poking through... so too will your bike!)

Non-removable padding is located around the wheel axle, as well as on the base of the bag (which protects your top tube and headset.)

Offset wheels to reduce bulk. This also means you can pack your clothes into the bike bag for extra padding (put it in a bag so they don't get dirty... or grab one of our "packing aides" which we are working on!)

The entire zip is covered with a protective flap. When the Baggage Gorillas drag your bag across the tarmac, the zip doesn't abrade away (yes, it happens). This also protects the flap from unwanted dirt and gunk which can jam up the zip, reducing its lifespan.

Haul handles are on both flat surfaces of the bag. This means it doesn't matter which way is facing up, you can always pick it up. The two shoulder straps are located "grocery bag" style, on the sides of the bag. This means when carrying, the weight of the bike is supported and the bag itself does not sag. In addition, you can pull the weight of the bike closer to your body to reduce that "top heavy" feeling of an incorrectly balanced load. Essentially what I am bumbling to say is the bag does not sag while carrying, or push itself away from your body!

The main bag itself is completely foldable (origami anyone?) and fits neatly within this outer bag (roughly A4 sized). This "carry bag" is hard wearing and features clipping webbing so you can strap it to your regular backpack when you get to your final destination and want to ride away.

This pack case also doubles as a clothes packing container during transport! You would be surprised at how much it can fit inside!

Construction details:

Constructed from Grey 1000D Ballistic Polyester. This is a high class material which looks just a little sharper than our regular Airtextured Nylon. This aesthetics means it is well suited for travel bags, and is still a highly abrasion resistant material.
Padding is 6mm Geofabric manufactured in Australia
Webbing is a combination of 25mm and 50mm
Zipping is #10 Delrin (a large plastic zip!). It is very strong and built to last.
All seams are bound for both protection and strength, as well as minimum double stitched.
100% made in Australia!!

The first batch are hot off the machines and are available for pre-order now! These will undergo a final inspection before being shipped late next week. They are $180 with free shipping Australia wide for the first batch. Contact us here!

Our studio at the moment

2011-09-22T11:03:00.000+10:00

6 photos showing the mayhem of our studio at the moment.

Sandbags everywhere, multiple projects at once, backpacks piled in boxes, bike bags overflowing tables, massive rolls of geofabric and webbing piled at the door.

Utter mayhem!

Perth: High Rollers Poker Cat

2011-09-21T11:00:00.000+10:00

SHEEET! I nearly forgot about this...

ITS THIS FREAKING WEEKEND!

hype much?

The organisers are touting this as the biggest event Perth has seen in a long time! So make sure you head out to participate!

And to whet your appetite, the organisers have even put together a little video showcasing sponsors and some checkpoints.

poker cat preview from DHARDY on Vimeo.

Rootbeer Approved Patches

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000+10:00

I mentioned yesterday that we have just received a big batch of Rootbeer Approved patches. Is this next level Approval, or what? Sew 'em on your bag, your shirt, your pants... anything fabric-y and flexible! Definitely built to last!

These are made in Australia, and have adhesive backing should you prefer to iron on rather than sew the patch on!

Interested in one? They are $4 each (either by picking up or by adding one to an order), or $5 posted Australia wide. Contact us here if you are keen to start Rootbeer Approving!

Oh, and for those who are interested in knowing the back story to Rootbeer Approved, check out the FixieGC blog for more info.

Quiet blog = Busy studio

2011-09-20T18:20:00.000+10:00

*pulls out the duster and dusts the cobwebs from the blog*

Wow! Has it really been that long since our last post? We haven't meant to neglect this blog, but somehow it always manages to be the last thing on our list when times get busy... And boy has the last month been busy.

Lets see, we've increased our batch sizes, bought new toys and materials, played with sand (more on that later!), opened up our doors for small batch manufacture work, taken on more design work, visited New Zealand to play polo and share the love for BO and came back incredibly sick. Not that any of this probably really interests you! So what can keep your interest up??

How about this:

(and I put these in bullet points, as bullet points always make things more official)

We've stepped out of the DARK ages, and signed up to Facebook. Check out our Facebook page here! And make sure you friend us, or like us, or whatever it is you have to do to make us popular (we like having friends!)

We've built up a small stockpile of Chunky Toads (order a Chunky Toad here, they are moving fast!), and are working on a production ready BIG backpack.

We're drawing up and about to commission a new updated and fandangled (yes that is a word!) website.

We're just about to finish a small batch of Bike Bags (New Product Alert!) and will be making it available for pre-order very soon... as in Thursday!

And due to popular demand, have stepped up our act in the Rootbeer Approved campaign, and created a big pile of official Rootbeer Approved patches!

We've almost completely sold out of our FRS Strap Ons, and are about to begin manufacturing these in house again! So keep your eyes peeled for the latest Strap Ons update (Updated Product Alert!) These should be online and hitting the shelves in a months time.

So, how about it? Have we been busy or WHAT?!

Pedal to Hell

2011-07-26T12:37:00.000+10:00

Will you be in The States on August 13th? Particularly in Augusta, Georgia? Well get your butt down to Pedal To Hell. An event which aims to raise funds for the Golden Harvest Food Bank... A good cause... we're supporting it, so head on down for your chance to win some BOgear kit!

Bags flowing out of our ears...

2011-07-25T15:00:00.000+10:00

50 partially completed DUBs... Gosh it is a heavy pile!

New Tags

2011-07-22T10:28:00.000+10:00

We recently received some new "Made In Australia" tags. We are justifiably proud of these puppies... ahh... a tag made in Oz, reflecting that we also make in Oz! Confuzzledmuch?

Warning: Sewing Geekout
And for the stitch geeks among us, these are printed on ribbon, loop folded, and have been cut using our new webbing cutter. ID numbers are still individually hand stamped on the back, only this time there will be no bleed onto the printed surface.

BNE: Bridges of Brisbane

2011-07-22T09:20:00.000+10:00

TONIGHT!

Brisbane, TONIGHT... A fun little event, which is perfect for out of towners. Heck, you can't misplace a bridge right? See you there!

Featured on Core77 Gift Guide!

2011-07-21T11:11:00.017+10:00

Recently we were featured on Core77's Ultimate Summer Gift Guide 2011! Core77 is a leading Industrial Design website, so as IDers ourselves... we're stoked!

This particular entry was put together by Geekhouse Bikes (thanks guys!), check out what they have to say:

"My backpack is my mobile office. Riding around town, meeting people, coming home late and working more on my laptop. It's worth investing in a solid bag with compartments for everything you might possibly carry—such as Brisbane Outdoor Gear's offering, available in two sizes, with a third to come."

Aww... Shucks!

singlespeedgoldcoast.com review!

2011-07-21T09:00:00.000+10:00

Single Speed Gold Coast have been looking after my own personal Chunky Toad for the past month and are currently in Malaysia giving the bag a good thrashing. They also were kind enough to throw up a few words regarding their initial impression of the pack pre-trip.

Check out their review here.

Thanks for the words James, and stay safe in Malaysia! I hope you found the secret pocket... it literally is perfect for passport and extra cash!

Bosky Brisbane Bike Hire

2011-07-20T16:29:00.000+10:00

Last Sunday was Pushies Galore, a Swap Meet for avid cycleheads. BOgear was lucky enough to secure a stall which enabled us to meet and talk to the BNE cycling community. This event was absolutely fantastic, and we simply cannot wait for the next one!

One such member of the BNE cycling community was Trent, who has just started up Bosky Bikes. Bosky Bikes is a bike hire scheme with a flair. Given that CityCycle bike hire is almost everywhere, it sounds weird to discover yet another bike hire scheme. However Bosky Bikes really is different. They are small, independent, yet most importantly encourage the investigation of "local gems" such as hidden coffee shops, retail areas, unique parks, and so forth.

Bikes (ultra cute Schwinn Cream 3) not only come with helmets (a big plus!), locks, lights and free delivery to certain locations, they also come with a "Community Card". This card entitles you to discounts and perks, particularly at the local gems mentioned previously. In this way, not only do you get a means of transport, but also a couple of suggested destinations... things off the beaten track, places that only the locals go to.

Bosky Bikes truly is different, and I wish them well with their venture!

Accessories page updated

2011-07-20T10:19:00.000+10:00

We've gone and updated our Accessories page... about time!

Want an accessory? You no longer have to email us to order. Juicy Paypal goodness is now integrated with all our products (in other words, everything is now available online!!) Go, go, go...!

Chunky Toad feedback

2011-07-20T09:00:00.000+10:00

Just before we closed BOgear, local Brisbane rider Aaron picked up one of our last Chunky Toads. Yes, we are low on Chunky Toad stock at the moment, but will be replenishing this very shortly. He has had the bag for about a month now, and wrote in to say just how much he loves it...

"I rode about 25kms last night with this frame in the Toad.

Brilliant bag Brah! Brilliant!!"

Check out what the heck he is talking about...

Oh, and Aaron's bag is lit up like a Christmas tree thanks to two of our Flappers! Definitely visible on the street!

Thanks heaps for the photos and kind words Aaron!

Back on board!

2011-07-19T17:54:00.000+10:00

BOgear is back up and running again... full steam ahead and all that.

Felisa, our lead machinist is back from a six week holiday to Spain, while I am back from a two week road trip. Needless to say we are both energised, and have spent the last week pumping out bags. Our website doesn't reflect this increase of bags, but check out what we have been up to:

30 bags of mixed sizes waiting for liners.

Interested in your own? Drop us a line as these bags need only a fraction of time to complete! No need to wait for custom work! Woot Woot!

BOgear Closed

2011-06-24T16:03:00.000+10:00

Brisbane Outdoor Gear will be closed from Monday 27th June to Friday 8th of July. We will be reopening on Monday the 11th of July.

During this time we will have limited access to email, so will be unable to reply until Monday 11th of July. All pre-built orders will be posted on the Monday.

Thank you for the understanding, and ride safe!

Stitch Colour: "just for details" vs. "for everything"

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000+10:00

"Dear BOgear,

On your "build a custom bag" pages you have an option for stitch colour. What does "just for details" mean? "For everything" makes sense, but what exactly are "just the details"?

Thank you!

Mr Enquiring mind."

Dear Mr Enquiring Mind,

Thanks for your interest in our gear!

Just the details gives us a chance to be a little creative, and come up with something that looks good. Rather than every stitch being coloured, we can pick and choose. The result? A bag that has a little pizzaz!

Here is an example:

Most of the visible stitches are black; except the two bartacks on the front blinky light strips! It just makes it pop!

And under the flap the black stitch is used throughout. But there are also some accentuated details such as mini-tacks in white!

You know what they say about attention being in the details? Well "just for details" allow us to decide what those details are.

Thanks again for your interest!

Cheers,

the BOcrew!

Let us build you a bag with attention to the details!

Sindrome: Customer Review!

2011-06-23T11:46:00.000+10:00

Sean, a customer of ours recently posted online and sent us in a glowing review of our Sindrome messenger bag. In his words...

"I wrote the review because when I was considering the Sindrome it was exactly the kind of information that would have made choosing a bag a lot easier. I ended up finding an actual bag and trying it on but I realise not everyone can do that."

Well thank you Sean! Sharing this makes us all glowy-and-warm inside!

So, lets check out what Sean thinks of the Sindrome!

BOgear Sindrome

Item: BOgear Sindrome (Upgraded to a triple layer)
How long used: 4 months, used everyday since I purchased it bar 4 or 5.
Where used: Commuting in Melbourne, Everyday bag for everything, Travelling interstate (with and without bike).
What similar products have you used: Mambo and Crumpler Barney Rustle.

I decided to buy this bag when I found the smallish size of my Crumpler was limiting me from riding places because I couldn’t bring all the stuff I wanted with me. It was a purchase well made and having a larger bag with cycling specific features meant I didn’t have to think twice before riding somewhere and whether I could take all the stuff I needed and still ride comfortably. Dave was very easy to deal with, I contacted him by PMing him on the forum (fixed.org.au) and we discussed purchasing the bag and what I wanted from there. I ended up going for the triple layer construction which features an extra nylon layer on the inside, the bag looks and feels robust and I don’t worry about stuff marking or scratching the interior. I also added a neat little (mostly) waterproof camera bag to the front that I got from Aldi for $10, gives me easy access to my phone/pen paper when I’m riding and don’t have any available pockets or a place for them when it’s raining. I haven’t had anything get wet inside the bag and I’ve ridden through some nasty downpours with it, though make sure to pull the flap all the way over when the bag is quite full.

The bag copes with almost everything I throw in/at it, the main pocket swallows a large amount of stuff and when I started putting a bit more into it I found it kind of swelled and surprised me with it’s capacity. The two side pockets within the main pocket allow for easy access (particularly while riding) and are great for carrying shoes/lunch or something you want kept separate from the main contents. The front pocket has probably been the most useful and takes almost all my year 12 exercise and textbooks, it’s the pocket I use the most considering this bags primary function is commuting to and from school. The third arm strap when adjusted properly in conjunction with the main strap stops the majority of movement from the bag when riding/dashing to your bike/bending down to do your shoes up. The Velcro tipped ends on the flap clips and the third arm strap are handy and help them be kept out of the way, they are tucked away at the bottom of the bag in this photo.

The stuff I always carry in the bag is

-Pump -Spare Tube

-Lights -Waterproof Jacket/Warmer layer

-Buff -Map

-15mm -Multitool

-D lock

I ride around with just this stuff in it all the time and the bag stays comfortable, you don’t have to fill it to make it work for you, the compression straps keep the bag ‘hugged’ to your body when adjusted. I've (just) carried 4 days worth of clothes plus my race tool kit and cycling kit in it before.

Pro’s:

-Comfy whether full or empty.

-D-lock sleeve means I can get lock out with out (re)moving the bag. It’s super deep so I often hide stuff down the very back as well.

-Chest clip is great for not lifting the bag over my head when heavily loaded/getting the bag off super quickly.

-Tuff

Con’s:

-Odd shaped objects like Tupperware containers can be painful on the back, as with most messenger bags make sure to think about the positioning of stuff when packing.

-When the bag is loaded with lots of heavy stuff eg bottles and all my school books/clothes it’s a bit much for one shoulder. (Which is why I’m getting a second shoulder strap put on)

-not sure about it’s potential for carrying wheels/frames/large boxes. I’m picking up a wheelset tomorrow night so we’ll see.

FixieGC 2nd Birthday: Sneaky Peek #2

2011-06-23T10:15:00.003+10:00

FixieGC's 2nd Birthday is coming up...

Sneaky Peek #2

Check here for (not much) more details.

more sneaky peekies coming very soon...

Custom Chunky Toad!

2011-06-22T13:05:00.000+10:00

I briefly mentioned last week that we had a pile of custom Chunky Toads leaving the studio... This is one of them.

Ultra customised! So much work has gone into this bag, but lets start with the obvious things. Firstly, the exterior is the same Orange X-pac material as used in the TIGER! (It's officially waterproof!) But, take a peek at the inside...

PINK!

Bright enough for you? Eyeballs recovered yet? Photos really don't do it justice, but this pink is practically luminescent... it sears your eyes!

Peeking a little closer at the pink liner, you will notice a pocket inside the flap lid. Neat!

Taking a look at the outside again, and you instantly notice that the flap is shorter than usual. You also quickly notice two drink bottle pockets on either side of the pack

The drink bottle pockets are a nice little addition, particularly as this bag is going to be used as a climbing and scrambling pack. Definitely need water on those trips!

While observing the drink bottle pocket, you may even notice the D-lock pocket is slightly different. Why? Well you don't need a D-lock when climbing! So, it has been removed and replaced with a dual side access pocket. Perfect for your "oh-shit" kit (aka. your first aid kit!).

Enjoy it Feeney!

Chunky Toad. Yup, we can do 'em custom!

Chunky Toad: Customer Review!

2011-06-21T16:46:00.000+10:00

Just received another glowing customer review of the Chunky Toad!

The love is simply flowing in!

"I love the shit out of this bag. It's exactly the right size for carrying everything you could ever want to carry on a bike. I've loaded it full of 20kg of veges, hauled 18 1L Fowlers Vacola Jars in it, carried bike frames around, taken it on countless weekend-away-type adventures, and even blew a tube once when I managed to fit a full slab of Cooper's Pale in it (bag was totally fine and quite comfortable, tubes were weak). Love the ability to load it full of gear and then easily slide a laptop or books in as an afterthought. I very rarely leave the house without it as I inevitably end up having to drag something cumbersome around with me on the bike. I am continually annoying the shit out of everyone by telling them how awesome it is. So yeah. Love it.

Cheers, R. "

Thanks for the positive feedback R!

Stoked that you guys are loving our gear! Feel like sharing the love? Send us photos and text... we love to share!

Chunky Toad: Look for the Hills!

2011-06-21T15:52:00.000+10:00

Remember this?

And how with a little bit of magic it turned into... this?

Well its back!

Only this time in Chunky Toad form:

The print is strictly limited to 10 bags; 6 of which are Papermunkies, while the remaining 4 are being turned into Chunky Toads.

We have two Red "Look For The Hills" Chunky Toads, and one Green.

These puppies are strictly limited, so get in quick!

Chunky Toad: Customer review

2011-06-20T10:52:00.000+10:00

Just received a customer review, courtesy of Erin! Erin is a local BNE rider, who has recently moved to London. She has been looking for a backpack for a while, and decided on the Chunky Toad...

Check out what she thinks!

"Absolutely, utterly, slavishly dedicated to the Chunky Toad! Dave, it's perfect perfect, perfect. I'm on my way to polo, completely overpacked for the occasion (why I am carrying a laptop, couldn't tell you). But, just thought I'd quickly say that it's brilliant, and completely different to carrying a courier bag. Just thought I'd quickly say that it's brilliant, totally comfortable, and magically takes all the weight off my shoulders and back. It was packed, totally full, and felt like nothing at all. Chapeau!!! Dorky pictures attached. A million thanks!"

"It's a really good size across the shoulders too, fits perfect for girls shoulders. Just noticed the extra velcro on the waist straps. That's quite cool! The padding is obviously awesome too.. not a feature of most bags in the price range (meaning yours is up there with the £200+ range, but in terms of price is only half that). Mission workshop are doing waist strap padding, but the t-level ones (about £100 ) aren't.

The bag caused quite the stir at polo... I'll stop gushing now, but again, thank you heaps.

Cheers, Erin"

Thank you for the review and the photos Erin! Keep rocking at polo and ride safe! BNE crew will miss you!

Want your own? Get the Chunky Toad here.

FixieGC 2nd Birthday: Sneak Peek!

2011-06-20T10:25:00.000+10:00

FixieGC's 2nd Birthday is coming up... we've posted about it before here. And we mentioned we were working on a little something something...

Here is the first sneak peek:

Not very revealing, but we just picked up a small batch of embroidery from TTF Embroidery. It looks hot! We simply cannot wait to see it in final form. Want to see it too? Keep following as we reveal more this week!

Sorry for being secretive little squirrels, but believe me... it will totally be worth it!

Cant get rid of Rootbeer

2011-06-15T08:33:00.000+10:00

It seems we can't get rid of Rootbeer. Well, not entirely true... we got rid of Rootbeer himself, but can't seem to get rid of his BIG backpack... Or at least stop hearing about it!

This time, Rootbeer lent his bag to Heather McGrath for a photoshoot. Who is Heather? Heather is a photographer from Boston, who has some amazing photography skills. Dont believe me, then check out Heather's work here...

The bag practically eats Heather...

It literally is gigantic on her back!

Yet the bag comfortably swallows her hard Pelican Case.

Thanks Heather! Thanks Rootbeer! Glad to see the bag still is doing heavy duty work!

FixieGC 2nd Birthday

2011-06-14T14:42:00.000+10:00

Keep the date clear...

9th July

fixie gc's 2nd birthday.

I am working with Bennett on a little large something something for this event.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks!

TIGER is GO!

2011-06-10T12:03:00.000+10:00

The Tiger has left the building...

or something like that

The TIGER. A custom Chunky Toad.

What is so special about this pack? Well, just about everything is custom...

First thing you will notice is the stand out orange colour.

Different colours in our Chunky Toad other than black are only built on a "to order" basis. This orange fabric is actually X-pac, which we wrote about a while ago. It is an incredibly tough sandwich-construction material. On the outside is 1000D Cordura, with a 70D nylon lining. Sandwiched between these two fabrics is an X-weave designed to give the fabric tear and stretch resistance. Because of this, the material is not only highly abrasion resistant, tear and stretch resistant, but also waterproof to 200psi!

What this means is the TIGER is officially waterproof!

Flipping around to the back of the pack you will notice that the orange is offset by the black straps, and backpad. These too are constructed from X-pac material.

You will also notice a series of clipping webbing on the side of the pack...

The customer usually hauls/clips a lot of stuff to his packs and so was looking to extend our clipping webbing to all over the pack! The bottom two are regular clipping webbing, while the top is compression webbing. The middle 38mm wide webbing is separable, meaning it can be used to rig pouches or d-locks.

A quick example of the middle webbing being used to hold a Lovehandle hip pouch.

Underneath the pack you will find even more webbing. This is actually base compression straps, to help make a large load just that little bit more manageable!

With all the black webbing, coupled with the bright orange exterior it is easy to see how it got it's TIGER name!

Taking a peek inside the pack, you will quickly notice two additional features...

Two hangers...

First off are two "hangers" on the back panel. These are used to suspend a camera case inside the bag, making it less likely to be damaged!

Front organisation panel.

And looking at the front panel of the bag you will quickly see a series of extra pockets. The customer of this bag is "an organisational freak" (his words) and so wanted extra pockets for his bits and pieces. This includes a 15" laptop, cords, keys, and what not. It all fits there, plus more!

So, that is the TIGER!... We've got another two custom Chunky Toads leaving the studio shortly, so stay tuned!

Why So Quiet?

2011-06-09T15:51:00.000+10:00

We've been a little quiet lately... almost two full work days have passed without us posting. Why?

Because we've got a new toy!

and we feel like little kids in a candy shop all over again!

Our new toy wrapped up.

We've been prodding and poking it, testing it and playing with it... oh JOY!

What is it?

Well, to put it simply, it is a computer controlled webbing cutter! No more cutting everything by hand. No more hours of measuring and marking. No more sniffing toxic fumes!

What does this 130kg beast do?

Well as it sounds, it cuts lengths of webbing automatically. All you need to do is set the length and the quantity required, and it does the rest. It cuts straight, it cuts neat, and it cuts with HEAT.

Why?

As you may be aware, we are having a hard time keeping up with orders. Our website hardly has anything "in stock" (we have it, but usually it sells before we can get it up online!), and our wait list is usually around 3 - 4 weeks. This cutter represents our step forward in trying to reduce this wait list. Essentially it means we can set it up, forget about it while doing another task, and then come back to a beautiful pile of webbing ready for sewing.

So the good news is our new toy means the wait list time is going to go DOWN! No more 3 - 4 weeks wait! Woot Woot!

Is this opening the flood gates?

2011-06-07T13:16:00.001+10:00

Okay... seriously, is this the opening of the flood gates? One design and the potential for more. Should we add this to our lineup? What are your thoughts.

WTF are talking about??

A BOgear laptop sleeve:

A simple flap style pouch design.

Pleated pocket on the outside. Pen pocket and card pocket on top of this.

Lined with 420D nylon, outer 1000D nylon.

5mm 45kg Density EVA foam (sounds complex but it isn't, its the same foam used in our Beernutts).

Use the pleated pocket for peripherals (that's code for cords...)

So, what do you think? Should it become a permanent addition to our expanding lineup? This was built specifically for Felisa our hard working and amazing machinist. She has just left for a 6 week holiday, and wanted to take the laptop with her. Have fun Felisa!

Just a regular DUB?

2011-06-06T10:29:00.000+10:00

Is this just a regular DUB?

Nope.

It looks plain from the outside, but a deeper look shows a bag with a lot of customisations. Check it out:

Starting from the outside we can instantly see something different with the straps... That's right, reversible and removable. Why? So you can run the bag over either shoulder. Prefer it over the right shoulder? Swap and change. Simple!

A quick glance under the flap and you will notice that the D-lock sleeve is missing. Instead we have a side-access pocket. Perfect for wallet/keys and any of those "quick grab" items. You know, those items that you always need quickly, yet cannot seem to find in the black-hole of your bag...

Tucked away, and barely visible is something unique... Can you see it?

Not so obvious when tucked away, but pull it out and you have a dedicated pleated pocket to hold a tie. Some have to wear ties to work (not us thank goodness!), so this is a neat little addition!

And probably my favourite customisation of this bag happens to be the waterbottle holder. Yup, a dedicated waterbottle holder! Consider it a customised Beernutt, built to insulate and wrap around your drink bottle.

This little sucker is removable, washable, and can be velcroed to either side of the bag... NEAT!

And now for the regular stuff... Want one? Order your own customised DUB here!

TIGER!

2011-06-03T10:30:00.000+10:00

A little sneaky post about a build we are working on...

If you have been following us on twitter, you might have noticed our weird "TIGER" shout out last night. Why? This is why...

A custom Chunky Toad mid-completion.

We never planned to do custom work on our backpacks, but a lot of people have been twisting our arms lately (three custom Chunky Toads leaving the studio next week!). And for good reason! I think it is definitely "I-am-going-to-twist-your-arm-until-this-pack-is-made" worthy! Custom colours, custom fabric, custom features, custom functions... just about everything on this pack screams custom (and TIGER).

Full write up about this bag (and the other two Chunky Toads) to come next week. Promise...!

Want one? Drop us a line of course!

Custom Lovehandle

2011-06-03T09:00:00.000+10:00

When it rains, it pours...

Is that how the saying goes? Well it certainly is here at BOgear. It seems when we have a few custom jobs, we suddenly have more. Take for example the Riddler bag artwork mentioned previously (or the bright DUB with BOlogo)... now we also have this custom Lovehandle, and next week a custom Chunky Toad complete with Look For The Hills artwork will be leaving the studio (more on that later!)

BOgear is certainly pouring with custom artwork at the moment...

This Lovehandle was built for a customer in Brooklyn NY, who wanted to represent Brisbane & our gear with pride! There was initial talks of custom patches, or Australian emblems, but this was quickly changed to a series of BOgear logos. Thats Aussie right? Talk about representing with pride! Thanks for the support S.P.!

Interview with FixieGC

2011-06-02T16:42:00.000+10:00

Bennett from FixieGC is a fast moving dude! He came to visit our studio last night, and this morning he has an interview up on his site! Does he sleep?

For those who are interested in the story behind BOgear, pull up a chair, and watch this short video.

Thank you Bennett for taking the time to put this together!

Behind the Scenes : BO GEAR from fixiegc on Vimeo.

Sorry that I can't stand still... too much going through my head!

Riddler?

2011-05-31T10:47:00.000+10:00

Another smooth bag to roll out the door:

A custom Sindrome with embroidery

"Team Riddler" bag (Team Riddler is a Mountain Bike Team from Victoria), complete with question mark embroidery. The embroidery is a green colour which positively glows in this image.

Nice!

Yup... we can get our bags embroidered!

Review: One Bottle

2011-05-27T10:00:00.000+10:00

I've talked about One Bottle before, but I figured I better put my money where my mouth is, and actually get one for myself. And so I placed an order under the guise of a gift for the wife.

Here is the review:

Placing an order with these guys is easy. The shopping cart system they use is intuitive to use, and ultra-quick to get through. Nothing bothers me more than millions of pages to fill out, and so One Bottle has ticked the box with this one. Unfortunately though it was hard to pick which bottle to grab - every single one is simply too nice! After much deliberation I decided upon an ultra cute (there is that 'cute' word again... on the BOgear blog? WTF?! Times are changing!) blue complete with a hot air balloon design.

Order placed, I knew I would be waiting a few days for the package to arrive. Nope. Not in this case! It arrived the next day.

The packaging was simple (little to throw in the bin! Big thumbs up for this.), yet did the job. The bottle was in perfect condition.

Packaging was a simple cardboard box, and plastic wrapping.

The bottle, complete with the beautifully simple design.

I should also note that in my previous blog post about One Bottle (find it here) I said the bottles were made from Aluminium... oops. They actually are made from Stainless Steel. It sounds like a heavy material, yet this bottle is not. It is surprisingly light weight!

Branding is simple, yet follows in the footsteps of the bottle artwork; it is (dare I say this) beautiful in it's simplicity and design. These guys really have thought out their branding message!

Oh, and One Bottle is a fellow member of 1% For The Planet as well, so their environmental look and branding ties in well with their ethos.

Included in my package was an upgraded pop-top style lid. Neat!

And so enough of my wanky description... how did it go down as a gift?

Perfectly!

The wife loves it, and is always using it. She has never owned a metal bottle before, and so loves the bottle's lip/mouthfeel of using it. Mouthfeel?? Well who has been wine tasting too much? Oh, and she tells me a lot of people have commented on it, which is a bonus for her ego (don't think I was supposed to say that).

Point of the story? Love it... but more importantly the wife loves it. Big browny points in my book, so thank you One Bottle!

So go on, check out One Bottle here. I highly recommend them!

Reflective DUB

2011-05-26T10:00:00.000+10:00

Remember this bag?

A super bright, custom Papermunky.

Well it now has a bigger brother. Check it out:

Similar but different: Custom DUB

"I'd like to order another custom hi-viz bag. My wife is using the Papermunky and loving it."

Yup, sometimes when bags get stolen it is for a good reason. Heck, if my wife stole my bright bag, I wouldn't mind. It would be keeping her safe. And this exactly the same mindset this customer had!

So he chose a new DUB (to complete his range of BOgear bags!) and wanted it inverse colours to the original Papermunky. Enter this super bright beast. Double reflective tape on the flap, removable reflective flappers, the list goes on. This bag is also super tough, featuring a white truck tarp liner. It is built to both last and be seen!

Want a custom bag? Make sure to contact us!

Hip Stabiliser: Potential Issue

2011-05-25T10:08:00.000+10:00

Lifted directly from our website:

We guarantee our gear is good. We've used it, abused it, and dirtified it way before we even offered it to you guys. And it didn't fall apart on us. But sometimes mistakes happen; just ask my mate whose beer goggles made him think an electric fence was a good urinal. So if our bags do fall apart on you within twelve months of purchase, we'll repair or replace it.

This is one of those "beer goggle" moments...
It has just come to our attention that there is a potential issue with our hip stabiliser. This currently affects some of our Sindromes, and can potentially also be found on our Elephantitus's. If you own either of these bags please check your hip stabiliser for the below issue. If you do find it faulty please contact us asap so we can get your bag up and running and on the road again.

What the heck?

We have just had it reported to us that a couple of our Sindromes have had the hip stabiliser webbing pull out from the seam. This is the piece of webbing that has a buckle attached to it, which connects to the main strap at hip level (long winded description, but if it doesn't make sense check out the video below).

This is occurring due to a couple of reasons, and after some analysis and discussion we have the following solutions.

1. We are going to increase the seam allowance in the Sindrome and the Elephantitus. This will mean it is much more unlikely for the seam or the webbing to blow out. (note: the seam has been fine, it is the webbing which pulls out. However we plan to be proactive to ensure there is no future damage to the seams, and so are adjusting the seam allowance.)

2. We are going to put the hip stabiliser buckle in its own bartacked pocket. This traps the buckle in its own pocket which can safely carry a LOT of weight (we have to weight test it, but know it holds well over 100+kg) Currently the buckle is trapped between the seam and a bartack, which puts the seam under a lot of pressure... which is potentially why the webbing blows out.

3. We will be reducing the force on the buckle/webbing combo by inserting a d-ring into the system. This d-ring ensures the webbing can flow through the buckle easier, meaning less force is put on the stitching or seam.

All of the above solutions have become effective immediately.

All Sindromes and Elephantitus's in stock have been fixed, so hopefully we will not see this issue again.

We urge you to check your Sindrome or Elephantitus for this issue. If you have a friend who owns one of these bags, please get them to check this post, as our message may not have reached them.

Honestly, we are incredibly devastated about this issue and do not want it to reflect badly on BOgear bags. This is why if your bag has this problem we urge you to contact us immediately so we can remedy the situation. We can either fix the bag for you, or send you instructions on how to get it fixed locally.

We thank you for your continued support, and if you have this issue, hope to get your bag up and running asap.

Customer Photos

2011-05-23T10:40:00.001+10:00

We have been meaning to do a "customer photos" section on our blog, yet have pushed it to the side for a long time. Given the interest and comments regarding our Big Backpack, and thanks to the push from Nate (Big Backpack Abuser Team), we have decided to finally pull our finger out and show you some of the pictures customers have sent us recently.

Firstly, and to answer some of the comments on the previous Big Backpack post, here is a photo of the bags hauling two archive boxes:

Nate hauling two full archive boxes

Rootbeer hauling two full archive boxes (in the pre-pro version)

An Elephantitus hauling Vespa parts. Thanks to Jeremy for the photo!

And Nate's FRS Strap Ons.

Over six months of full time courier work, and a couple of runs through the chainring. Still going strong!

We are always looking for photographs of lovingly Dirtified bags, so if you have a photo of your BOgear bag hauling kit, or another BOgear product living large, make sure you send it our way! We will make sure to post it up!

*update*

The BOgear Kitchen before Adelaide Polo Nationals.

There is a DUB, a Chunky Toad, a proto-bike bag, and a BIG backpack... BOgear overload!

Pony Bikes Bag

2011-05-20T10:56:00.000+10:00

Pony Bikes in Melbourne happen to be one of our longest supporting stockists. They have been stocking our gear since the introduction of our FRS Strap Ons, and last year brought on board the full range of our courier bags. Although the shop is small (she has some big plans with the space!!), Sasha still manages to be a strong force in the cycling community, through support and organisation of events such as Australia's All Girl Alley Cat. Despite her seemingly gruff exterior, she is incredibly friendly and willing to help you out no matter what your bike is. Her's is a love for cycling, not a love for name-brand componentry.

Sasha already owns one of our prototype Elephantitus's, as well as a pre-pro Chunky Toad; yet when she wanted something smaller in the guise of a Sindrome, we jumped at the opportunity to customise it.

Check it out:

Pony Bike logo stitched onto the front flap

And a triple liner / black 420D nylon liner. This makes the bag much more abrasion resistant from the inside, and increases the lifespan of the waterproof billboard liner.

Black on black. Simple!

Make sure you head down to Pony Bikes at 87 Capel St, Melbourne. Mention that I sent you and maybe she will give you a sticker, or let you pat her dog... I dunno... She is nice though! And check out the range of bags that Sash has in. Support the local!

Cheers for the support Sasha!

The BIG backpack update

2011-05-19T09:25:00.000+10:00

Well the BIG backpack (this bag is BIG, so deserves the capital letters and bolding!) has been getting a work out for a while now, with the final version completed. Usually our ironing out of designs uses a large group of dedicated Abuser Team members, however in this instance we decided to limit it to two.

The justification behind this is it allows us a quicker design / feedback process, coupled with the ability to modify the Abuser Team backpacks should it be necessary. Rather than the typical Design, Make, Feedback, Repeat... in this instance it was Design, Make, Modify, Modify, Modify... I hope this makes sense!

If you are interested check out the original backpack here.

Here is the updated version:

It is a virtually symmetrical design, so the first few photos are from slightly different angles.

Dual side compression attaches directly to the rear HDPE frame sheet and the front pocket. This way it is directly compressing, rather than pulling at fabric (and potentially stretching/tearing)

Dual top compression ensure the bag remains weather tight even in miserable weather. It also shrinks down the width of the bag so side/rear vision is more manageable.

All of the compression straps feature quick release d-rings, as well as "easy to grab" d-rings at the ends of the webbing.

Also vaguely visible in the above image is a strip of vertical clipping webbing in the front pocket crease. This is useful not only for lashing oversized packages to the exterior of the bag, but also for attaching poster tubes and drink bottles.

The above mentioned vertical clipping webbing is placed in the pleated seam of the front pocket, so it doesn't get in the way when not in use...

There is still the regular clipping webbing on the front pocket flap...

It is not only compression webbing that features "quick release" d-rings, but also any webbing which is adjustable. This includes the main flap webbing, as well the shoulder strap adjustment webbing.

While on the topic of webbing, any "dangly" end now has velcro. This way you can attach the ends of your webbing to any exposed velcro to reduce dangle/snag/potential mishaps.

this is now a feature which we have added to all our bags!

At the base of the front pleated pocket you will find clipping webbing, clipping webbing, and more clipping webbing. And a little dash of reflective tape thrown in too for safeties sake!

The shoulder straps are completely removable for washing/reducing eau-de-courier.

Top shoulder compression is achieved through the use of d-rings and tri-glides...

This ensures quick and painless adjustment as well as strap removal.

We have also integrated a exterior side access pocket.

One of the biggest downfalls of a backpack is the quick accessibility while couriering. Given that couriers are generally paid on a per delivery basis, time wasted is money lost. Understanding this, we created a pocket which has the accessibility features of a courier bag... no need to remove the pack from your back to access this one!

This pocket is protected via a 1.5mm HDPE panel. You can safely stash valuable / "do not fold" items here! The pocket comfortably fits A4 files and folders, and is only slightly too small for A3 sized stuff.

And now to put this behemoth in perspective:

This is Rootbeer, and this is 35kg of gear (77lbs) in our Backpack. It is practically his life on his back...

700c tyre around the outside to put it all in perspective.

Isn't he just cute...

And Rootbeer is not a small bloke...

See "Rootbeers home" in action. Sorry for the shaky footage.

This bag is a beast, and is a dedicated courier workhorse. It is designed for heavy duty use, and as such is physically heavy, and incredibly tough. It is also expensive. We do not plan to do a run of them, instead they will only be made to order, with a current turn around of 4 weeks. If you are interested in one, please send us an enquiry here.

Beernutts IN!

2011-05-18T10:00:00.001+10:00

We have just finished a big STACK of pancakes Beernutts. They are available now, so get your hands on a fresh Beernutt here.

Beernutts; classier than a paper bag.

Making of a mashup.

2011-05-17T10:55:00.000+10:00

Warning: Totally un-sewing or BOgear related... but still this got my attention this week.

Okay, being a geek who works with his hands and loves seeing things be made, this really got my attention. And shut up if this is old news on the intertubes, as I usually live under a rock... its new to me alright?!

WTF is this?

Well, this is a visual representation of how a mashup is put together. I often listen to songs but find it hard to dissect the different tracks or layers. For instance when listening to a tune I generally follow the musical melody, rather than the lyrics. So discovering this visual representation of the layers of a song, and how they interact with the other (ie. how shit is made) really made me geek out... it blew my mind (not hard to do really is it?)

Okay, I'll stop geeking out and let Cameron Adams (the guy who made this) do the talking:

"This visualisation of the song "Definitive Daft Punk" by Cameron Adams dissects a mashup

in realtime to show you how each of the 23 parts contributes to the greater whole."

Interested? Head on over and check it out. You get to see how each track relates to the other, when it starts and finishes, artistically visually, graphically, and aurally. It not only is a "how stuff is made" but also a good tune (heavy metal heads need not follow the link). Head over to the Definitive Daft Punk Visualisation to find out more...

Keyrings

2011-05-17T10:00:00.000+10:00

Keyrings are here...

Well they have been "here" for a while now, but usually only given away at super-secret events. They aren't really "super-secret events", but more so any event which the BOcrew turn up to! Given the demand for it, they will soon be offered online!

They come in both black and grey, and feature 20mm webbing from our reclaimed climbing harnesses or reclaimed backpack shoulder straps. The label and the split ring are new material. Overall, 33% reclaimed by weight!

Want one?

Order it online (SOON!), or mention you would like one when you next place an order with us!

AHBPC 2010 Photos

2011-05-16T11:30:00.000+10:00

Some photos from the Australian Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships recently held in Adelaide...

Beer & polo... hand in hand.

The excellent and well executed draw.

Fast mechanicals.

Helmets were mandatory.

The variety of helmets on display was surprising. Some used "race" helmets such as this catlike. Others used BMX or skating hardhats. While others, for safety reasons, used ice hockey helmets complete with face shield.

Lacrosse gloves such as these above were also in use. These are fantastic for safety, but does it scare off new players?

Lots of bags, with the occasional BO bag on display!

The mandarins were brought in by the box, and were amazingly delicious!

Team huddle...

For those people looking for more (and better photos!) make sure you check out those taken Studio Crossbow. Flickr link here.

Studio Crossbow is run by Craig Beaumont, who was at the Championships for both of the days. He managed to catch a large amount of photos, including the ones that everyone enjoys... the crashes. So run on over and check it all out! Cheers Craig for all your work!

Adelaide!

2011-05-16T11:12:00.000+10:00

It is now a full week since Polo Nationals, and I only now feel able to write a blog post about the weekend just passed. And not because the weekend was problematic or painful, but rather because it was intense. And by intense, I mean a good intense!

Let's step back a little... what the heck am I talking about? Firstly Adelaide, and secondly the Australian Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships. Combine the two, and you get one hell of a fun weekend! For those a little slow on the uptake, last weekend was the AHBPC held in Adelaide. This is the recap.

Team Phuq Styx

Photographed by Studio Crossbow

Rootbeer, Johnson, and myself, comprising team Phuq Styx left Brisbane at ridiculous-o'clock, landing at a semi-reasonable 8am Adelaide time. With us we had two prototype BOgear Bike Bags (yes, we will do a write up about these soon!) as well as a Chunky Toad (which passed as carry-on!), and a large backpack (laden to 35kg... video proof coming soon too!). After landing, unpacking our bikes, and stowing the bike bags on our back we rode into Adelaide city for a feast of pancakes. Many thanks to semi-local dude, Baker for his directions to this gem.

After refuelling, our next priority was to visit stockist and an Adelaide gem, Treadly Bikes. Treadly is run by two of the nicest and friendliest people you will ever meet; Emily & Sam. Oh, and it also has an "owner" in the form of Rusty the shop dog (who gets a LOT of attention due to his ridiculous cute-ness). If you haven't been to Treadly, I highly suggest you do. You could walk in with any bike and receive the same service; there is no "elitism" attitude here. The space is warm and inviting, with a lot of detail on signage and artwork (you have to see it to know exactly what I mean!).

Treadly Bike Shop, with the amazing artwork in the background...

Treadly visit over, Rootbeer and myself decided to cruise the town, belatedly dropping in to Little Black Bike. This is also a bike shop I highly recommend visiting. Although BMX orientated, they do service the occasional fixed gear bike. It has comparatively less stock, yet the owners and staff make up for this with exceptional service. They are willing to explain repairs to you, and do not talk down. It is obvious they have a LOT of knowledge, and are more than willing to share it, which is a nice change!

Rather than giving a continual blow-by-blow of our weekend, I will jump straight to the important part... The Nationals. And boy, what a Nationals it was! Adelaide deserves a BIG thumbs up/pat on the back/beer for this one, as it was considerably well organised, and went down without a hitch. The courts featured barriers that you could bounce the ball off (rather than stopping play), there was a first aid attendant, and the entire event had insurance. The pub was close, drinks were cold, food was delicious, and a coffee van came around both mornings. Seriously, what more could you ask for? How about a series of games which ran smoothly, rules which were non-draconian, and a draw which is logical and easy to follow.

Big BIG thanks to Adelaide!

BOgear provided sponsorship in the form of entry pack goodies, as well as a "Best Newbie Award." The entry pack goodies consisted of Rigging Straps, Keyrings, and Coin Pouches from reclaimed Thomson Seatpost bags. Check them out:

Limited "Gold" Keyring

A jumble of Rigging Straps

Reclaimed Thomson Seat & Stem bags into Coin Pouches

As for the Newbie Award, we donated a previously mentioned Bike Bag. This is still being worked on, tweaked and priced, but we will do a write up about it in the near future, so make sure you stay tuned! Congratulations to Dom from BNE for winning the bag!

Sneak peek of the bike bag bundled up!

Back online (and 500 down) !!

2011-05-03T15:04:00.000+10:00

Well our 12 days off are now over, and we are back on board the BOgear train! What did you get up to over the Easter Holidays?

Our holidays? Climbing in the Blue Mountains... gosh it was good! Beautiful scenery, fantastic climbing, fun people to be with... what more could you ask for!? Check it out:

A stash for the next climb.

Our bible for the week

Racked up and about to climb

And the glorious rock. Traverse Of The Gods. Next year perhaps?

It was supposed to be a holiday, but the trip involved a lot of talk about design and potential products, so stay tuned as some new climbing related products hit the lineup oh so soon! Climbing gear is a new direction for BOgear, but one we have always wanted to do!

In other news, we have reached (and passed) bag ID#500! This happened early last month, but given the madness that just passed we neglected to mention it. No time like now! BAG #500! Thanks heaps for the support everyone! It means a lot!

EARTH DAY!

2011-04-21T07:00:00.000+10:00

Getting in a little early seeing as tomorrow is a public holiday...

As a 1% for the Planet member, we donate at least one percent of annual revenues to environmental causes. This Earth Day (tomorrow, Friday!), we want to thank you for your support with the gift of free music. Download and enjoy 1% for the Planet: The Music, Vol. 1, a benefit compilation featuring 41 rare and exclusive tracks from artists like Jackson Browne, Josh Ritter, Grace Potter, and Jack Johnson—simply visit http://music.onepercentfortheplanet.org/redeem/ and enter code EARTHDAY11.

Its our first year as part of 1% For The Planet, so if you have any suggested causes to donate to, please don't hesitate to let us know!

Have a fantastic Earth Day, Easter Holiday, and enjoy the music!

Easter Hours

2011-04-20T07:59:00.000+10:00

Well, Easter is coming up this weekend, followed by another three day long weekend if you live in Queensland. Given that there is only three days work in the middle, we have decided to keep BOgear closed, and have an extended holiday.

As it stands, BOgear will be closed:

Friday 22nd April - Tuesday 3rd May

Enjoy the Easter holiday everyone, and stay safe!

Rootbeer Approved

2011-04-19T10:00:00.000+10:00

Rootbeer, of the "Rootbeer Approved" phenomenon is also a person, and not just a sticker.

Check him in action building wheels...

Broken Machine

2011-04-18T10:00:00.000+10:00

Why do things seem to happen in small random patterns? First broken was the pizza-cutter-on-steriods, and now it is the main workhorse...

Yup, thats right. I have broken the walking foot machine...

Warning: Sewing geek out about to occur...

The problem is, I use #21 titanium ~~harpoons~~ needles. Titanium needles are fantastic as they are super strong... much stronger than plain steel needles. Ordinarily you would run thicker needles for thicker lays. However given the strength of titanium, you can run narrower gauge through the same thick lay. What this results in is smaller holes or perforations in the fabric. And this is a good thing.

Titanium's strength is fantastic as mentioned above. Except when you have such a thick lay that the needle flexes and hits your feed dogs. Then the needles strength works to it's disadvantage... rather than snapping, it flexes, permanently bends, and (excuse the language on this, but...) fucks shit up. Yup, I am a tad upset!

So, I was sewing a small batch of Scary-Big-Backpacks (more on that in the coming week!), and sure enough, needle flex and bending occurred. I changed the needle thinking everything was still hunky-dory. Nope, not to be... Problems are now happening.

On thin lays the machine runs fantastic, except when run at fast speeds. Then the thread starts snapping. Not a good thing! And to make matters worse, during a thick lay, a clicking occurs. Also definitely not a good thing.

The sewing machine is definitely broken, and there is nothing to do except call in the experts...

Enter the boys from Sewing Machine Exchange.

One look at the machine and the problem is identified. Out comes the screw driver, and off go the feed dogs.

Seems the dogs had shifted slightly due to the needle strike, and were causing all the issues. A quick sand down to remove burrs, an adjustment of the mechanism (it took longer than this explanation!), and the machine was good as gold!

Now it is back to new again, and we are on the road to pumping more gear out!

Hurrah!

When colour combos just work...

2011-04-08T13:45:00.000+10:00

Sometimes things just line up and work well together; it might not sound so good on paper, yet in the flesh just works!

Prime example below... check it out. Forest green, white, black, silver, and royal blue... Clash?

Nope!

It's smooth!

Our previous posts about padding on Papermunkies with reflective tape must have hit a chord... lots of these are on the build list! Want one? You know where to go...

Chunky Toad is GO!

2011-04-01T12:26:00.000+10:00

1st of April: Launch date of the Chunky Toad!

It's official!

The first batch of Chunky Toads is completed, with the majority on their way out the door! Check it out:

A pile of Chunky Toads after their final touches!

Interested in one? Check out the dedicated Chunky Toad page for more details! More photos and videos of the bag to come. (We've just been too busy making the damn thing, rather than getting photos of it in action!)

In the meantime, check out the video below of the sample pack being made late last week!

Reminder - TONIGHT!

2011-04-01T08:39:00.000+10:00

Hey ladies, don't forget tonight is...

Pity the Fool!

Australia's 2nd all-girl alleycat... Get on to it!

Flappers... Reflective flappers that is!

2011-03-31T09:40:00.000+10:00

I almost forgot to mention... but the bright Papermunkies we talked about last week were a little brighter than I first stated.

How could that even be possible?

Well, they had flappers. Reflective flappers. Big LONG reflective flappers!

"What is a flapper," I hear you ask. Well a flapper is a strip of double sided reflective tape which is designed to flap around in the wind and draw attention to a rider. Its constant movement and big surface area is designed to catch a stray light and reflect it back at the light source.

Check it out:

They are remarkably simple, and attach via a loop of Velcro. Because of this they can be repositioned easily! They can be positioned on a bag, on a person, or even on the bike itself. This particular set of flappers feature long enough velcro to fit around a seat tube on a bike!

Placed on the base of a bag...

On the front flap of a bag... also known as the "Blinky Light" strip

On the end of the adjustable strap.

Or on the main shoulder strap.

The possibilities are simply endless...

Want one? Drop us an email! We would be happy to whip them up to order! They are a cheap item for peace of mind!

Cutting cables...

2011-03-30T10:00:00.001+10:00

So after a fantastic week of cutting, I managed to cut the cord on the rotary cutter....

Not my brightest moment...

A Sunday in ADL!

2011-03-29T10:00:00.000+10:00

The crew behind Ashcan are throwing a gig to help raise funds for Japan! It is being held in Adelaide, on the 10th April... Check the flyer below for more details!

Or hit up fixed.org.au for more details...

Papermunky & DUB Shoulder Pads!

2011-03-28T10:00:00.001+10:00

In our last post we showed a couple of bright Papermunkies! These all featured reflective tape, as well as an upgrade to include shoulder padding. A couple of people have asked about the pads... so here is a post to explain it!

The shoulder pads are slightly shorter than those used on the Sindrome & Elephantitus. They also attach to the bag via velcro strips, rather than a large area of velcro. This means the pads can be added to a bag as an after purchase! The pads are also re-positionable, wide, and comfortable given its 10mm thickness.

The pads attachment velcro tabs can be put inside the main shoulder strap pockets, or over the top. Personally we prefer putting them inside the pockets as it means the padding will not slip around during use.

Want to upgrade your Papermunky or DUB to include shoulder padding? Simply tick the "add a shoulder pad" box when ordering online! This will set you back an additional $15, but guarantee comfort no matter what your load size and weight!

Alternatively we can whip up a shoulder pad to add to your bag after a purchase should you wish! Just drop us a line here and let us know what you would like!

Reflective Papermunkies!

2011-03-25T10:00:00.023+10:00

Last week saw a small batch of super bright Papermunkies leave the studio. These puppies (actually, what do you call a bunch of monkeys??) featured reflective tape, shoulder pads, and in some instances liberal use of high-viz fabric!

Check them out:

The first was a subtle black with a wide strip of reflective tape on the front flap. A quiet, discreet bag that will pop when direct light is pointed it's way!

The second bag is a virtually identical to the Papermunky above, although it features high-viz yellow fabric. Unfortunately my camera doesn't do this bag justice. It SCREAMS attention in both low and bright light situations!

And the third bag is the brightest of them all! It is a high-viz yellow Papermunky with Orange front panel & BO logo, coupled with red stitch and liberal use of reflective tape! It also stands out in low and bright-light situations, as well as perhaps say a "high-viz convention" given the beautiful placement of our BO logo (gee not too biased are we)! It is BRIGHT, and proud! We love it!

Underneath the flap you can see the liberal use of Orange high-viz fabric. Even the shoulder pad is high-viz!

Enjoy your bags guys! I think they rock!

What does all these reflective bags mean? It means we now have a big roll of 50mm wide reflective tape ready for your bag. Want a bright bag or a bag with reflective tape? Contact us!

Productive day!

2011-03-24T17:13:00.000+10:00

Killer day in the studio today! It was absolutely pumping! All four of our machines were in continual use, giving the air a hum of activity...

Check out some behind the scenes shots of what we have achieved:

All the outer components are cut out.

The entire front section of the Chunky Toad is completed.

D-lock panels are bartacked...

Front pocket flap bartacked...

Put it this way, the Chunky Toads are certainly progressing! Make sure you order now before the pre-order discount runs out...!

More Chunky Toad updates to come soon!

Playing with new toys

2011-03-24T07:14:00.000+10:00

Warning: Massive sewing geek-out about to occur... again

I am sorry... two posts in a row, BOTH about sewing geekiness! Apologies; but for the other sewing geeks out there, I am sure you would agree this is simply awesome!

One of the machines in our shop happens to be a Lightning 8 inch straight blade cutter. This is an Australian made machine designed to cut up to 8 inches of fabric. Which is a LOT of fabric. This is an amazing machine which has come highly recommended to me by numerous people.

Unfortunately for me, this machine doesn't cope with small lays of fabric, and given most of our batches to date are around 5 to 10 bags, this machine has been sitting forlornly in the corner gather dust. I haven't been neglecting it however; glancing at it admiringly often, showing it proudly to visitors, and lovingly rubbing it down with oil when needed (gosh that sounds dirty...). I have often dreamed of the day that I could use it.

And that day has come!

Yup! Today is that day! A big lay of Chunky Toads required a more powerful cutting tool, so out trundled the 8 inch Lightning. Was it good? Heck yes! What an experience it was!

It flows smoothly across the table, and is nicely weighted. It cuts straight lines with ease, and convex curves impeccably. Concave curves, usually the bane of the rotary "pizza-cutter-on-electric-steroids" simply were not an issue. Have I fallen in love? YUP! It cuts like a warm knife through butter, smoothly and expertly slicing 20mm of heavy weight 1000D nylon like it simply doesn't exist.

Ooh... *sigh*... It rocks!

And to geek it up further... here it is in action. Over 20 mins of juicy cutting action compressed into 50 seconds. If only I could cut this quick normally!

Oh yeah, we've got a video camera now, so be prepared to be bombarded with moving pictures! We are getting oh so fancy now! Now I've just gotta work out how to edit them better.

New Machine!!

2011-03-23T10:00:00.001+10:00

Warning: Massive sewing geek-out about to occur...

In our last post we showcased one of the side-projects we have been working on. We also sneakily mentioned a new machine that we purchased. Here it is:

A Brother KE-430D Programmable Bar Tacker.

It is the ducks nuts when it comes to bartacks. It is capable of stitching anything you can think of within an area of 30mm x 40mm. Box-X's, Gates, Vertical and Horizontal Bartacks, Circular tacks, BO logos, Stars, L's... it can do it all. It is speed-adjustable (up to 3200rpm) to increase output, decrease sewing cycle and feed times, as well as reducing the likelihood of melted and fused threads. It is direct drive, and self-oiling to reduce product staining, while also has an amazing thread trimmer so no more "clean up" of stitches is required... it also... al... a...

*ahem...

Sorry, I got a bit carried away there!

Maybe I should take a step backwards and really explain this machine!

Firstly, this is a bar tack machine. A bar tack is a series of three straight stitches, with a zig-zag stitch over the top. Bar tacks can commonly be found on jeans; usually at the top of belt loops. It is a very strong stitch as it puts a lot of thread in a small surface area.

a traditional "bar tack"

This particular machine is computer controlled, simply press the foot down and the machine does it's job! What this also means is you can control the machine to stitch anything you can think of within an area of 30mm x 40mm; and it will continue to do so 100% accurately for eons! Because of this we can now "bartack" box-x the ends of our straps where they attach to the bags. We can also bartack down all the clipping webbing.

a "box-x" stitch

What does this mean? From a manufacturing point of view it is a tool to allow us larger batch sizes without massively increasing costs. Given that our current wait list is around 4-5 weeks for custom bags, this is a big bonus! We really want to get this wait list down, so this machine will help us do so!

From a usability point of view, these stitches are stronger than what we previously used (which was a simple triple stitch). I am going to have to do the maths on this (and the crazy testing!!!) but you will be able to hang a lot more kit off your bag without fear of it imploding!

We will be releasing a video of the Chunky Toad manufacture in the very near future, so keep an eye out for the bar tacker in use!

CrankIT Straps

2011-03-22T13:43:00.000+10:00

Times have been busy here in the BO studio! We have been relentlessly working on our batch of Chunky Toads, keeping up with our regular line up, as well as working on a previously secret project...

its not secret any more!

Probably not what you were thinking, but check it out! We have been working alongside the crew from CrankIT Fitness, tweaking and manufacturing their latest product, the Crank It Straps.

What are they? In the CrankIT crew's words:

The CrankIt Straps are a new, functional fitness training tool that allow you to utilise your body weight as resistance and perform over 350 exercises that build strength, stability, endurance and flexibility and can also enhance your cardiovascular fitness. With this portable fitness tool, you can train anywhere, anytime. Now there is nothing holding your back from keeping in fantastic shape, no matter where your journey takes you!

Now I may be a little biased because I am heavily involved in this project, but I personally think these straps rock. They are lightweight, tough as hell and allow a solid workout anywhere. Think of a gymnast on their rings... that is probably the quickest way to describe this product. Don't take my shitty description as all these straps do... Jump over to the CrankIT site, and check out the video on the front page! This is going to show you better than I ever could at just how awesome these straps are.

And now, for some sneaky behind the scenes shots of the manufacture process:

Some multi-anchors ready for packaging...

A couple of handles mid-construction... Ready for the next step!

CrankIT tags about to be stitched into the straps...

Main adjustable strap nearing completion... bar tacking next!

Jump over to the CrankIT Fitness website and check out all the fuss!

Oh, and manufacturing these straps have allowed us to purchase another machine... which we will be blogging about oh-so-shortly! So stay tuned!

Rootbeer Approved!

2011-03-15T10:00:00.000+10:00

The first official entry to the Rootbeer Approved competition has arrived. And what better way to approve something than by the man himself. Rootbeer has officially approved GEAR Shop Brisbane, as well as their fridge, where he keeps a stock of his namesake... rootbeer (or Sarsaparilla when stocks are low, but then that wouldn't be a cool nickname would it?)

Interest in the Rootbeer Approved competition has exceeded expectations, with all stickers already claimed. But fear not... a fresh batch is on the way! Want to join in? Hit up FixieGC to find out more!

Oh, and every entry not only receives a sticker, but also a little gift from us here at BOgear!

Pity The Fool!

2011-03-14T10:00:00.000+10:00

Australia's 2nd all girl alleycat is coming! Organised by Sasha from Pony Bikes, and Zoe Victoria this event is designed to encourage more girls to get out and ride, and to make them visible to the greater cycling community.

50 entrants turned up to the first all-girl event... this time promises to be bigger! The event will have all profits donated to WIRE. WIRE stands for Womens Information and Referal Exchange Inc. WIRE are the only Victoria-wide free generalist information, support and referral service run by women for women.

So, not only is this event going to be BIG and fun, it is also supporting a GOOD CAUSE! Come along, and enjoy yourself! Ride in pairs... you will be practically guaranteed a good time!

Want to know more?

Check out Pony Bikes Blog for more details!

Patchwork Bags!

2011-03-10T10:00:00.000+10:00

Two unbelievable bags walked out of the studio this week! Both were "patchworked" from scrap material, and as such had a reclaimed content of 75-78% !! Each firmly embodies what BOgear stands for and what we are trying to achieve!

They both were custom bags with an emphasis on functionality and usability, while also containing a very high reclaimed material content.

The first was a custom Sindrome, converted to use as a Babybag. It featured a triple liner (1000D patchwork reclaimed nylon outer, reclaimed billboard middle, and virgin 420D Nylon liner), a removable interior partition (to keep clean nappies separate from dirty ones), a removable baby change-pad, and reversible straps. The patchwork colour is about as far as you can get from a typical "frilly" and feminine babybag!

The second patchwork bag to leave the studio was a custom Elephantitus. This particular bag is headed to Portland Oregon, and also has a heavy emphasis on functionality! Along with all the standard features, it has a removable "briefcase" style handle, and a plethora of PALS compatible clipping webbing. Check it out below, the black and grey looks a treat!

The PALS webbing can be seen below. It allows any PALS compatible military pouch to be attached to the bag. It also means you can string large parcels to the pack, or anything that your mind can think of. This particular bag is going to be used as a grocery shopping hauler, so the extra pouches on the side will definitely come in hand!

Interested in a custom or patchworked bag? Send your requests and let us work some magic! You will be guaranteed to have a one-off and unique bag. But be warned, patchwork bags take slightly longer to craft due to their high labour content!

"Rootbeer Approved" Competition

2011-03-09T08:57:00.000+10:00

Our good friends from FixieGC are running a competition. And to win it, all you have to do is have a little fun. Want to know more? Check it out:

FIXIEGC: A few days ago I took a photo of a fresh batch of stickers with a picture of a dude and the slogan “Rootbeer approved”.

Well you might be asking yourself who the f**k is Rootbeer?

Rootbeer is that guy yelling obscenities on the polo court, he is that guy who is often seen riding around the Brisbane CBD with a large package in his backpack trying to make a deadline… oh, and yes he ain’t from around here. Rootbeer has been living in the country for the past few months and has made a rad impression on us all.

So you might be wondering what is the deal? Why did you get a sticker made? Boredom?… Yes, a few days after the Summer of Fixty-9 I found a picture (thanks to Renee’s photography work) of Rootbeer hanging out post-race and since I have nothing better to do than draw lines for a living I got drawing. The “Rootbeer Stamp of Approval” was born.

Now this is where you guys get involved. I have a whole bunch of these stickers ready to be bombed or placed where ever your creative little minds can put them.

Why should I, I hear you ask? Well, along with the total fun of Rootbeer approving something we have a punch of cool prizes from BO gear and our own prize department that you can win for the funniest/most creative/best “Rootbeer Approved” sticker placement.

So if you know Rootbeer, like Rootbeer, or simply want to be approved by Rootbeer, send your details to fixiegc@gmail.com and we will send out a bunch of Rootbeer Approved stickers ready to be stickered and documented. We know there are a lot of Roobeer fans out there, so even if you are interstate or overseas, drop us a line!

The competition will run for a few weeks to give everyone a chance to get hold of the stickers and “Rootbeer Approve” something. The top 10 entires will be chosen by myself and Dave from BO GEAR and then a public vote (via interweb) well be held to decide the winners.

Contact us now to get a hold of some stickers! The competition is open to everyone! Local, regional and global entrants all welcome!

This competition is approved by ROOTBEER!

A little tongue in cheek, perhaps a little bit stupid, but to me this competition screams a whole lot of fun. So send Bennett from FixieGC an email and line yourself up for some "Rootbeer Approved" stickers.

Brisbane Outdoor Gear Blog

Rain rain go away...

Helen Update

Hello 2012!!

Last Custom Bag for 2011!

Merry Christmas!

Coloured FRS Strap Ons!

Dirtified custom Papermunky!

Custom Papermunky!

Beer + Chunky Toad

Coloured webbing IN!

FRS Strap Ons now online!

Got camera... will video

Woot!

Thank you for helping us!

Chunky Toad: Abuser Team Feedback

DUB Feedback!

DOOBYBRAIN Coverage!

Another custom Sindrome!

Something a little different...

Custom Sindrome

Custom Elephantitus

FRS Strap Ons!

Lovehandle: bigger than you think...

Freemantle: Tweed Run!

Small Backpack

Dirtify?

Busy much?

Paging all Manventurer's

Talladega Nights!

Playing with Sand

Small Batch Manufacturing!

Fabric restock

The bike bag is almost here!!

Our studio at the moment

Perth: High Rollers Poker Cat

Rootbeer Approved Patches

Quiet blog = Busy studio

Pedal to Hell

Bags flowing out of our ears...

New Tags

BNE: Bridges of Brisbane

Featured on Core77 Gift Guide!

singlespeedgoldcoast.com review!

Bosky Brisbane Bike Hire

Accessories page updated

Chunky Toad feedback

Back on board!

BOgear Closed

Stitch Colour: "just for details" vs. "for everything"

Sindrome: Customer Review!

BOgear Sindrome

FixieGC 2nd Birthday: Sneaky Peek #2

Custom Chunky Toad!

Chunky Toad: Customer Review!

Chunky Toad: Look for the Hills!

Chunky Toad: Customer review

FixieGC 2nd Birthday: Sneak Peek!

Cant get rid of Rootbeer

FixieGC 2nd Birthday

TIGER is GO!

Why So Quiet?

Is this opening the flood gates?

Just a regular DUB?

TIGER!

Custom Lovehandle

Interview with FixieGC

Riddler?

Review: One Bottle

Reflective DUB

Hip Stabiliser: Potential Issue

Customer Photos

Pony Bikes Bag

The BIG backpack *update*

Beernutts IN!

Making of a mashup.

Keyrings

AHBPC 2010 Photos

Adelaide!

Back online (and 500 down) !!

The BIG backpack update