Infusion Threads Pack Sport Gear Bag Review

by Julie on November 26, 2003 · 11 comments

in Gear

Infusion Threads Pack Sport

If you have been looking for a gear bag that can hold lots of stuff
in an organized manner, the Pack Sport from
Infusion Threads may cause you to
look no further. The Pack Sport is a smaller sized black Ballistic nylon unisex
styled shoulder or waist bag. For its size, the Pack Sport has storage galore.
I’ve come to think of it as the SCOTTeVEST
of gear bags.

To give you an idea of the size of this bag, below you will find the
dimensions of the main compartments.

Main compartment – 7.5 x 10 x 2.25 inches
Secondary compartment – 7.5 x 7.75 x 1 inches
PDA or camera pocket – 4.25 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches
Flash light or mace pocket – 1.75 x 6.25 x 1.25 inches
Two cell phone side pockets – 2 x 4 x 1.25 inches
Change and key pocket (Flat pocket) – 7.25 x 2 inches
ID, credit card, passport, money and check pocket (Flat pocket) – 7.25 x 6
inches
Papers, receipts, paperback books back pocket (Flat pocket) – 8 x 7.25 inches

Now, let’s take a detailed tour of the Pack Sport from front to back, inside
and out. First the outside…

The front flap on this bag is much more than just a cover for the main
storage area. The top spine of the flap has 4 long elastic loops of varying
widths for pens, pencils and styli.

Below the pen holders is a flat dual zippered 7.25 x 2 inch pocket. I use
this pocket to hold my pill case, lip balm, and eye drops.

Continuing down the front of the flap, there is another dual zippered pocket
which has four separate sections. A stiffened partition separates a deeper
outside pocket from a more shallow pocket. Two small pockets made of nylon are
sewn into the back wall of the flap. I keep my wallet in the deep pocket and
loose change in the two small pockets.

On the outside of the bottom flap pocket, is a large rigid dual zippered 4.25
x 5.5 x 1.25 inch compartment. I’ve been using this area to hold my digital
camera and my breakfast – half a peanut butter sandwich. Since this compartment
is reinforced with plastic, it helps to protect items from crushing.

On the back of the Pack Sport is a large non-zippered pocket that is big
enough to hold a medium thick paperback book, but not large enough to hold a
magazine (unless you fold the magazine in half). On both sides of this pocket
are plastic D rings. These D rings serve as attachment points for the shoulder
strap. The strap which is included is only about 1 inch thick, and just seems a
little cheap to me. I quickly removed it and replaced it with the shoulder strap
from my
Waterfield Small Cozmo
bag. I love the Waterfield strap and it works great
with the Pack Sport.


On either side of the Pack Sport are two plastic clips that can serve as
attachment points for a shoulder strap or other objects such as car keys. I used
these clips for the Waterfield strap. I used the D rings to hold my ID badge and
vehicle keys. A small flat handle is also located in this area.

Between the D rings is a flap of material that the included waist strap can
slide through. I personally do not like waist bags at all and did not test the
bag in this manner.

On the outside of the back pocket is a long plastic reinforced tube that has
a Velcro strip cover. The tube opens at the bottom which I find a little
strange. I’ve yet to use this for anything, but according to the Infusion
Threads site, it is designed to hold a flashlight or mace.

Each side also has a long thin pocket with a Velcro strip cover. These
pockets work great for my cell phone and sunglasses clip.

My main complaint about the Pack Sport is with way the front flap is held
closed. A plastic squeeze clip is employed. First of all, I really don’t like
these types of clips because I invariably end up pinching myself with them. Sure
enough, I’ve done this at least a half a dozen times during the review period.
Second of all, the location of the clip makes it somewhat inconvenient to open
quickly when the bag is on your shoulder. You have to slide your fingers up
under the flap and feel around blindly until you can squeeze the clip to release
the flap. I’d rather see the clip moved to the front of the bag somehow.

I should also mention that the bag tends to fall over when the flap is not
clipped closed.

Now let’s take a look at the inside of the bag.

Once you open the flap, you’ll see the three main compartments. On the
outside is a non-zippered pocket with a keychain clip.

Behind that pocket is the smaller of the two main compartments. Like the Pack
Sport’s other zippered compartments, this one also has dual zippers. On the
front wall of this compartment are two flat open nylon pockets, and on the back
wall are three open ballistic nylon ‘cups’ of varying widths. The largest of
these cups can hold my
HP2215
while it is encased in an

Innopocket aluminum case
. I use the other compartments to hold a
BoxWave
miniSync cable
, CF to PC card adapter,

Semson’s & Co. 4 in 1 CF card adapter
,

I-O Data Multi PC card adapter
, and a WiFi sniffer.

The Pack Sport main compartment has… anyone? anyone? That’s right, dual
zippers. This large area is completely open except for a flat unzippered pocket
on the back wall. However, this isn’t exactly a pocket as the bottom is open.
The material goes all the way to the bottom of the bag, but it isn’t sewn into
the bottom. It’s possible that my bag is defective. I’ve found that this pocket
works well as a checkbook holder. In the main area, I keep my iPod, B&O
earphones, and any other loose items that I may be reviewing or need with me at
any given time.

Except for the location of the flap clip and the shoulder strap, I’ve found
that the Pack Sport makes an excellent gear bag. The construction is first rate,
and the materials are rugged enough to withstand everyday use and abuse. I would
love to see this bag made available in other colors and sizes, but as is, I
think the style is appealing to almost anyone.

 

Price: $48.99

Pros:
Pockets, pockets, pockets!
Minimal use of Velcro

Cons:
Shoulder strap
Flap clip location
Bag tends to fall over when flap isn’t clipped

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Product Information

Price:48.99
Manufacturer:Infusion Threads
Pros:
  • Pockets, pockets, pockets!
  • Minimal use of Velcro
Cons:
  • Shoulder strap
  • Flap clip location
  • Bag tends to fall over when flap isn't clipped

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Julie November 26, 2003 at 11:12 pm

Post your comments here on the Infusion Threads Pack Sport Gear Bag Review.

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/infusionthreads-packsport-review.html

Just click the POST REPLY button on this page.

2 fondoo November 30, 2003 at 2:25 am

Gadgeteer,

I noticed you had a Pentax Optica digital camera. Can you do a review on it? I am thinking of getting it. Thanks!!

3 Julie November 30, 2003 at 3:28 am

fondoo:

I don’t think I would do a very good job reviewing a camera, since I’m not a photographer. I’m totally a point and shoot kinda girl :)

4 isobutane February 21, 2005 at 10:33 pm

I have the last one of Infusion Thread’s larger gear bags (slightly larger than this one) on order. I called them today and they are just doing small PDA cases and DVD player cases now…but they have a few of the older bags left. I got the last of the larger ones, no front flap, just pockets galore. I will let you guys know how this bag is when I get it. Maybe I can write a review that will get enough people emailing for this bag that they begin making them again. After a weekend quest for the perfect “man bag”, this might be that Holy Grail.

Mark

5 Julie February 21, 2005 at 11:57 pm

isobutane:

They sent me one of these bags months ago. They didn’t ask for a review since they don’t plan on selling the anymore. I think it’s a mistake. Their larger bag is definitely the ScottEvest of gear bags. You’re right, it has pockets galore! Unfortunately, it’s still not quite my end all be all gear bag. I keep going back to my old friend the SunDog bag. It’s another discontinued product that should still be on the market…

6 isobutane February 22, 2005 at 12:01 am

I have been looking for a bag for a long time and I own so many of them…from the Pod to Eagle Creek’s Excursion Bag to a bag from REI, and none of them really do the job. I am hoping this IT bag will do the trick. What got me started? I went to a computer show and say a guy with a great bag slung over his shoulder and I didn’t ask him where he got it. I have been searching ever since, and I think this IT bag might be very close. I also use a J and D belt pouch, and it is good, but I am tired of snagging my belt pouch on everything.

Mark

7 isobutane February 25, 2005 at 10:28 pm

HOLY CROW.

I just got the last of Infusion Thread’s large gadget bags. It is 12 X 10 X 5 and it has more pockets than a closet full of pants. It quite literally fits ALL of my gadgets in the multitude of compartments. This is the Holy Grail of gear bags. I will write a review of this bag…if Infusion Threads gets pestered enough by enough people, they will start making them again. Men…want a manly bag for your gadgets? THIS IS IT. Yow!!!!

Mark

8 baglady July 26, 2007 at 8:14 pm

I know it’s been a long time, but this bag looks great. Is there any hope of getting a used one that is ‘extra’ or one that has the back pocket for paperback, etc, etc. Thanks

9 Julie July 26, 2007 at 8:50 pm

baglady:

Unfortunately, it appears that the company is now defunct :(

10 baglady July 26, 2007 at 9:24 pm

I don’t suppose you would be interested in selling yours if available?

11 isobutane July 26, 2007 at 9:55 pm

baglady;20253 wrote:

I don’t suppose you would be interested in selling yours if available?

I still have and still use mine, and I know if I sell it, I would regret it for a long time to come. :(

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