I found it!!! The Ultimate Letterboxing Vest!

http://groups.msn.com/MartinChronicles/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=8

-wassamatta_u

Quote

I found it!!! The Ultimate Letterboxing Vest!

http://groups.msn.com/MartinChronicles/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=8

-wassamatta_u

Too cool, I like.
Mystic Dreamer

I tried using a jacket with multiple pockets but could never remember what was where! Now I use a backpack, not a standard walker's pack but one designed for carrying a laptop and documents etc.

It provides a couple of big pockets that take a thick logbook and cluesheets without folding them, and has several small pockets for inkpads and pens. Plus a holder for a bottle of water and enough goodies to sustain me on the trail for several hours. I usually leave packed so all I have to do is grab it as I go out. The best thing about it though is that it was a freebie from an IT symposium I attended last year. :-)

DM (who wishes he was was on the trail now instead of in the office)

The Ultimate Boxing Vest

Wonderfully funny. It struck home with me. If I have to rush out for a newspaper or greet someone at the door, I find myself rubbing furiously at my chin or trying to de-ink fingernails because I am sporting that "distressed" look.

Eaglewatcher

That's funny!!!
SMILE

I stopped using my pack, because I got sick of taking it off my back, and rummaging through it and there weren't enough pockets for things, so I had to use bags/baggies inside of it etc. I also carry the logs and stamps for my two little boxers.

Anyway, I got a Timbuk2 Metro mini messenger bag
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?categoryId=0&skusetId=33

(It can also work as a Murse, if you need one :)

It is not as ergonomic as a backpack, and if I were doing a long hike/climb I would probably switch back, but I keep it packed and bring it to my car every day with my other work things in case I want to stop somewhere on the way home...

I have just downloaded cluesets to my PDA/Smartphone and that seems to work quite well! So that will be less to carry too.

I also have a gear belt/purse that I use every day in my work and I continue using it outside of work because I like having my hands free. I have a baggallini purse that converts to waist pack or purse, but I use it as a waist pack. I then clip my beeper and phone onto it.

Note: I do not care what it looks like :)

DEF

Here is one suggestion I was refering to in my earlier post.

http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5588&TabID=1&CatID=5

This is what I have.

http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5633&TabID=1&CatID=5

Here is yet another option.

http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=10027&TabID=1&CatID=5

I chose the small ALICE because of the price. I'd really like one of the vests.

Shiloh

I picked up a small day pack at K-Mart designed for kindergarteners. It has three separate pouches, which is plenty for my needs (I can carry a small flashlight, bug repellent, lots of box first aid, and water.), it's lightweight, and it cost less than $10.

Hmmmm....I think that Shiloh's "weight bearing suspenders" letterboxing option would look ver-r-r-r-r-ry conspicuous in Northern California. Just to military-looking for hikers around these parts.

In fact, I might have to feature them on another edition of
http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2006/09/what-not-to-wear.html

But seriously, how much stuff are y'all dragging out on the trail, anyway?

I have a moleskine logbook, as stamp, a pad of ink, a pencil and clues. Other than a small bottle of water, a lip balm and an apple, that's it. Any excess weight comes from the non-letterboxing stuff -- my wallet, phone, digital camera, and maybe a bird book and binoculars. I carry the smallest day pack I can get away with.

Heck, half the time, I carry all of this in a purse.

I don't need letterboxing to be another excuse to spend more money! But that's just me. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible, these days.

Lisa

I'd look into ScottEVest's if I were you. They design multiple clothing types- designed really for carrying all your electronic gadgetry with you, but really work for carrying everything. Their vest alone has 29 pockets I think; jackets, more than 50 hidden pockets. I have friends who SWEAR by them. I think the vest with fit a magazine in it so I'd bet a logbook will be no problem. Good luck!

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/40_Classic4

Check it out- pricey but well-made & apparently they work really, really well if you can find the piece that works for what you want.

(you might need to add a hardhat to the ensemble for this to be believable!)</quote?

and don't forget the work-boots!

Quote

Their vest alone has 29 pockets I think;

29 pockets! WHAT! I have enough trouble trying to find which pocket I put things in at the moment!!

DM

I use a backpack that was originally designed as a diaper bag - it has a convenient padded tri-fold changing pad that goes into an open compartment near where the straps of the backpack are located. It is great for whipping out on the trail and laying down on whatever dirty surface is nearby. It was particularly useful on Dartmoor where poop of many creatures abounds.

It also has a mesh bottle compartment on one side - probably meant for the baby's bottle, but it holds a plastic Dasani bottle just fine. To complete the look, I do often carry Baby Wipes to clean of stamps and hands. Suppose I could use them as TP if a trail emergency were to arise.

-- Princess Lea

P.S. To Wassamatta U - brilliant!

Quote

Anyway, I got a Timbuk2 Metro mini messenger bag
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?categoryId=0&skusetId=33

Wow, great site and resource...

::Looking around my piles and piles of bags trying to find the perfect bag!::

Another Bag place that I like on the internet is www.ebags.com

Soooo many bags, and a lot of good possiblilties.

::Gotta get back to both sites and scope out my new bag::

Thanks,

-Buxton Boxers

Quote

Anyway, I got a Timbuk2 Metro mini messenger bag
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?categoryId=0&skusetId=33

I love my Timbuk2 bag! I have a small size classic messenger that I bought about 4 years ago. It's been on several trips around the country and abroad and various letterboxing adventures and I used it to carry my books while in college. And it's held up wonderfully!
It's my favorite letterboxing bag since I don't need to take it off to stamp in and the compartments help organize things. My bag has a special organizer panel with various pockets on the inside (don't really know if they offer it anymore and I haven't seen anyone else with this inside their bag). There's a mesh zip pocket, key fob, a large pocket that holds my logbook, and lots of other little pockets that hold anything else I might need. And the waterproof lining is always nice when the ground is wet.

I really want to get a new one, but am having trouble justifying buying another messenger bag when my current one is still good. It's still fun poking around the site though!

Actually, the orange would stand out a bit for those urban boxes in downtown Boston or wherever, but in western NC we're headed toward deer season so blaze orange is a lovely idea!

Knit Wit

And another advantage is that you'd look WAY too serious about your business wearing these for people to bug you...

On the other hand, given the fact that our mountains have hidden so many whackos in recent years, it'd be my luck an overzealous deputy would haul me in on suspicion...

Knit Wit

I should have checked all the links before writing my first response...

OK, Christmas list, people... The Blackhawk recon harness is way cool! I gotta get me one of those! Maybe my kids will take me seriously then.

KW

I have a photographer's vest (longer than a fishing vest)
and it was pretty nice having all those pockets but I put so much in the front pockets that the weight/pressure against the back of my neck drove me bonkers. I should have bought one with a wider more comfortable neckline or one were the weight was distributed better. Consider weight distribution when you buy the vest.

Quote

But seriously, how much stuff are y'all dragging out on the trail, anyway?

Same as you but also:-
kitchen roll for wiping/drying out boxes, spare baggies for when needed, spare visitors books for replacing when necessary.
Usually at least one letterbox in need of planting, Cuckoos (sorry I forgot to speak American, I mean Hitchhikers) needing to be left in a letterbox.
Compass, and generally two Ordnance Survey Maps

Now my personal traveller - that does get left in the car. It is big and heavy and in all these years I have never met a letterboxer by accident when out in the field :-( It is usually pre-arranged or at a Meet.

YT

Quote

Same as you but also:-
kitchen roll for wiping/drying out boxes, spare baggies for when needed, spare visitors books for replacing when necessary.
Usually at least one letterbox in need of planting, Cuckoos (sorry I forgot to speak American, I mean Hitchhikers) needing to be left in a letterbox.
Compass, and generally two Ordnance Survey Maps

I have these (except the Ordnance Survey Maps), as well as the fox-let's logbooks (I've considered ditching them, but they do love having their "own" book ;-)) and first aid kit (it's been used a LOT - I guess my kids are wimpy - any scratch on the trail practically needs a helicopter airlift out ;-)). I've been taking my Marvy Pens, but I think I need to cut down to the primary colors, brown and black. I have a messenger bag I got for $5 somewhere, and that works well - plenty of pockets and stuff - when I start remembering where I've stashed things, it will be perfect! When this one wears out (probably within the year - you get what you pay for!) I'll make one to be just what I need.

If you sew..... there's patterns for fishing vests, vests with hidden pockets, and bag patterns galore. And you can make the pockets the "perfect" size, with the "perfect" closure, etc. etc. My best friend and I have been desiging the "perfect" purse for years - only to find (obviously - duh!) there is no "perfect" bag that's "perfect" for everyone ;-)) However, if we ever do invent one, maybe we will be rich!

Mama Fox

I also need to carry lots of water and some extra trail food. Boxing with Eidolon is an endurance test, and he never seems to allow any time for eating. And I almost forgot - the flashlight. Something like a little darkness has never been able to stop the obsessive one.

Example: last Saturday night at midnight, after a day of boxing that had started at 11:30 A.M., six boxers piled into a car and discussed not "shall we go get another box?" but "which box shall we go get now?".

Having traveled some throughout my life, majored in geology in college, and working at construction sites currently, I think I have a little experience with the whole bag/vest/other forms of convenient transport....

VisVests are mostly far too orange, of course, and most of them are the nylon fabric that does not keep you cool and absorbs moisture. The green ones would work, then, but they also have visibility stripes and, once again, are rather heavy. The mesh vests may wick away more moisture, but rarely come with enough pockets and tend to be weighed down/deform easily. They don't last long or through much. I have also never seen them in less conspicuous colors than blaze orange.

Duluth Trading (duluthtrading.com) specializes in both men's and women's workwear and is rather innovative, which really appeals to me. They have several vests, which can be found simply by searching for "vest" at their web site. Their lightweight version can be seen here:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/64059.aspx?feature=Product_6

Interestingly enough, they have a Moleskine vest, perfect to go with those oh-so-popular Moleskine books! haha...

As far as the perfect bag, I can tell you it does not exist. Some come close, but none will ever be quite so ideal as to be perfect. The not-having-to-take-your-backpack-off is a plus for the Timbuktu or other messenger style bags, but I much prefer to not have back problems later in life, so I stick with backpacks.

To keep from having to take a backpack off so much, though, I prefer that it have secure outside pockets. That way things are easily accessible by simply reaching around behind, but things are secure enough to stay out of the way when crawling over logs and such. The problem comes when it rains, so I make sure the backpack is comfortable enough to sling around under my arm and sort of hold in front of me. Then it's the best of both worlds.

As for hard hats and boots, the hard hat shades from sun but is too warm in the heat. It does shed water fabulously, though, if you have the non-baseball-style kind with a brim around the whole head. Just be sure your coat doesn't absorb all the water your head is shedding! And at that rate, you might as well wear a pith helmet. (If anybody knows where I can get a pith helmet hard hat, let me know!!) The work boots are mostly just too heavy for lots of hiking, though I was very glad to have them while hiking in caves not long ago...

And there's my more-than-two-cents!

I like the Duluth Trading site...
I found lots and lots of things for a wish list...
here was one bag (not my favorite one on site but very useful) I thought was interesting
it's a GI's medic bag
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/giftshop/giftshop_giftshop/giftguide_foryourcrew/42049.aspx?feature=Product_7

Yes, yes... I am also a big fan of the small ALICE pax as they have little pockets on the outside if you need quick accessibility for those on-the-go boxes. Personally, I used a CamelBak for a while, and still do sometimes, because it can carry a lot of other stuff for my hiking trip - most notably and importantly the bladder of water. But they usually aren't cheap.

-Infinity

I have been very successful getting bags at Sal's Boutique for next to nothing. My fave for boxing stuff is a blackpurse with backpacker straps. It can be carried either way. Is made out of almost real leather and has several sections, flaps and pockets. It carries what I need and I don't feel conspicuous.
Eaglewatcher

Thank you, Jackbear, for showing the backpack/stool combo! After clicking on the Amazon link, I searched on ebay and found several. I just won my bid for a brand new bag/stool for $7.50!! (+ s/h still <$20)

I can't wait to get it! Finally, a solution to sitting on pine needles and unsteady logs!

~HP~