[nabs-l] Backpack alternative at convention

Sun Jun 5 17:29:53 UTC 2011

This sounds really really cool.  I'll call you at convention-I too am
stuck in the overflow hotel but I wanna see this!

On 6/5/11, Josh Gregory <joshkart12 at gmail.com> wrote:
> This sounds cool! Now, if only there were something like this for
> wheelchairs...  I have 2 bags already, and I use my black
> briefcase type thing for books and such.  It's often crammed to
> the max, and 2 bags (I have a blue one too) is a lot for the back
> of my chair.  Ah well, as Joseph C said, I guess I'll have to
> keep the search up.
> Josh
>
> sent from my Apex
> Email: joshkart12 at gmail.com
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rania Ismail CMT" <raniaismail04 at gmail.com
> To: <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>,"'National Association of Blind
> Students mailing list'" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 12:51:18 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Backpack alternative at convention
>
> Thanks for sharing! As a massage therapist I also see people with
> neck
> shoulder and back pain like a physical therapist does.
> I will hold on to this website and suggest this as an alternative
> to
> changing bags or lightening the load!
> Thanks
> Rania,
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of T.  Joseph Carter
> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 3:06 AM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] Backpack alternative at convention
>
> Hey everyone,
>
> I have been playing with a very cool "backpack alternative" for
> about
> two weeks now.  If you carry too much stuff with you and are
> coming
> to National Convention, I'd be happy to show it to you!
>
> As probably most of you who know me are already aware, I tend to
> carry everything but the kitchen sink around with me.  My
> girlfriend
> has even threatened to buy me a folding camping sink so that the
> next
> time someone asks if I have it, I can respond with, "Actually..."
> and
> pull the thing out!  It would be SO worth it.  *grin*
>
> Anyway, there are two problems with a backpack: You can't get at
> anything in them without stopping to take it off first, and of
> course
> a heavy backpack is literally a pain to wear.  A sling or
> messenger
> bag makes the first problem easier, but makes the second problem
> much
> worse.
>
> That's where this ingenious device comes in.  It's called a
> BackTPack
> (that should be read "Back Tee Pack" if your screen reader of
> choice
> mangles it.)  The company's website is: http://www.backtpack.com/
> and
> the product doesn't cost significantly more than any quality
> backpack
> would, making it very much worth a look!
>
> The design of the BackTPack is a bit unusual, but completely
> logical.
> Essentially it takes your backpack and splits the bag portion in
> half
> to make two (relatively) thinner bags.  Then it slides these down
> the
> straps so they hang more like messenger bags, one on each side.
> The
> place where the bag was becomes just a small, flat piece to hold
> it
> all together and attach the backpack straps.  Like nicer
> backpacks it
> has a sternum strap to keep the BackTPack sitting properly on
> your
> shoulders.  It's way less complicated than it sounds, I promise.
>
> The idea behind this arrangement is that it balances the load and
> places it vertically on your spine, which is the part of your
> body
> that is intended to support that kind of weight.  It was designed
> by
> a physical therapist who saw one too many school kids hunched
> over
> carrying the weight of school books.  Even a moderately heavy
> backpack pretty much ensures bad posture and eventually back
> pain.
>
> With the BackTPack, you aren't hunched over or pulled backward or
> off
> to either side.  This consequently makes it easier to wear for a
> longer period of time, and the whole thing feels lighter than my
> backpack for the same contents.
>
> If you're wondering if the BackTPack would interfere with using a
> cane, it doesn't in my experience.  I cannot wear messenger and
> laptop bags on my left side because they interfere with movement
> of
> my cane-using arm, but I do not have that problem with the
> BackTPack
> at all.  The BackTPack website talks about how useful it is when
> using a service animal, but it's just as useful for a cane user
> and
> for the same reason: One of our hands is occupied pretty much all
> the
> time!
>
> Of course a pack is only as good as what it will let you carry.
> The
> size of the bags on the BackTPack vary slightly based on which of
> the
> three models you're using, but the smallest size is 13 inches
> square
> by 3 inches wide.  The medium/large model 3 is 14 inches by 13
> inches
> by 3.5 inches.  The bags are soft, so they can fit items that are
> a
> little bigger in one of these dimensions, but you're not going to
> cram a 17 inch MacBook Pro into it.  The larger model 3 will hold
> about a 15.4 inch laptop.  It easily swallows netbooks, note
> takers,
> iPads with folio cases, etc.
>
> If you look into one of the bags, there are pockets about the
> size of
> a pen pouch you'd put into a three ring binder.  On the wall
> toward
> your body, the pocket has a zippered top.  On opposite wall, the
> pocket is sewn into a few pen holders and pocket about four
> inches
> wide.  The model 2 and 3 bags have a mesh bottle holder pocket as
> well intended for 16-20 ounce bottles.  A Camelbak 25 ounce
> bottle
> fits, barely, but the large 32 ounce Nalgene bottles are too wide
> for
> the mesh pockets.  The other bag mirrors all of the above, and
> adds a
> strap with a keyring clip toward the front.
>
> Outside, there are two pockets in the front that will hold a cell
> phone (including larger phones like the iPhone or Blackberry),
> glasses, or whatever you need.  On the outside of each bag is a
> pocket big enough to carry a men's wallet (which is not what I'd
> suggest putting there, of course!).  On one side, this small
> pocket
> has a mesh window for a bus pass or ID badge, should you need one
> of
> those.
>
> There are two other features which might be really nice,
> depending on
> your circumstances.  First, if you're going to sit down in chair
> that
> has no armrests, a bench, or a seat on a bus that's wide enough,
> there is no need to take a BackTPack off.  There's a strap that
> hangs down in front on each side called a sit strap.  Buckle it
> and
> have a seat!  All of the weight is taken completely off your
> shoulders by the sit strap.  Plus you know how much space you
> occupy,
> so you're unlikely to turn and smack someone with with your
> backpack.
>
> The other feature is a set of elastic loops on the inside of the
> bag
> intended for a hip belt, should you desire one.  You might find
> this
> useful for longer trips.
>
> And speaking of elastic, purely as an attention to detail matter,
> all
> of the straps have elastic keepers to hold the excess strap so it
> isn't flopping about or getting tangled.
>
> If you'd like to see my BackTPack in person, just let me know!  I
> will be attending the whole Convention.  I am staying in the
> overflow
> hotel, but I literally take the BackTPack with me everywhere.
> Just
> reply off-list to this email or give me a call at 503-610-8709
> and we
> can arrange a time and place.  (I'm still going through the
> agenda
> trying to determine where all I will be and when, and I'll bet I
> am
> not alone in that regard!)
>
> And yes, I AM going to be there this year-my state president
> tells me
> I am not allowed to suddenly find any scary medical problems that
> keep me from going.  If I find another tumor or something, I
> won't
> have to worry about it, because Art is likely to kill me first.
> *grin*  That is assuming of course a few others who have said
> similar
> things don't beat him to it.  (It's good to know I'm loved,
> hehe!)
>
> See you all there,
>
> Joseph
>
>
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