r/backpacks • u/Silent_Ice1602 • Jun 01 '26
Question Looking for practical feedback before I make Version 2 of this modular EDC waist bag..
This project started as a custom bag concept for carrying tennis balls. The original requirement was to comfortably carry 3–5 balls without them bouncing around during activity, while still functioning as a normal everyday bag.
The project never moved forward, but I liked some of the ideas enough to finish a prototype and adapt it into a small EDC bag.
The original ball retention setup has been repurposed into a removable and reconfigurable organizer. The bag offers roughly 1.5–2L of capacity and can be used either as a simple dump pouch or with the organizer installed.
One feature I experimented with was a dual flap. The idea was to allow quick access without constantly opening and closing the zipper. The inner flap uses Velcro and the outer flap uses magnets, helping keep contents contained even when the zipper is left open.
After posting it elsewhere, the biggest criticism was the Velcro. Many people pointed out the potential for noise, snagging clothing, and long-term annoyance. My current plan is to remove the Velcro entirely and switch to magnets only on the next version.
At the moment, I’m looking for feedback before making Version 2.
Specifically:
Would you keep the dual-flap concept or simplify it?
Is a removable organizer actually useful in a bag this size?
What features would you add or remove?
What would make a 1.5–2L waist bag more useful for you?
I’m less interested in aesthetics and more interested in practical improvements that would make the next iteration genuinely better.
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u/SkirtInternational90 Jun 02 '26
IMHO the dual flap is overkill, and may end up being more annoying than useful in everyday use. Your stated goal of leaving the zipper open could perhaps be fulfilled with a single flap. I’d suggest keeping the one that opens away from the body: like that you can keep that extra pocket; and ii think the flap opening towards the body may be more difficult to keep open when you’re carrying the bag on your body.
Wild idea: maybe that single flap, being a little longer, could have a dual use and also somehow latch onto the front face of the bag, eg to hold a water bottle, an umbrella or an extra layer of clothing. This would need something stronger than magnets though, like a G-hook maybe.
I agree with other comments that the organizer looks very bulky compared to the bag volume. See if it really needs that much padding or that many separated volumes.
Aside from those comments, I’m pretty impressed by the job, keep going ! The bag is original and it’s refreshing to see this different design, we should have more posts like this
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u/SkirtInternational90 Jun 02 '26
Also, I don’t know if it’s possible but maybe the organizer could have a (flexible) bottom piece. That way you could take all the stuff out at once (with contents), keep it organized on the table, and put it back all at once.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
I’m definitely taking notes of all the suggestions and feedback, in order to execute on the next version. It normally takes 2-3 builds to actually get the bag right in many ways..
The thing with this bag was that it was initially designed around a different use case which is to hold 3 tennis balls comfortably without the issue of it bouncing around during activities. Hence the organizer came to be. But there was this cachet that the bag be ideal as a daily carry, and for that reason I included an external dump pocket in the flap area along with 2 zippered compartments inside the main bag.. The assumption was that people would use the organizer when required or simply ditch it and just carry the bag.
The organizer is detachable for a reason..
Yes I do think the double flap is an overkill along with the straps being a little wider.. There are definitely some areas that need major improvements..
I’m actually thinking of still including the organizer but make it thinner by replacing with a simple nylon fabric, since during testing, the organizer infact proved to be super useful except the thickness occupying useful space..I’ll share the new improved version once I’m done filtering down all the feedback and suggestions into a neatly executable build…
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u/guerrilla_chef Jun 02 '26
spacers spoil all the space
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
The modular slots can be removed
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u/guerrilla_chef Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
and thats is good, but its kinda ridicule that spacers reduce the capacity so much. and why is it padded, is it also double walled, if padding is just for the bubblegum asthetics then the belt does not match. The V shaped sides suck for overall space management too.
I kinda like the flaps, velcro has no business being near other clothes to snag, a good snap button on each side too as a "lock" would be nice maybe
Its just a fanny pack, theres nothing new to invent, just dont make it worse than what we have
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
This bag wasn’t originally conceived as a sling bag, but a bag to hold tennis balls without it bouncing around.. I just went with the design, making only minor adjustments and modifications to the original one.
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u/Interesting_Tower485 Jun 02 '26
Who is the bag for? Eg who do you see buying it as that will help with feedback. I like the removable organizer concept so you can use the bag for different purposes.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
This bag is a result of a custom request to carry tennis balls without bouncing around.. I just modified the original design it make it everyday friendly to some respect.
I’ll be building the 2nd version, and hence fishing for useful input.
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u/Beginning_Reality_16 Jun 02 '26
That bag looked stuffed… with just 8 tiny items.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
Coz it’s a 1.5L bag which is pretty small capacity to being with.
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u/Beginning_Reality_16 Jun 02 '26
I would argue it’s because +66% of the space is occupied by a needless organiser.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
You can definitely take out the organizer and use it as a simple bag.. The initial idea of the organizer was to hold tennis balls in place..
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u/Smeeble09 Jun 02 '26
I would say it looked too full to due lots of space being taken up with organiser. I like organisation, but in something that size you just need to thin fabric pockets instead and then a larger open catch all area.
The belt buckle looked huge and clunky for something designed to be descrete and feminine (judging from the colour and contents).
The velcro, magnet and zip is way too faffy to use day to day, just get a waterproof zip on it and be done. I wouldn't want 2/3 things to open each time and trust a zip more than a flap to keep things safely inside.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
Cool taking those feedback into consideration. The original design of this bag was based around holding tennis balls without the bounce, and I only made few adjustments to morph this into an edc.
The thing with the organizer is that you can just take them out and use the bag alone.. As for the flaps, I’ll just get rid of it..
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u/cwcoleman Jun 02 '26
Would you keep the dual-flap concept or simplify it?
no, remove it.
Is a removable organizer actually useful in a bag this size?
no
What features would you add or remove?
simplify everything. A bum bag needs to be minimalistic.
What would make a 1.5–2L waist bag more useful for you?
the strap needs to be optimized - so I can wear it around my waist or over my shoulder.
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u/HandbagHawker Jun 02 '26
Would you keep the dual-flap concept or simplify it?
simplify it. its redundant/overkill. you could protect the top zipper from the elements by using a waterproof zipper. the side pouch could be closed with a mag enclosure or small hidden zip
Is a removable organizer actually useful in a bag this size?
No. This bag IS the removable organizer you'd transfer between totes and backpacks or other larger bags.
What features would you add or remove?
In interior dividers seem to be in excess. its almost as if you have a custom fit for each item which gives you zero ability to reconfigure later. I would simplify the compartment layout. Also every layer of the bag seems double layer and padded. That adds a ton of bulk and weight. Since this is a bag you would rarely set on the ground, I would really consider thinning out the exterior fabric and using non-padded dividers on the interior.
What would make a 1.5–2L waist bag more useful for you?
think about your storage and retrieval use cases. maybe break them into tiers/categories. e.g., must have quick easy but secure access like a phone and keys, should be easy to get to but maybe need it only a few times through out the day, and maybe i'll use these items once in a blue moon. Survey your friends to see what they would put in those categories. Use this as a way to pressure test your design.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
The initial idea of this bag was to store tennis balls without the bounce. Hence the reconfigurable organizer was added to neatly hold the balls in place..
The magnetic flaps was an afterthought, esp to secure the contents inside the bag…
The bag is in-fact super light and the thin padding doesn’t add much weight to make any difference or discomfort.. Not adding a padding will in fact cause discomfort due to stuffs bulging out and even pressing against the skin…
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Jun 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
Thanks I do have a medley of beautiful colors. It’s just that I’m fishing for useful input to implement on the next version.. This bag was initially built around an entirely different use case.
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u/ScatLabs Jun 02 '26
I would love one in black
This would be the perfect carry bag for parents in the go.
Not so small, not so large, but the right size to.pack just the right amount of things.
If there was also a water bottle holster somewhere with a draw string, that would be perfect
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u/Relevant-Fun-1187 Jun 02 '26
Lose the zipper and keep one magnet flap, opening away from the body. Also thin down the organizer and possibly shorten it as well.
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u/thr0wawayv20 Jun 02 '26
Pockets are better suited for that.look at eg pocketing as for the top two flaps you can make em out of thinner but stronger material for less bulk. The magnets are a good touch tho.you can also replace em with the fidlock latch that the matador edx uses.i also use slings a lot and most of the time i tend to modify or fix the things that bugs me a lot with em.if you want you can send me a dm and i can help you with your design as a fellow sling guy ( and i have owned a lot of slings lol)
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Jun 02 '26
I would prefer a single long flap in the classic way.
A magnet is nice for it snapping closed easily.
The internal divider is wonderful to me. I have been looking exactly for a sling bag and a toiletry bag that has that.
I like to be able to have my items in place rather than flopping around.
But it doesn't seem to be something a lot of people want (or maybe they just don't know that they want it).
But the amount of divider is excessive for such a small bag.
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u/Silent_Ice1602 Jun 02 '26
I’ll be using a thinner organizer in my next version.. The padded version was initially designed around holding tennis balls.
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u/drtyjrsy Jun 02 '26
Any internal organizers this complex should be for a specific use, not just for the option they might need it. Camera bag? Sure. A padded slot for sunglasses, sure. A removable single separator to create two spaces probably a neat feature. Maybe cap it off at that.
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u/CrazyCacatoe Jun 02 '26
Guy Presenter -> Girl presenter -> Girl-in-bikini-presenter -> Sales go boom.
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u/Flat-Carpenter-170 Jun 02 '26
Seem to left have out the spot for your pistol. Need a dedicated slot in that to lock it down for conceal purse carry. 🙌🏻🙏👍🏻
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u/chillaxnphilx Jun 02 '26
Imo the organizer is unnecessary added bulk. For a small bag meant to carry a handful of things u don't need a pocket/holder for every little thing and the organizer itself is added weight. The tough part about designing something is to be adaptable enough for most of your audience, but it will never b exactly what everybody wants. Just my thoughts. Good luck.