Does anybody make a good bag?

[little_old_me]

Seriously, I've only been fencing for seven months and I've managed to go through 2 bags. The first was an Absolute Advanced whose zipper decided to explode. The second was a rolling soft bag from Physical Chess (Yeah, I know... it was a gift). Its handles just decided to rip off when my girlfriend was taking it out of my car. Can anybody suggest a bag that can possibly last more than 4 months without falling apart? Preferably something that's a little cheaper than a plastic golf club case.

Thanks

[larkmaj]

Well, I have an excellent bag made by my coach at a very reasonable price. They have certainly lasted the test of time. If you're in the area you may be able to get him to make one.

Otherwise, if you shell out more money the quality tends to go up. There are a few threads around discussing bags that will probably be of use, run a search.

[Purple Fencer]

Workin' on it.....workin' on it....

[epeeisky]

http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/s...d63e5098d8384f

This is my bag and I have had it for 4 or 5 months now and it works great. The bag is big and fits every piece of fencing equipment I own.

[KD5MDK]

I have a soft PC rolling bag, and I'd suggest getting someone or somewhere to sew the handles back on, as an expedient. I've heard tell of a new bag design coming up, but it's certainly not out yet. Personally, I suspect my next bag may be a heavily modified golf case, for the fun of it.

[rory]

Allstar/Uhlmann.
LP.
PBT.

All good.

[D'Art]

Not tried a PBT one, but I've got an LP one which I won 9 years ago, and is still in good enough nick to put my club kit in.

My Allstar one has stood up to a couple of years of abuse so far without any problems.

[Tomas N]

I've used Triplette's "Jimmy Hoffa" bag for ... could it be over 15 years? I bought the thing in grad school and it has held up like a champ. Can't argue with the price either.

Tomas

[jtnation]

I'm gonna throw in another vote for Triplette's "Jimmy Hoffa" bag. I've had mine for about 7 years, I think, and it will not need to be replaced in the foreseeable future.

One note, too: keeping your weapons in PVC keeps the tips from punching through the ends of the bag over time. Of course, it does nothing for bad zippers...

[yeoldearmourer]

I have over the years repaired a number of bags and I have came to the point that fencers are just plain hard on bags overstuffing them doesn't help the zipper either. I have a Santelli team bag going on 20 years nows But the plastic tube does prevent the tips from going though the ends.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I got my first rollbag after ~12 years of fencing and I can't believe I waited for that long to get it -- it's so worth it!

It's an Allstar 'Jumbo' bag (the one with the detachable top bag) and I've had it for two years now. I've travelled quite a bit with it, both by air and car/train, and it's holding up very well.

I highly recommend it.

[RITFencing]

El Chucko on this forum made the best fencing bag ever; search the forums for the "pimp my case" thread.

[SpyderLily]

I was curious about the bags, so I checked some of them out online. The Triplette Jimmy Hoffa bag may last, but it's kinda ugly... Yes, I know I'm being amazingly superficial. However, I putzed around their website for a bit (By the way, it's much better than the last time I was there, and you can order online now.) and was wondering if anyone knew anything about their cylinder bag. They also have a new tardis model bag... but no picture. I suppose I was just thinking that perhaps if the Jimmy Hoffa bag is good quality, the others may be too. Anyone want to suggest accepting or rejecting this hypothesis? (Also, my reason for looking at these was that they're inexpensive in comparison to a lot of the others mentioned.)

[rcmatthews]

Have you considered the fact that maybe it is your fault, and not the bag. I mean, I have had my absolute bag for, oh a long time, got it right after they opened, and there is virtually no wear on it.

[SpyderLily]

Have you considered the fact that maybe it is your fault, and not the bag. I mean, I have had my absolute bag for, oh a long time, got it right after they opened, and there is virtually no wear on it.

little_ole_me and I happen to be members of the same club. The bags haven't been treated roughly. The Absolute one simply came appart at one of the seams next to the zipper. Perhaps you got a really good one and he got a really bad one. Perhaps you are right in the sense that he's a little rougher on them than you. At any rate, I don't think he's not looking to massively change what he does with his bag. It's a fencing bag. It's going to see use. As far as I know, he simply wants to know if there is a bag that is more likely to hold up better and withstand his general usage.

[tallntender]

SKB golfbag. Cheap, snaps instead of zippers, durable wheels that are guaranteed.

[rcmatthews]

Well, its not like I treat my bag with kidgloves or anything. But, I mean, there is literally not a single scuff mark on my bag.

[little_old_me]

I don't consider myself particularly rough on my equipment.

Here's the extent of my bag usage:
I put my stuff in it and pick it up before practice. I carry my bag down to the campus rec center (about two blocks). I carry it down the stairs and into the club gym. I sit the bag against the wall and get my stuff out. After practice, i put my stuff back in and walk back to my dorm. I then sit my bag on the floor by the window and leave it to peacefully sleep until practice the next evening. I keep all of my blades in PVC piping with smooth end caps to keep my Epees from puncturing the bag.


Occasional weekends when i go to tournaments, I put the bag in my back seat (not the trunk) and drive to the venue. I then take my bag out of my car and carry it in to the venue. Same for the return trip.

And yes, like SpyderLily said, I'm simply looking for a bag that will hold up a little better. After the Absolute bag going ca-put, I've been extra careful with the PC one. I don't even use the shoulder strap that ripped off. I always carry it by the handle on the "nose" of the bag and always in the vertical position.

[jdoiv]

but I have the PBT Pentathalon bag. Terrific bag. Huge. Tons of space. Dividers in each comparment. 3 exterior pockets. I can now carry close to 100 pounds of stuff in there. Roll bag too. Can't say enough about how this helped my shoulder from not having all that weight to carry. Well worth the investment. Stiff material. So stiff, that zipping it up can be a challenge. It takes two hands. One to straighten and hold the material and another to zip the zipper. No complaints here though.

[Ordway]

I've had a good experience with Triplette's bags. I've had one of their soft bags for about 8 years (the middle-sized one, not sure they make the exact one any more) and it's still going strong. I'm not exactly kind to it, either. (I do use PVC tubes on my weapons, so there's no point damage.)

I also have a Triplette hardshell case, and the thing is built like a freaking tank. I've had it for about 5-6 years and it has gone through a lot of airline baggage handlers and trunks of cars, and yet it looks like brand new. It will probably survive the heat death of the universe.