Jumbo Fencing Rollbag
I have had two Uhlmann Jumbo wheelbags, and have had good and bad experiences with both.
The size of the bag is great, it can hold everything I need including 6 epees, mask, shoes, toolbox, poster tube, and clothing etc for a two week overseas trip. I can add a bundle of new blades and a half dozen bottles of wine on the return trip without much problem. The outside pockets make getting to small items easy, and (depending on the model you buy) the extra zip-off bag is great for either taking your stuff to the strip or for separating wet clothes from rust-prone blades.
The problems I have had and seen others have relate to the fabric and the wheels.
The thread used in places on my second bag is horribly inferior and started to break before I even got it home. Straps popped off and zippers started to separate from the bag, leaving holes where weapons or small objects would try to escape. I solve this problem with liberal hand stitching using dental floss wherever I see a seam starting to loosen. The fabric could also be a bit tougher, with handles punching through the bottom after only a bit of use. I may never darn a sock, but I have darned my fencing bag!
The wheels are prone to break. If a heavy handed baggage handler drops it or it's caught in airline machinery the wrong way, the wheel will break. Then you are stuck with a 50-80lb bag that can't roll. That is absolutely the worst nightmare, especially when you are taking public transportation in foreign city. The problem is simply solved by installing rollerblade or skateboard wheels, much tougher than the cheap stock wheels. It's easy to do if you can find a 8x1mm tap. I had to go to 6 hardware stores before I found one, and then of course you have to buy the wheels, bearings and a nut to keep them in place. (FYI, Ye Olde Armorer can do this for you.)
Overall the bag is very good, but overpriced given its high maintenance nature.
The size of the bag is great, it can hold everything I need including 6 epees, mask, shoes, toolbox, poster tube, and clothing etc for a two week overseas trip. I can add a bundle of new blades and a half dozen bottles of wine on the return trip without much problem. The outside pockets make getting to small items easy, and (depending on the model you buy) the extra zip-off bag is great for either taking your stuff to the strip or for separating wet clothes from rust-prone blades.
The problems I have had and seen others have relate to the fabric and the wheels.
The thread used in places on my second bag is horribly inferior and started to break before I even got it home. Straps popped off and zippers started to separate from the bag, leaving holes where weapons or small objects would try to escape. I solve this problem with liberal hand stitching using dental floss wherever I see a seam starting to loosen. The fabric could also be a bit tougher, with handles punching through the bottom after only a bit of use. I may never darn a sock, but I have darned my fencing bag!
The wheels are prone to break. If a heavy handed baggage handler drops it or it's caught in airline machinery the wrong way, the wheel will break. Then you are stuck with a 50-80lb bag that can't roll. That is absolutely the worst nightmare, especially when you are taking public transportation in foreign city. The problem is simply solved by installing rollerblade or skateboard wheels, much tougher than the cheap stock wheels. It's easy to do if you can find a 8x1mm tap. I had to go to 6 hardware stores before I found one, and then of course you have to buy the wheels, bearings and a nut to keep them in place. (FYI, Ye Olde Armorer can do this for you.)
Overall the bag is very good, but overpriced given its high maintenance nature.
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