Adapter

[eristick]

So, in this post regarding the Aeronaut, I bitched that I wished I could use my under-utilized Absolute Strap on my ID. But alas, I have the older ID, which was incompatible with the Absolute Strap.

Yep, was.

Tested a nifty doohickey for those of us who love our old-school IDs but would like the new-school strap flexibility. It's an adapter that converts the 1 1/2 strap bags to take a D-ring, to which you can attach the Q-AM, Absolute, or Terra strap. You take the old strap out of the toothed slider thing, and slip the short length of 1 1/2 strap on the converter into the slider.



I'm pleased to report that it blends right in with the bag and doesn't look makeshift at all. It's made of very sturdy black plastic that somehow seems to resist scratches or other signs of wear. And I'm pretty hard on my bag.

Here it is attached to my beloved and well-loved ID.


I carry a lot of stuff in my ID, and using the Absolute strap makes it feel about half as heavy. Thanks, Tom and Darcy!

[riviol]

This is very good news for us owners of the older ID. Thank you for informing us of your discovery.

Could you tell us where such an adapter can be purchased? Would Tom Bihn consider stocking it for direct purchase from him?

[moriond]

Yes, this is very good news. I'd also mentioned a preference for the absolute strap to the strap of the older ID bag in this post setting early design specs for the Aeronaut (oddly enough, in an exchange with eristick), and then asked about the possiblity of updating old ID bags to use the Aeronaut when the new ID bag design was announced. I'd love to order a new adaptor for my older ID bag.

[eristick]

Oh, I should've been more clear that this is a Tom Bihn product. Darcy...I got two takers (so far!) for the adapter right here -- when will it be available?

[Darcy]

Thanks, eristick! It looks like the adapter does work well.

The 2" Webbbing Absolute Shoulder Strap adapter is $5.00 and can be ordered by calling us at 1-800-729-9607 (or +1-206-652-4123).

[moriond]

Hi Darcy, Could I just add this on to my current order for the redesigned Buzz, Utility Tote, and various pouches? Also, this reminds me of an older thread on zipper pulls for the Aeronaut. Did you ever decide whether you would sell extra cord pulls to people interested in keeping the zipper tabs from jangling?

[Darcy]

Hi Darcy, Could I just add this on to my current order for the redesigned Buzz, Utility Tote, and various pouches? Also, this reminds me of an older thread on zipper pulls for the Aeronaut. Did you ever decide whether you would sell extra cord pulls to people interested in keeping the zipper tabs from jangling?

Sure! We've added the adapter to your order.

People are welcome to call us to order extra zipper pulls, but the ability to order them through the site won't be available for a couple of more months.

[backpack]

Which Tom Bihn bags does the adapter work with?

It looks very, very nifty.

The side loops could be perfect for adding pouches.

[Darcy]

The adapter will work with older ID and Super Ego bags that have a 2" webbing shoulder strap. This means any Super Ego bought previous to the new batch with the 1-1/2" toothed slide (available April 15th) and any ID bought previous to September 2006.

[riviol]

Am I correct in assuming you need to order a set of 2 adapters to use the Absolute strap with the ID?

[Darcy]

Am I correct in assuming you need to order a set of 2 adapters to use the Absolute strap with the ID?

Yes: when you call to order them, we'll automatically know to send you two of them.

[riviol]

Thanks, Darcy, for clarifying this.

[moriond]

rivol,

I got this when my new Buzz order recently shipped, and I highly recommend it. Just a comment on the fit to older Absolute straps: from eristick's pictures, she's using the current model of Absolute strap hooks -- at least, they match what's shown on the web page images for the strap, and they're the same as the fittings on the Absolute strap I ordered a little less than a year ago. One of my Absolute straps (shipped around August 2004) has hooks that are too small for the adapter. That strap works fine with the smaller rings of the Aeronaut, Brain Cell, and Empire Builder, and usually stays with my Aeronaut. I've seen 3 different design hooks for the Absolute strap since I started ordring these in 2004, and this one is the only one that won't accommodate the ID/Super Ego strap adapter. There's another, early model Absolute strap set of hooks (circa October 2004) that are larger than the current model connectors (with a longer, more tear-drop sort of design) that should have no problems with the adapter.

This is not likely to be an issue for most people, because it only applies to one of the older model straps. And if you've been buying Tom Bihn products since 2004, hey, you probably have multiple bags and have bought more than one Absolute strap over this period. This is the most comfortable strap I've used. I won't search for the link to the post from the guy who said it made the weight carried seem much lighter -- since when he put the bag down on his car seat he once managed to trigger the airbag, which goes off at 60 pounds!

backpack, the thick design of the adapter makes it quite sturdy, but it's too thick to attach pouches in the side loops. You can hook the pouch clips onto the sides, but there's not enough space for them to close.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

moriond

[backpack]

backpack, the thick design of the adapter makes it quite sturdy, but it's too thick to attach pouches in the side loops. You can hook the pouch clips onto the sides, but there's not enough space for them to close.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

moriond

Hi,

I found a tweak. I use the key strap to anchor the Adapter to the key ring and a medium C-clip to clip onto the Adapter big loop to which I clip pouches. I am hunting for small and mini C-clips to use on the side loops of the Adapter.

They would enable me to clip 2 mini pouches on the two small loops on the Adapter.

[riviol]

rivol,

One of my Absolute straps (shipped around August 2004) has hooks that are too small for the adapter. That strap works fine with the smaller rings of the Aeronaut, Brain Cell, and Empire Builder, and usually stays with my Aeronaut. I've seen 3 different design hooks for the Absolute strap since I started ordring these in 2004, and this one is the only one that won't accommodate the ID/Super Ego strap adapter. There's another, early model Absolute strap set of hooks (circa October 2004) that are larger than the current model connectors (with a longer, more tear-drop sort of design) that should have no problems with the adapter.

This is not likely to be an issue for most people, because it only applies to one of the older model straps.

moriond

Thank you, moriond, for your informative explanation. I own a recent Absolute strap, clipped onto an Aeronaut, but intend to order a second one (with adapter) for the ID which will be used as a companion bag to the Aeronaut on a forthcoming trip.