Summary:
Interesting multi-use bag is well made and
designed to carry a wide selection of tools and
trinkets.
Introduction
Here's an interesting piece of
luggage that's hard to characterize. Is it
a tail bag? A tool bag? Or how about
a camera bag, a travel bag or...a lunch box?
All of the above actually,
although a look at the manufacturer's website --
and a peek inside the bag -- seems to indicate
that the Stealth Workshop bag is mostly designed
to carry tools. The target market goes
beyond motorcycles to ATV's, snowmobiles, 4x4's
and more. Anyone who can use a
high-quality, semi-soft, rugged carrying bag.
And it would actually make a
pretty good pit lane tool bag for track days,
now that I think about it...
The Stealth Workshop bag is made
from DuPont Cordura, that ubiquitous and magic
motorcycle fabric. The bottom half of the
bag and the entire bottom is covered with some
type of leather-look vinyl, and the piping that
separates the two is a nice touch.
Using the Stealth Workshop
Powersport Utility Bag
But the really cool part happens
when the bag is opened up, sort of like opening
a clam. Those slab sides are actually a
sort of saddlebag -- in fact, when I first
opened it, I thought it was designed to lay over
the rear of a motorcycle seat, ending up with
two miniature saddlebags that could be attached
to a pair of racks or something.
The halves are held
together with two flaps that are attached to the
bottom of the bag at either side of the narrow
ends. Each flap has a large section of
hook-and-loop that attaches to smaller mates on
the edges of the clamshells. Then the
flaps snap together at the top with one of those
plastic male/female snap hooks, like the ones
found on motorcycle tank bags or panniers.
Open the flap, unfasten the
hook-and-loop, fold down the two connecting
flaps and undo the clamshell halves, and you're
presented with an array of pockets and storage
nooks. See our video below; it shows it
all in action.
The bottom of the bag is formed
by a large plastic removable tool or parts tray.
There are two soft neoprene-like zip-on pockets
that cover the tray. Each of these is
covered with stretchy pockets that easily hold
up to 10 wrenches.
There are 6 wrench pockets on
one side and 4 on the other side. The side
with four also has a short slot on either end
where you can fit one of those socket holders,
full up with your choice of metric or SAE
sockets.
These wrench pockets are
designed to be zipped free from the bag if
desired to keep the tools in order.
Covering the tool tray are two
more pockets with zippers on top; each of these
has a clear vinyl side, revealing the contents.
I put rubber gloves in one and some spark plugs
and assorted parts in the other.
The tool tray has four molded-in
dividers to keep the nuts and bolts from rolling
around, although you'll want to keep little
parts like that in baggies or something, because
the only thing holding them in is gravity (as
long as the bag stays upright) and the wrench
pockets, after they're zipped back on to the
bag.
The large saddlebag-like side
"pods" can be used to hold larger items, like a
roll of paper towels (don't forget those), a can
of chain lube, WD-40, and also be sure to
remember the duct tape. Each "pod" also
has two wide pieces of elastic at the ends,
which can hold more tools or other goodies to
keep them from rattling around.
The grippy outer surface that
covers the outside 2/3 of the bag keeps
everything from sliding around, whether the bag
is unfolded on the back of a motorcycle or on a
tailgate.
While the Stealth Workshop
Powersports Utility Bag can be used as a
motorcycle tail bag, it would have to be bungeed
to the seat for that purpose. The company
does have a type of strap that looks like it
goes around the outside of the tool tray, and
stays secure when the bag is closed up, but it
only appears to have D-rings on one side.
Another option is a second set
of external pockets that will slip over the two
side flaps that cover the bag; those will be
available soon also.
I'm really surprised that they
didn't sew in four D-rings at either corner of
the bag, facing put from the narrow sides.
This would have made it so much easier to attach
to a motorcycle. In fact, it would solve
the problem Rick had with the
Hepco & Becker tail bag (review), which was
too big to work as a tail bag for the back of
his GT1000. I'll bet the Stealth Workshop
bag would do it, if only it had D-rings.
Conclusion
The Stealth Workshop Powersports Utility Bag is
a well made, do-it-all piece of luggage that
serves a variety of uses. It's a rugged
piece of kit and very nicely designed.
I think the bag could benefit by adding D-rings
around the outside, which would make it easier
to attach to a motorcycle, ATV or snowmobile
(see comments below). But nevertheless, this is an interesting utility
bag that should find 1001 uses at home, work and
play.
wBW
Video: Stealth Workshop Powersports
Utility Bag
wBW Product
Review: Stealth
Workshop Powersports Utility Bag
Available
From: Stealth
Workshop (Note: As of November 2011, apparently Stealth
Workshop is no longer in business).
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be published (details). Comments may be edited for
clarity prior to publication.
Update from Stealth Workshop (7/08, slightly edited for
brevity): "We really appreciate his "In depth"
look into our bag and I think he explained the bags potential
very well.
I have two bits of information I would like to
share regarding our utility bag product:
Pricing restructuring - due to
overwhelming customer feed back, the Utility Bag unit is now
sold separately from the tool organizers and clear faced
pouches. Prices are as follows: Utility bag - $89.95, tool
organizers - $14.95 per set and clear faced pouches - $14.95 per
set. This move will result in a cost savings to the end
user and allows them to decide how they will use our product.
Travel Kits - Coming very soon and Made
in USA. The D-rings in each corner as suggested by Bill,
is coming and has been in development for quite some time.
The "Utility Belt" as we call it has D-rings in each corner
along side with SR-buckles (view below).
The travel kit also includes four under the seat
travel straps that are universal in application (reversible).
You can either anchor the straps under the seat to the frame
rails or reverse them to capture the rear seat.
NOTE: D-rings were prototyped heavily.
They looked hideous and like they were an after thought - we
even went as far as to add 3/4" rectangle rings under the bag
and still, seemed irregular to add permanently. Once you
lay your eyes on the Utility Belt - you will see, the system
really makes sense and is an elegant accessory that compliments,
rather than hinders the overall look and feel of the bag.
The cool thing is, if the user doesn't like how
it looks on his bag (when not traveling with it), he can simply
remove it and not have any crap hanging off each corner! Pretty
cool when you stop and think about it."
