Modifying folding chair bag into tripod bag

Chris Stearns · 05-07-2009, 12:34 AM

So I was walking around my local Rural King(like Lowe's for farmers) and happened upon these ten dollar folding chairs for kids. I've been searching for well over a year now for a solution to carrying around my tripod and folding stool. I really didn't want to fork out $40 or $50 for a tripod specific bag, and I always found that the normal sized folding chair bags were way to long for my gear.

What attracted me to these chairs was the bag that they came in. Not only was it the perfect size, but it actually had a zipper down the length instead of the regular drawstring on top. Of course the chairs are made for kids and the bag is in the shape of a crayon, with the crayon logo down the side. The choice of colors also left much to be desired. Baby blue, purple, pink, and lime green were my choices. Oh well, function trumps form I guess.

Anyway, after a little modification, this bag is quite useful. I haven't had a chance to take it on a test hike yet, so I don't know how well my sewing job on the loops will hold up. Here's some before and after pics for those who are interested.

Enjoy!

The chair was around $9 after taxes. I can sit comfortably in the chair so I threw it in the back of my truck for when I go fishing and don't want to lug around a full size chair.

A Manfrotto 3001bn with a 3d head and a small folding stool fits perfectly with maybe enough room for a monopod or small light stand.

I removed the puny carry strap and used it to make loops on either end of the zipper to attach a camera bag strap. I also replaced the zipper pull tab and covered the crayon logo with black duct tape.
I may go to the hobby store and buy some fabric spray paint, but it works fine as is.

Dom · 05-07-2009, 02:09 AM

Groovy, I'm going to keep an eye out for a similar bag.

Russell-Evans · 05-07-2009, 03:59 AM

That's pretty good. I would have gone for the green one.

Thank you
Russell

Ratmagiclady · 05-07-2009, 08:34 AM

Cute!

I've been using a plain one from a supermarket-bought camp chair to keep the old tripod that rides in the car in. It's way too flimsy to want to consider making a carrying bag out of it, but it keeps the thing clean.

The chair itself is probably going to become parts for something lighting-related before the summer's out. Maybe a light tent.

Chris Stearns · 05-07-2009, 10:25 AM

[QUOTE=Ratmagiclady;586006]Cute!

lol. Not exactly what I was going for. I would love to find one of these in black or burnt sienna.

We'll see if hobby lobby has any fabric paint that will work.

I'm not sure how long this bag will last, but at least I now know the exact dimensions that fit my gear.

Ratmagiclady · 05-07-2009, 11:13 AM

[QUOTE=Chris Stearns;586170]

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

Cute!

lol. Not exactly what I was going for. I would love to find one of these in black or burnt sienna.

We'll see if hobby lobby has any fabric paint that will work.

I'm not sure how long this bag will last, but at least I now know the exact dimensions that fit my gear.

Hee, well, before you go to that kind of trouble (I guarantee trying to fabric-paint that will look awful, anyway: bright blue is hard to cover under the *best* of conditions, which these are certainly not. ) you could probably just find a more-serious brand of camp chair, (even more serious outfits make kid-sized things, try like Coleman or something) appropriate the bag, and have a chair, too.

(Come to think of it, though, 'burnt sienna' was always one of my favorite crayon colors.

)

**Kerrowdown** · 05-07-2009, 02:18 PM

I quite like the way the bag is (original), who's gonna nick (steal) a big crayon.

Ratmagiclady · 05-07-2009, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

I quite like the way the bag is (original), who's gonna nick (steal) a big crayon.

I'd be tempted to do that, myself, mostly to prevent any lapses on my part. (Didn't I have a crayon when I arrived?)

Kind of like the old 'Pink spraypaint on your tools' technique, ....guys generally won't accidentally walk off with em.

Though, for purposes of any lighting or bracketry, I was always partial to black: then you can kind of cache that in some dark place and if no one knows it's there at all, it saves both yourself and any would-be thief a lot of inconvenience.

Ira · 05-08-2009, 03:04 AM

Yeah, but to be really cool, you want the Crayola Red Dye #2 which was discontinued because of health dangers.

Seriously, great idea.

Pentaxtic · 05-16-2009, 07:45 AM

That bag is so useful. I want something like that.

**tmoses** · 07-03-2009, 07:34 AM

haven't tried this myself, just seems like a great idea....

If you are worried about the flimsy bag, stop at a garage/yard sale and pick up a yoga pad, then bring home and slice you a liner. Protects you pod from dinks, or protects you from jabs!

The real bags from Bogen have padding lining, so that is how to convert your conversions!

05-07-2009, 12:34 AM	#1
Chris Stearns Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern Illinois Photos: Albums Posts: 58	Modifying folding chair bag into tripod bag So I was walking around my local Rural King(like Lowe's for farmers) and happened upon these ten dollar folding chairs for kids. I've been searching for well over a year now for a solution to carrying around my tripod and folding stool. I really didn't want to fork out $40 or $50 for a tripod specific bag, and I always found that the normal sized folding chair bags were way to long for my gear. What attracted me to these chairs was the bag that they came in. Not only was it the perfect size, but it actually had a zipper down the length instead of the regular drawstring on top. Of course the chairs are made for kids and the bag is in the shape of a crayon, with the crayon logo down the side. The choice of colors also left much to be desired. Baby blue, purple, pink, and lime green were my choices. Oh well, function trumps form I guess. Anyway, after a little modification, this bag is quite useful. I haven't had a chance to take it on a test hike yet, so I don't know how well my sewing job on the loops will hold up. Here's some before and after pics for those who are interested. Enjoy! The chair was around $9 after taxes. I can sit comfortably in the chair so I threw it in the back of my truck for when I go fishing and don't want to lug around a full size chair. A Manfrotto 3001bn with a 3d head and a small folding stool fits perfectly with maybe enough room for a monopod or small light stand. I removed the puny carry strap and used it to make loops on either end of the zipper to attach a camera bag strap. I also replaced the zipper pull tab and covered the crayon logo with black duct tape. I may go to the hobby store and buy some fabric spray paint, but it works fine as is.

05-07-2009, 11:13 AM	#6
Ratmagiclady Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,501	[QUOTE=Chris Stearns;586170] Originally posted by Ratmagiclady Cute! lol. Not exactly what I was going for. I would love to find one of these in black or burnt sienna. We'll see if hobby lobby has any fabric paint that will work. I'm not sure how long this bag will last, but at least I now know the exact dimensions that fit my gear. Hee, well, before you go to that kind of trouble (I guarantee trying to fabric-paint that will look awful, anyway: bright blue is hard to cover under the best of conditions, which these are certainly not. ) you could probably just find a more-serious brand of camp chair, (even more serious outfits make kid-sized things, try like Coleman or something) appropriate the bag, and have a chair, too. (Come to think of it, though, 'burnt sienna' was always one of my favorite crayon colors. ) Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 05-07-2009 at 11:21 AM.

07-03-2009, 07:34 AM	#11
tmoses Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24	one more modification suggestion haven't tried this myself, just seems like a great idea.... If you are worried about the flimsy bag, stop at a garage/yard sale and pick up a yoga pad, then bring home and slice you a liner. Protects you pod from dinks, or protects you from jabs! The real bags from Bogen have padding lining, so that is how to convert your conversions!

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05-07-2009, 02:09 AM	#2
Dom Guest	Groovy, I'm going to keep an eye out for a similar bag.

05-07-2009, 03:59 AM	#3
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	That's pretty good. I would have gone for the green one. Thank you Russell

05-07-2009, 08:34 AM	#4
Ratmagiclady Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,501	Cute! I've been using a plain one from a supermarket-bought camp chair to keep the old tripod that rides in the car in. It's way too flimsy to want to consider making a carrying bag out of it, but it keeps the thing clean. The chair itself is probably going to become parts for something lighting-related before the summer's out. Maybe a light tent.

05-07-2009, 10:25 AM	#5
Chris Stearns Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern Illinois Photos: Albums Posts: 58 Original Poster	[QUOTE=Ratmagiclady;586006]Cute! lol. Not exactly what I was going for. I would love to find one of these in black or burnt sienna. We'll see if hobby lobby has any fabric paint that will work. I'm not sure how long this bag will last, but at least I now know the exact dimensions that fit my gear.

05-07-2009, 02:18 PM	#7
Kerrowdown Moderator PEG Judges Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland. Photos: Gallery Posts: 34,534	I quite like the way the bag is (original), who's gonna nick (steal) a big crayon.

05-07-2009, 08:50 PM	#8
Ratmagiclady Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,501	Originally posted by kerrowdown I quite like the way the bag is (original), who's gonna nick (steal) a big crayon. I'd be tempted to do that, myself, mostly to prevent any lapses on my part. (Didn't I have a crayon when I arrived?) Kind of like the old 'Pink spraypaint on your tools' technique, ....guys generally won't accidentally walk off with em. Though, for purposes of any lighting or bracketry, I was always partial to black: then you can kind of cache that in some dark place and if no one knows it's there at all, it saves both yourself and any would-be thief a lot of inconvenience.

05-08-2009, 03:04 AM	#9
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Yeah, but to be really cool, you want the Crayola Red Dye #2 which was discontinued because of health dangers. Seriously, great idea.

05-16-2009, 07:45 AM	#10
Pentaxtic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	That bag is so useful. I want something like that.