I write about my Waterfield Designs sleeve cases all the time but there is one design decision that has always bugged me. The cases are custom fitted for the intended device and there is one pocket on the back of the case that can carry relatively flat items. I carry my Verizon v740 modem, a pen/stylus and my BlackBerry in mine when I use it but since the pocket is the width of the bag it doesn’t secure the items in the pocket. I have had items fall out of the pocket more than once and I wish SF Bags would address this issue. A few weeks back I was thinking about this problem and decided that there might be an easy fix I could try to see if it can be solved. I am happy to report that my fix has worked brilliantly and only cost me a few minutes and a couple of bucks to implement.
The photo above shows the pocket on the back of the sleeve case along with the reinforced strap that runs from the back to the flap on front. What I did was go to the store and pick up some Velcro tape for a couple of bucks. I cut a strip the width of that strap in the photo and just down in the pocket I applied it to both the strap and the inside of the pocket flap. I let it cure for 24 hours like the instructions said and it secured nicely with no signs it will pull out.
Now I simply put my items in the pocket and make sure the Velcro has closed properly and voila! It tightens the pocket up so nothing can fall out which is what I wanted to achieve. Here’s a photo with my gear in the pocket secured by the Velcro, which is just out of sight down in the pocket:
This worked so well that I have installed the Velcro on all 4 sleeve cases I use and it works great in all. While this hack is in use for the Waterfield Designs cases I imagine it would work on any gear bag with an outside pocket like this.


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