Bento Box users, what size?

**SadieKate** · 03-28-2005, 02:53 PM

What size would you recommend for just a small digital camera? Or just a few energy bars, phone and lipstick?

Also, does the bag have any padding? Would a digital camera be shaken to pieces sitting on the top tube of a road bike?

I only carry a camera when I'm on the dirt and can hang it from the sternum strap of my hydration pack, but every once in a while it would be nice to have pics of road trips.

V has already posted pictures of my kitchen sink jersey (and the backs of my knees, oh my!). I don't think I can fit in a camera. Call me Jekyll and Hyde but I wear a pack with 1st aid kit, duct tape, 2-way radio, compass, etc., when I'm on the dirt, but I'm a minimalist traditional roadie on the pave. Even my road socks have to be mostly white (geez, that dates me

), but maybe, just maybe, I can handle an itty-bitty Bento Box.

**spazzdog** · 03-28-2005, 03:19 PM

I don't know SadieKate... I think, based on the descriptions you've given, that you're a grrl in the market for...

A Helmet Cam

**Veronica** · 03-28-2005, 03:27 PM

I have the small one. It holds 1 Harvest Bar that I haven't eaten in my last three rides and two smaller granola bars - peanut butter flavor - that I have eaten. Also one Chapstick knockoff. I probably wouldn't trust my camera or cell phone in it. I'm not really good about pulling the mesh tight after I've been in it.

V.

**SadieKate** · 03-28-2005, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Veronica

I have the small one. V.

How did I miss this? Was it just eclipsed by the seat bag?

**Veronica** · 03-28-2005, 03:42 PM

Bill saw it.

He said it balanced out the seat bag - which is my small one.

But I gotta have my Red Bull. I didn't freeze it today. Probably a good thing - it was still pretty cold anyway.

V.

**fasteryet** · 03-28-2005, 04:20 PM

I've got the small one, too. It could hold a small digital camera, plus a clif bar and chap stick, but not too much more. Oh, I sometimes put a folded up map into it, if I don't need to refer to it too often. It is convenient, especially if you want to eat the bar in stages. And no, there is no padding. I wouldn't put a camera in there on rough roads where it could get shaken out.

**Hill Slug** · 03-28-2005, 04:29 PM

I use the larger one to hold, a bar, some trailmix, and my MP3 player. There is a hard plastic square piece that's on the end to hold it's shape, but I had to take it out.....As a height-challenged rider, I'm lower to the bar....and as a result the front part of my shorts got caught on the end of the Bento Box....and all I can say is OUCH!!!! That was not nice.....Once I took that plastic piece out it was fine. Otherwise it's a nice little compartment. The velcro works well, and I haven't had any problems with it.

And another Bento story.....Last year on a camping trip to Donner Lake, while I was unloading the truck, some adventurous (sp?) squirrels decided they wanted to see what was in that Bento Box....The bike was leaning on a tree, and they climbed up the bike, chewed through part of the mesh, pulled out the ziplock bag containing Triscuit crackers, then decided they wanted something sweet so the little sh!ts took out 2, yes 2, carboom gel packs out, and chewed through the package....They were the cinnamon apple ones - my fave....They did however leave the little chamois butter tube alone...

**snapdragen** · 03-28-2005, 05:26 PM

I have the large one (3.25" X 1.25" X 5"). It holds my Canon A40 perfectly.

**CorsairMac** · 03-28-2005, 08:03 PM

I just found out about this Wonderful invention recently and researched it online but...............all the pixs/ppl seem to be putting on a straight top tube. Does anyone know...will it work OK on a slanted TT? I want to start doing longer distances and I would be unsupported so I would need to carry - well - the kitchen sink! My LBS carries it durng Tri season so I could return it if it didn't work...but thought I"d find out the particulars first. I do have a rack and pack that I Could use, but want to lighten the bike for distance riding if possible.

**spazzdog** · 03-29-2005, 05:56 AM

I'm with you Corsair... I really had no idea what it was. Then I looked it up and viola!!

a tank bag for a bicycle... brilliant! My old tank bag for my ZX6 is just too big. I may have to get one of these puppies.

**DeniseGoldberg** · 03-29-2005, 06:20 AM

Funny, I had to Google it too! I tried something like this (same idea, different name) about 10 years ago - and while it looks like a great idea I didn't like it. Guess I'll continue to use a little fanny pack for my camera and my jersey pocket (or camelbak pocket) for energy bars.

**SadieKate** · 03-29-2005, 01:36 PM

Just stopped by one of my local LBS (love living in a bikey-town). They had both size INi Bento Boxes (I bought the small) and one made by Inertia Designs. Inertia makes a couple of boxes that look exactly like the ones made by TNi plus a 3rd version that is the same size as the large but has a side pocket that looks like it would take a pretty std-sized Nokia cell phone and a snack-sized Payday. Also, the box was lined with a stiff green waterproof liner.

They are all designed for a flat top tube, but, Corsair, you could probably get the large size TNi box to squish a bit and fit. The small one would probably lose too much volume by the time you squish the corner into the angle between your stem and top tube. The Inertia Designs box is too stiff to do any squishing.

I think the small size will be just right to carry my phone, chapstick, snacks and designer-ziplock wallet

so my camera can go into my jersey.

www.tniusa.com
www.inertiadesigns.com

**madisongrrl** · 03-29-2005, 10:42 PM

I hate my bento box so much that I just took it off of my bike. My knee is constantly bumping it when I climb hills...

**CorsairMac** · 03-30-2005, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by SadieKate

They are all designed for a flat top tube, but, Corsair, you could probably get the large size TNi box to squish a bit and fit. The small one would probably lose too much volume by the time you squish the corner into the angle between your stem and top tube. The Inertia Designs box is too stiff to do any squishing.
www.tniusa.com
www.inertiadesigns.com

Not sure what you mean about squish into the angle between my stem and toptube?...there isn't an angle there. Were you thinking of my down tube?....my thought was fitting it just like one would normally on a straight top tube only in this case my top tube slants........am I making sense or did I misunderstand you?

**SadieKate** · 03-30-2005, 04:51 PM

Yes, the box sits on top of your top tube but since your top tube slants down the bottom of the box has to somehow conform to this slope. So,

1) the corner of the box that is closest to your stem has to be squished a bit so all the straps can be snugges up, or
2) you could add some velcro to lengthen the bottom strap closest to your saddle and that corner of the box would be unsupported, or
3) you could have the bottom of the box sit parallel with your top tube and lengthen the top-most strap on the side of the box.

Does any of that make sense?

Ack, it would be easier to explain if I could draw a picture. Essentially, it would take some creativity to make it work but it could probably be done.

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