Ask Slashdot: Is There a Good Device Holster? 296
gurps_npc writes "I have seen several technology holsters. There are a lot of good ones for cell phones, but I am looking for something larger — for a tablet (Nook/Kindle/Nexus/iPad). There is, however, a direct trade-off between being discreet and having decent carrying capacity. Has anyone found an ideal balance? I would love to hear from people with direct experience. Do you look like the worst kind of geek hipster while wearing it? Any feature I should look for? I found one from a company called techslinger, but it looks a bit too geeky for me (double-sided makes it really stand out)."
Hipster (Score:5, Insightful)
Good news, you won't have to worry about looking like a hipster at all. You will however, look like the worst kind of utility belt nerd, and there's no getting around it.
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Cell phone holsters are the sign that you have gone too far.
Back in them early days with cell phones that measured its thickness in inches, those holsters were a little more accepted. However today we just put them in our pocket.
If you have to carry more stuff, get a brief case. Don't try to attach stuff to your pants.
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Cell phone holsters are the sign that you have gone too far.
Back in them early days with cell phones that measured its thickness in inches, those holsters were a little more accepted. However today we just put them in our pocket.
If you have to carry more stuff, get a brief case. Don't try to attach stuff to your pants.
How old is your phone?
One of the biggest problems with phones today is that in their ongoing effort to out-tablet tablets, they're often much larger than older phones.
Something like an Evo is large enough to make me walk with a distinct list to one side. Or rip out pockets with inferior stitching.
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Frankly, I've never understood why guys would want to carry phones in their pockets.
Not wanting to have that "I have stuff for you to gank" look.
Not wanting to have the whole "I'm very important and need 24-7 communications" thing blatantly represented.
Not wanting to have to deal with yet another accessory in the morning.
Pockets are made to hold stuff just like this.
Ah, but in the end, why even carry a phone? I stopped having a cell phone on me all the time a couple years ago. It's very nice not having people feel like they can and should get a hold of you at any time of day or night,
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fanny pack? :-)
Seriously, as an american, I know that is a common term in the US, but do you know what a fanny is in the rest of the world? Bum Bag is the worldwide term.
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I think in America a bum bag is something they put homeless people in when somebody important comes to town.
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damn that's some serious linguistics cultural imperialism
What a silly bunt. (Score:2)
The OP said he/she is worried about standing out.
Whoosh (Score:2)
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No, but saying the word "cunt" bothers some men. The word itself makes some men uncomfortable. Cunt. They don't like hearing it and find it difficult to say whereas without batting an eye a man will refer to his dick or his rod or his Johnson.
Wimp (Score:4, Funny)
A real man would buy body armor, and replace the trauma plate with his tablet.
right.. (Score:5, Informative)
nice advertisement!
Build your own (Score:5, Interesting)
When I was travelling around Europe, for getting through airports I sewed my own leg-webbing for my phone and it's accessories out of black canvas. It wound up being very low profile since I wear black cargo pants normally, but was much easier to take off quickly in airports (and kept everything spread out for X-ray scanners) and allowed me to keep my phone much higher and closer to my belt (which was great for making sure I had my phone on me and keeping it easy to keep an eye on).
Carrying a tablet the same way could probably be done pretty discreetly - a 7" tablet would easily fit along the space of one's thigh without standing out at all. But I seriously doubt you'll find anything to buy - break out the sewing the machine and see what you come up with is my recommendation.
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Get a purse (Score:4, Insightful)
If you need to carry around stuff that does not fit nicely in a pocket, get a purse. I understand the attraction of slinging out your tablet with lightning speed. But really, despite our male need to have tools right where and when need them (it is both genetic and cultural, I guess), unless you need your other hand to hang on to your other tools (or a branch), a purse is really way more convenient for carrying around bulkier stuff.
Re:Get a purse (Score:5, Informative)
I perfer a backpack myself more space so you can also stow a laptop and external hdd plus all of the cords you could want and a lunch and still have room. I have also found that hoddies with front pocket will generally hold a seven inch tablet as will many coat pockets. an neither willget you beaten up by the local rednecks. Just my 2 for what its worth.
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and I see dice still hasn't fixed /. Unicode support I mean how hard is it to print a cents symbol
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Be European... get a bag. Not a purse, a bag.
In places where you don't have a car, and have to carry stuff with you all day, you need a bag. Some are quite small, and none look like a purse.
Re:Get a purse (Score:5, Insightful)
Satchel, bag, messager bag, whatever. Some sort of sack that goes over your shoulder and things go into. It's the twenty-first century, your options aren't restricted to "pockets, backpack, bum bag, or purse" any more.
That said, for something the size of a Kindle many suit jackets have appropriately sized inside pockets. Discreet, tasteful, comfortable. And probably fairly unique, unless you work in a horrible suits-based office building.
Re:Get a purse (Score:5, Funny)
Be European... get a bag. Not a purse, a bag.
You can find them in the J. Peterman catalog.
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Surely you mean a carry-all.
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Be European... get a bag. Not a purse, a bag.
Is that really a stereotype? When I visited the US and carried a bag, did people assume I was foreign?
What kinds of bags? Does a rucksack count, or only something like a satchel?
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Is that really a stereotype? When I visited the US and carried a bag, did people assume I was foreign?
Thinking about it, I generally assume people with a bum bag (US fanny pack) in London are American, though Americans usually do more than just one thing to stand out (e.g. be overweight, talk too loudly on public transport, say inappropriate things in public.)
Carrying a rucksack on ones' back while standing on a train is a sure sign of a visitor, but doesn't suggest they're American. Hold it in front (perhaps on one shoulder), or on the floor between your legs, so you don't bash people with it.
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Anyone with a fanny pack is either a tourist or a bum.
You can't ever look too Geeky... (Score:5, Funny)
To holster your equipment I recommend a jockstrap or brassiere.
Not recommended. (Score:5, Insightful)
Unless you are built like a low-poly linebacker, there isn't anywhere on your torso where something as large as a tablet won't rest awkwardly with at least one protruding corner, unless you wear a McMurdo-grade winter jacket at all times.
Since you can't hide something of that size, you might as well go with a small messenger bag, which will have the same capacity as a very large holster; but won't look utterly ridiculous.
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A quick search around dug up this company http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/subindex_mens.shtml [scottevest.com] and their range of clothing (male assumed) with extra pockets. It seems only a matter of time that most manufacturers will start to add in a phablet pocket somewhere, it makes a lot more sense than a holster.
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Scottivest products do a fair job of hiding large items without being too bulky.
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Pilots Kneeboard maybe (Score:2)
They even have ones specifically for tablets.
BDU cargo pants might work for a small tablet. People sometimes associate cargo pants with graffiti artists.
7" tablet works fine in cargo pockets (Score:2)
I've got several pairs of shorts and pants that could easily handle a 7" tablet.
You could go all Morpheus (from The Matrix) (Score:5, Interesting)
This is a true scene from the early 2000's when I was involved in some Linux conferences as a speaker...
Imagine if you will a white male, late teens/early twenties. Full length leather jacking swaying as he walks the floor. His sunglasses obscuring where he is looking. He is clearly carrying something under the leather jacket, but you can't quite see what it is...
Something catches his attention from across the floor. Quickly he moves across the aisle, his jacket and whatever is underneath following a split second later, the inertia of something heavy slowing it down. He walks across to a booth, and nervously asks a question or two. He looks agitated and frustrated. He adjusts his glasses reaches under his jacket and pulls out... His laptop.
I think it was LinuxWorld in 2000. There was a guy that had all his gadgets attached to cables under a full length Morpheus-style jacket. I swear, everything up above is true (well maybe not the agitated and frustrated part).
I can't quite recall if his sunglasses where nose-clip glasses...
Damnit, don't leave us hanging (Score:2)
What brand was his pocket protector... and did it have the required number of pencils for his job?
On a more serious note, if you even wonder about wearing a holster for anything but a gun, you are a nerd, you will look like a nerd even in the best suit dressed by the hippest person in the world. You are Duane Dibbley, don't fight it. Let the nerd flow through you.
There are some people meant to look in whatever they put on and there are some who don't. If you EVER thought about a mechanical pencil any more
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On a different note, how about those of us who actually had to do technical drawings by hand? I also fit in that category
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It sounds like you've spent more time thinking about this than anyone here has spent worrying about holsters or mechanical pencils.
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That's how I carry all my eights. [youtube.com]
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The Dork Brothers! (Score:3, Insightful)
All tech holsters look like they were made by the Dork Brothers, AKA the guys who design bicycle helmets. So forget holsters. And we won't even talk about fanny packs. Barf. I carry a small over-the-shoulder "messenger-style" laptop case that happily holds my little 11.5" subnotebook, my smarty-pants phone, some odds and ends, and my .22 pistol (along with a couple of extra magazines).
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design bicycle helmets
If you can't find cool bike helmets you're looking in the wrong place. See e.g. http://www.pocsports.com/en/14/wheels-helmets [pocsports.com] . Granted, they cost more than ugly helmets, but design (and in this case rock solid engineering) tend to cost money.
those all look very hot (temperature, I mean) (Score:2)
Give me a bike helmet with lots of vents.
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But I guess you want something more like this: http://www.bellhelmets.com/cycling/helmets/pavement/gage [bellhelmets.com] , which is used by several Tour de France-teams.
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You've got it the wrong way around. Cycling fast can heat you up quickly enough, even in winter.
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Give me a bike helmet with lots of vents.
Sir, What you want is a HÖVDING helmet. All air! Lots of ventilation!
http://www.hovding.com/en/ [hovding.com]
Disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with HOVDING. I just think it's a cool product.
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That seems really cool... though if a cop were to stop me for failure to wear a helmet, I think I'd have a hard time convincing him/her/it that it was a real helmet that complies with the law...
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Messenger bags can also come in leather and look a lot manlier even if they are basically manbags. Also you can put a lot of extra shit into these. Like extra batteries for your phone, a shit tonne of USB cables, wall warts, battery recharger pack, headphones and other life-important essentials. My messenger bag makes myself self-suff
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Extra magazines? Are you worried about getting into a shootout with, zhe Ghermans?
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The effect of all those anti-gun people are trying to reduce magazine capacities: people just carry more magazines with them.
Besides, you want to know what the most useless gun in the world is? The one that has no ammunition.
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This.
I use a Case Logic AUA-311 which holds (inventorying it as we speak...) a Chromebook, Nexus 7, iPod gen 4, flashlight, flash drives, magnifying glass, pen, pencil, a couple of small screwdrivers, etc. Plus a Kindle Touch when I might want to do some reading without a backlight. With all that stuff, it's still lighter than a laptop in a bag.
A product likeTechslinger I used to use for books! (Score:3, Funny)
Tablet Sling (Custom made?) (Score:2)
Unfortunately, I haven't seen something like this IRL yet, but I really like the idea. So much so, that if I ever get a tablet in about that profile size, I plan to have a friend make one for me with her industrial sewing machine.
http://i.imgur.com/XESYOdY.jpg [imgur.com] (Robotics;Notes)
That's a screenshot from an animation set in the near-future. I don't have time to hunt down a more closeup shot, but essentially its sewn from leather, and holds the tablet in the small of your back. Secured by one of those hardened p
The gun holster guys need to get into the biz. (Score:2)
Not that their business isn't already booming.
Backpack (Score:2)
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I got myself one of those ultra-thin backpacks that can fold into themselves.. It looks like a cheap black backpack, but is quite strong and holds my laptop and accessories inconspicuously without adding much unneeded bulk. Much better then having something that screams "Hey look at the expensive stuff I'm carrying!"
not one that won't make you look silly (Score:2)
obligatory dilbert? (Score:2)
Techno-bill [dilbert.com]
Double entendre (Score:2, Informative)
Well, let me tell you from experience you want a leather one, not nylon. Those things chafe like you would not believe. Also, dual "device" holsters are not really practical... they're unwieldy, don't do the job, and often the device pops out which can be really frustrating.
Now, a lot of people here have mentioned size. This is an important consideration -- If you're going for a 10 or 12 inch device, you may find that the holster sags, and it can be very hard to get the device in. Something of a more manag
cargo pockets or small messenger bag (Score:2)
Either go with pants/shorts with large thigh pockets, or else a small bag. Those holsters all look dorky, especially if you plan on wearing them in the summer with no jacket to hide them.
With a holster (Score:3)
Eheh... so you only wear it in the privacy of your (Score:2)
Eheh... so you only wear it in the privacy of your own home? You are like a transvestite who only dresses up in his bedroom. Time to get out of the closet! Shout out loud: I am dork, hear me ROAR! Be nerdy and proud!
Sing with me "We shall, we shall not boot Windows"
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Be Bold (Score:5, Funny)
And while we're at it (Score:3)
What about a device for storing my tater tots?
How about it science?
If you want non-geeky - try different terminology (Score:3)
For fashion advice, you might want to try a more appropriate [kineda.com] site.
Fashion Police!!! (Score:2)
If it doesn't fit in your pocket, it's too big to carry.
Unless it's part of your job and you're looking for some sort of tech tool belt.
thinkgeek's holster (tho it sucked for me) (Score:2)
Thinkgeek has a totally geeky side-holster that has potential. http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/c616/ It's about as subtle as a black toolbelt can be, but it's not as bad looking as a fanny pack, it fits common devices, and it's relatively ergonomic (moves with you and doesn't bounce around). It also has the advanatage of NOT looking like a shoulder holster under a jacket and getting you shot by a mall cop when you have the urge for Angry Birds. The downside is Thinkgeek's sizing for the holster is compl
Purse (Score:3)
I think what you're looking for is a purse. Pick a design and a colour and own it.
Messenger bag (Score:3)
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https://www.google.com/search?q=vertical+messenger+bag&tbm=isch [google.com]
Single? (Score:2)
The linked website sells single holsters, if that floats your boat, so not sure how far down the person read in the first instance.
bum bag (Score:2)
If you're fat enough... (Score:2)
...a full-size iPad will fit in the back pocket of 5.11 Tactical cargo pants. 5.11s, in any size, are designed to have the largest back pockets possible.
I've lost a lot of weight and this trick no longer works for me...but I don't mind at all.
Scottevest jacket w/ "iPad-Pocket" (Score:3)
It's the only viable solution I've seen so far:
http://www.scottevest.com/ [scottevest.com]
I've been wanting to get one for months, but TBH I'm a bit afraid it'll cost me twice as much here in Germany (with shipping and taxes)...
Army pants ? (Score:2)
Lots of large pockets, maybe they are large enough ?
I moved from nerdy bat-belt to handbag for my EDCs (Score:3)
I moved from nerdy bat-belt over backpack to handbag for my EDCs. Seriously: Get a top-notch handbag or small messenger bag. Crumpler [crumpler.eu] is good ... allthough I just see the german collection is by orders of magnitude better than the US one (???) - don't know what to make of that (Link is to the German collection with english copytext).
Another one, Freitag [freitag.ch], is über-hip in Europe right now - they direct-recycle truck tarps, wasch them with rain-water and sow them into individual grungy cyberpunk-style pockets and bags. Entirely swiss-made btw. Sturdy, practical and very cool and fashionable. Popular with girls and guys alike over here. Cost a small fortune, but guaranteed no sweat shop work and about the most envionmentaly friendly you can get. ... A Freitag probably is going to be my next.
Not having my gadgets on me all the time in my bat-belt made me a more sociable person for that simple reason. You look cooler and you feel better not lugging your toolkit around with you all the time.
Bottom line: Ditch the bat-belt syndrome and get a neat rugged modern bag for your EDC - once you've gone through the initial withdrawal you'll feel much better. :-)
My 2 cents.
Get a bag. (Score:2)
I have been using a bag from pacsafe, https://www.pacsafe.com/ [pacsafe.com] for a while and it works great for all electronics.
The main benefit of pacsafe is they are design primarily to prevent thieft, so they have wire mesh sewn into the bottom, straps have a metal core, items can be locked down, etc. They also have version with RFID shielding. Another benefit at being over 2 meters the straps are long.
No. No, no, no. (Score:4, Insightful)
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Bags suck. You have to carry them. It's not worth it to carry something around all day just to make a fashion statement.
At least for winter (Score:2)
Just get a bag (Score:5, Insightful)
You need a "poachers pocket" (Score:2)
That's a large pocket at the back of your jacket, hidden in the inside.
Very easy to sew one in yourself...do a few jackets...
Put some elastic at the top to stop the pocket mouth gaping, and hold the pad.
Works well for me.
Don't sit back against something hard, though, or you either smash the pad, your back, or both.
I would not suggest using a purse, since as you are probably not used to carrying one, you are likely to forget it...
Jacket instead of holsters (Score:2)
Just google ipad-jacket, there are multiple companies creating these, some of them even have also a notebook pocket in the back additional to pads, phones, navis and another dozen pockets.
I've one with a mesh pocket interiors, where you can see the messages you receive on your devices just by taking a peek without havind to take it out of the pocket.
Nerds laughing at nerds. (Score:2)
Didn't we learn anything in school? The taunting? The wedgies? The snapped slide rule?
Oh, I am sorry about all that. I don't do those things any more.
OTOH, I don't do them any less.
Utilikilt (Score:2)
http://www.utilikilts.com/ [utilikilts.com]
They have large pockets and are not form fitting, so the tablet will not stand out as much as if it were in a pair of pants.
A purse by any other name (Score:2)
Is There a Good Device Holster?
You mean a purse? Calling it a "holster" does not make it more manly as it is not a handgun.
Oh and the answer is probably no. I refer you to Betteridge's Law of Headlines.
Functional Holster (Score:2)
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100219040858/theoffice/images/7/79/Recyclops.jpg [nocookie.net]
Utilikilt pockets are great (Score:4, Funny)
Any Utilikilt [utilikilts.com] other than the "new original" has huge pockets which hang down and to the front. I keep my (2nd-gen) Nexus 7 (the 1st-gen was a little wider, and fit in the pockets but not as easily), cell phone, and external battery in a single side/front pocket.
Just wear what you want! (Score:2)
Come on, stop worrying about this. If you like something, if it suits your purposes then use it. If somebody else doesn't like it they can kiss your ass. Everybody has some sort of gadget they want to carry around these days. We need a good way to carry them. Eventually people will just wear the holsters, fanny packs, cargo pants, etc that they need to do so and won't feel embarassed because everyone else is too. Then we will all realize that it really doesn't look that bad anyway. People just think it
Sporran (Score:2)
If pockets are a problem, get a good sporran. Shopping.google.com Sporrans [google.com] . There are modern style, steam punk, classic, furry....
Another option is Solar Backpacks. [google.com]
Or, just get a backpack. I like the Tamrac Dual Backpacks, with laptop slots and configurable compartments for equipment.. [google.com]
I suggest (Score:2)
A supermodel with a Gucci bag. Lots of storage space and everyone in the room will be jealous.
Re: (Score:2)
Yep but the upgrades are free ... the diamond necklaces just go to the next one rather than last years model.
Use Velcro (Score:2)
Like Kirk did. It's the only way. ;)
Satchel... (Score:2)
How about a servant? (Score:3)
Yes, you can always hire a manservant to lug around your crap. Preferably on a silver platter.
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That looks exactly like a tiny clutch purse. I don't mean that as a criticism in and of itself but given that the device is meant to be the solution to carrying something that looks like a ladies' accessory I'm not sure they've hit their design goals.
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Is that a smartphone in your pants or are you just not that happy to see me?
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I have a modified Roman armor breastplate and use my iPad to make it look like I have a six-pack.
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I put all my devices in my pants so it looks like I have a really big genitals. All the hot women want a piece of the action! I reccommend it. I am 100% percent serial.
Woman: Is that an iPhone in your pocket, or is your penis just an extremely odd shape?
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I once had a group of guys approach me in the middle of the night that I am pretty sure were going to mug me. I had a handheld ham radio in my pocket. Instinctively I put my hand in that pocket because it was by far the most valuable thing on me. That was a bad idea I know as it would just bring attention to what I didn't want them to get but I did it before thinking. This worked out well as when I did it made the antenna push outward against the inside of my jacket. One of the guys thought it was a gu