Mods: I wasn’t sure if this should go here or in IMHO, so please move if it’s in the wrong place.
After spending the weekend in a fruitless search for an inexpensive messenger bag for my son to carry his TCG decks, mats, etc. in, I’ve decided to make one for him.
My question is what sort of dividers or pockets would be useful for the interior of the bag? Would it be helpful to have some sort of dividers in the bottom that deck boxes would fit into? Actually, now that I think of it, I could make the kind of moveable dividers that camera bags sometimes have so the space could be reconfigured as needed. Would that be useful??
How about pockets for extra card sleeves?
I’m going to create the pattern, so I can add whatever.
Thanks!
Have him dump all the stuff he wants to bring with him on a table and see what his needs are. Personally, I just use an old Jansport backpack, but a custom-made messenger back is real thoughtful.
If he does any trading, he’ll probably want room for a binder or two. Then space either for several deckboxes or cardboard longboxes, depending on what he uses. You didn’t mention what game he plays, but it might impact things. I bring a pouch of dice and counters for Magic. I know Pokemon needs a coin and some assorted counters.
Depending on where and when he plays, room for a water bottle or can of soda and granola bar would be nice, if allowed.
Ultra Pro makes a little bag for this. Back in the day, I used one of these, and we lovingly referred to it as a “dork purse”
These days an old backpack with a few hard plastic cases works better, since I only have to pull out the deck I’m playing, and I can also carry binders/lunch/a book for between rounds.
I got out of playing regularly before I went ahead with the purchase, but for a while I was looking at vintage camera cases/bags, military satchels and things of that nature for a relative inexpensive solution.
Waaaaayyy back in the day, I had a great little briefcase-type thing for holding cassette tapes. The plastic deck boxes fit perfectly into the three rows, like three boxes per section for nine total. Or take one out to hold a dice bag or something else. Doubt there’s many people selling those any more these days.
For these items, I would have a zippered pouch either on the sides or outside of the bag, and not on the side that would press against his body. Counters and dice are usually small but hard objects and it’d be uncomfortable to feel it through the bag. A free-floating pouch inside the bag, like a coin purse or cosmetics case, would also work. Something the size of a deck of playing cards would be good.
Depending on what he carries, a messenger bag might not be the best design as it puts all the weight on one shoulder. If he carries a binder and/or large deck boxes, a backpack style would be better since it distributes the weight more evenly.