Larger map holder for Wolfman Explorer tankbag

I really like the Wolfman Explorer tankbag - rugged, well-designed, and imminently useful on the bike. However, the little scrap of fabric they pass off as a map holder is confoundingly small...

It's tiny dimensions (7 3/4" X 4 1/4") are such that a regular 8 1/2 X 11" sheet of paper can't be simply folded in half and placed in the holder. Instead, you need to fold it into uneven "thirds", then tuck the bottom an inch or so up, then try to cram the whole thing into the holder without tearing or wrinkling it too bad.




So I decided to dust off ol' semi-faithful - a pre-WWII relic of a Singer I'd snagged at a garage sale about a decade ago for repairing camping gear. I found some 1000-denier waterproof Cordura fabric on ebay - got 5 entire yards for a helluva steal. Also found some thick clear vinyl for the top at a local fabric shop - this is actually a bit thicker than the top on the original holder. Also picked up some Velcro and some heavy black ribbon for the edges.

Then, I sat down and summoned the weak knowledge base of my 7th grade home-ec class , fiddled with the Singer for about 2 hours while hurling oaths & breaking needles , had to call dear old Mom twice for advice, eventually got pissed enough to call about acquiring a much newer machine on Craigslist (it was already sold) , and then, magically, she started working beautifully.


Finished product:


Now I can easily slide a folded 8 1/2" X 11" paper in:




But wait - there's more!!






Flip it over and voila' - easy to fit a full, unfolded chunk o' paper in there!


It can also be rotated between "landscape" and "portrait" mode:




Kinda big for dirt duty, but just the ticket for road riding. When you get to the dirt, just flip and fold for the smaller format


How it attaches in "full size mode":


and attaching it in "1/2 size/folded mode":



Anyway, that's it - wish the original had come like this for the $80 spent, but at least I have something more usable now.

I just read that over on ADV! Kudos to the job well done! It doesn't look half bad either, you know. You did a great job on that! That cordura is nasty expensive to get otherwise. I know here it's like $30/yard on a deal.

SheWolf wrote:

I just read that over on ADV! Kudos to the job well done! It doesn't look half bad either, you know. You did a great job on that! That cordura is nasty expensive to get otherwise. I know here it's like $30/yard on a deal.

Got a 5-yd bolt for about $35 shipped. Ought to last me a lifetime as much as I'd use it (notice there were no close-ups of the drunken stitching... The part where I sewed my thumb to the fabric was kinda nasty, but most the blood cleaned up fine!

Yeah...your typical household sewing machines don't fare well sewing industrial style stuff. I did see the stitching in the one (having worked in an upholstery shop you can catch those small minute details), but you know, you did an awesome job.

Hey BPG ....
Looks great .... you could sell some of those !