Galen Medic Bag-Strap

[dhon27]

Hi:

 

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I purchased a Galen Medic Bag for carrying pens and journals around a few months back. Well, as I was somewhat concerned with when I got it, after a few months of usage, I find the studs that keep the strap in place are starting to "slip" out with increasing frequency, causing the strap to come off and the bag fall to the ground! Any hacks or thoughts on how to prevent this? If the above description isn't clear, I've attached a couple of pics that might demonstrate the issue.

 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

Desmond

[inkypete]

I haven't dealt with Galen but like the look of their products. Have you spoken to them about it? I wouldn't be happy if that was happening to a product I had as Galen is not inexpensive. It looks like the hole would eventually stretch as the leather softens. Not the best design. Talk to them. I have an old adage - you judge a company by how they handle customer problems. Let us know how you go.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

I have an old adage - you judge a company by how they handle customer problems.

THIS!!! this is ABSOLUTELY how i judge a company.

 

that said, if Galen is unable to do anything, here were my initial thoughts:

- you could stitch the strap closed around the loop

- you could glue the strap closed around the loop

- you could glue AND stitch the strap closed around the loop

- you could replace the strap completely

- you could change the strap to use a slide buckle like on a woman's purse, or on a messenger bag or a traditional belt style buckle

 

I had to go look the bag up on the galen website.

Nice stuff.

But i have to agree with inkypete, this does not seem like the best design for a strap to me.

Certainly not what I would have chosen if i had been doing it.

PLS NOTE, i am not an expert leather worker, i'm just evaluating this from a "does it make sense to me" perspective, and no, it does not make sense to me for a long term hard wearing leather product.

 

good luck, let us know what you go with and how it works out!

[inkypete]

THIS!!! this is ABSOLUTELY how i judge a company.

 

that said, if Galen is unable to do anything, here were my initial thoughts:

- you could stitch the strap closed around the loop

- you could glue the strap closed around the loop

- you could glue AND stitch the strap closed around the loop

- you could replace the strap completely

- you could change the strap to use a slide buckle like on a woman's purse, or on a messenger bag or a traditional belt style buckle

 

I had to go look the bag up on the galen website.

Nice stuff.

But i have to agree with inkypete, this does not seem like the best design for a strap to me.

Certainly not what I would have chosen if i had been doing it.

PLS NOTE, i am not an expert leather worker, i'm just evaluating this from a "does it make sense to me" perspective, and no, it does not make sense to me for a long term hard wearing leather product.

 

good luck, let us know what you go with and how it works out!

I have done a bit of public speaking and customer service is one think I talk about. If you stuff something up and don't fix it then you lose a customer for life and that customer will tell plenty how bad your company is. Fix the problem - you probably make a customer for life and they will tell their friends how well you looked after them. The choice is clear.

 

I agree with your observation re 'this aint gonna work' when you look at that fastener. Leather has to soften as it ages and that means natural stretch or give.

Edited July 11, 2020 by inkypete

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

When ever a company has messed up, i've told them flat out "s*** happens, that's fine. What i care about is how you deal with it".

That said, I'll never EVER deal with Lowes again based on that same rule, long story, not appropriate here, but it comes to mind every time a discussion like this comes up.

Edited July 11, 2020 by IThinkIHaveAProblem

[my63]

That fastener is called a Sam Browne stud, If you are going to use it on a flexible strap then a fixed keeper (like on a belt or watch strap) should be used to keep the lose end from moving around. Or catching on something as the bags moves it should not come lose with weight on it unless the stud is too small or the hole is too large.

Looking at your second picture that strap is too short for the stud

 

DSC_0059[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

If Galen leather are unable to help you the quickest fix would be to remove the Sam Browne stud and replace it with a Chicago screw fixing. I would suggest you add a new hole as far away as possible from the existing hole even if that means shortening the strap.

I hope this helps.

[OCArt]

If you were curious as to what the Chicage Screw fittings look like as I was:

[gerigo]

I actually find that while Galen provides great value to the community, their stuff is so poorly made that I have left the items in the box unused. I also bought the same bag and the tolerances for the press studs so poor that I am loath to using it either because I fear the bag will be too easy to access or the strap will fall off. Seems like the things they make go from vision to direct sales without going through a period of testing to ensure tolerances are checked and corrected.

[my63]

Thanks OCArt for adding the link to the chicago screws clearly I thought I had added the link. I have looked at the Medic bag now and can see that they have used chicago screws for the rest of the construction.

[inkypete]

I actually find that while Galen provides great value to the community, their stuff is so poorly made that I have left the items in the box unused. I also bought the same bag and the tolerances for the press studs so poor that I am loath to using it either because I fear the bag will be too easy to access or the strap will fall off. Seems like the things they make go from vision to direct sales without going through a period of testing to ensure tolerances are checked and corrected.

Haven't bought anything from them as the style is a little chunky for my taste, but their range looks excellent and certainly they have some interesting designs. Must say I have bought quite a few products from Waterfield (SF Bags) and their quality is extraordinary. I am an addict of their pouches but the Aus V US dollar makes it harder to buy from the States for us Aussies.

[sanphoemo]

I would go to a saddler or a shoemaker/reparing shop. There they can easily fix something like that and the costs will be really low as it is a small issue.

[Astronymus]

Additional discs under the heads of the studs, leather oder metal, might do the trick. I'm sure there are several solutions to this.

[my63]

I thought it might be useful if I tried to explain how Sam Browne studs work the everyone will understand the issue.

The stud has a shaft and a ball the leather needs a hole to fit on the shaft with a cut to allow the leather to fit over the ball like this " -o " the cut should always be on the side opposite the pull on the leather.

 

webber_pippin_punch_header by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0086[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

I always put the stud on the static part of the strap.