How to Make a Bindleflop
The Problem:
Carrying grocery bags, while not the worst of life’s trials, is kind of a pain in the butt. And the hands: those plastic handles get mighty uncomfy when you’re carrying cans and cans of Hobo Soup. The bags whack against your legs, unless you hold your arms out awkwardly. Each time you have to hit an elevator button, retreive your keys or open a door means a clumsy minute of bag juggling and rearranging.
The Inspiration:
Hobos. More specifically, the bindlestick. That’s the name for the kerchief-tied bundle at the end of a stick that is the icon of hobo living.
The Solution: the Bindleflop
The Bindleflop lets you carry your groceries, or any handled bags, easily on your shoulder. The Weight is rested at your shoulder instead of in your palms, making it much easier to go long distances without your hands getting fatigued. Instead of swinging around and whacking into your legs, your bags gently brush against your side. And your hands are free to handle doors, keys, or carry more groceries!
Groceries in a Bindleflop
How to Make Your Very Own Bindleflop:
Take a removable strap from an old laptop case. They typically have metal clips at the end that spin freely. Clip both ends onto a carabiner*. Slip your grocery bags, or any other handled bags, into the carabiner. Slide the Bindleflop onto your shoulder, orienting any bags with squishy stuff (tomatoes, bread) to the outside.
Bindleflop in action
Hanford and I have been kicking around the idea for the Bindleflop for a while now. At first, it was only half-seriously, but we tried it out for the first time last night, and were surprised at how comfortable it was, and how well it worked. Since it’s so easy to grab it on the way out the door (unlike a folding cart), it’s likely to become something we use regularly.
* I grew up in Seattle, where they give you a carabiner along with your first teddy bear when you’re born. I don’t know if they’re as easy to come by in other parts of the world. You can find them at sports stores.
People, the hobo revival is upon us…can you smell it?!
posted on March 13th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
OK, do you live anywhere NEAR Cleveland? Because you are a genius.
Also, can you drink from a flask? That may be required. I’m fuzzy on the details.
posted on March 14th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
On the first question: I’m afraid I’m knee-deep in Silicon Valley.
Re: flask drinking… I tend to avoid places where one has to drink covertly… I spend most of my time in tiki bars. But I’m quite sure I could handle a flask. I do, after all, subscribe to Modern Drunkard.
Love your blog, btw!
posted on March 14th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Wow, I love this!!! And I never knew what those “clasps/keyring/clamps” were called. Now I do: carabiner. You rock.
posted on April 10th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Why, thank you! Glad you like it!
We’ve been using our Bindleflop regularly for the past month now, and we love it. I still feel like a pack mule when carrying a bunch of groceries, but now I’m a pack mule with free hands. It makes all the difference in the world, I love it.
If you’ve got an unused or little-used laptop case sitting around, you’ve got to make a Bindleflop!
posted on April 10th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
[...] our penchant for hobos ’round the old Junkyard Clubhouse, I couldn’t help but love his rating of [...]
posted on April 13th, 2007 at 10:26 am
This is a really cool trick!!! I’ll try next time when I go for shopping
ps: nice blog!
posted on June 20th, 2007 at 12:03 am
I think this is a wonderful thing! mainly because it is so simple! However, I strongly recommend using canvas bags. They don’t have such a heavy tole on the environment.
posted on September 17th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Or you could just use a re-useable canvas bag with a longer strap!
posted on October 26th, 2007 at 11:35 am
the big box hardware store near me sells BIG OL’ carabiners (what rock climbers use) with padded handles for like $3-4. They do the same job as what you have pictured there only better and more comfy – admittedly not over the shoulder.
posted on August 13th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Great little tool. One thing, though. PLEASE, for the love of all that we hold dear, wean yourselves off of plastic bags! You can still use the bindleflop for cloth or nonweave fiber bags.
posted on December 10th, 2008 at 12:35 pm