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Recycled Bike Swag: Detours Toocan Juicy Travel Bag |
5 Comments |
| By Michael d'Estries in Bicycles, Green Products, Transportation | April 8, 2009 | ||
While baskets are the eternal favorites for lugging things around with your bike — there may be times when you’d like those groceries or books to be a bit more contained. That, or you just need some additional space. Either way, these travel bags from Detours are a fantastic option — and with a very green characteristic: they’re made from recycled juice packs.
Each bag is made up of about 100 juice packs — with the company quick to add that no two bags are alike. Each features a bathtub rubber bottom, wide mouth, removable rain cover, reflective tail-light tabs on both ends, and will hold about 15lbs of your stuff. The only caveat is to beware placing sharp objects inside your Toocan — as the pouches can rip and tear up the seam. Otherwise, the company says the bag will last many years and then when done, you can just recycle it!
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Rick Roberts said,
I love the bike in the photo. Happen to know the brand?
Roo said,
I keep trying to use the link above – love the bad – and it doesn’t work. BUMMER!
Bike Enthusiast said,
The link above works.
I can’t say enough about the Detours bags and their online ordering process and service is fabulous.
There are some local chain bike stores in the U.S. who now carry these ‘Juicy’ recycled model bags, and they’re a terrific idea, but I have to offer a caveat:
There is a regular juice-box style and the ‘weave’ style which is shown above.
I’ve seen more than one of the regular juice-box style bags sitting on display in my local bike shop with damage already done to the outside = small cuts where the foil is already broken away on the outside – even before they’ve left the store. I’m skeptical of just how long these regular juicy bags last out in the elements in continued use. The weave textured model shown above is more likely to withstand frequent use, but it’s also the most expensive at $85 for one bag. Their non-re-used models of the Toocan are $20 less and more likely to do more hauling over the long term.
So as far as green-ness, you’re either choosing the juice box models at a higher price that you’re replacing every year or two, or a one-time purchase of the regular model that will do more work over the long term in helping to replace bags and the hauling tasks people normally do by car.
I personally use two regular Toocan panniers in black, two Teeco Too panniers in pea green (can hold some serious stuff), and just ordered a pink Town ‘N Country handlebar shopping bag. All of them work well with the three different bikes I use to commute, shop, & tour.
The recycled bags are what originally caught my eye, but I opted for the regular versions after looking at the hardiness of the materials. If there was a way to reinforce them, or to offer them at a price that wasn’t so prohibitive, I’d be carrying nothing but ‘Juicy’. I can’t seriously see spending $20 more for used and more fragile materials.
JuanRCM said,
If I’m not mistaken, the bike is a Swobo Dixon. Definitely a cool bike.