I may not have the hour long commute to work, but I do enjoy my morning and evening rides to and from. When the weather turns south on me, I need to carry my work clothes in my back pack and change once I am here. I recently came across the Vancouver, BC based SuitSak online and got in touch with the company to learn more about their product.
Read on,
What brought about your need for the suit sack? I came up with the SuitSak in September, 2008, when I was buying a new road bike. As I was in the store I thought about how I would like to ride to work and asked the sales guy if there was a backpack or something like it to carry a suit and everything else I need for work. He looked at me like I was crazy.
When I got home with my new $2,000 purchase, I went online and couldn't find anything like it. I then took an old folding garment bag, a salvation army backpack that I cut the straps off and a $5 sewing kit and went to work.
I ride to and from my work, but am fortunate not to have to wear a suit for my daily routine. I do however need to carry clothes as I want clean, non sweaty or wet from the rain clothes once at work. How does the SuitSak benefit me? If you don't wear a suit, you can still use a SuitSak. Any other backpack is not designed to carry clothes, a laptop, your lunch, shoes and everything else you need. It has segregated pockets designed specifically for carrying the variety of items you have with you. Chances are good you don't want your khakis and polo shirt wrinkled either.
Has the SuitSak become your full time job? The SuitSak has not become my full time job. I am an investment advisor and will continue to do that full time. With the way the business is structured, there is not a lot of daily work that needs doing. I keep some bags at work so that when an order comes in online, I can walk across the street and ship it out within an hour.
That is a pretty efficient system. Besides your online sales, who else carries the SuitSak? Currently it is being carried in Moores Clothing for Men. Soon to be in Sport Chek and Atmosphere. It is also being distributed in Australia. It is not carried in too many smaller bike stores at this time.
Tell us about your upcoming visit to the TV show - The Dragon's Den? The Dragon's Den was a great experience. It all came about when I ran into an old friend who works for a carbon credit company and I asked him if I could accumulate carbon credits by riding to work. He said that I could not, but the Dragon's Den is in town "Tomorrow". The next day, I went down to the audition and they immediately told me that I was going to Toronto to film the show. I went out to Toronto in May, filmed the show and now we just have to wait until it airs this season. I wish I could tell you more, but it's all highly confidential until it airs.
I think you've got a good idea on your hands Chris, best of luck and I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds on the Dragon's Den once it airs. Thanks!
About the SuitSak:
The SuitSak is a garment bag that can be worn on your back. It allows you to carry your suit, shirt, tie, belt, shoes, toiletries, lunch, laptop, files, books and almost anything else you need for a day’s work. The SuitSak is a revolutionary Green idea that allows people to leave their cars at home and ride their bikes to work and still look good when they get there.
The SuitSak will allow you to save money, save gas, reduce your carbon footprint and be healthier. Imagine how much of a difference it would make for your pocketbook if you rode your bike to work even once a week.
If you were to start riding your bike to work, think about how that might affect your waistline. Your new workout routine can be as simple as changing how you go to work. The best part is that you will still be able to look great in your work clothes because you will arrive, wrinkle-free.
If you are interested in learning more about the SuitSak or picking one up (Canadian Retail is $99.99), check out Chris' site at www.suitsak.com.
I have to say, they make an extremely rugged bag, however I had to clean one that had been sitting around before we could sell it to a customer at my LBS, and they're a pain in the ass to scrub dirt out of.
@ pysickphuk - could you ride to work though? That is the idea of this product it seems, to encourage more people to ride to work.
Have to say though, I ride to work 3 days a week (other two by train) thats 180 miles a week (30 there 30 back) and the saving grace is really having a employer thats on board with cycling. My employer has facilities such as showers and full length lockers which really helps. I just bring a change of work clothes in each day I go by train. I have to admit though this looks like an ace idea for those days I go into work by train and dont want to lug a really awkward shaped rucksack around.
One thing that annoyed me about that vid though - can someone tell the guy on the road bike to put his saddle at a sensible height. That just looked like he was riding a shopper!
It's a very good idea but it could work on the design (the looks)... For example if they'd rotate it 90 degrees it would fit on the guys back instead of hanging out on both sides (I'm not trying to bash it, I'm just thinking what could make it more successful)
Great idea, I sweat like a bastard when I ride though ( I can't pace myself lol) so even with a change of clothes I'd be less than fresh all day and I put in LONG hours. I need a shower!
If I ever start a company, employees are going to have a gym with shower facilities on site and a locker room. So many benefits of having happy healthy employees, I don't get why more companies don't pay for a gym on site or subsidize gym memberships.
Is it truly wrinkle-free when you take the suit out? If I put a suit in a suit bag on a flight they come out quite ordinary. Are there some extra baffles to hold the sleeves still?
Speaking of flights, is it too big as domestic carry-on luggage? Will I have to check it in?
I never understood leaving the bottom button undone. Why would they sew a button and button hole onto a jacket if it wasn't meant to keep the garment from falling off the wearer? Is it a secret signal about the wearer?
Well now we both know (from wikipedia's entry on King Edward VII:
" The tradition of men not buttoning the bottom button of suit-coats is said to be linked to Edward, who supposedly left his undone due to his large girth. His waist mesaured 48 inches (122cm) before his coronation."
These days, and especially for us cyclists of less-than-average girth, there is no reason for it. Personally, I'm glad that I only have to do up/undo one button every time I stand up or sit down.
Anyway, a suit is about tradition, not function. There are pockets that don't open, button holes on lapels that are sewn shut, and buttons on the sleeve that don't undo. Having one (or two buttons on a single-breasted three-buttoned suit) undone is just par for the course.
I bought one and it allows me to ride my bike to work without creasing my suit ...but it also allows me to bring in a bigger lunch. I have gained 30 pounds since buying the SuitSak.
It's too wide. I cycle through London and there's nowhere near to as much room given to cyclists as in the video. You're right in the traffic. I'd be paranoid about getting clipped by a van's wing mirror or being knocked off balance by the wind from a passing bus. Good idea though, I look forward to seeing version 2.
Just a suggestion, to the designer it looks kinda wierd and goofy so why dont they turn the straps the other way so that it looks more like a normal bag and just leave the insides of the bag the same?
i'm just guessing.. but wouldnt the suit slide sideways down to the bottom if it was that way up and get all creased? as it is it is supported by a hanger, but as i said this is just a guess..
hmmm you're right, but they can easily modify it to hold the suit up by putting little clamps (think paper clamps) on the inside which would clamp the side of the suit that is falling down.
In addition to a making a pannier version, the bag also needs to incorporate room to pack a lunch. After all, if we're promoting healthier lifestyles, packing lunch from home is an important part of that.
Sorry, I can't watch the video from work. Will have to wait until I get home. Plus, in pictures, it's always hard to judge "scale", so it's hard to tell if the pockets are big enough. As a guy who likes to pack lots of veggies and apples, a large compartments for food would be pretty important.
very good idea, i used to cycle to work a few times a week, roughly 50k only per day, and luckily had a change of clothes at my workplace, this is a godsend for people who cannot leave their clothes there.
Dont need one, an XL ortlieb messenger bag. Waterproof, wears like a real back pack--no silly one strap....thing...And can get 35 beers WITH ICE!!!! in it.
(I'm not trying to bash it, I'm just thinking what could make it more successful
