Materials
and construction
Why
cotton duck canvas?
Canvas keeps
on performing after years of use. There's no coating to wear
off. Abrasion resistance is high compared to synthetics; it's
natural fibers are more forgiving and pliable. If damaged, it's
easily repaired with needle and thread.
Please note
that cotton canvas is a natural product. Slight weaving imperfections
and color variations are part of it's character and beauty.
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Aren't
leather straps and buckles old-fashioned?
Leather
has a long history. It's tactile, strong and forgiving. It'll
age gracefully, developing a nice patina. And If it's good enough
for Indiana Jones...
Admittedly,
Fastex closures are more efficient and save a couple extra seconds.
However, plastic cracks and tends to get brittle over time.
Give "old-fashioned" leather straps and buckles a
chance...you'll be transported to a simpler, less harried time!
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Are
Acorn Bags waterproof?
There's
two schools of thought: to use waxed or unwaxed canvas. A popular
British bag maker uses waxed canvas. A respected French and
Japanese bag maker uses unwaxed canvas.
We decided
to opt for the unwaxed duck canvas...but our bags are still
water resistant. Why? Natural canvas duck has fibers that swell
and self-seal when exposed to water. A moisture barrier is created,
but still allows the fabric to breathe. Waxed canvas bags will
still need to be "re-proofed" every few years and
you have to careful about mildew. We'll let you decide if and
when you want to "proof" your bag. (Carradice and
Nikwax make good cotton canvas re-proofers.)
A healthy
dose of skepticism is needed when listening to claims of 100%
waterproof bags. Often overlooked points of water entry include
zippers, gaps between flap pockets, mounting strap pass-through
holes and seams. Unless a floating waterproof liner is used,
it's almost impossible to avoid some water entering your bag
during a downpour. A good compromise is to keep a waterproof
stuff sack in your bag.
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Will
your bag unravel?
Canvas tends
to unravel if the edges are left raw. We take extra care to
finish all edges, inside and out, including hidden areas.
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Can
you customize a bag?
Well...yes
and no. If you would like us to add a small feature, such as
lengthening a strap, adding D-rings or sewing on a patch, we're
happy to oblige for a minimal charge. However, we cannot easily
change dimensions of the bag, because that would require drawing
up new patterns.
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Color
notes
Will
the canvas color fade over time?
Of course!
This just adds to the character of the bag. Think of your
favorite pair of Levi's, Army surplus rucksack or Converse
hi-tops. Truth is, all dyed cotton canvas fades faster than
synthetic fabrics, especially the darker colors. If you don't
care for that "lived in" look, then canvas bags
are probably not for you.
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I
can't decide which color to choose...can you give me some
suggestions?
Since
black is...well, black, it will fade much faster than
the tan. Black will absorb the sun's rays and get hotter.
Lint and dust is more noticeable with the darker color. Also,
items are harder to find inside a dark bag.
That said,
both colors will complement most color schemes equally well,
with tan having more of a vintage vibe. It's your call.
Actual
fabric/leather color may vary slightly from what you see on
your computer screen. Also, minor color changes from bag to
bag are unavoidable due to dye lot differences.
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Do
you offer any other color choices?
We currently
offer tan or black canvas with naturally tanned leather. (Olive
green canvas and black leather is NOT available.)
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Mounting
saddlebags
What's
the best way to thread the straps through the saddlebag?
On most
of our saddlebags, we use "pass-through" straps
that wrap around an interior wooden brace. When mounting,
make sure the buckle is on the inside of the bag, and
pull the strap tightly around the dowel and the bag loops.
This ensures a wobble-free mount. (If the buckle is outside
the bag, there will be some play in the strap and the bag
will tend to sway more.)
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How
can I mount the bag if my saddle doesn't have bag loops?
The "pass-through"
straps on our Medium, Med/Lg
and Large Bags are designed to be
used with Brooks saddle loops. No loops? Here's a simple solution.
Just wrap the straps around your saddle rails. The straps
twist and conform to the different angle. Not as nice as using
the loops, but it gets the job done. You can also buy add-on
bag
loops.
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Care
How
do I clean my Acorn Bag?
For canvas:
Gentle brushing is best for loose dirt. For a more thorough
cleaning, use a hand sponge with a mild natural soap (not detergent)
in lukewarm water. Rinse twice with clean water.
For leather:
A gentle leather cleaner/conditioner, like Lexol or Fiebing's,
is all that's needed. Saddle soap is also a good choice.
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Should
I put anything on the leather straps?
A protectant
is recommended. You might already have a tin of Brooks Proofide;
Snoseal is an economical alternative. Neatsfoot oil is overkill,
since it will oversaturate and darken the leather. Take care
not to stain the canvas.
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Copyright © 2009 Acorn Bags. All rights reserved.
