Travis recently wrote about some of the great products Cocoon Innovations was showing off at CES to help organize all the wonderful gear we tend to carry around. As soon as I saw their GRID-IT system in Travis’ post, I knew this was a product I could use. While I try to keep an organized gear bag, the daily wrangling of cords, chargers, etc. was beginning to wear on me. Sometimes I need to quickly transfer gear from one bag to another — say, during a short trip where trying to keep up with multiple bags is more trouble than it’s worth (hmmm, did I pack that specific cord in my rolling bag or my messenger?…).
Two weeks ago I ordered a GRID-IT organizer, and I’ve had a chance to really put it through it’s paces. Let’s see how good a job it does, and whether this should be an item worth considering for your gear needs…
This is a close-up of the “medium” GRID-IT CPG10 . This one is sized to be used in a laptop bag or carrying case (Length:12″ × Width:0.375″ × Height:8″) . You can see from the photo that the GRID-IT utilizes rubberized elastic bands that can hold your items in a variety of ways. What I like about this product is that it is totally customizable to your specific needs. It’s completely adaptable. As the items you carry change, so does the way you can carry and organize those items.
Straight from the manufacturer:
The GRID-IT!™ organization system is a proprietary patent pending object retention system. A unique weave of rubberized elastic bands made specifically to hold personal objects firmly in place.
Designed to provide endless configurations of objects, digital devices and personal effects,
GRID-IT!™ is as versatile as life itself!
Cocoon Innovations carries several styles and sizes of the GRID-IT organization system. The different types range from a sun visor GRID-IT for your car, a larger luggage accessory, and even a 3-ring Binder accessory.
The photo above shows how I set up the GRID-IT before placing it in my laptop messenger bag. I was easily able to place a BlackBerry, HTC Touch Pro2, iPhone, Shure E2C earphones, a pair of Micro-USB adapters and accompanying cords. Each item was secured with the elastic weaving, and allowed easy access without digging around in a bag trying to find just the right item I needed at a given time.
After using the GRID-IT system for two weeks, I can safely say that — for my needs — it is definitely worth the $20 spent. I use it daily and I plan to continue using it even as my gear, or my bags, change. The video below shows off how to use a GRID-IT system for work, travel, or really any of your daily organization requirements:
So, what’s my personal verdict? I’ve yet to find a single negative thing about the product. In fact, after using this one I am planning on purchasing the larger luggage GRID-IT and a smaller one to keep in the car to keep items there a bit more organized as well. Since the GRID-ITs can be used to carry so many different items, I think these will be one of the few products I’ve bought that doesn’t end up being returned, sold or gathering dust in some corner from not being used.
What I Like: Endless configurations to safely store whatever items you need to take with you.
What Needs Improvement: I couldn’t find anything wrong with this product!
MSRP: The medium-sized CPG10 GRID-IT* reviewed here is $19.99 (Available in Black or Gray from Cocoon Innovations).
*Other models of the GRID-IT system range in price from $14.99 to $29.99, depending on size.