I received the Quivver in a black plastic envelope with the distinctive “Quivvers” logo. I wasn‘t quite sure what to expect before the Quivver arrived – the neon pink model is not really my style, so I was relieved to see I received the manly “Digital Camouflage” model for review. Each Quivver is constructed of a medium-weight “ripstop” nylon and is reversible, one side in a print and the opposite side in black. The main cargo areas of the Quivver are about 6 inches long by 3.5 inches wide, and the print-side pocket is a solid panel while the black-side pocket has a clear window. The print side has an additional, smaller (4” x 2.5”) pocket to bring the total number of zippered pockets to three. All zippers seem solid and have plastic triangular pulls. The fabric is described on the website as waterproof, however I don‘t think the zippers would keep water out if it were submerged.
The sash of the Quivver tapers down to a triangular silicone connector, which lets it hang properly when worn over the shoulder and gives you a handy spot to clip on additional gear. A nice S-Biner is included for that purpose. The silicone connector is interesting, about 1/2 inch in diameter and about 2 inches along each side. It is flexible, which prevents it from digging in to your side. My initial impression was that it’s a nicely constructed piece of gear – the seams are well-done and there are no dangling threads or unfinished edges. This is to be expected in a high-quality piece of gear that is made in America. It is obvious that the best quality components went into its construction.
Quivvers are available in two adjustable sizes: Regular (29 inches to 48 inches) and X-Long (29 inches to 61 inches). An elastic cord runs inside along the strap and can be used to adjust the size of the Quivver using the attached cord retainer. I left this cord loose and I never really had a problem with the sizing.
That clear pocket makes it easy to scan the contents, plus is a great benefit when using a touch-screen smartphone. It’s large enough to hold my iPhone 4 in a Lifeproof case. Zip the phone up in the pocket with the screen facing out and you can still use the touchscreen through the clear pocket. This is a nice feature that will keep dirt, dust and rain off your phone while still letting you receive calls and interact with your GPS app. While there is no dedicated port for earbud pass-thru, it is a simple thing to route an earbud wire through the zipper opening. The Quivver has a silicone logo tape sewn on the strap above the pockets on both sides, through which you can further route headphone wires and hold them in position.
One small issue with the clear pocket- I wanted to wear it with the phone facing my chest, with the print side outward. When I did this, it made it difficult to work with the phone in the holder, since the strap was in the way when you tilt the phone up to use it. If you wear it with the clear pocket facing outward you shouldn‘t have this problem.
I wanted to test my Quivver in a couple of different activities. I enjoy biking, hiking, backpacking, camping, and paddling. Pretty much anything involving the outdoors. I could see how the Quivver might be a solution for activities that require a minimal amount of essential gear to be carried, so I decided to see how it performed when biking and day-hiking.
The first time I tried to use the Quivver, I was going to a ball field to watch a baseball tournament. I really just needed my phone, my wallet and my keys, and I thought it might be a job for the Quivver. Alas, my wallet would not fit. It is not a large wallet, it is a money-clip style with maybe 8 plastic cards plus a little cash. I was surprised that it was too wide to fit into the Quivver. The phone can fit in the pockets, but I wonder about some large-screen phones. If there was anything I would change about the Quivver, it would be to make the pockets just a little bit wider. I took a few essentials out of the wallet and used it at the park. It was very comfortable and nice to keep my pockets and hands empty.
My results when biking with the Quivver were somewhat mixed. On the road, I found the strap around one shoulder to make me feel a little confined. Now, this was Zone 4-type riding, where I was going for a workout, not biking down to the corner store on an errand. In touring or commuting, you may find the Quivver to be just the ticket. When sitting up and riding on errands, the Quivver performed flawlessly and was very comfortable.
In my style of mountain biking, I tend to go semi-weightless fairly frequently, which caused the gear to flop up and down and bang me in the chest. I learned quickly that this was not a job for the Quivver.
Hiking is the activity where I found the Quivver to be most useful. I take my driver‘s license, insurance card, truck key, phone and dog leash. I used the S-biner that came attached to the Quivver to clip the leash when my dog was swimming in the pond. The only other thing that is needed is a way to carry water. You might try to clip a water container to the Quivver, but it would need to be fairly small and light.
At first, I felt the Quivver would be too small for my needs. But now I think that this perceived weak point is actually a advantage. It would be tempting to add a bit more fabric but then it would be a purse or a lumbar pack. My lumbar pack lets me carry lots of stuff I probably don‘t need. The minimalist size of the Quivver encourages economy of what you carry, so you can have the essentials and then forget you have it on. quivvers.com
– Steve