Jersey Bin

By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher

I’ve used a JerseyBin since 2009. It has worked exactly as promised, keeping contents safe and dry. For years, like so many other roadies, I carried my expensive smart phone in a plastic sandwich bag. I entrusted an item that cost a couple
cents, and was made of thin, non-durable plastic, to protect my phone, which cost several hundred dollars, from sweat, rain, and other ride-related insults.

When I read about the JerseyBin for the first time (in RBR, no less), I immediately bought a couple, and I’ve used them ever since.

In addition to the original version, called the Trim Bin (above, left), the Mid Bin (above, right) is 1/4 inch (.6 cm) wider, and 1 in. (2.6 cm) shorter. The Mid Bin fits larger phones, and iPhones in bulkier cases (such as an Otterbox), better.

Durability Plus

After several hundred rides, my Trim Bin is still in like-new condition. I typically carry my iPhone and some business cards, sealed up tight. I’ve ridden in rain and sleet, and more often in hot, humid weather with sweat pouring down my back — but the
JerseyBin has kept my phone completely dry and safe, ride after ride.

Like with baggies, the Bin seals tight with a zip-lock top. But any similarities end there. The thick 8-gauge vinyl of the Trim Bin is like carbon fiber compared to the flimsy plastic in a sandwich bag. And the zip-lock is tighter than two coats of paint.
(The Mid Bin is even sturdier, with -10 degree Fahrenheit cold crack tolerant/high heat tolerant polished clear 10-gauge vinyl.) 

Because of the tight seal, opening a Bin isn’t overly easy. There’s no sliding tab, so you need to dig your thumbs into the channel to pry the sides apart. This can actually take a few seconds, particularly when the Bin is wet or fingers are cold. And
if you’re wearing long-finger gloves you’ll need to remove them.

On the plus side, the seal is strong, watertight and almost impossible to pop open accidentally. All the closing/opening of my Bin hasn’t worn the zip-lock channels in the least. And the thick material is not at all prone to the small holes that appear
in baggies after a few uses (the kind you usually find after a rainstorm).

When wearing fingerless gloves, you can actually use a touch-screen mobile phone while it’s locked safely inside the bag, keeping it dry and tidy. Both sizes allow the use of touch screens & calls through the pouch, but the view through the frosted Trim Bin is not nearly as clear. In
the winter, however,  when you’re wearing full-fingered gloves, you’ll have to take them off to use your phone. In certain conditions, this can be quite unpleasant. But your phone remains protected, no matter what.

Size Selection

If a Bin fills the width of the pocket, it may reduce the chance of accidental ejections. I’ve experienced a couple of those with the Trim Bin. One happened while I was stopped and was grabbing a gel packet from a side pocket. I tugged on the bottom of
my jersey, and the force cause the Trim Bin to “squirt” out of the pocket and fall. No harm done. As for length, the 7 inches (17.8 cm) typically allows the Trim Bin to fall just below the top of a pocket.

As the photos above show, an iPhone not in a case (or in a slim-line case) will fit either Bin just fine. For larger cases, and larger phones, a Mid Bin is a better option. You won’t have room for much else in the Trim version, but an ID card and some
money fit fine. (That’s what I always carry, along with a couple business cards.)

Whatever you carry, it’ll fit flush. There is room for other items in the pocket you use for a Bin, if necessary.

Other Uses

• One inspiration for creating this product, says Rob Kortus, the company founder, was to have a place to store empty energy gel packets. A Bin would hold a bunch, keeping the sticky mess contained. You can stuff food wrappers into one to keep them from
  littering the roadside.
• During a ride with cue sheets or other paperwork, a Bin will ensure that they won’t become wet and unreadable. You could use a CueClip to hold the Bin on the handlebar.
• Annoyed by things that rattle? Use a Bin for your keys, loose change and small tools to keep them in one place and reduce the racket.
• Bike shops, clubs and events can special order JerseyBins printed with their logo, advertising or other message. Kortus sent the examples pictured here. The printing looks sharp and seems unlikely to wear off. RBR has its own logoed versions on sale
  in the RBR Shop.
• And you don’t need to be on a bike to use a JerseyBin. It’ll work for water sports and snow sports too, particularly when you want to safeguard a phone, digital camera, iPod or other electronic device.

Bottom Line

It’s nice to find a product that’s practical, durable, inexpensive and does what it promises. The JerseyBin fills the bill. It’s great peace-of-mind protection for today’s expensive smart phones. We think so highly of the product, that we sell both the
Trim Bin and Mid Bin sizes in the RBR Shop.

If you need a secure, waterproof wayto carry ID, smart phones, electronics and small personal items on rides, a JerseyBin beats a baggie bigtime.

September 2011

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John Marsh is the editor and publisher of RBR Newsletter and RoadBikeRider.com. A rider of “less than podium” talent, he sees himself as RBR’s Ringmaster, guiding the real talent (RBR’s great coaches, contributors and authors) in bringing our readers consistently useful, informative, entertaining info that helps make them better road cyclists. That’s what we’re all about here—always have been, always will be. Click to read John’s full bio.