Zuca bags?

[AgnesNitt]

One of the other adults I skate with has one of those - it seems to work great for her

Oh, I was tempted, so very very tempted.

[Skate@Delaware]

Doesn't seem like you can sit on it at all! I took a look at the user guide for the Grit skate bag (found it from their website) and the first of the important notices says "Do not lean or put weight on top of the Skate Tower".

I stand corrected...I did think you could sit on it but after looking at it and reading about it again...you can't. Otherwise, it would be the PERFECT SKATE BAG (for me anyway). Many places I go there seems to be a shortage of places to sit.

Hard shelled bags seem to be very popular at The Pond. They must hold up better for all the rink-traveling. But you still can't (or shouldn't) sit on them.

[skatingpasty]

Our rinks one of those places with limited places to sit - well when you put your skates on anyway, you either have to squat or if your lucky and have a zuca, sit on them to tie your skates - our rinks a hockey rink as well but you have to tie your skates in the seatless lobby

I fixed my zuca problem - instead of wasting £30 on a new insert, I spent the most of the day yesterday patching up the holes teehee...my zucas patched up

[icesk8r725]

I went through 2 or 3 transpacks, and then when I was done with college, (well, undergrad) I invested in a zuca.  I am a pro at breaking anything, so my father recommended the frame... which I don't think it is possible to break, or at least I have no yet!  I wanted a rolling bag since I was staying away from home on the weekend, and would leave for school Friday mornings with a backpack and duffel bag already, so it was a convenient way for me to carry everything!  I wish it was a bit bigger, but I really do love it... sometimes I feel a bit juvenile with it, but hey- it works for me! and some adults around my area have them as well.  Plus, its great because one rink has very limited seating.  Yes, they are quite expensive, but they will last forever!  (well, apparently the inserts will not, but mine is going 3 years strong). 

[skatingpasty]

I went through 2 or 3 transpacks, and then when I was done with college, (well, undergrad) I invested in a zuca.  I am a pro at breaking anything, so my father recommended the frame... which I don't think it is possible to break, or at least I have no yet!  I wanted a rolling bag since I was staying away from home on the weekend, and would leave for school Friday mornings with a backpack and duffel bag already, so it was a convenient way for me to carry everything!  I wish it was a bit bigger, but I really do love it... sometimes I feel a bit juvenile with it, but hey- it works for me! and some adults around my area have them as well.  Plus, its great because one rink has very limited seating.  Yes, they are quite expensive, but they will last forever!  (well, apparently the inserts will not, but mine is going 3 years strong). 

Yeah I wish they were slightly bigger...i've made a bit more room for stuff in mine, I made a little drawstring bag from an old leg warmer and hang it from the net shelf at the top - usually keep my phone and stuff in
There's adults at our rink with zucas, not many but a few..many don't go for the decorative ones though, my insert will probably last a while now that it's all patched up so even when i become an adult i'll still have the pigs can fly isnert

[skatingpasty]

I was gonna post a new topic but since it's relative to Zuca, i'll just continue the thread here.

Have you's seen the NEW Zuca inserts..there's one that's really suited to skating...
..unfortunately I don't think it goes that well with the black frame (and pink fastening) be okay if you had the pink frame, but here they are...



I love this one, all the doodles relative to skating

http://www.northerniceanddance.com/store_/images/bezappy.jpg

The zuca smiley thing

http://www.northerniceanddance.com/store_/images/flutterz.jpg

Flutterz

http://www.northerniceanddance.com/store_/images/zucapeac.jpg

Peace


What do you guys think of the new inserts...and the skating one in particular?

[sarahspins]

I don't so much like the skating one.. but I LOVE the happy one.. I want!

[Isk8NYC]

What do you guys think of the new inserts...and the skating one in particular?

I love that insert.  I still think Zucas are overpriced status symbols, but it's really cute.  ($150 can pay for 4-5 private lessons.  Zucas don't make you skate better.)

I can see some people using permanent markers to color in the doodles, making it unique.  As an adult, I'd rather have it in a less cartoonish-look.  Just my preference.

[Skate@Delaware]

I really like my Zuca bag...but I don't like how the side mesh pockets get all stretched out & ripped. Of course I probably over-stress the fabric....a lot! 

[skatingpasty]

I really like my Zuca bag...but I don't like how the side mesh pockets get all stretched out & ripped. Of course I probably over-stress the fabric....a lot! 

Same, I usually store each skate in each mesh pocket when I keep my zuca in my cuboard - let's the skates dry out and not stink out the inside of my zuca..yuck
But the blades have ripped the mesh pockets...tried sewing them up but not much use

[sarahcatherine]

My mom gave me a cute rolling suitcase when I got my first skates- I'm still using it a year later and it works just fine (: I still sort of really want to try a Zuca, though, but for $150 I think I'll save it for my Christmas list!

A lot of adults at my rink have Zucas, though, and not just plain ones... one of the ice dance coaches just got the fairies insert

[AgnesNitt]

My mom gave me a cute rolling suitcase when I got my first skates- I'm still using it a year later and it works just fine (: I still sort of really want to try a Zuca, though, but for $150 I think I'll save it for my Christmas list!

A lot of adults at my rink have Zucas, though, and not just plain ones... one of the ice dance coaches just got the fairies insert

Please God, let it be a woman coach.

[sarahcatherine]

Please God, let it be a woman coach.

She's a 50 year old woman! Haha, the idea of a man with a fairy Zuca bag has me laughing... My mom's looking at me like I'm crazy! 

[FigureSpins]

My kids went to a camp last week that had a mission statement saying the camp was for "girls or people who identify as girls."  There were several similar messages throughout the camp. I know they intended to make all campers feel welcome, but they would have done better to just deal with it if a wanna-be girl signed up.  People were joking about it all week long, especially since several counselors were women who dressed like guys.  I was tempted to ask if some of the moms would be eligible since they all really wanted to do the camp and relive their youth. 

FWIW, I know a 40-something female skating coach who wears a plastic tiara on her birthday because she's the "birthday princess!"  She wears it all day through group and/or private lessons.  Personally, I take the day off, lol.  (I think everyone should get my birthday off.  Hey - the new forum's birthday is the same as mine!)

[skatingpasty]

She's a 50 year old woman! Haha, the idea of a man with a fairy Zuca bag has me laughing... My mom's looking at me like I'm crazy! 

Hahha that actually made me laugh, especially imagining my coach with one.
I wonder if there are/have been any male skaters with zuca bags - I mean the sort of 'manly' inserts like the black ones and the camo ones, maybe even the USA one.
I know the only men i've seen with zucas at our rink are the daddy's pulling their little ice princess' pink zucas out of the rink

[fsk8r]

Hahha that actually made me laugh, especially imagining my coach with one.
I wonder if there are/have been any male skaters with zuca bags - I mean the sort of 'manly' inserts like the black ones and the camo ones, maybe even the USA one.
I know the only men i've seen with zucas at our rink are the daddy's pulling their little ice princess' pink zucas out of the rink

All the Dancing on Ice celebrities get issued with them. Male or Female. The men don't get the fairies insert...
I've also seen many boys with their bags. Flashing wheels are flashing wheels and appeal just as much to boys as girls, and they need a skate bag.

[Skittl1321]

I've seen plenty of boys/men with Zuca bags, though most seem to favor just a rolling suitcase.

I think it's rather close minded to say a boy shouldn't have the fairies insert.  Whatever appeals to them.   I think it's ridiculous that it is expected a girl can have anything a boy can, but boys should only have boy things.

[fsk8r]

I think it's rather close minded to say a boy shouldn't have the fairies insert.  Whatever appeals to them.   I think it's ridiculous that it is expected a girl can have anything a boy can, but boys should only have boy things.

Too true. I should have said that I've not seen the men with the fairies insert. I've actually only seen one fairies insert, because it's one of the newer ones, they've not quite made it across the pond in numbers yet. 

Similarly I've noticed that some rinks have lots of pink frames and others have lots of black frames, but I think that probably just reflects the stock of the local skate stores.

[skatingpasty]

Similarly I've noticed that some rinks have lots of pink frames and others have lots of black frames, but I think that probably just reflects the stock of the local skate stores.

Our rink sells both, but most of the girls have the pink frames, I however have the black
Shame you can't get all the other coloured frames like the zuca website sells I quite like the grey and blue ones

[Casey]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I think zuca bags are great.  I'm an adult, a male, and used to have one!  And I hope to get another soon.  They seem to have improved the insert design since when I got mine before.  I think my old one was a red frame with a black insert - I will probably get the stealth all-black one next, without light-up wheels.  I love how rugged they are - before I got rid of it (traded it for a backpack) I ended up using it a lot outdoors on rocky trails and the wheels handled it just fine.  The frame is indestructible and as a place to sit it's actually really handy - currently I'm using an old leather bag for my skates and while it works fine sometimes at busy sessions there is nowhere to sit comfortably.

The only thing I don't like is that they are pretty obvious and since they cost a fair bit I always worried that somebody would steal mine while I was out skating, but that never actually happened.  Simpler bags like what I'm carrying now can easily be tucked in under a bench or put on top of some lockers and don't look like anything worth taking.

[rd350]

Question, what do you all do with your Zuca bags at the rink?  I had brand new skate guards stolen in a week.  If I bought a Zuca and it disappeared that would be a huge big deal at that $$ but I really want one because I live in a walk up and it has those awesome double wheels for stairs!

I bought a transpack and absolutely hate it for body mechanics.  Waste of $50!  Are there 2 sizes?  I may have unwittingly bought a large.  Either way it is not very good for you body.

[skategeek]

I actually like the Transpack... I initially got the larger one and it felt way too big, but the smaller one is just right for my skates and gear.  I like backpacks in general because they keep my hands free and are easier to manage than the Zuca.  My daughter has a Zuca bag and it's a pain to lift it in and out of the back seat (extended cab) of my truck.  Plus it's heavy. 

That said, a lot of the girls at my rink have Zucas, and during freestyle sessions they just leave them in the lobby area.  I leave my bag next to or under a bench during adult public (very light attendance by a bunch of regulars) and regular public skating, too.  I haven't heard of anyone having problems but I don't leave anything valuable in my bag just in case.

[Neverdull44]

My Zuca is too small.  I take a tote bag with me for extras, like a yoga mat, crash pants, change of clothes.   I guess I'm an "extra baggage" type of girl.

[twinskaters]

My kids leave their zucas in the lobby like the other kids do and it's never been a problem. I don't know that I'd do that at every rink, especially if you've already had stuff stolen. Can you bring it in and leave it at the hockey benches or something?

Also, be forewarned that the zuca "walks" up stairs pretty nicely, but it does not go down them the same way. We have 14 steps from front door to driveway and I have to carry both their bags every time. Pain in the neck, but worth it for the rolling later (and their pride in packing their stuff nice and neatly). I often think back to my 3rd floor Brooklyn walkup when I'm carrying those bags to make me feel better about it!

[rd350]

Haahaa yup 3rd floor walkup!

Didn't even think of taking it down!

My skate guards got stolen from behind the hockey boxes.  They weren't even out in sight.  I think it's that one rink though.  I don't have an issue at SkyRink but if I end up skating at some of the outdoor rinks this winter I don't think I could leave anything out.

I bet I do have a large Transpak.  My mistake buying that!!