Why, oh why, can't someone make a car organizer with real dividers that are attached to the floor of the item, thus preventing things from getting wedged and wrinkled at the bottom!
This organizer not only fails in that department, it's klunky, impractically designed, ridiculously heavy when filled, and otherwise nothing more than a box with some pockets.
When we opened the box, we found the top and the base, which is folded flat. No instructions.
Instructions? you say? Yes, instructions, as in, what is the correct method for affixing the "dividers" in the interior of the device. Can you figure it out? Yes you can, but a page of instructions with even a line or two of text and some picture might make this less of a frustrating process in terms of initial set up.
One thing you will notice immediately is that because the organizer folds flat (an otherwise useful design detail) there's no rigidity to the organizer when it's opened up. In other words, the fold creases are still there and the organier doesn't hold a firm, rectangular shape. This is disappointing and makes the organizer seem "floppy" and cheap.
The top does fit nicely, but the box description indicates that the top can be flipped and used as a writing base or to hold items that slide. Sure it can, but it doesn't "affix" to the organizer when flipped. What good is a hard shelled top that "holds stuff" if, while it's holding stuff, it's sliding off the top. When mom brakes hard once time, whatever is in that top is going to come flying off and forward.
The pockets on the sides are a nice feature. I don't care that they're the same on either side, but they are, and they do hold the usual items - markers, games, etc. The beverage holders on the front are nice, and effective; however, be forewarned, when you fill this organizer, it's heavy. Maybe even too heavy. And when you use the "shoulder strap" you'll find that the organizer is klunky and overweighted. The folding creases make it floppy and saggy, and all of the sudden, your cleverly organized items are really in a boxy, innefective duffle bag...which brings us to this complaint....
Dividers that do not affix to the bottom and prohibit items within from going UNDER the dividers, are ineffective and problematic. Food particles, papers, crayon flakes, dirt, dust, pencil lead, pencils, whatever, can shift beneath the dividers willy nilly, and that is really a shame. As the bottom is not flat and hard you'll find this particularly annoying when you transport the organizer. The flexible material on the interior of the organzier again makes it feel like a duffle bag inside a box.
To duplicate this, I recommend you get a cardboard file box and put a rain coat inside. Then, place some cardboard dividers inside and you'll get the exact sensation of using this organizer.
What's needed is a set of true dividers or fixed dividers that do not allow shifting on the bottom. And the top would be imminently more useful if it actually attached to the organizer.
Also, if it were a tad smaller, it wouldn't be so bulky and heavy during transport. While I appreciate the space, much is wasted with the fabric interior, and the result is this box frame that is just structurally too big.
Finally, while being able to fold the organizer flat is a nice touch for space saving reasons - when it's opened, it ought to "lock" into place so that the fold lines don't disturb the integrity of the storage system as they do, in this instance. That locking mechanism would tie in easily to a flippable top that would then also lock into place.
I wish I could say there are better organizers on the market, but I'm still on the hunt. As for this one being marketed for kids, I'm not sure it's really the end all be all of car organizers, but the pocket space and beverage compartments are decent enough.
One star.
UPDATE FOR CLARIFICATION
I recognize that dividers that can be moved are a plus in many, many instances. This flexibility allows you to create storage space equal to the size that you need. Plus, there are many items that are going to be put in organizers such as this one, that don't slide beneath dividers.
My complaint is that when there's nothing "fixed" on the interior, sliding occurs. Pack a couple of coloring books in and move this thing around and you'll see what I mean. They will slide down, and part of one will slide under and next thing you know, you've got wrinkled, crinkled coloring books. Food particles, crayon flakes, and whatever other small items your kids will toss in here aren't going to stay in the compartment where they land.
I'm all for flexibility, but it has to be practical, functional flexibility. If you intend to only use this for storing and/or organizing larger, bulkier items and shifting is of no concern, this may work for you.
But I can't complain enough about a product that advertises a functional solid surface top that doesn't actually afix to the product. It's not a great lap board, sorry.Get more detail about High Road Kids’ Back Seat Organizer - Blue (XL).
No comments:
Post a Comment