The HLT (Handy Little Thing) is a clamshell organizer pouch with four zippered pockets, plenty of interior elastic and webbing loops (to retain cords and tools), and some clever ways to carry it. You can clip it to your Synik or other bag, to the seat pocket on the airplane, or hook your hand and thumb through it and use it as a write-in notebook holder or work-out-of tool pouch. It can be worn as an impromptu waist pack, sling bag, or cross-body bag, and it’s available in two sizes: Size 1 (Synik 22) and Size 2 (Synik 30).

Here’s how you can use it:

Clipped to the Synik as a main compartment organizer You know those two O-rings above the open-top pocket in the main compartment of the Synik? You can clip your HLT to those O-rings using the included one set (two total) of our Medium Swivel Double Carabiners; these Carabiners arrive already clipped to the thumb loops on the exterior of the HLT (more about those thumb loops later).

Once your HLT is clipped in your Synik, you can either leave it zipped shut or leave it zipped open — in the latter case, you’d use it as a sort-of Freudian Slip. 

When you need to access stuff out of that open-top pocket in the Synik, slide the HLT (still connected to the O-rings) up and out of the top of the  Synik. 

Tucked in the bottom external pocket of the Synik We’ve sized the HLT 1 to fit in the bottom external pocket of the Synik 22. And the HLT Size 2 is sized to fit in the bottom external pocket of the Synik 30.

Note: the Size 1 HLT also fits in either exterior side pocket of the Synik 30.

Carried on its own as a minimal waist pack, sling, or shoulder bag The HLT was designed and intended as a pouch you’d use inside of a larger bag. That said, you can easily add a waist belt or a shoulder strap to carry it on its own.

If you have a Synik or any of our backpacks, you’ve already got a 1” Gatekeeper Hip Belt that you can detach and use with the HLT. If you’d rather not do that or you don’t have one, you can choose the optional 1” GateKeeper Hip Belt if you’d like to carry the HLT as a waist pack or a cross-body sling bag.

Choose the optional 1” Shoulder Strap if you’d like to carry the HLT cross-body or over the shoulder. You might already have one of these if you have our Side Kick.

Note: if you choose an HLT 2 and you’ve got it heavily loaded, you may notice that it tips outward slightly as the attachment points for the waist strap or the shoulder strap are on one side of the bag as opposed to two sides. We personally didn’t find this to be annoying or anything, but it’s worth mentioning. As we said, the HLT is primarily intended to be an internal organizer pouch.

Clipped to the seat pocket on the airplane This use was inspired by how our Forum members use the Side Effect as an in-flight bag. See here, here, and here. 

Basically, instead of clipping the HLT to your Synik, you’ll use the same Swivel Double Carabiners to clip it to the back seat pocket on the airplane seat in front of you. 

This way your in-flight items — earbuds, snack, sleeping mask, utility cloth, pen, notebook, cables, wallet, phone, etc. — are easily within reach throughout your flight. 

Note: this method works better on some airplane seat pockets than others, so YMMV. If you find yourself on a plane with a low seat pocket, you can weave the bottom of the carabiner through two thumb loops. It's a bit of a hack, but it means the HLT won't hang as low. (This also works if you're clipping it into the Synik.) Here's a photo of what we're talking about:

Use as a write-in notebook holder or work-out-of tool pouch Here’s where things get interesting: slide your hand through the webbing handle loop on the back of the HLT and tuck your thumb in one of the thumb loops, and you’ve got a notebook holder that rests securely in one hand so you can take notes, write, or draw with the other hand. 

Worth noting: because the HLT 1 is a smaller pouch overall, folks with larger hands may only be able to get three fingers through the handle, whereas most folks will be able to slide their whole hand through the handle on the HLT 2. It’ll still work as a write-in notebook holder for those folks, it’s just that they won’t be able to get their entire hand through the loop. 

We designed the HLT so that its notebook function will work for both left-handed (like Nik) and right-handed (like Tom) people.

The details, per size:

Handy Little Thing Pouch, Size 1  Designed to clip to the O-rings in the main compartment or fit in the bottom front exterior pocket of the Synik 22. Also fits in either front exterior side pocket of the Synik 30. Of course, it also fits well in a variety of our other bags.

One exterior zippered pocket with an included 8” Key Strap in Black. Two small interior zippered pockets; one mesh zippered pocket. Six O-rings. Ten elastic or webbing loops for cords/pens/flashlights/tools. Four exterior loops for left or right thumbs or additional places to hook pens/flashlights/tools. 

Hidden slot under the mesh zippered pouch through which you can tuck a notebook cover.

Fits smaller notebooks, such as the doane paper or Field Notes 3-1/2" × 5-1/2" (89mm x 140mm) size.

Handy Little Thing Pouch, Size 2 Designed to clip to the O-rings in the main compartment or fit in the bottom front exterior pocket of the Synik 30. Of course, it also fits well in a variety of our other bags.

One exterior zippered pocket with an included 8” Key Strap in Black. Two small interior zippered pockets; one mesh zippered pocket. Six O-rings. Fifteen elastic or webbing loops for cords/pens/flashlights/tools. Six exterior loops for left or right thumbs or additional places to hook pens/flashlights/tools. 

Hidden slot under the mesh zippered pouch through which you can tuck a notebook cover.

Fits up to A6 size notebooks.

Worth noting: the very original first inspiration for the HLT came from requests on our Forums for us to offer a version of our First / Second Aid Pouches without the embroidery.