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Does anyone have a method of protecting their piston valves in a top loading gig bag? It seems there is always pressure that is exerted on the valve stems and buttons on the instrument. At first I thought some fabricated mold or band could hold the valves down to protect them. I was concerned about the springs being held down until I thought about it some more and realized euphonium players have been doing this to the 4th valve for well over a 100 years...
I promise this is my last tuba invention post for the night- perhaps one of you can figure out a way to market this and make hundreds of dollars!

When I bought my Altieri bag more than 20 years ago it came with a little velcro strap-on patch to go over the pistons. But it was too much trouble to put it on at the end of the night, and I lost it. Now I have a large T-shirt that I slip over the body of my tuba before putting it into the bag. It prevents things from snagging, and it's easy to replace.
Side-loading bags are much better for front-action tubas, since they don't try to bend things. Perhaps that's why Gard stopped making them?

I would love something that could fit over the valve block and keep the valves up, possibly with some type of stretchy rubber material that could hook in like a belt. Something made of rubber, plastic or cooler foam for the stem and button protector? I know valve blocks vary in size and shape, so perhaps something that holds them down would be best. There was a ratcheting belt on the TV shark tank that could have a usage in a smaller size, although I am sure something could be modified if it doesn't already exist.

I have the same fear about pressure on the stems.

II take the springs out by unscrewing the bottom valve caps and place the springs in a hard spectacles cover, stored in the side pocket.

It can be a tedious but until I have a better idea (sing out anyone) I'll persevere with this.

For stretchy rubber protection maybe try a condom!

A band mate with a front action 3 valve calvary base made a snug fitting wooden box that fits over the valve stems and grips the first and third valve cases. He has used it for 70 years with out mishap.

I never worried about the leadpipe/mouthpipe as the horn seems to slide out of the bag easily. The valves on the other hand always seem to grab the bag and seem more exposed to me and pose a greater opportunity to get banged up as they are the high point on the outside of the case.

I have to say I was also perplexed by this issue. I use top loading bags on all my horns, all of these bags came with the velcro gadget that you're supposed to apply over the valves to protect them and I've never used any of those at all. Also never had a single problem. Maybe it's because of how I load the bag. If the tuba is in your right hand and you're holding the top of the bag with your left, all you need to do is hold the bag on the side where the valves will end up. This keeps the bag from brushing the valves as you load it. Maybe my horns don't have the valve cluster sticking out as far as others that could cause issues, I don't really know.

With one of my horns I use a strong Tupperware-type box which is just a bit deeper than the valves are long. I fit it over the valves thus putting the bag pressure on the Tupperware and not on the valve. Being that Tupperware is plastic, it's never damaged my horn.

+1 on the tupperware!