I’ve wanted to get my hands on a Mission Workshop pack from the moment I saw one… (cue cheesy music)
The guys that helped kick start Chrome bags have moved on and started afresh. Their Vandal and Rambler packs are roll-tops like the Chrome line-up, but with the ideas pushed further.
They’ve been good enough to send us a Vandal (the larger of the two), and we’re currently busy putting it through it’s paces…
Some of our initial impressions:
- Dang this can grow! The pack has massive expansion abilities, which are so wonderfully demonstrated here.
- The build quality is high, looking as good in the flesh as it does in the photos.
- While not perfect for laptops and all the tech, it can be coerced into sufficient service.
- This is a really innovative pack. There are loads of original ideas in it, that get jaded old bag fiends like ourselves frothing.
We’re off interstate with it, and so we’ll give you a full write up when we return.
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On the subject of quality bags, please check out thus company from my point of origin: Tough Traveler made the backpacks we all lugged to school in Schenectady, NY, the town in which they are made. Classic old styling, no frills quality still made right there on State Street. It’s always uplifting to go home and amidst all the delapetated destitute run down rubble of our hometown, Tough Traveler keeps on keepin’ on. In the flick Into The
Wild, the main protagonist travels the country and enters the Alaska wilderness to meet his fate, with a Tough Traveler pack strapped on.
Thanks Reverend.
That’s a great movie, made even better by the soundtrack. Man Eddie knows how to bang out a tune.
Regarding the packs, to me, Tough Traveler seem stuck in a rut. Just think how much the contents we carry has changed in the last 10 years (all the tech and accessories), and yet their bags have hardly changed. Even school kids now carry laptops and phones and gaming devices, yet TT are still just churning out the same stuff.
They can make for a nice accessory pack for simple picnics or jaunts if you’re in to the sentimental stuff (or if you still own one that’s kicking along), but don’t you think they should move on at least a little?
Still, I get where you’re coming from. I’m like that with skinny skis, they bring back all the memories…
I can’t disagree with you. Tough Traveler is a metaphor for their surroundings. Once a happening weekend spot with carnivals, jobs, innovations, now just a shell of that former glory. Where I really like their style is carry on luggage though. I am a fan of flying light and avoiding the wait at baggage claim. Open the gates and bam, I’m outta there. I can’t get down with rolling luggage for the same reason I can no longer get joy out of chewing gum. People look rediculous dragging that thing behind them. What’s so hard about slinging a strap over your shoulder and moving right along? I also think Tough Traveler could argue they invented the fanny pack that was popular for some reason in the ’80′s. No that anybody wants to boast that now.
Haha, great points Reverend. Imagine getting to claim credit for the fanny pack – you’d be shouted free drinks wherever you went!
If you’re in to that sort of carry on, you should check both the Patagonia MLC stuff http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/patagonia-mlc-maximum-legal-carry-on-bag?p=48107-0-806 (not traditional, but amazing functionality), and the Tom Bihn stuff http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=TB0950 (not sexy, but very practical).
And if you feel like getting an article together for Carryology trying to unearth whether they did invent the fanny pack, we’ll run in for sure!
Ha! I’ll see what I can do. Should I use an email contact? You can send one along to velowrench (at) yahoo (dot) com.. I’d love the opportunity to share some family photos featuring the aforementioned fanny pack. -JB
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