Carryology » Bags

Drive By :: Lexdray Boulder Pack

ando — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:34:49 +0000

Froth turns to… not froth

While still kinda new to the carry scene, Lexdray has found fast favour amongst the online blog community. Lots of tech and details, some great shapes, and some really slick branding make for some pretty catchy blog candy.

So when our friends at Huckberry offered us a Boulder pack, we started to froth a little. With a shape inspired by the super photogenic Visvim 20L pack, the Boulder takes a big EDC brush to this silhouette, adding a tonne of pockets and parts. The pack arrives in a nice fleece lined bag, and almost all the parts and components are a pretty high spec (hence the slightly scary price tag of $460 – but man, do you feel a million bucks walking around with it on your back).

So how did it fair in a week long Drive By? Hmmm, not great. Read on and we’ll explain.

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Highlights

Overall Look

Yep, it’s sexy, in a bit of a grown up boyscout way. A great silhouette is kept a touch on the small side (perfect size for office life), adding to it’s visual tightness. If you pull out the waist band and the top grab handle cover, it really slims it right down. Lot’s of texture changes keep the black thing interesting, and many of those pockets are hidden inside so as not to distract overly from the shape.

The whole kitchen sink

It’s rare that you get a pack with very few cost compromises. The Boulder has a rain cover, a trillion million pockets, expensive zips and components, expensive fabrics, and a lot of options for almost any small bits you need to carry. Heck, even the bag it comes in is fully lined in a deluxe fleece (which we flipped inside out to use as a pillow for office naps). It’s built well, and looks like it will last well.

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A few small touches

While nothing new, neoprene gussets can help fit that last little bit into your pack by stretching to help you get the zip closed. Not many makers use them on backpacks, but we like.

There’s also a keeper for the sternum strap when not in use, some elastic side webbing for wrapping a sweater or jacket around the pack, and a very nice laptop section (max 15″ laptop fit). The size and padding on the straps makes for a comfortable ride, even when full.

Lowlights

OK, here’s where we start to shatter some of the fantasy. We REALLY wanted to love this pack, but there are some fundamental flaws that mean it needs another generation of refinement before it will get there.

The simplest way to explain the issue is to quote the late great Steve Jobs:

“When you start looking at a problem and it seems really simple, you don’t really understand the complexity of the problem. Then you get into the problem, and you see that it’s really complicated, and you come up with all these convoluted solutions. That’s sort of the middle, and that’s where most people stop….

But the really great person will keep on going and find the key, the underlying principle of the problem—and come up with an elegant, really beautiful solution that works. That’s what we wanted to do with Mac.” Steve Jobs, from Insanely Great.

Yep, the Lexdray stopped in that middle complicated bit. But let us get more specific…

Zippers

Grid zips work great on wetsuits. They look tough and are tough. But the second you ask them to go around corners, or get pulled on a less than perfect angle, they get notchy and catch. When you add some locking zip heads to the equation, this gets even worse. For most of the zippers on the Boulder, you really have to concentrate to use them. So while they look great, some of them can drive you crazy – the back panel in particular…

Weight

When you add every feature to a bag, weight becomes a factor. We measured almost 5lbs on our dodgy travel scales, which might be a touch too much for a small daypack. Pardon the poorly put-together pun, but that sort of weight can weigh on you.

Pockets

There’s a lot of pockets in this pack, and most of them are neoprene. Neoprene can work well for shock protection and stretch, but these are mostly internal pockets that are already protected from shock, and they are then often mounted low in a section, which is a squash point for packs, so you’d never put anything delicate down there anyways. Hmmm, for us (even though we’re neoprene wearing surf freaks) it was a bit of neo OD.

The press button closures are mounted on webbing which stops the stretch, and the pocket covers often have non-stretch nylon backing. So you get the extra weight and bulk, without much of the expansion benefit. They are also grouped into many different zones, which makes it tricky to work out what you put where.

Some niggles

The lash tab is a fake hypalon, so can’t hold a lash without tearing. There’s a few areas of the TPE fabric already showing wear, there’s airmesh (which scratches on bare skin), the waist belt is OTT for the pack’s non-load bearing fixed height design, and the whole back panel section and twin zip access is really hard to operate.

The neoprene cover for the top of this back section also has a nylon backing which stops any stretch ability, but will smell lots as the neo’s nylon fronting jersey absorbs your back sweat. Then if you fill the pockets in this rear section, you can’t close it, and either way there’s some unusable dead zones created by the internal pocketing. The rain cover section zip is on a high wear area, and it’s a bit odd making a lovely top handle to then hide it under a removable neoprene wrap.

Similar bags to consider

If you’re digging the look, you can check out the Visvim 20L (more expensive and probably not as high quality) or KILLSPENCER Special Ops (cleaner aesthetic but not as much organizing). If you’re digging the organizability (new word, we’re keeping it) check out the Arc’teryx Blade 24 or the very full-on Acronym 3A-7TS. If you like versatility and ability to blend, check out the Goruck GR1 (and maybe add a couple of internal modules to it).

Overall

This is a great looking pack that everyone in the office wanted to try out. It’s a neat size if you’re an office guy or want something a touch smaller, it’s well put together, and the materials are (mostly) of a high standard.

Sorry Lexdray, we really wanted to like this pack, but we almost all retreated back to other bags after just a few days. If you carry lots of small things, it should provide you with all those pockets you’ve always wanted. But for us at least, we are looking forward to the next generation with some of those issues refined out.

Oh, and a big thanks to Huckberry for providing the pack. You should check them out, as they offer some of the best carry brands around.

Carry Candy :: Hard Graft 3Fold

Leather — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:58:44 +0000

Carry Candy :: Hard Graft 3Fold

This is quite the Carry Candy piece. Anything that comes in at this price level is def candy you ain’t going to be eating anytime soon. Andrew Tsui gives us his thoughts on the 3Fold in a semi drive by/carry candy style post, either way this is a sexy piece of carry.

What really caught my eye about Hard Graft’s carry catalog was the 3FOLD Multi-use Bag. Offered in three color variations, it’s a novel use of origami principles to maintain its shape in several different ways. The first form, a large portfolio, looks most useful for the artistic folks who need to carry large prints and perhaps a laptop and its accessories. It’s definitely big enough for canvases, stands, and a minimal amount of paint and pencil supplies.

In contrast, the “overnighter” form definitely gives duffel-style capacity along with lovely leather touches to create an elegant travel companion. This form is created by cinching two leather straps through the tips of the triangle folds that naturally form on this shape, similar to an origami “water bomb”. Based on the video, I’d figure that folding this bag together could be a 5-minute exercise even with the crease seams sewn into the bag in order to facilitate the formation of the shape itself. But the end result is damn nice.

And to round out the things you could do with this bag, the “slim laptop” form at 18.5 inches long by 13 inches high (and approximately 4 inches thick based on my judgment) looks suitable for a broad range of paperwork and, of course, a laptop and its accessories. In this case, it’s held together by merging the two straps together, originally to form the “overnighter”, into one long strap that encircles the entire height of the bag.

To be entirely practical, I don’t know that the average artist or traveller will want to pay roughly $764 US (quoted as €589 Euro) for it. It is certainly beautiful to look at, and I’m sure the leather is top notch. But even if I received it as a gift, I’d be scared to scratch or maim the exterior finish. As a concept, it is fantastic; I wish I could have come up with and marketed it myself! But practically speaking, it might just be a bit to large and unwieldy to shift between those forms. And as a finishing thought, duck waxed canvas might have simply been a more durable and practical choice for a more affordable bag that could popularize the idea.

OR Show 2012 Pt II

Leather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:06:23 +0000

Outdoor Retailer Show 2012 Pt II

Following on the first part from Wednesday, we can now show you the rest of what John saw, found, drank at the Outdoor Retailer Show last week…

Hyalite:

LTW small pannier- the dawn of a new age of panniers, these front panniers come in at 18oz/pr and are made from Panniers made from durable RF welded nylon.Not much more information available on tech specs or prices. Web site not currently up.

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Jansport:

Jansport didn’t have a ton to say about these bags. They are simple heritage bags that harken back to their roots in the late 1960s and early 70s.

(Apparently the American Flag bags were not selling very well. Cannot imagine why…)

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Kelty:

Kelty is celebrating their 60^th year making backpacks with their heritage line of bags. Inspired from the 60s, 70 and 80s, these bags feature modern design elements such as pen and computer pockets.

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Mile High Mountaineering.

This photo was taken on “the streets” of the show. The company didn’t have a booth, but the bags look great, if not groundbreaking. I am sure we’ll see more of this company in the future.

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Mystery Ranch:

Dana Gleason’s venerable Mystery Ranch is releasing the Blackjack for this season- an avalanche airbag backpack. This pack features some great new technology in fabrics including Super Fabric, which is a contains thousands of armor plates which protect against abrasion. Also featured is Demension Polyant’s VX 21 fabric, which has proliferated across the industry in the last few years. Made in the US, Mystery Ranch backpacks are some of the best in the world.

Photos above an below featured are the Saddle peak, Naya Nuki and Fuze in assorted colors.

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Onyx ITW-nexus:

New buckles from ITW, the Onyx feature lighter weights to their fully shielded, and simpler counterparts with equal strength. For the stealth backpack in your life.

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Osprey:

New rolling luggage from Osprey features a lightweight thermo molded frame slimming overall weight without sacrificing durability. Ozone 28@ 5lbs 24@ 4.5lbs 18@ 4 lbs.

Full press release here…

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Seige Gear:

Found walking around. This man successfully built the most overblown and over sized messenger bag ever conceived. His website appears to be down.

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Wheelman and co:

Found Walking Around-Babylon Backpack of waxed canvas and waterproof zippers. Old meets new?

OR Show 2012 Pt I

Leather — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:22:14 +0000

Outdoor Retailers Show 2012 Pt I

One of our contributors, John (JC) Canfield, was lucky enough to be able to attend the recent Outdoor Retailers Tradeshow in America. Here’s the first part of his experience…

Photos and notes by John (JC) Canfield.

Arc’teryx:

New Arc’teryx pack line for 2012- The Quintic (featured the quintic 28) will come in 28 and 38l sizes. A sculpted lumbar support designed into the bags body creates a shape with a low center of gravity without many bells and whistles. Separate avalanche shovel compartment also holds probe and other long items. A key feature to this bag is its ability to access the inside while wearing it, so you can pull out a water bottle or stash a pair of wet gloves. Arc’teryx products, as always are sporting interesting colorways this season. Bright and often-florescent colors paired with conservative ones create a harmonious balance. This pack has the ability to hold skis diagonally and in an a-frame. I am excited to see Arc’teryx making this sculpted pack, but worry about the packs longevity considering all those zippers.

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Boreas:

Up and coming Boreas is featuring four new day packs (Lagunitas, Bolinas, Larkin, and Valencia) but only two (Lagunitas/Bolinas) feature their variable suspension. Featured are the Bolinas, which sports roll top access and the Lagunitas, which has a zip. Both feature a clever adjustable suspension frame so the user may change the level of suspension or shape with the pull of a buckle. There is room in todays bag market for a pack that “does it all”- and well. All Boreas packs feature a “ribcage” that pulls weight toward the wearer.

Also released, but not featured is the 18l Larkin (not pictured), with a zip top and simple z-foam frame. As quoted from their website (“Nothing fancy. Just lots and lots of prototypes.”). Available spring.

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Camelbak

Camelback’s Pit Boss ski pack features assymetric zipper panels and 4 different ski/snowboard carry options. Also featured is a u-zip body panel access to keep snow out of your pack and off of your body panel. A secondary flap over this access seems like it might be interfere with regular access. $125.

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Cilo Gear:

Cilo Gear is on fire. Portland, OR based Cilo has been building packs for alpinists and backcountry users, but only recently began building bags for urban user. These images are of 2 of 30liter WorkSacks made from non-woven Dyneema ( a Dupont fabric). NWD is an incredibly strong and light Pictured is team athlete and professional climber Shingo Ohkawa. The bag he is holding has over 500 field days, which he spent bent on destroying it. This bag lists for $450-500 for non woven Dyneema or $500 for their new woven/non woven Dyneema (which combines both into one fiber). The 30l WorkSack also comes in white widow spectra which is cordura blended with a woven grid of Dyneema fibers. Dyneema is also known as Spectra.

(As an aside, I would love to road test one of their bags!)

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Dakine:

Interesting colors from Dakine this season, merchandised with matching gloves. No real notes on this one. Picture was taken during happy hour and I “had more pressing matters”.

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Filson:

-Simple rucksack made from leather, waxed and unwaxed canvas looked both fully featured and simple. I like the mackinaw pocket on the side.

-Thermos sleeves for winter days- I am thinking about cocoa and schnapps. Just add sled.

(The folks running the booth were less than friendly toward my camera, decided to give me permission to shoot, then be totally unhelpful for the rest of my time there).

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Granite Gear:

-New bags from Granite Gear include the Crown 60 and the Aji. The Crown weighs 2 lbs, 2oz (or 1lb, 3oz without the framesheet). This bag features a 9” roll top, trimmed down ½” straps and plenty of Line-Locs for using cord instead of webbing for compression. Made from silicone impregnated cordura. Shakespeare noted “Fearless minds climb soonest into crowns.” Could this be your next trail bag?

-The Aji 50 was wear tested by “Trauma”, also known as Justin Lichter- who hiked over 2500 miles through the Himalaya carrying this bag. Stretch mesh pockets throughout make for plenty of options for carrying water bottles, wet tents and the like without risk of wetting out the rest of your belongings. This pack is a panel loader which offers luggage-like access to your gear when on the trail. Special feature on this bag is the Ideal Tac-zipper coil. It is first stitched onto the zipper tape, then thermally molded to ensure a durable product. Secondly, the zipper is coated with Nanosphere, which is a Schoeller product, that is stain and water repellant. $219.95 weighing in at 2lbs 9 oz.

-The two photos on the upper right of the Granite Gear section are a bag called the Nimbus Core, and were designed to hold bear canisters and other awkwardly shaped equipment.

Schoeller Nanosphere info…

Year of the Pig Snout.

Leather — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:29:31 +0000

Year of the Pig Snout

Heritage has flooded the world with pig snouts. The little leather lash tabs are everywhere, with most users not even knowing what they are for. So we figured it would be fun to have a look at the basics of lash tabs, and share a few examples of them.

White Mountaineering.

The classic lash tab was a leather patch that let’s you pass a bit of webbing through it, and then fasten items to your pack. It let’s you run a minimal weight, with broad flexibility. The outdoor crew soon started making them from hypalon and plastics and all sorts of tech, but with the return to all things grandpa, leather (and imitation leather) is once again the material of choice.

They can be run with vertical slots (pig nose), horizontal slots (letterboxes), or 4 way slots (windows).

Topo Designs

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Porter

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Up There

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Beams Plus x Kelty Vintage

And of course their are variations to the pig snout look. Here’s a couple…

Rivendell Mountain Works

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Carry Hack Photo Contest

Leather — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:07:26 +0000

Carry Giveaway | Carry Hack Photo Contest

So the comp’s been up and running for a week or so now. Remember? Here, jog your memory… We thought it might get a few of you excited to see what hacks others have been sending in. So below is the details on how to enter and also some photos that have been sent in already..

Hurry up and get your photo in, one week left!!

Ain’t hard to enter, all thats required is for you guys to submit photo entries of your best examples of a Carry Hack via email to CarryHacks@carryology.com (include your name, location, and a brief description of your hack)

The prize, a Chrome Falcon backpack:
18″ wide, 19″ high, 6″ deep (35L volume). Made from 1050 denier nylon for the outer shell. Retails for $150 USD. The independent floating 18oz truck tarp liner eliminates any seams to the outside elements to keep your interior stuff nice, safe, and dry. A molded EVA foam backpanel is a pretty trick detail and comfortable I must admit. You normally see this kind of feature on more expensive packs due to the costs involved with manufacturing. Constructed with nylon 69 thread and 3M reflective compression straps, it’s solid, and will make you visible. Read up online for more info.

Some examples of Carry Hacks;
- Ripped backpack shoulder straps? Duct taped the entire shoulder strap, with lots of duct tape.
- Some webbing comes undone? Stapled it back together… a hundred times to be sure it stays put.
- Rolling luggage wheel fell off? Replaced it with a Big Wheels plastic wheel… spray painted gold.
- Hole in your 1000D Cordura nylon fabric? Ha, that’s impossible!
- Hole in your 600D polyester fabric? Patched it up with hot glue and dirty aluminum foil.
- Re-purposing your old 1990s beige computer tower into travel luggage.

What we’re looking for;
- Authentic real hacks (but even made up hacks can be funny)
- Homemade & sloppy (think “Thereifixedit.com”)
- Attempts to serve some sort of purpose (even if if doesn’t actually succeed)
- Creativity, humor, absurdity
- Doesn’t need to be a “bag” or “pack”, but probably
- Here’s an example of a great Carry Hack that works well, but isn’t too funny, and is still absolutely valid
- And here’s another example of a Carry Hack not absurd or funny, but totally creative

(Try not to focus on people carrying “too much stuff” with something that isn’t made for it… we’re already working on that post!)

Road Test :: BLACKHAWK! Phoenix Patrol Pack

taylorwelden — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:58:14 +0000

When I received a package in the mail from BLACKHAWK!, I immediately opened the box knowing what was inside waiting for me, and when I finally got my hands on the Phoenix Patrol Pack, I felt a very distinct combination of feelings. A strange brew. I never felt that before, especially when opening a package with a backpack in it. I did my best to remember the feeling because I didn’t know what it was at the time, I tried to hold onto what it was or they were exactly, and for weeks I’ve been trying find the words that actually describe it. Today, I finally have an idea of what it was, and just figured out how to describe it to myself. Here is the cocktail’s mixture: 1 part “holy shit, this is serious”, 1 part “voyeurism”, 2 dashes of “this isn’t made for me”, garnished with excitement.

Let me explain.

1 part “holy shit, this is serious”: The Phoenix Patrol backpack ($179 from Blackhawk direct) is serious. I’ve been trying to tell it jokes since I got it, and it always keeps a stiff row of MOLLE webbing, never cracking a smile. Once it coughed after one of my jokes, but then went back to giving me a stern look. This pack is made for people who are going to demand its performance, made by people who demand its performance. From the Blackhawk website: “Blackhawk was founded in 1993 by former Navy Seal Mike Noell. Blackhawk’s meticulous obsession with quality has made it the specials ops gear of choice for SpecOps teams worldwide. While operating within northern Iraq, he (Mike Noell) had to make way by foot through an enemy minefield. One of his packs failed, dumping his gear onto the mine ridden ground. “If I get out of this alive, I will make this stuff the way it needs to be built so none of my buddies have to go through this,” he remarked to another operator. Upon entering the private sector that is exactly what he did, making Blackhawk gear and packs in a garage and growing ever since.”

1 part “holy shit, this is serious”, continued: No nonsense. If this pack has it, it is meant to be there. Just enough MOLLE webbing to attach additional pouches to, which Blackhawk also makes. As of the time of writing the review, the color options are nice and simple; Black and Coyote Tan. But there are images of Multicam out there. Obviously, I went for Black. The molded backpack is a nice addition too. It is quite comfortable, even when loaded up with 40+ lbs worth of gear. And the backpanel looks cool too, which is always a nice bonus. Of course the pack is made from 1000 denier nylon fabric, and upon my immediate inspection, I could feel the extra thick water-resistant coating on the back of the fabric. No lining fabric on this pack. Imported, so no, not made in USA, but as I’ve mentioned before, that isn’t a deal breaker. There are plenty of premium quality softgoods coming from Asia, and this is one of those examples. Seatbelt webbing for the wasitbelt, nylon webbing everywhere else, Duraflex military-grade hardware and fasteners where necessary. I’ve know about this pack for a while, and have always been a fan of the way the shoulder straps meet the backpanel, stitched under a layer of 2″ seatbelt webbing for maximum strength and durability. As a person who has ripped out several shoulder straps right out of the seams, I can tell you, these straps aren’t going anywhere. They’re also thick and comfortable, and “S” shaped for ergonomics. The overall suspension system is comfortable and fully adjustable.

1 part “voyeurism”: This is the part that is most difficult to put into words. Who would have thought something could be “difficult” to explain about unboxing a backpack? Anyway. I had this same feeling when I was digging through boxes of old German WWII rucksacks at an army surplus store on the Gulf coast of Texas a few months ago. I got to a specific worn-out green canvas rucksack, which had a leather ID window stitched to it. Inside the leather ID window was a piece of paper. Damn well preserved, I was amazed how new the paper looked for being 60+ years old, been to one of the worst wars and back, having traveled the Atlantic ocean to Texas (who knows where else it went before that), and being rummaged through in a bin by people looking for deals. On that well-preserved piece of paper, handwritten in pencil by the German soldier was his name, height, weight, and some other identification #s. That feeling. I was seeing into something else, somewhere else, a different, without that individual knowing, the pack itself telling me a story, or having the potential to tell a million different stories. A crystal ball, made from aged leather and canvas. Like the feeling you’d get when picking the hammer Michelangelo used to carve David.

(Above image: Don’t be fooled, that tortilla chip bag is huge. I bet Blackhawk didn’t ever expect the Phoenix Patrol Pack to be used to carry haul tortilla chips. I bicycled over to the local tortilleria to grab some chips, and I’m happy to say, upon my return home, there was hardly a single broken corn triangle upon inspection. The “TCCT” Tortilla Chip Carryability Test is a highly technical, highly valuable, and until recently, a highly classified part of Road Tests here at Carryology.)

1 part “this isn’t made for me”: In a good way. Formula 1 race car technology trickles down to our 4-doors, the list of examples goes on and on. One thing this pack does not have, is pockety organization, “pocketry” if you’re fancy. But this pack wasn’t meant for that. This isn’t an EDC pack to bring to the coffee shop and pull out your laptop. It is a 3-day assault pack. Meaning the intended user is a soldier, and they can rely on the gear in their pack (food and water) for 3 days without having to restock. So there isn’t a lot of room left for little pockets to store an iPod or external hard drive. There are three pockets. There are no organizers. Deal with it. This particular pack works extremely well with Inception Packing, which we here at Carryology are fans of. As a result of this what-you-see-is-what-you-get design, you’ll notice my photos here are pretty straightforward, but that is the point. As far as what these three massive pockets can carry, well…

I don’t really use luggage when I travel. The past 5 times I flew overseas, I brought a large trekking backpack, and another small backpack. I find it easier to carry my things this way, rather than dragging a wheeled bag behind me as I walk forward. Personally, I like my hands free. On my most recent travels domestically (in fact, all the photos in this post were taken in Savannah, GA), I brought the Phoenix Patrol backpack, and it held everything I needed, no problem. The outermost pocket with diagonal zipper was the one I used for quick access items. But not small items. My Apple ear buds were stored in this pocket originally, and I had trouble getting them out when I needed them, as the pocket is fairly deep. They ended up in my coat pocket for easier access. Remember folks, this is a military pack. Operators usually are wearing gloves, and reaching for larger items that they need, not tiny bits of relatively-fragile electronics.

It is large enough (23”L x 12”W x 8”D / 2650 cu. in. / 46 L) to carry everything I need for a short vacation. Thing is big. Probably the first word I’d use to describe it. Not 65 L hiking backpack big, and also not 30 L daypack small. In fact, for reasons I cannot divulge, on one of my most recent travels, I had to carry a military helicopter pilot helmet, a military fighter jet pilot helmet, a large/thick pre-flight checklist book, a David Clark communication headset, and various military/tactical items. Every single item fit into the Phoenix Patrol pack. I realized, once I zipped up the #10 YKK zippers (yes, the big ones) for the main compartment, and cinched down the webbing, that this is where the pack shines. Large, bulky, oddly-shaped, heavy items. Items that are unforgiving to the inside of other packs, with sharp edges. No problem. Swallowed up. And the pack was still comfortable on my back, couldn’t feel any of the sharp corners poking me.

At first I had some issues with the non-removable waistbelt. It works great when you’re wearing it, evenly balancing the weight to your hips. But when I didn’t need it, I unbuckled it, and both sides were hanging loosely, flopping around as I walked through airports. I checked the bag once, leaving the waistbelt unbuckled (this is a rookie mistake, don’t ever do that when you check a bag, trust me). The combination of the fairly slick seatbelt webbing and the conveyor belts back in baggage claim, claimed one half of my 2″ adjustable waistbelt buckle. Luckily I have replacement buckles coming out my ears, so no problem. After this happened, I discovered a really trick feature (that was either intended or that I discovered). You can flip the wasitbelt backwards, so it is wrapped around the volume of the pack. The wasitbelt buckle sits neatly, centered, just beneath the fold/ridge of the front pocket, just below the bottom row of MOLLE webbing. It looks clean, and works really well for when you don’t need the waistbelt to help carry the load.

Lets get down to brass tax. This is a large, rugged, durable, comfortable, understated 3-day assault backpack. It is a near perfect for this purpose, and quite possibly the best 3-day assault pack out there. I’m not a soldier and haven’t used this in combat (we’d love to hear from you if you have, leave us a message below in the comments). If you’re a civilian like me, have realistic expectations from this pack for how you want to use it, and it will be the last pack you ever need for whatever that purpose may be. Some suggestions I was thinking for potential uses for civilian use; a travel pack for short trips (trains, planes, automobiles… ferry boats), a pack to take with you up to the cabin/hunting/etc, to go on serious multi-day hikes or leisurely half-day hikes with a picnic at the end, hiking and camping combo with ample room to store your gear for a night or two, a gym bag if you like to bring a full-change of clothes with additional shoes and gear. Or any sports that require extra gear (lacrosse, etc). At one point I was even using this as a pack for my other pack, if you’re into that sort of thing. These are just ideas I had while I have been traveling with the pack on my recent trips, but I’m sure there are dozens more that could be applicable to your life. Whatever activity this pack helps you carry on with, you can guarantee it is absolutely not going to fail you.

If the Blackhawk Phoenix Patrol Pack won’t fail in a enemy minefield, as per the designs of a former Navy Seal, it can handle whatever you can throw at it, or throw into it.

Our Favorite Versatile Backpacks

Leather — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:30:22 +0000

Our Favorite Versatile Backpacks

For all the thousands of carry products we discuss on this site, we figure we should occasionally step back and reflect on some of the best pieces. What are the bags and wallets and luggage pieces that have become our go-to gear?

So we’ll kick it off with an update to our Versatile Carry theme, and then in the coming months we’ll dive in to some more specific themes. To achieve Versatile Carry status, a backpack needs to adapt from work to play to adventure and back again. It needs to carry a laptop and some tech, clothes and toiletries, it needs to travel well, and it needs to look appropriate while it does it all (fluoro pink doesn’t look great in an office).

This is not a definitive list, but rather a starting point. As always, we’d love to hear your comments if we’ve missed some firm contenders.

You’re keen to view a real clean, high res of the image above huh? Here’s the above image in 1800 glory for your screen

In price order:

Goruck GR1

Sometimes it feels like the whole world is getting on the Goruck wagon. Blending a conservative aesthetic that fits in a work space, with a military spec that can John Rambo through war zones, the GR1 is a super versatile workhorse. It ain’t cheap, but it will definitely last.

Buy the Goruck GR1 now.

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Camelbak Tri-zip

A surprise realisation was that this backpack intended for forced marches through hostile territories actually makes for a great go-to pack. With really smartly organized pocketing, a spot that works fine for laptops, and an incredible Tri-Zip opening for awkward loads (like big SLRs), this Dana Gleason collaboration will surprise you. You just need to order it in black.

Buy the Camelback Tri-zip now
Watch the demo clip.

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Mission Workshop VX Large Rucksack

The better cycling commuter packs generally make for great versatile carry, as they need to work for active peddling, and in conservative workspaces. Mission Workshop have loads of goodness in this space, but we have to admit to being suckers for their Advanced Projects bags. Better fabrics, a great closure system, and all the usual thought and innovation. Love this stuff.

Buy the MW VX Large Rucksack
Watch a demo clip.

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Quiksilver Grenade

Quiksilver designed their Grenade backpack years ago. It has sold with almost no changes, through a mountain of fabric options, and for the same price since. It’s something like the cargo pant of bags, with a tonne of external pocketing, and a visual language that speaks of adventure. Foam structure deals great with your tech, and the price represents awesome value for this sort of bag.

Buy the Quiksilver Grenade now.

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Gravis Metro

Yeah, the Metro also keeps popping up in our discussions, but it’s deserved. It ticks all the boxes for a versatile carry, it offers a gazillion fabric and print options, and it does it all with street smarts at a great value price. The Metro outshines many bags at twice its price, but never makes you feel cheap for running it. We love you Metro.

Buy the Gravis Metro now.

Carry Hack Photo Contest

taylorwelden — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:58:41 +0000

Carry Giveaway | Carry Hack Photo Contest

As you can imagine at the Carryology offices, we have a lot of packs. Packs next to packs, packs on top of packs, and sometimes even packs inside of other packs… inside of other packs. I wish I were joking. Sometimes the herd needs to be thinned out. So rather than us sell it locally/online or give it to one of our friends, we decided that who better deserves it than our Carryology readers… but we’re going to have a little fun with it.

Whats up for grabs for the Carry Giveaway… ~~a brand new car!!!~~… a brand new Chrome Falcon backpack!!!

Carry Giveaway | Carry Hack Photo Contest

(Image credits: Thereifixedit.com, thanks, you guys rule / I love the zip tied license plate pack)

The judges;
- Several of us Carryology folks.
- A stray three-legged cat we found in an alley, named Rico.
- My potted orchid, which has seen better days.

Official rules;
Whatever. Submit as many photo entries as you’d like for more chances to win. We’re going to highlight the best entries in a Carryology Carry Hacks post, which will also announce the winner. Contest starts Monday January 16th at 0000 (12:00am), and ends at Monday January 30th 0000 (12:00am), Central Standard Time (USA). Entries can either be a photo of your own hack that you did yourself, a photo of your friend or family member’s hack, a photo of a stranger’s hack, even a photo of a carry hack you found on the internet. Preference will go towards the former, unless the found internet photo is just straight up jaw-dropping amazing. Creativity, humor, and absurdity are king. Grand prize winner must be within the lower 48 states in order to get the Chrome Falcon backpack shipped to them for free, but maybe not. Depends on shipping costs. If you live in Antarctica or Tunisia, you might have to cover shipping yourself. We’re working class folks here too. Or I will hand deliver it, if you cover my airfare. Or you can pick it up from me in Austin, TX. Void where prohibited. You must be at least 7 weeks old and/or at least 15 CM tall to participate.

Submit photos to CarryHacks@carryology.com (include your name, location, and a brief description of your hack)

Good luck!

Carry Wishlists :: Taylor

taylorwelden — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:40:53 +0000

Recently, a few of us here at Carryology were throwing around some lists of bags we’d buy if money wasn’t an issue. Rather than keeping the lists to ourselves, we figured it would be rad to ask our main contributors to write their list up, and share it with you guys. So here is the first of our top 3 backpacks and messengers lists (in this case 4 and 2 3), from one of the Carryology contributors, Taylor.

Taylor’s carry wish list: I’m a minimalist. I’ve spent hours upon hours (and a bit more cash than I care to admit) in the pursuit of slimming down my keychain so it fits perfectly in my jeans pocket. The same goes for me and carry in general. I like minimalistic designs. Simple, bold, solid colors. Honest tough materials. Not too much flare. But a detail or two that draws you in. Bags and packs that carry my minimal amount of gear perfectly, with refinement, comfort, and durability. Durability is probably my most sought after trait when it comes to carry, refined style comes second. When it hits that sweet spot of both, while being comfortable, well, here are the ones that I think do that well. Email me for my personal mailing address, I’ll happily accept any of these items for testing, abuse, love, and a carefully written Carryology Road Test review. Yes, I’m serious.

Here is my wish list.

Backpacks:

VISVIM: 20L and/or 22L This backpack is a backpack. It nearly defines the word “backpack”. If you took a Jansport backpack from the 80′s or 90′s, had an artist draw a wildly exaggerated caricature of it, then have an Industrial Designer who studied Cubism refine down that caricature back down to its most simple elements using only the highest quality materials and hardware available, with a off-center point of view, you’ll get the Japanese brand Visvim, and the 20L and 22L backpacks.

There is quite a cult following to this brand, but like many highly specific great things, the brand is relatively unknown by the masses. In my opinion, that is a good thing, as it keeps the quality high. They even try to be sort of a mystery in the world. Go ahead, look up their business phone number. Like the Volvo slogan goes “the thinking man’s BMW”, I feel like Visvim is “the thinking man’s Jansport”. Or something like that. Free International Laboratory/Cubism. Enough said. (I’d opt for one in the black colorway… if you couldn’t guess that already). Keen to buy?

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KILLSPENCER: Special Ops Backpack This guy has it figured out. Masculine aesthetic without excess gaudy military extras. His designs walk the line between military and a well-tailored men’s suit. Professional and rugged. Well thought out compartments, not too much extra. Again, the highest quality construction, materials, and some of my favorite hardware details on the market today. Check out the buckles on the messenger they offer, AstriAlpin, made in Austria for life of death situations. I was on a roller coaster about a year or so ago, they were using the same exact brand/model of buckles on the shoulder harness. No joke. KILLSPENCER even offers mil-spec hardware to hang each of his product’s on your wall when you get home at the end of the day. Thoughtful and bad ass. There are three versions of this backpack available. My favorite two are the wax cotton black and the repurposed olive drab truck tarp version. Keen to buy?

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GORUCK: GR1

What hasn’t been said about GORUCK and the GR1? This is one of my favorite bags. It’s an instant icon. The military backpack for civilians. The military backpack for active military. The every day carry backpack or travel backpack for anyone. 1000D Cordura nylon everywhere. Military refined, without webbing hanging everywhere looking sloppy. Almost too simple. When I think GR1, I think professional hit man. Easily overlooked and can blend into a crowd discreetly, but when you give it a up close look you realize it is no doubt as serious as they come. Keen to buy?

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Arc’teryx: Naos 85

The end of hiking backpacks. For me it was either the Arc’teryx Naos 85 or one of Granite Gear’s fine offerings, but the Naos 85 just inched by. Want a backpack that will last you a lifetime of travel, mountaineering, trekking, and more? This is it. Their own proprietary materials have been created for their packs, then tested again and again around the world, in the most extreme of climates and situations. This is the black belt of hiking packs. An amateur may have trouble with packing this pack, but once you know what you’re looking for, and have already been let down by the “other guys”, this is the one that is everything, simply. No included rain cover? It doesn’t need one. It’s waterproof. Oh, and it’s expensive. But this is quality you can see and feel. Go find in a store to touch one first hand. (The colorway on the left side is the one that I personally prefer). Keen to buy

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Messengers:

peace4you (all his messenger bags) I’ve already wrote a review on Carryology on peace4you’s mouth-watering messengers if that tells you anything. Read the entire review here for much more information and photos. Re-purposed military material and hardware (looks like WW2 era to me) brought back to life in the form of beautifully tailored messenger bags, made by hand, by the owner in Germany. Everything about this company and their products embodies my favorite aspects of carry design. This is high fashion meets military, in a quiet, calm, thoughtful method. Keen to buy?
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Triple Aught Design: Dispatch Bag I love Triple Aught Design. Their company is amazing, as well as their products. I love browsing through their accessories, their clothing, even their knives (and I’m really not a knife kind of guy). Everything is the utmost highest quality. Simple, honest, bold materials. Where TAD really shines is in the carry department. I personally own a TAD FAST Pack Litespeed, and it is my favorite backpack I own. I feel confident saying this pack will last the rest of my life. 1000D Cordura nylon, all the right military accents, yet very refined. Now that the Dispatch Bag is available again, in multiple colors, I may have to think about a messenger for myself. Go to the site and check out the features and details on this pack. I know from experience, it is very difficult to design a military messenger that works well. From everything I have read and viewed, they nailed it. (Obviously, for color I would go for the bla… you get the idea). Keen to buy?
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UPDATE: Hard Graft: Flat Pack 11″ OK, I admit it, I cheated. We were supposed to have 6 items on our wish lists. But, I added another item on my wish list here, after the post was up already. Then again, I had to add this. It was beyond my own control. Look at this piece of art. There isn’t even much to say about this one, it speaks for itself. The finest Italian leather. Perfect stitch lines, that almost make music. Beautiful design. Handmade in Austria by people who love what they do. Holds stuff. Holds stuff really well. I would use it to carry my gear every day… and probably use it as my pillow at night as well. Honestly… I lust for this item. Keen to buy?