3 trips around the US this month – Northeast, Southeast, South/Central/Northern California, and then back to Texas each time in between.  As always, us Carryology folk do the research and find the best brands in the industry, then set up a meeting whenever we are in their respective areas.  Whenever possible anyway.  There is talk of buying a Carryology jet in the shape of a backpack…we’ll see.  So I was stoked to learn about a well-known brand called RELoad Bags in downtown Philadelphia, where I was headed as part of my Northeast trip.

I must admit, despite them being well-known, I hadn’t heard about them, and after a short bit of research, I was shocked I hadn’t.  Look them up in Google if you haven’t heard of them…you’ll find websites, blogs, and forums, all praising their quality messenger bags, which they’re known for.  So, I called them up ahead of time and set up a casual shop visit with the brand’s owner and founder, Roland (pictured standing behind the front desk below).

Quick preface, though I’ve been living in Austin for several years now, I’m originally from Hershey, PA (yes, where the chocolate is from), and Philly is the closest “big” city to Hershey (bankrupt Harrisburg doesn’t count).  I have been to Philly approximately 3,497.2 times since it was such a close drive from Hershey and since there were things to do that Central Pennsylvania didn’t have.  That being said, this trip was a much needed homecoming to visit my folks and visit my old hoods, so it felt great to be “home”. Anyway. On a perfect Spring Northeastern afternoon, my cousin (a successful DJ in the city) picked me up at the Philly airport, and we shot straight over to the East side, specifically North 2nd street.

The neighborhood has an authentic Philly feel, mixed in with apartments, boutique shops, restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, South American, etc), and empty lots with tires.  And a company that makes messenger bags and backpacks. A nice neighborhood, seasoned with just enough grit. You’d walk right by RELoad Bags if it weren’t for the handmade sculptural bike rack out front, made from what I assumed was steel.  Some time went into this piece. Two bikes locked and hanging perpendicular to the sidewalk, it was definitely an eye-catcher.  The front display window proudly displays a messenger bag with their branding on the front; the front panel of the messenger boldly states  “BEWARE OF IMITATION” as it quietly sits next to an antique sewing machine for all to view from the sidewalk.  In I go.

RELoad Bags makes a variety of bags and packs, all from their Philadelphia shop.  In this one shop, they perform all of their material stocking, prototyping, production, ordering/shipping, and all the other various processes of business.

“After fourteen years of making bags, we still have the same approach as when we first started. Everything is made right here in our Philadelphia studio, from scratch, start to finish. We cut and stitch everything up ourselves, using the highest quality materials we can find. Our goal is, and has always been, to offer the finest, most customizable bags you will ever sling over your shoulders.”

They offer 4 “single strap” and 5 “double strap” (aka backpack) options, ranging from various sizes and levels of bells and whistles.  Their messengers start quite minimal with the “Mini” 780 cu. in. ($102 and up) and then scale up to a massive 2850 cu. in. (Courier / $117 and up), designed for professional bicycle messengers and the rest of us serious civilian users. The Small Civilian and the Civilian fill out the middle of the messenger range.  Their two best-selling messengers that they’re most known for are the Civilian and the Courier.

The double strap options go from the Mini Pack ($225 and up), Mid Pack, Small Flight Pack, and Medium Flight Pack to the gargantuan Mega Pack ($325 and up with 3927 cu. in. of space)…that is more than my Osprey hiking backpack I use on international trips!

From my limited experience with their products and my thorough in-person review, I would describe their products as serious, simple, and purpose-built. Though there aren’t many wild innovations in the design, the durable reputation built on user experience more than makes up for this. Sometimes simple isn’t an issue when everything just works, tried and true. In my professional experience, “design features” are 90% marketing hype, and usually they’re prone to breaking or failing.  As Dieter Rams says, “Less, but better”.

However, it’s this blending of simple and tough with their bold and creative aesthetic front panel design and color combination that makes these a favorite among cyclists.  They do so much custom work for their customers, the word “custom” loses its punch.  In a world of mass-manufactured, made-in-a-Chinese-factory-by-the-thousands, this is quite rare.  Whatever colors you want – sure, done, check.  It’s as if custom for them is standard production, seriously. Want a “robot-cat-fighting-a-fluffy-pink-Godzilla-on-the-moon” scene on the front messenger panel?  I’m sure they can do it… but you’ll have to ask them first.

“Along the way, we also began to incorporate the art of applique stitching into our bags. This, along with the widest palette of colors available in the industry, allows our customers the ultimate freedom of expression in any custom bag they order. We feel that this is a quality almost important as durability and functionality of the bags, and we strive for top marks in all three. Having set the precedent for custom graphics on messenger bags, these days most other companies also offer some form of graphics. However, nobody has more experience than we do. We firmly believe that our end users should have the opportunity to be a part of the production process along with us…something that is sorely lacking in most business approaches these days. It’s why we do things the way we do, and why we will always remain a small collective of artisans, making a relatively small amount of bags, right here in the United States.”

There were plenty of great designs all around the shop, and some stuff I couldn’t snap photos of.  Each design is hand-sewn on the front panel (made up of hand-cut 1000D Cordura nylon pieces), consisting of hours of detailed work to make each bag unique.  Or, if you want solid black, they can do that too.  The color/design options are probably well up into the millions, so choose wisely.

My favorites are the messenger with pizza on the front panel (the careful hand applique is stunning here, look at the detail on the onions… purple 1000D Cordura nylon with purple and white stitching), the cheesesteak messenger (they are in Philly after all!…the brown 1000D Cordura fabric to make the “steak” is folded like real cheesesteak; the folds actually stick up off of the surface of the panel…amazing), along with the MOLLE webbing messenger Roland walked me through in detail.  Since I left, I’m still dreaming of that pizza messenger bag, but I’m a bag nerd, and I love pizza. I’m smitten, and I feel guilty because of it.  Must.  Have.

Some specs on the construction…
- Your choice of 1000D CORDURA® fabric, Ballistic Nylon, or waxed canvas outer material (we love that Cordura here at Carryology)
- 18oz vinyl-coated nylon lining
- Heavyweight main strap with nickel plated buckle
- Double-layer base for durability
- Waist/sternum strap
Basically everything you need for a classic messenger.

Roland told me that RELoad Bags proudly stand behind all of their work, and though it’s rare, they will repair bags that come in after years and years of heavy professional bicycle messenger abuse.  Usually it’s just the webbing or a buckle that needs looked at.  Though rare, it’s great to see that some brands out there care about their product.  Their prices are also damn impressive, with units starting at $100…for a handmade custom quality piece of carry. Though I honestly want to copy and paste each and every word from their “About Us” page, I won’t, but I will list their shortlisted values.  I highly recommend you read through the aforementioned page if you’ve got the time; a cool read.

“At R.E.Load, our bottom line consists of Quality of Life.
We will always question the system and seek alternative ways of commerce.
We challenge society’s relationship to work and the workplace.
We connect the product with the people making it.
A strong environmental ethic informs all of our choices.
R.E.Load Bags are made in the USA and always have been.
We work as a whole in decision-making processes.”

Roland introduced me to two other members of the RELoad staff while I was there.  Both super friendly, and both got straight back to work after the intro.  This is a business after all, not some Carryology hootenanny.

The shop was small, in a good way, and though there was much more to be seen, my time was limited and so was Roland’s.  I hope to revisit RELoad Bags again next time I’m up in Philadelphia so I can get a better look to share with our Carryology community, and because it’s always fun to be around the energy of people hand-making great products for real people who are living on two wheels and demand the best quality (with some aesthetic flare).

Enjoy the photos, and…

ACCEPT NO IMITATIONS.

Want to know what tote Chuck Norris would use? Searching for a backpack that will serve your needs without giving you strain? Desperate to avoid the gawking expressions of fellow travelers in airports because you can’t shut your case? Well this Week In Review has just the knowledge you’re after…

Prevention is better than cure

For the tenth time you’ve checked all your pockets, bags and cupboards, retraced all your steps, prayed to the wallet gods mixed in with a few choice expletives, but still no luck. Your wallet is gone. Even though it’s been stolen or you’ve lost it somewhere, the damage can be limited if you’ve carried out a wallet audit beforehand. Check out this very handy guide on how to do just that.

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If Chuck Norris carried totes what would they look like…

There’s no denying tote bags are useful. You drop stuff in and you go. Perfect. The problem with some totes however is not one of functionality but more of aesthetics. Guys generally want bags that look masculine, however many totes just don’t look manly. However help is on the way. Just choose from this list of 10 manly tote bags that cater to the office and the outdoors. In addition, when optimally weighted they are great for whacking your friend upside the head for his ridiculing that you wanted a “girl bag”. Shows what he knows about carry…

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Review: Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed

If you’re wondering how the Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed performs, check out this review on Bag Collector. There’s lots of great images too, which is always a bonus. You can check out our very own road test of the TAD FAST Pack Litespeed as well to see how it compares.

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Shining the spotlight on Entermodal and Larry Olmstead

Entermodal focus on great design, attention to detail, use of beautiful materials, as well as environmental sustainability when creating their bags. What more could you ask for really? The brand’s owner and lead designer Larry Olmstead has created the Medium Foldy and the Large Foldy. What’s different about them, you ask? Well the body and lining of each bag is constructed using just one piece of canvas and one seam. Talk about intelligent design. They are suitable for both men and women, so you’ll want to keep an eye on this one in case your friend/partner/distant third cousin wants to “borrow” it.

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Going on a trip?

The good folk at Red Oxx have some very useful advice when it comes to packing for trips. Check it out in order to avoid over-strained muscles and evil glares from airport check-in staff.

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Backpacks getting your back up?

Speaking of strain, if you have back problems and/or are experiencing less than optimal performance from your backpack, have a read through our Bad Backs and Backpacks post. Your back will thank you.

A few weeks ago, we started hearing about this new bag brand out of Poland of all places! The brand is called Mixed Works and their stuff looks fantastic. I wanted to share a little bit of the company’s backgrounds because I feel this is a brand we should keep an eye on.

Mixed Works is primarily operated by its founder, Jan, who started the company in 2004 while he was a student. He started out making bags on an old sewing machine just for his own needs, but (no surprise), soon his friends and friends were clamoring for bags of their own. He soon graduated with degrees in Interior Design and Industrial Design, having designed clothing, furniture, and and lights as part of his study. Luckily, he never stopped making bags.

Launched in January 2012, Mixed Works was launched in collaboration with Jan’s sister, who is a graphic designer. They focus primarily on messenger bags, backpacks, and accessories. The bags are designed to be high-quality and functional and feature Cordura 1000 nylon, truck tarps, ITW buckles, YKK zippers, nylon thread and webbing. The bags follow a design philosophy of being aestethically pleasing while fully functional. Every feature has a function; no superfluous straps here. They are handmade in a small workshop in Poland.

You can find Mixed Works at their home on the web and you can see more of Jan’s work at his portfolio.

It’s here, the Road Test review of the DEFY BAGS Recon Messenger (“Recon Wide” on their site), priced at $322.  Before we dive in, lets talk about Chris Tag and Defy Bags.

“My name is Chris Tag. I’m a Chicago art director who grew up in Dayton, Ohio. From as long ago as I can remember, Dayton was a proud industrial auto manufacturing town. When I was a child, I vividly remember being at friends’ houses when their dads would come home from working long days at the General Motors plant. Their rough and dirty hands seemed to tell the same stories they did; that they loved hand-crafting cars. Now that and other factories are shuttered.

What do closed factories have to do with a small company called Defy Bags?
Everything.”

Chris is a great guy.  He signs his emails with “DEFY SOMETHING”.  Meaning…go against the grain, do something different, in a unique way.  That’s Defy Bags, that’s Chris Tag.  The more I learn about design and successful businesses, the more I learn it is about the people behind the brand; that is where it all starts.  Defy Bags’ main logo is simple, bold, black text and reads “HANDCRAFTED IN THE UNITED STATES by DEFY BAGS Chicago, IL”.  Based on the content of their website, and the products which I could only see in the form of digital pixels, they certainly gained my attention.

After lusting over the complete Defy Bags collection, I wishfully sent off an email to Chris, and he was stoked to hook me up with his “favorite carry on”, the Recon messenger.  Now I can also say it has become my favorite carry on bag.  More on that later.  All of their products are handmade in Chicago, one of the great American cities.  I swear the spirit of Chicago and the Industrial Revolution are present in the soul of each of the products they offer.  The products ooze turn-of-the-century factory floor.  Not that they are cranked out of a factory, but rather, I can imagine each one of the products in a 1920′s factory floor, on the shoulder of a surly-yet-smiling worker arriving to put in a hard 12-hour day of honest work.  A romantic idea, sure.  Intended?  I think so.

“DURABLE GOODS
Defy has been proudly manufacturing durable goods since 2008, with each and every hand-crafted product inspected by me. All goods are crafted to be: simple, clean-lined, sturdy and manufactured to a level that would make my grandfather proud. We art direct each minute detail to ensure every bag feels truly one of a kind. And oh by the way, we mostly use vintage or reclaimed durable materials to do so. Well, that and imported solid steel and brass Austri Alpin Cobra buckles from (Austria) that are load bearing up to (2,000) lbs and used by special forces around the globe because of their world class quality and construction. Pardon the pun, but at each and every turn we like to Defy expectation.”

Material and Hardware

My favorite part.  This bag has got to be a materials-sourcing nightmare.  Good thing that is for Defy Bags to worry about, and not you or I.  These materials are serious.  The primary fabric is 24 oz. vintage M35 military vinyl truck tarp, taken from military trucks.  They source the tarps at auction, then wash each of them in an industrial washer before cutting patterns for the bags.  In fact, I detected a very faint scent of Simple Green cleaner when I got the bag, which I thought was cool.  Each bag ends up being unique, as each section of the tarp shows its patina differently, handsomely.  Don’t worry, the material hasn’t even begun to start its life, and is ready to take years and years of abuse you can throw at it.  You could blast this material with a pressure washer and no water would pass through.  The bag itself isn’t waterproof (but it is heavily water-resistant, meaning it can take a downpour no problem at all, but you can’t take your laptop scuba diving, ok?), but the fabric is.

The fabric makes you want to touch it more, with a semi-matte dark, dark gray (only 1%-5% off of true black) exterior and a rich military green interior, which also gives a good amount of visual contrast for locating small items inside.  The trim is made from reclaimed bicycle inner tubes, which has a really unique feel.  The branding tab, a tiny piece of black Horween leather (also based out of Chicago) with a hand-stamped text logo, keeps it minimal and classy.  There is seatbelt webbing throughout the bag and for the shoulder strap, and I love how it is used horizontally for pen slots and mini pockets in the front organizer panel.  Clever.

Both the bicycle inner tubes and the seatbelt webbing are reclaimed.  The bicycle inner tubes are taken from bicycle shops around the Chicago area who accept them for recycling/reclaiming, rather than seeing them go into the trash.  The seatbelt webbing is real, not the faux seatbelt webbing used on most bags.  You can feel the difference right away – it’s softer, more velvety, has thicker fibers, and is stronger.  They cut this seatbelt webbing directly out of totaled new and old vehicles that they find in scrapyards (no, not from their own cars).  Again, all put through industrial washers to make those rich black shades shine.  Already a great materials story.

The attention to detail when using these materials is impeccable.  Each of these materials tells their own history, with various markings throughout.  Let me add, this is minimal.  Just the right hint of patina, not old and beat up, nothing like that.  My Recon looked crisp and new when I got it, and it still does.  You’re not going to get a bag with a giant road rash mark on it; that part of the fabric will be discarded from the pattern cutting process.

(above, a stack of Recons, ready to be shipped out to lucky customers)

Chris is careful to highlight certain details, and to hide others that aesthetically don’t make sense.  For example, the excess webbing hanging from the buckles to cinch the front flap closed has two short lengths of bicycle inner tube sewn to the end of each.  This is great for feeling around to find the ends, something to grab onto, a nice experience.  Looking at the bag straight on, the inner tube facing you is solid black, but on the back side facing away from you are two little blue line markings from the manufacturer of that particular inner tube.  Rather than have these blue lines show on the front of the bag, they were flipped over, where you won’t see them and it won’t compromise the look of the bag.  Super small and smart detail, but I noticed it. Would two tiny blue lines change the complete look of the bag if they were showing on the face of the bag?  Probably not.  By why risk it?  Attention to detail is key, and that goes for everything.

The hardware is all of the highest quality.  The two D-rings on the side are metal, along with the military-grade attachment clips for the shoulder strap, as well as the adjustment hardware piece on the strap.  All metal.  And after serious use they are still matte black, no paint chipping off showing bright chrome underneath which always looks tacky.  These components were clearly chosen for longevity.

Speaking of longevity… they’re only using the best buckles in the world for the closure system on the front panel.  Military-grade AustriAlpin Cobra buckles, imported from Austria.  The bag uses two of them, the 2″ single-side adjust models.  These buckles cost just about as much as a Jansport backpack… EACH… AT WHOLESALE PRICING.  Yeah.  Almost $20 per buckle, wholesale, not retail.  And there are two of them.  For reference, most military-grade high-end quality plastic buckles (which we still love and work great) are around $0.20 each, sometimes more, sometimes less.  Starting to see why this handmade bag costs $322?  For the hours that go behind the sewing machine, and these expensive, quality materials and hardware, $322 is a damn bargain.  Just like the other materials, the buckles are worth their cost and the headache to source and import them from Europe.  They can each support up to around 2,000 lbs and they have a seriously durable black finish (they both still appear as new, after several thousand airline, bicycle, and car miles).  Made from steel, brass, and aluminum, these buckles will probably outlast you and probably a couple more generations after you.  The experience of opening them feels like you’re reloading an AR15 rifle each time you open up the bag. I like the feeling that I’m reloading an AR15 when I’m grabbing some chewing gum from my bag.  Side note, in our previous Buckle Analysis writeup I ignorantly leaned toward the Raptor buckles, but now after having serious firsthand experience and doing much more research on the issue, the Cobra buckles have proven to be a far superior product.  Test after test and user experience proves it.  Cobra buckles are without question the best buckles on the planet, 100%, no doubt.  Anything else is a far 2nd.

Additionally, I like the height of the buckles on the front panel.  They sit up off the ground, to prevent unnecessary wear on the extremely durable finish.  There is enough excess webbing to really cinch down when you want to keep everything packed tightly.  A lot of companies don’t get this simple feature – placement of the buckles, as well as the length and placement of the webbing (both sides).  Overall, there are zero complaints when it comes to material and hardware choices on the Recon.  If I could make this same bag with different materials, I wouldn’t.  Easily 10 out of 10 in this area.

“OUR PROMISE
Defy guarantees against any defects. If you find a flaw in our craftsmanship just contact me and we will fix or replace your item at no charge. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy.”

Aesthetics

It may be the buckles alone, and I think they play a large part in it, but people will come up to me and start a conversation about this bag.  I think this conversation-starting ability stems primarily from its understated, minimal, bold and unique design (the rest is the buckles). This bag looks great.  People notice it.  Expect discussion when you wear it.  You can be nice and talk carry with a stranger (as we recommend here at Carryology), or just walk away.  But this conversation-starting aspect is something to be noted.  “What kind of bag is that?”, “Those hooks (buckles) are cool yo!”, “What do you do for a living?”, “What is that made out of?”, etc.  I find the bag is a great-looking briefcase for my design meetings with clients and/or for factory visits.  And usually I’m traveling when I have a meeting.  So the Recon switches from my carry on bag into a professional-looking brief whenever I can get to the hotel to swap out the carry on stuff that I don’t need for meetings.  Looks great doing both.  There isn’t much else to say here.  You love the look of this bag, or maybe you don’t, or maybe you think it’s OK.

“CRAFTSMAN
When I started tinkering around with sewing on an old industrial leather machine, it reminded me of learning to work on cars as a boy with my father, or wood working with my grandfather. It conjured up the unmistakable smell of his woodshop. Of the uncompromising perfection in everything they did. Attention to detail and pride were second nature. A job wasn’t done, until it was done well. I’m trying to carry on their forgotten tradition. I believe you don’t just create with your hands and brain. But with your hands, brain and heart. That’s where the art comes in. That’s what starts to make you a Craftsman.”

I think it looks great.  I gravitated toward this bag immediately.  The only other bag that really grabs my attention in their collection is the FIT messenger, in white, in red, or in yellow.  However, the FIT has different pocketry organization than the Recon, which leads to the next item…

Pocketry

Simple.  Upon opening the flap, there is a front organizer panel with 2 drop pockets, a large cavernous main compartment, two convenient drop pockets on the rear wall of the main compartment, and a rear laptop/magazine slip pocket that makes up the rear wall.  I said simple.  Simple isn’t bad though.  More pockets doesn’t mean better.  It makes it easy to locate items, and easy to organize items.  There are no zippers or Velcro anywhere on this bag.  I went back and forth with this for a while.  At first I liked it, then I didn’t, now I’m back to liking it.

This bag is awesome at carrying medium/small, medium, and large objects.  Teeny items can get lost.  I was wary of putting my loose USB thumb drive in one of the rear pockets in the main compartment, since they couldn’t seal closed with a zipper or Velcro, but then I just stopped thinking about it.  The USB thumb drive is still there, it hasn’t jumped out and run away.  Plus, the material has a bit of “grab” to the texture.  Just enough to prevent stuff from easily sliding out.

Another thing, I use this bag as my primary carry on bag when I travel.  I carry my Dopp Kit in here with me (sometimes they take my $2 razor replacement blades for my vintage safety razor, sometimes they don’t).  My Dopp Kit contains all my small toiletry stuff, plus other random EDC/emergency items (lighter, needle/thread, etc).  I found that with using a bit of Inception Packaging (if you put your tiny items in a smaller bag), this Recon gets even better.  You don’t have to think too much about this pocketry arrangement.  I find everything I own has a nice little spot.  Mints, one of the drop pockets.  2 Moleskine, same.  Three pens drop into the horizontal seatbelt webbing.  The tiny pockets in the seatbelt webbing I haven’t used much.  They would be good to keep business cards that you collect.  Personally I keep my business cards in a small metal case I received as a gift, so that they stay crisp, and my card case doesn’t fit in there.  So I keep the case in one of the drop pockets, which is a great little home for it.  These little pockets in the seatbelt webbing wouldn’t be good for any objects with volume (like a USB thumb drive, a bouncy ball, etc.), but would hold flat items (like business cards) nicely.

Overall, I like the organizer made from the seatbelt webbing; it’s trick.  And again, it might be interesting to see a zipper or Velcro on one of the pockets…but logistically, it’s nearly impossible to source either of these for reclaiming purposes if Defy Bags were to keep the same philosophy as they do for the rest of their materials, and I think they would.  Also, it’s nice to see a design so simple.  Zippers and Velcro have their own feel, which changes the feel of the bag.  Albeit a minor experience change, it would be there. Maybe Chris didn’t want to incorporate those two tactile/audible experiences with the Recon. I will admit, I personally dislike the sound of Velcro. Maybe you like that noise, but that is a little weird.

In the rear laptop drop pocket goes a MacBook Air (for testing, while I wait to purchase my MacBook Pro), and a few magazines.  Plenty of room left over, even for the thickest laptops.  This pocket could easily hold a 17″ laptop.  Another great feature for this laptop pocket is that the bottom seam of the pocket is ABOVE the floor of the bag, meaning when you put your bag down your laptop isn’t the first thing to touch the floor.  Nice.  There could be a strap to keep the laptop in there, but gravity works great.  Then it would have to close via Velcro, and we already talked about that.  Plus, gravity never fails.  There is no padding in the laptop compartment, but I don’t think that it is really necessary (the previous feature helps to justify this too).  If you’re really worried, you can use a simple sleeve.

Along with the previously mentioned items, I also carry a Lumix DMC-TZ5 digital camera in a mini zippered camera case, some red markers, Sharpies, a few koozies and an extra bandana (because I live in Texas), power cords for phone and laptop, some extra business cards, and other various weird items that I’m not allowed to reveal by Court Order.  They all fit.  Pocketry-wise (“pocketry” is a completely made-up Copyrighted Trademark of Carryology and its affiliates, including the planet Jupiter), this bag is simple and easy to navigate through.  Almost too simple, but not too simple.  “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.” -Einstein

Comfort

Manage your weight and carry expectations with this bag.  It is a great “carry on” bag – in fact, my favorite.  Not a great “carry ALL” bag to bring home 3 bottles of wine, a hunk of wood, 3 lbs of coffee, plus all your other stuff.  The Recon is part of my go to travel system.  I carry one large backpack filled with all my clothes and heavy stuff.  99% of the time I don’t check a bag because I don’t like waiting at the bag check carousel, I don’t like the potential of my stuff getting messed with or stolen, and I don’t like paying for checked bags.  So, I wear a large comfortable backpack (like Triple Aught Design’s FastPack EDC which I’m testing currently, or the BLACKHAWK Phoenix Patrol which I previously tested).  I hardly notice the backpack is there because I choose backpacks with comfortable suspension, and I practice packing uber-minimally.  Big backpack on my back, Recon on my shoulder to quickly access my carry on gear.  And just enough items in the Recon so the weight is manageable on one shoulder.

However, on my most recent trip with my girlfriend out to Big Sur we brought back a little too many items for souvenirs, and were forced to take 10 lbs out of her checked bag to be under the maximum weight without charging us an extra $50 or so… and those 10 lbs of wine, wood, and coffee ultimately went into the Recon, which was already packed (perfectly, may I add).  Though the Recon handled the additional load flawlessly, my shoulder did not.  The Recon is a comfortable shoulder bag when you pack it reasonably.  When you approach 20+ lbs of items, the seatbelt webbing will put a lot of pressure on you, and pressure hurts after a while.  For my around-town purposes and lightweight carry on, it is a dream.  An optional shoulder pad from Defy Bags might be a worthwhile accessory (edit: classified sources are hinting this may or may not become a reality in the future, but I cannot confirm this), but there are plenty of other brands that make some nice shoulder pads.  Personally, I won’t be adding one, even if Defy Bags made a killer one, because I don’t over-pack the Recon with too much weight.  I like it for what it is, a great-looking bag that fits my around-town and carry on needs.  I would consider the Recon more of a “shoulder bag” or a “shoulder brief bag”.

When used for bicycling, wearing it cross body like a traditional messenger, it does work but it does slide around a little, sliding from the middle of your back down to the side while you’re peddling, since there is just seatbelt webbing to grab onto your shirt for friction.  It works, but not perfectly.  The ideal way to use the Recon is to wear the shoulder strap either on one shoulder or across your body, leaving the Recon at your side rather than across your back.  When wearing it on your side without a laptop for a stiffener, it will tend to bend a little on itself, around your hip, mainly in the middle of the bag.  Only slightly, and that is only if you don’t have a laptop in there.  It also stays firm with 3 magazines in there.  With none, it lacks a little structure, but I never really minded that because it’s not a stiff or rigid briefcase, and it isn’t supposed to be.  Just something I noticed.

The adjustability of the shoulder strap is easy.  We’ve all used this system before.  Lift to lengthen, slide to shorten.  Easy enough.  It would be kind of cool to use a more interesting hardware bit here, but not necessary.  Back to the “simpler” thing again.  Plus, the flat hardware makes it streamlined along your shoulder.  Perhaps a more iconic, beefier shoulder strap adjustment hardware would be painful on your shoulder, requiring a redesign of the strap.  Lastly, the strap can be removed if you want to opt for another style or brand altogether, which is a nice option since many brands sew the strap onto the bag body.  Lastly, the upper grab handle is in a perfect spot for grabbing and carrying at your side like a brief bag.  No padding or anything, but it keeps it simple and refined.  I wouldn’t say it’s “uncomfortable” in my hand, but I never really carry bags by a grab handle for a long period of time, as I like to keep my hands free when traveling.

Conclusions

The Recon is an amazing messenger shoulder brief bag.  It is now my go to carry on bag for my Level 2 travel quiver (roughly speaking, Level 1 is 1-3 days somewhere easy, maybe a road trip; Level 2 is 3-14 days with multiple climates or needing additional materials for work/play, usually via plane; Level 3 is 7-21 days in multiple climates and/or international with additional materials for work/play, planning on planes, trains, auto, etc).  I travel differently for Level 1 and 3, but for this type of travel, my most common type, the Recon is perfect.  It carries everything I need, with a little extra room for stuff I pick up along the way.  It can be painful when over-packed, but as mentioned, manage your weight expectations and don’t over-pack your bag (and don’t let your significant other over-pack either, so you won’t have to carry their extra stuff).  I really like how the bag converts from a great-looking travel carry on bag to a great-looking professional brief bag suitable for meetings.  When I say “great”, it is also interesting, unique, and different from most everything else out there, which is a big plus for me.  This bag is really nice for around town, but it is my go to carry on shoulder bag.  $322 is a bit steep, but after the nightmare of sourcing and purchasing these high quality materials (each with their own stories), the cost and indestructible nature of the drool-worthy hardware bits, and the hours upon hours of craft that goes into each bag is accounted for…the cost makes perfect sense, delivering a huge value to the end user.  I expect this bag to continue to be a pleasure to use over my lifetime, and for people to continue to start conversations with me about it.

We do some Q&A on bad backs for a reader

There’s so much happening in the carry world these days that it becomes a maze of awesome information, and along the way we miss some topics that we should really be talking about. Point in case? Bad backs and backpacks. One of our readers, Sam, recently pointed out that he’d love to see a post on versatile packs that are good for your back (but also look good as well). We responded by email, and figured we might as well share these initial thoughts…

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The question

Hi, Carryology!

Have you done a feature on packs for people with back problems? The site search for “bad back” resulted in badass-looking backpacks, which, while cool, aren’t what I need (though a badass backpack that’s also good for the back would be perfect.)

I’m a reporter so I always have my laptop with me, plus tech (mobile phone, voice recorder, digital camera). Also have notebooks and A4 folders stuffed with paper. I need a backpack that will look at home in both swanky venues and the great outdoors since I can be at the theater one day and climbing a hill the next. Not kidding.

So: a versatile pack that’s good for the back. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Sam

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Our response (with a few more options since added):

Sam,

Backs can be bad for a whole number of reasons, so it will be hard to cover it all in one post. Essentially though, if you can walk reasonably upright and symmetrically, with not much load on your shoulders and more of it on your hips, you stand the best chance of doing well.

That means you need a backpack that is not too deep (or it will cause you to hang backwards and strain). It needs a great waistband, and a bit of vertical structure so that the weight of it can ‘stand up’ on your hips. Waist straps without structure to the pack are nothing but load stabilisers. The harness also needs to be height-adjustable, as otherwise the waist belt won’t reach your hips to actually bear the load.

Tactical and Trekking packs put the most investment into great load-bearing harnesses in packs, so these should be your starting point. Your other option is to go for a hybrid wheeled bag and backpack, so that you tow the bag behind you, but this could be overkill for day to day usage… (and you might look a little awkward haha)

Trying to find a discreet and office-safe outdoor pack then gets a little tricky, as most of them have more straps than a dominatrix, so that will be the key balance. A pack that works well in office/formal environments is usually a more square/rectangular format (to hold square contents like folders), with more natural fabrics and fewer external dangly bits. Pretty much the opposite of most outdoor packs (round, lightweight synthetic, Wiggles coloring).

OK, so some packs to scope…

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Tactical/Outdoor

Something like the Camelbak TriZip (or any of the Mystery Ranch packs it’s based on) have amazing harnesses that could haul loads no prob’s for you. In full black they can look OK, but they’re still pretty full on. Packs like the Goruck GR1 look great in a work or outdoor setting, but then miss out on a great load-bearing waist strap.

Packs from Osprey also have great harness systems, but again look a bit off in a work setting. LoweAlpine have some waist strap models for long backs which get the waist strap in a better position, but again they do look outdoorsy.

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Work Focused

The best work setting packs are from minimalist brands like Qwstion and Arc’teryx, but then you don’t get the waist strap support.

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Bike

If you have a fairly average-sized body, you could go for a Mission Workshop Rambler or Vandal in black, which both have a little structure and a good waist strap (removable). Their length can’t be adjusted though, so if you’re not average-sized, they won’t work as well. If you are kinda average-sized, a Rambler would be my pick.

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Camera

Camera packs ain’t cheap, but they are made for hauling weight around all day, so they generally have lots of spots for tech, big waist straps, and feature-rich harnesses. Clik Lite make some more casual looking packs like the Cloudscape which might be interesting. Naneu have something that looks a touch more like a camera pack, but is still loose enough to get away with. Dakine have street cool photo packs which may tick the box for you. If you want the youth vibe, pick something like a black Sequence 33L for larger or Mission Photo 25L for smaller. And last photo pack suggestion would be an F-Stop Guru or Kenti in black.

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I’m sure we’re missing some good options though. Can anyone recommend a structured pack with a great harness and waist belt that looks neat in a workplace?

A round up of some top things floating around the ‘net earlier this week. From the hardcore to the downright beautiful, check out what’s been drawing attention this week in Carry…

Saving the day at dawn…cocktails in the evening

So maybe the fate of the world doesn’t rest on your shoulders but why shouldn’t you have a weekender bag that will stand up to whatever life may throw at you (after all, isn’t the point of such bags to lure you into adventure?…)  Made in the USA and used by Marines, this bag has you covered whether you’re booting up or suiting up.  Whether you’re traveling to battles in the boardroom or to bungee off somewhere ridiculously high, the FOR75 Deployer FoamTec military spec rolling footlocker from Forceprotector Gear has your back.

She’s a looker…

There is no denying the Trash Cougar Female from Travelteq is one good-looking laptop bag.  These beauties are handmade in Italy using vegetable-tanned leather.  They have water-resistant nylon linings and a range of compartments that are suitable for your phone, pen, sunglasses, travel documents and so forth.  The laptop compartment can hold up to a 15-inch laptop.  There’s also a nifty leather strip for attaching the bag to airport trolleys and the like.

Office Envy: Côte&Ciel Flat Backpack

You can’t fit a round peg in a square hole, but you can fit flat gadgets in a flat backpack.  The idea seems simple enough but often the simple ones are the best and it makes you wonder why there aren’t more backpacks like the Côte&Ciel Flat Backpack around.  A clever design feature is placing the shoulder strap webbing attachment point on the front side of the backpack so that there isn’t undue stress placed on the zipper whilst wearing the backpack loaded with weight.  Best thing since sliced bread?  Jury’s out on that one.  However, it certainly is a good way to induce envy at the office…

Shining the spotlight on Lévrier

Founded by Dan Burbridge (a cyclist and photographer), Lévrier is a brand based in Bristol, England, that creates waterproof messenger and courier bags for cyclists (and if you’ve lived in the UK, you know how wet it can get…)

Snapshot: ONA Camps Bay review

Photographer Douglas Sonders has produced a neat review of the ONA Camps Bay backpack, which is useful for carrying photographic equipment as well as a laptop.

Following from our initial foray into Dopp Kits, we thought it might be interesting to ask some questions to both sides of the Dopp Kit fence – a brand who creates them and a brand who creates products for them. First up is a neat little interview with J.P. Mastey below. J.P. is the CEO of Baxter of California. Next week will be the manufacturer’s interview…

Baxter of California provide cutting-edge men’s products that target very specific skincare needs, and improved formulations that combine the trusted traditions of science with fine ingredients from nature.

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*What are the essentials someone should look to carry in their Dopp Kit?

Naturally, you do not want to arrive at your destination and find that you forgot a vital product. This is not going to be the same for every guy. Some use contacts, some travel with medication, and these are not easily replaceable. The standard grooming essentials should be a face wash, shave cream, deodorant, hair styling product, shampoo, tooth paste / brush, and moisturizer.  The most important thing is to have a check list so that you don’t forget anything. If you are going to pack a product that you are going to use the day of travel – make sure to leave the Dopp Kit out –  it’s often forgotten because the Dopp Kit is packed and in a suitcase. This has happened to me before, so now I pack my Dopp Kit as close to travel as possible.

*When designing new products, how much research is put into sizing/carry efficiency and use for Dopp Kits? TSA requirements, items fitting into an array of other Dopp Kits, size efficiency when packaged together…

We produce travel size bottles (refillable) that have leak resistance caps and are 2 oz., which fit into the TSA requirement. If it is not a travel size product, we do not put a lot of emphasis on how travel-ready it will be. The focus will be on the container’s primary function, which would be use at the sink or shower, and a capacity that offers value.

*When designing the Dopp Kit for the travel kit what considerations do you have to take onboard? How do these affect your final design? Size? Materials? Organization pockets?

We designed our Dopp bag (the one that comes with the “Travel Kit”) to have a sufficient amount of room to carry the essentials, making sure not to be so large that it takes up more room than it should in a suitcase/bag. We use a material that will not be ruined should it get wet or product on it. This bag is rather simple as it had to be cost effective, but it still has quality construction and components like a YKK zipper.

*How come you don’t sell the Dopp Kit as a standalone item? And will you ever create a range of Dopp Kits?

We are now offering the bag to be sold alone and not part of a kit (this is going to go live in May, 2012). A range of kits is probably not in the cards, but more offerings certainly are. We previously made a limited edition Dopp Kit with PORTER Japan and it was very successful, selling out in a matter of days. Keep your eyes peeled for future launches.

*What in your opinion makes a good Dopp Kit?

Quality components, durability in contraction, sufficient room without excess, and handsome design.

*Who in your opinion makes the best Dopp Kits today? Why?

Taking the above requirements in mind, we like PORTER Japan, JACK SPADE, BILLY KIRK, and KILLSPENCER.

Road Test :: Ethnotek Messenger

We have already had a peek at some of the gear that Ethnotek produces. Previously we checked out their launch backpack. Glad to say, they are back, and this time it’s with a tidy messenger bag. For all of those unaware, Ethnotek includes some prime cuts of locally sourced and produced fabrics from a variety of tribes worldwide. I can’t help but feel that some of this inherent karma in the product is very capable of paying dividends. During the testing period, London shone with unseasonal sun and now that I have returned to my slog of work-related bags the rain has returned… Genuinely magic? Good product? Fine out more after the jump…

The basic premise of the Ethnotek messenger is the same as the backpack. Removable panels, in this case the bag’s flap, allow customisation options. You purchase the base model, a black nylon messenger, and then choose which native weave, print or embroidery you wish to add. The flaps are varied and offer some pretty unique patterns and styles. The fabrics are all sourced directly from the makers and the sales directly help the people who hand-make these fabrics.

This of course means very little if the bag does not perform. It’s good to have an ethical background but it is hard to be valid without well-performing products.

Initial Thoughts

I have to say that the messenger is stronger than the backpack we reviewed previously. It is tight, has some great details and performed really well for what I needed. Messenger bags are such a great yardstick on personality and tend to be great at dividing the carry community. It seems that a lot can be understood about someone from the messenger they carry. From an oversize architectural rendering carrying boutique backyard-made pack down to an Italian ‘travel’ messenger, with enough room between the hand-selected pieces of leather for a passport and wallet, they all have a place and their owners.

Most of us sit in the middle of these two extremes!

The bag looks on the smaller size. It is sized to fit a MacBook pro 15” and does this perfectly; it also has two padded bumpers to slim it down to a 13” MacBook. The side advantage of this is that if you have a mid sized laptop, like a 14”, it works really well with just one bumper used. Always handy if you have one of those non-Apple laptops.

Materials

The main fabric is an 840D ballistic nylon with a solid coating. The lining is a combo of a lightweight (polyester?) and a hand-woven native fabric from Cham village in central Vietnam. The heavyweight lining in combo with a heavily backed main fabric and solid laptop padding gives the bag a great stand and hand feel.

The traditional fabrics on the flap are the only weak point. Unfortunately, without spray PU backing or water repellence on the facing fabric, they wick water like crazy. The lining on the flap seems to be waterproof/highly resistant, so I think that your gear is ok (and the laptop is protected by an 840D nylon flap), but the bag looks wet and those natural fabrics take time to dry.

Bag Construction & Details

Ok, well there are some bag geek details here… The laptop sleeve’s closing flap is constructed as a main part of the binding and construction. Hard to explain without seeing it, but it gives the laptop sleeve a really built-in and tough feel. The add on flap Velcro is on the backside. It’s a decent connection and has no major alignment headaches or anything. There is a back external document slip that doubles as a telescopic handle holder too. Underneath the flap attachment is also a great hidden pocket. It’s about A4 size and would be perfect for funneling incriminating / protected dossiers over international borders…a fine feature for any bag…

On the front, there are some nice alternate angling Velcro panels, which means you can stuff the bag damn full and still have the Velcro closing tight. The double slip on the front is really good and actually big enough to cram a decent amount of stuff in. There is a zip pocket, penholders, slip pockets, document pockets and a padded laptop sleeve. All of it is well thought out and tightly integrated, no loose floating panels. Everything sits in its correct place.

The shoulder pad has some handy cycling stability straps, and they work for both lefties and righties. The lower webbing details and snap buttons on the shoulder strap all work as advertised. The hook is a little odd, but I think that’s just a preference thing.

¿Problem?

The main issue is the Tri-Glide on the shoulder strap. It’s best used at a fixed length; it’s not so well suited for constantly changing the length of the shoulder strap. I prefer to be able to change the length easily on the fly. Being crammed in the tube and not able to sling the bag low in front quickly is a bit of a pain. It’s not really a big issue, just a little hard to adjust. Maybe I need to stop being so indecisive and pick a length already!!!

The Verdict

As you can see from the photos, taken while I was testing the bag, it was sunny and warm. Since then, things have changed… The ability to change the weather is a fine feature for any bag, but on this occasion I think it may have been a well-timed coincidence… There is no question that it’s a great pack. With the backpack there were a couple of points for improvement; with the messenger, that feeling is gone.

The bag has obviously been thought through. If you are into a well-built messenger (think Timbuktu, Crumpler, Eastpak (well some of the better Eastpak)) but also want to help the world a little, then this bag is for you. However, you must decide on what type of messenger user you are.

I can just fit my work gear into this bag. I take a 15” MacBook pro, charger, external keyboard, mouse, trackpack, drawing gear and books/diary/magazine into the office. Lets say the bag is at its maximum.

So the only real requirement from the owner is that you prefer a slimmer bag. This all depends on what you want to carry. If you are someone who compulsively overfills their bags (like I do) then maybe it’s a good option for a little enforced cutting back!

Big thanks to Jake for sending the sample out.

The lovely people over at Carrington College’s Massage Therapy Classes pulled together a real neat-looking infographic that shares a lot of facts about backpacks and back pain. Below are a few points we pulled out, but you can check the entire infographic below:

- 79 million US students carry backpacks.
- 30-50% of adolescents have back pain because of their backpacks.
- Your backpack should be no heavier than 10-15% of your body weight.
- Wear your backpack close to the center of your back. This reduces muscle strain.
- Choose a backpack that has a padded back – it decreases stress on the back, shoulders,  and underarms, as well as  enhances comfort.

If you want to check the infographic at a higher res, click here.